Chapter 3

Of Mother's and Son's

After getting all the girls back and listening to the individual stories that went along with it, was kind of fascinating really. Apparently the only reason why Eighteen was kidnapped was because she allowed herself to be. I guess even an android woman can feel insecure about themselves. Her reasoning was to see to what lengths Krillin would go to protect her even though she's ten times more powerful than he is. The fact that he tore through most of the palace looking for her though, made the statement he face down Cell himself by himself to protect her which he did once already. He repeatedly said that to her after we got Roshi's island, and it was rather inspiring really. It brought Eighteen to tears, she bent downed hugging and kissing him fiercely.

After a few hours of story retold, Ranma's being by far the most to stand out, he saved Akane almost killing himself in the process, turns out instead plummeting toward the well at bottom of a canyon like in the movie, Toma used his sword like bat hitting Ranma in head sending flying toward a furnace that heated the palace. Ranma had stopped himself using his ability to fly, but had been scorch badly. Still Ranma was able to beat Toma, and rescue Akane. Ryoga be the selfish coward that he really is, tried to use the well, and heh, his curse and his human form were partially fused. This of course clued Akane in on what Ryoga was originally, needless to say she was pissed, and sent the pig boy home ahead of the rest of us. The trip home was reasonably quiet though Akane didn't speak to Ranma or anyone else the entire way, she sat quietly no doubt going over the events of the entire time P-chan and Ryoga had been present. What I could sense from her was a mixture of anger, regret, and shame.

Myself, ever since we departed I found myself sitting on the port side lounge seat with Nabiki on my lap snuggled up as close as she can get to me. If I didn't know better I'd swear Kuno was looking at me with even more animosity then before. But at the moment I could care less I was having easily happiest moment of my life. I looked over at Gohan who brought a towel for Videl to cover herself, which she did giving a polite thank you to him and her cheeks were showing a light pink tint to them. Mousse seemed to be fairing pretty well considering he had his ass nearly handed to him by a bird guy, Cologne was looking after him showing some surprising care toward him. I never liked the Amazon's in the series they have given Ranma no small amount of trouble. But in some ways they make up for it by helping him in alot of ways I've really comprehended, guess somewhere inside that ancient heart of the old woman beats some compassion.

I turned my eyes next to Kasumi and the two stooges, who were probably the least exhausted of us all. I say this because Kasumi had defused her captors before her father and Genma arrived to rescue her. Kasumi aura matches only one other person in the world and he's hanging out in other world right now with King Kai, my adoptive father Son Goku. Much like him, she gives off the aura of peace and tranquility to those who aren't truly evil. I move my eyes to Ukyou who looked just as peeved as Akane did after she found out Ryoga had tried to cure himself. I'm not sure why but it probably had to do with Ryoga not coming immediately to her rescue. My eyes finally settled on Ranma who was standing quietly watching as land was slowly coming into view. He had his arms cross and looked like he was brooding, but from his aura I could tell he was simply puzzled about something.

I felt Nabiki shift her weight and slide of my lap but didn't immediately let go, "um, I have to ask why...?" I asked then added, "not that I mind."

She smiled slightly, "If you have to ask then your not ready to find out," she stated gently standing up using just little bit of pressure from her index and middle finger to lift my head up so our eyes met. She then leaned forward and my Saiyan sensitive nose caught a mingled fragrance of orange and mint, that made my head all foggy. A second later I felt the sensation of pressure that felt soft as velvet and sweet as sugar, for a moment my entire mind was blank reaching up my hands encircled her waist bringing her closer, until she pushed and our lips broke apart. When I looked up into her eyes I saw a fire in them that hadn't been there before. "We'll talk later," she whispered then a few moments later walked down into the cabin below, probably to see how Akane was doing. Looking around I saw several eyes glaring at me, most coming from three sets of female eyes. Ukyou, Shampoo, and Videl were giving me looks, that thankfully made me glad I go Super Saiyan 2, because if I couldn't I probably be dead before Nabiki came back up.

"What?" I snapped at them getting up and walking over to Ranma, "Geez, so what's up Ranma?"

Ranma looked at me for a moment, "been thinking about the things I did today, not once did I care about gettin' cured. I was more worried bout Akane then I was some stupid pool."

"And you think that's a bad thing?" I asked wondering.

Ranma shook his head, "No, it's just I normally would have gone for the water first then saved Akane afterward, or if possible done both at once," he stopped frowning deeply. "Does that make me unmanly?"

"What for showing that you actually care about your fiancee's well being? No Ranma that's the very essence of being a man," I stopped glaring at Genma. "Don't think for an instant that your any less of a man for showing that. Your father is the very example of what not to do in regards to being a man," I smiled.

Ranma nodded, "Think Akane, will ever forgive me for keeping Ryoga's curse a secret?"

I think about it a moment, this was a tough one, "I can't say anything on that Ranma, one thing I haven't been able to figure out is girls," I stated scratching my head. "If I could, I be able to figure out Nabiki, try to find out if she going to be my girlfriend or not, all she does is deflect the question and kiss me," looking confused I start watching the ocean with him. "My only answer is apologize, tell the truth, and after that apologize again," I explain.

Once the boat landed the group disburst, Ukyou, Shampoo, Cologne, and Mousse going back to prospective restuarants, Kuno tried to glomp Ranma who managed to get splashed by someone, so the kendoist was sent home by a swift kick in the groin that launched him. Kasumi and the fathers left for home, with Akane, Nabiki, and Ranma trailing behind them silently. Gohan and Videl took off for the nearest department store to buy Videl some new clothes, though I have feeling she'll probably keep the skimpy little outfit for later use. I planned to return home and tell mom about what went on, but the very idea made me shudder. Two days without so much as a phone call was going to be hell to explain, and could lead to me and Gohan grounded until school went back in, so I left it up to Gohan to explain though he didn't know it yet. In meantime I decided to get to things done that I hadn't been able to get done because of the little side trip. I focused on Nodoka Saotome, and went to find her. See last time I was in her presence I felt something about her that begs the question, is she human.

Flying toward her aura was rather easy, I found myself hovering over a small estate roughly the size of Furinkan High, large stone walls, and at the center a modern four story house and a huge dojo located on the west side next to Dojo was large koi pond that could fit three of Tendo's ponds inside it. Landing on the front porch I knocked. Few minutes later Mrs. Saotome answered it, she looked surprised for a moment before giving me a small friendly smile. "Shiro Son, it's good to see you again, how was your trip?"

I gave shake of my head, "Take a long time to explain, saw Ranma there by the way," I stated casually this got her normal demeanor to perk up a bit.

"Really how is he?" she asked her hands wringing a towel nervously, "Wait come in, and tell me everything," we walked into the living room, which was easily the size of the Tendo home, and could fit in an out house or two. Sitting down on some lush looking couches I retold everything to her about meeting Krillin, Master Roshi, and Eighteen, the kidnapping, as well as the rescue afterward. Nodoka was held on the edge of her seat during the story when I finished I told her about the doubts Ranma had after everything. "Yes he did the right thing," she stated softly a small smile appeared on her face no doubt replaying the story in her mind trying to imagine what her son was going through.

"Mrs. Saotome I can tell you where your son is at, just need some quick questions answered before I do?" I asked.

She nods, "Anything, I miss my son so much," she stated tears welling up.

I look around the room, "Um, is this your house?"

She nodded, "My foster mother and father passed it on to me, when they passed away, since they had no real heirs," she said sadly.

I pursed my lips when I heard the word foster, "So you were adopted too," I stated with a light smile.

She nods, "Yes my parents found me in a ditch unconcious when I was an infant, they never told me much about it. Only there was another ditch like it not far from mine, where an old man found another baby."

This made my heart froze, what she was describing was in a sense the thing that happened to my father around the same time. "Go on," I urged Nodoka seemed to take a breath and blew it out in frustration.

"That's all I remember, well outside of the surgery I remember having when I was two, something brown furry being removed," she states.

I nod things were beginning to make sense, but I wondered about something, "Um Mrs. Saotome, did you ever had blood tests taken?"

She nodded, "Of course when I was pregnant with Ranma I took all sorts of tests, why?"

"No reason really just wondering," I put the information aside for later, so now I had a side trip to West City before heading home. "Okay now on to my real second question, do you know anything about the Valley of Jusenkyo?"

Nodoka shook her head, "Why?"

"Well it's legendary cursed training ground with over 1000 springs each one holding a terrible curse. Your husband in a fit of brillance decided that he and your son should train there," I give pause letting the information and my sarcasm sink in. "It was there Ranma kicked your husband off one of the poles imbedded in the center of one spring, and was sent flying into another. When your husband emerged he was a panda, apparently each spring you fall into will give you the body of the thing that last drowned in that spring, see cold water activates the curse and hot water negates it," I pause again and in morbid fascination as things began to don on her. "Your son was knocked into another spring by your cursed husband and it's this spring that makes your husband cower in his hiding place."

"My son has become my daughter as well," Nodoka answered mechanically clutching at the bundle in her hands.

I nod, "Ranma has tried numerous times to come out and tell you about his curse but your husband fearing for his life hides him pretty much in plain sight as Akane's cousin," Nodoka eyes watering slumps her shoulders tears slowly running down her face. "He gets really depressed after each meeting, I've seen it myself the three times you've stopped by. He doesn't want to hide from you if anything he'd be relieved that you've found out."

Nodoka nods standing up, "I'm going to see them," with that stated we walk out and up to the front gate. "Aren't you coming?" she asks.

I shake my head, though I would love to see Genma's face when he's found out, I had other questions needing answering, being a major CSI buff in my previous life and just as keen at solving puzzles. I felt that filling in the gaps I have at the moment would help emmensely. "Nope I have a friend to meet, about a test," I stated then without a second glance backward launched into the air and took off for West City.

Now why I was going to check on Genetics to see if my theory about Ranma and his mom pans out, I later found out through Kasumi and Nabiki what happened when Nodoka revealed that she had been told about her son's curse it was quite interesting shame I had to miss it but oh well.

XXX

Ranma was sitting on back porch meditating something Piccolo taught me and something I was passing on to Ranma. I was trying to break him of his habit of using Confidence as medium to use his ki attack, the Moko Takabishya. Piccolo explained to me one weekend when I brought Ranma up to Dende's Look Out, about the dangers of using emotions in ki attacks.

Flashback

"So Ranma could be in serious trouble if he keeps using his confidence to power his ki attack?" I asked sitting in the same meditative state Piccolo was in.

With a simple nod Piccolo opened one eye, "We don't use emotions to power our energy, Shiro. By using his confidence Ranma taints his body with each blast, adding more and more confidence into it each because it takes more each time," I love it when he lectures by the way because it don't sound like a lecture, more like a passing conversation. "He's twice as brash and bullheaded he is today than he was three months ago, but that's only because he's getting attacked almost every other day."

I shrug with a frown, "Only reason Kuno ain't attacking him anymore because he's attacking me," I snort in disgust, I could swear the Namek smirked at me for a second.

"I'm not sure how I know this, but you sent Kuno flying your first day at school on purpose," he said softly. I tried to look as if I was interested in my shoes for a moment. "I'm going to teach you some more meditation techniques and in return you teach them to Ranma, hopefully that combined with the training he's receiving will take care of his Ki medium problem before it gets to serious," he paused hearing a crash near the back followed by a female scream. "Have you ever considered letting Vegeta train the Tendo girl?"

I shake my head, letting the Saiyan prince near a human is cause for concern letting him train one well I think Soun would like to see his daughter in one piece, "I'm not sure that's such a hot idea, Vegeta not very good in showing restraint."

Piccolo chuckled, "Yes but if you asked him, I'm sure we'll see the girl again, bruised, battered, and sore head to toe. But he's the only one who can train her to her full potential I would but I'm getting soft."

"I'll think about it, and we better get started with the meditation training," with that the two of us started, and after I finished, I passed it on to Ranma.

End Flashback

Anyway Ranma was meditating, Kasumi was doing what she did best guarding her kitchen and cooking. Now Nabiki didn't tell me what she was doing at the time, and for some odd reason she had a huge blush on her face when I asked her. But she did hear the front door open and close assuming it was Gohan, Videl, and I coming in for dinner before going home, she finished up what she was doing. I never seen Nabiki blush before so whatever she was doing it was both private and very embarrassing or it was something more frisky. She went down the stairs and saw Nodoka Saotome standing exchanging her sandals for house slippers. Nabiki was about to yell out, when Nodoka brought her finger to her lips.

"Where are they, Nabiki and don't lie to me, Shiro already explained about the curses." This probably the point I was glad I wasn't there, judging by Nabiki's reaction when she told me this, I probably be sporting a new bruise on my head. Nabiki quietly led Mrs. Saotome to the back but apparently Genma's ki senses were well attuned to Nodoka because when she appeared in the back dining area she was greeted by a wet panda and an equally wet angry looking red haired pigtailed girl. Nodoka apparently didn't want to let the secret out at that moment. Ranma quietly walked back to his spot sat and began his meditation excerises again. A thing to admire in a friend and a student is his or her devotion to what you tell him or her. Nodoka quietly sat down next to her only facing the table arms folded in front of her not saying a word, which was giving Genma and Soun the willies. She also left her family sword next to her sandals, instead holding a small tanto which she quietly placed in front of her. Kasumi being the dear she always is brought in tea and snacks for them to munch on until she finished cooking. If it was possible to marry both Nabiki and Kasumi you bet I be the first in line to try, like I said I like both of them, just I'm starting to like Nabiki just a bit more. After all not everyday your kissed out of the blue like she did me.

Apparently the tension was thick enough that Akane felt it from her room and came down to find out what was happening seeing Nodoka present. She now understood why it was tense she just didn't understand why the atmosphere felt like it was about to combust, that was until Nabiki leaned in and told Akane what she found out. When Akane heard, she had to stifle both her concern and a gasp to keep Genma from finding out that he had been found out.

This went on for a few moments, until Ranma finished her meditation coming out of it she smiled and spun around ready to greet her mother as Ranko. She leaned forward to grab a snack, not realizing that Kasumi had left the teapot tittering on the edge of the table close to Genma. Now to me this proves that Kasumi isn't as airheaded as many make her out to believe or be, if anything she's sneakier than Nabiki. When Ranma leaned back her elbow hit the teapot causing the hot liquid to spill right in the middle of Genma's lap. Genma looked pale, so did Soun, Akane was borderline panicked, showing how far she and Ranma have come in their relationship in the past months, Nabiki told me she was only mildly interested, though I called her on that lie, so she stated that she was concerned. As for Ranma she seemed to ready to meet her fate whatever it was.

Nodoka simply sipped her tea before placing the cup down then leveled a glare at her husband that could melt Adamantium if such stuff was real. "I've already been told of your misdeeds to our son, Genma Saotome," she growled softly her aura according to Nabiki seemed to pulsate with each word. "You know what I've been told, that no more than six months away from me you start making these false engagements, then when he was ten you through him in to that pit time after time, against his own protests, still you through him in with those poor starving animals where they mauled our son, each time driving his poor little mind to the point it broke," she had tears streaming in her eyes by this time. "What's worse he endured hard ship after hard ship with you, starving, lonely, all for this idea of training, and all while you were sleeping in relative comfort do to your binge drinking, and were able to feed your fat stomach," Man how I wished I could of been there for this. "Then top off all the cruelity he has already undergone you instill him this sexist egotistical idea idea that men are better than women," by this time something strange had happened according to Nabiki Nodoka's hair was flickering, changing for reddish brown to golden blonde, and probably would have if Nodoka had the physical training, but I'll get to my discovery in a second. Nodoka then stood up walked around the table standing behind Genma for a second before moving to stand between him and the front door, but it also put him in perfect aim for something else. "But to top everything off, you go to a place where you can't speak the language and ignore warning that were being spoken to you, and end up getting a water based cursed. That's just a small list of your crimes, against my son. But your crime against me, was this. You hid like a coward from me, sure I would of been upset with the curse but I would not kill my son for something that was clearly caused on my his incompetent father," she reared back and kicked the fat fool right into the koi pond. While all this was happening Ranma looked utterly stunned alongside Akane.

Soun on the other hand was surprisingly calm through all this. See I always believed before his wife died Soun was really a stand up kind of guy, losing the woman he loved had turned him all the wishy-washy and spineless person he was when he first met Ranma. But with Miss Hinako now spending more time as an adult, she was slowly curing him of his insecurities. Yeah, nothing like a beautiful woman who's head over heels for you to cure insecurity.

Nodoka walked up to her sputtering panda of a husband and glared down at him still glowing. "For hurting, endangering, and plaguing my son, I should make you commit seppuku right here and now, if anything to cleanse the enormity of dishonor you brought upon my family," she sighed heavily tears coming down in sheets. "But I won't, it would be too quick and too painless in my eyes," Genma looked up his panda eyes still reeling from the verbal and physical force Nodoka was laying upon him. "You have two options Genma," she placed the tanto she carried and then piece of paper that looked like contract. "One you use this tanto to end your life here and now. Or sign this contract that states that you will work off your debts that you've accumulated on your training trip or that are left, I understand my son saved you from more than one of your collector's, well that ends today. You will go work off your debt and apologize to each one of them, anything they might want from you will be paid for them, by me," she stated coolly, notice she stopped referring to Ranma as their son. "Once that is done you will be removed from the Saotome register and be declared a ronin," She stood up and waited stepping back as the panda slowly crawled out of the water. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, at first Nabiki told me this I thought he was actually going to the more honorable of the two. But like all things Genma, the coward grabbed the paper. Nodoka frowned a moment then picked up the tanto and with a quick swipe lopped off Genma's ear. Genma's panda form growled in pain grasping at it's ear. After few seconds Nodoka took Genma's paw and slapped it onto the paper, leaving a bloodstained print. Nodoka crossed her arms in front of her, "Pack your things and get started, I want this all finished in three months, and just because I'm not watching you personally, doesn't mean you're not being watched," she stated firmly as the panda picked himself up and walked into the house. No one moved until Genma was out the front door, well that's not true Kasumi was still in the kitchen cooking.

As I understand it, it took Nodoka a few minutes to calm down, she just stood there looking at the bloodstained ear fighting her emotions. She lost that fight, dropping to her knees she cried heavily into her hands, and would of continued if not for her son, managed to pour some hot water on himself. He walked over and tentatively put his hand on her shoulder. Nodoka looked up and for the first time in ten years, saw her son as the boy she saw leave all those years ago. She stood up and threw her arms around her only child, holding him as tight as she could. Ranma looked unsure at first what to do, but like all children it came instinctively, he put his arms around his mother and for a time nothing in the world mattered.

XXX

As for me and my reason more missing such a powerful moment, had to do with something on a smaller scale. I landed on Capsule Corp. grounds and was let in by Trunks, the little guy looked a bit bruised no doubt from a training session, but he was overall okay. Bulma was in her lab working on god knows how many projects not including the one she was doing for me. She was apparently taking a break sitting down and relaxing, Vegeta was no doubt in his gravity chamber training and scheming on training materials he'll be using next time Akane comes over. I did ask him to train Akane, and he seemed all to eager to train her.

"Taking a breather Auntie Bulma?" I asked looking around.

Bulma yawned looking bored, "More or less kiddo, so you want to cross check this Nodoka Saotome with your father's DNA, may I ask why?"

I smiled waving my finger, "That is a secret," I laughed as she mock growled at me. Some of the funniest moments in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z was when there was angry Bulma around.

"Better watch it, could sick Vegeta on you," she smirked

I simply shrugged tapping a plastic cage with a lab guinea pig inside, "Didn't Krillin tell you what happened on Gohan and I's vacation?"

"Yeah, the girls in your group got kidnapped by some pint sized prince, but he seemed a little sketchy on details," Bulma looked annoyed.

"That's because he didn't want to tell you that he's married," I nonchalantly said watching the guinea pig run.

"WHAT?" Bulma was utterly shocked. "When did that happen?"

I pretend to think a moment, "I'd say roughly three and a half years ago, since their daughter is three years old."

I could tell Bulma's mind had shut down for a moment to adjust to this new bit of information, when it reengaged, the printout I wanted came up. "So who is she, do I know her, it's not the floosy he dated before is it?"

I was laughing hard clutching my sides, as she pulled out the paper but wasn't reading it, "You know her, no it's not Maron, and as for who she is, well Mirai Trunks told you about how she and her brother were suppose to destroy our future Earth," replying after calming.

Bulma's eye twitch, not a good sign. "He married Android Eighteen?"

I nod, "yep and have daughter named Maron," her eye twitched again this time twice, "um, what's the paper say," changing the subject.

Bulma leveled a glare at me, but started reading what the paper said. Whatever words she had for me about Krillin and Eighteen died the moment she read the comparison. She then ran to her intercom system, "Vegeta, come to my lab," Bulma said urgently.

"I'm busy woman, what can be so blasted important?" Vegeta growled over the comm.

"If you don't come down here this minute you'll be sleeping on the couch for a month," she replied harshly. "I found something you'll be very interested in."

I could hear Vegeta growling trying to make up his mind, and no doubt how far he could push his wife before she confined him to the living room for a month. Now if it was me personally choosing between training and sleeping with my beautiful wife if I had one, training can go to hell. "Fine, but this better be important." Apparently great minds do think a like.

"So what does it say, Bulma?" I asked.

Bulma looked up at me, "Nodoka Saotome 57 genetic markers in common with your foster father, Shiro."

I nodded some new excitement running through me than before, "Meaning since my dad and Nodoka are roughly the same age, they're brother and sister?"

She nods looking both proud at her science and even more excited than I was, "That's right, Nodoka Saotome is Goku's twin sister and she's a Saiyan."