Fading into view before all of his friends Ranma Saotome looks around and
sees that they are at Capsule Corp. Gazing around and seeing Gohan leaning
on his mother, being helped to stand up, Ranma trudges over to them,
dreading what is coming. Ignoring the greetings from friends Ranma keeps
walking over to Gohan. Stopping in front of the boy and his mother, they
still haven't noticed him as they peak around looking for Goku.
Getting their attention with a cough he speaks, "Guys I have some bad news."
************************
Only Human
By Verse12
Verse12@hotmail.com
**********************
Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
Note: A little warning first, during the fight sequences I could only hint at some of the things that Ranma had changed during the last twenty years. But now you will see some of the things that are different, and a lot of the DBZ cast will be OOC because the previous events in the past that were totally different.
***********************
Chapter Six
Aftermath Part Two
Or
Shades of the Future
*************************
One Week Later,
*************************
A TV blares in a small dark room, "Join us next week as we do a in depth introspective on the boy who saved the world Son-Gohan. So see you next week on Weekly Insi."
"CRASH!" Sounds through the room, a small boot sticking from the remains of the television screen, sparks and smoke filling the air around it.
Huffing in fury over another TV special over that phony a young girl stands seething with her fists clenched at her sides after her outburst.
"One day," she intones, her voice trying to sound angry even though it comes out as a cute squeak. "I will get my revenge on him, for the laughing stock he of made my father."
"Those stupid people can't they see that they are being fooled. When that stupid BOY showed up, those sheep out there just loved him. And when daddy came home expecting his adoring fans they just ridiculed him and laughed at him, AND CALLED HIM A FAKE!"
"HOW DARE THEY, HE IS THE GREATEST MARTIAL ARTIST ALIVE!"
Suddenly breaking down crying the young girl falls to her knees and clutches her legs in her arms rocking back and forth. "Daddy," she whispers, "why did you have to go?"
Firming her resolve she wipes her tears away and glares at a picture taken from a paper featuring Gohan. With a snarl she intones to the photo, "I will have my vengeance."
And so with renewed tears in her eyes Videl sits on the floor of her room with only servants to care for her and wonders where her life went.
************************
Capsule Corp.
Leaning on a window in an upper floor Ranma Saotome gazes at the gates of the compound. Where he sees the reporters still gathered around the wall hoping for a shot of anyone involved.
"Geeze can't they get a life, we had a death in the family and they just want to make movies and junk about Gohan. Poor kid, I'd better go and see how he's doin today. He looses his dad and now his mom just shuts her self off in her room. Better check in on her to" he muses to himself as he rises to his feet and heads off to Gohan's room.
Walking down the corridor he comes to Gohan's room knocking on it he receives a whimpered.
"Come in."
Opening the door Ranma walks in to Gohan's room, seeing the boy sitting at his desk looking at a picture of Goku, with tears in his eyes. Ranma was dejected to see the lad in such a state.
"Hey kid, how're you doin today?"
Looking up at his uncle, Gohan murmured, "kay I guess."
"Hey you don't have to put up a front for me, I know it's hard," he says while ruffling Gohan's hair.
Tears running down his checks Gohan begins to cry again latching onto Ranma's waist causing him to grunt in pain from the boy's fierce grip. Arms waving while turning blue a semi-panicking Ranma cries out, "GAHG, Gohan . . . hurts, pain . . . let go . . . blacking out."
Gohan starts as he feels Ranma collapse onto him causing him to call out "UNCLE?"
Setting Ranma on his bed Gohan pats his hand and face lightly, "uncle? Are you okay? Hey uncle?"
"Uhhh?" moans the man, till he sat up on the sheets and begins smiling at the distraught boy "that's some grip you got kid."
"Uncle I'm glad you're okay," yells the boy once again hugging him.
"Easy kid, you got ta watch your strength."
Sheepishly the boy answered "sorry."
"It's okay you just need to watch it, you're stronger than you were last week. That's something we need to work on, get you used to your new level of power."
"I . . . don't want to fight anymore uncle."
". . .?"
"Did you hear me uncle?"
"Yeah, I just didn't expect to hear it. Why do you want to do something like that, not that you can't if you want?"
After some time the boy blurts out, "I . . . just, it's just to hard to keep on."
". . . alright kid if you mean it I can understand, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Just remember that we have a responsibility to the people of the world to use our strength to defend them."
Yelling out suddenly enraged Gohan screams "DEFEND THEM? YOU WANT ME TO DEFEND THEM? MY FATHER DID THAT HIS WHOLE LIFE AND HE CHOSE, he chose" Gohan trails off his voice cracking from the emotion of it all. "He chose to protect them, over being with me and mom? He, how could he do that uncle? how could . . ." no further conversation comes as Gohan breaks down in uncontrollable sobs and wailing.
"Oh geeze," murmurs Ranma pulling Gohan into a hug allowing him to cry himself out. Eventually the boy's tears trail off and he falls into a deep sleep. Smiling down at the lad sadly Ranma picks him up and places him on to the bed covering him with a blanket.
Whispering Ranma says to the sleeping boy, "just rest kid it will get easier, and I'll be here for yah."
Closing the door Ranma leans back against it and sighs, "I am not meant for this kind of stuff. Yet I always seem to be the one in them."
Walking in the direction of Gohan's mother's room the man sigh's "that stupid Goku, I know I raised him better than this, I just can't understand him at times."
****************************
In another hall in the same wing of Capsule Corp.
"Sigh" mutters Ranma standing in front of a door "lets do this."
Raising his hand and knocking on the door he says "I can't handle all this, what am I a psyco . . . llalo . . . gam, um, a shrink."
Getting no answer he nocks again, Sighing and calling out "it's me Ranma."
". . ."
"If I don't hear something saying otherwise I'm coming in."
". . ."
"Alright then, I'm coming in," he says out loud in a singsong voice trying to sound upbeat.
Peaking thru the door Ranma pears into the dark room, "hey where are you?"
Walking gingerly inside Ranma stumbles and falls over a pair of boots, crashing to the ground with a muttered curse.
"Geeze, what are these doing out," looking around the room his eyes adjusting to the dark he sees all of Goku's things strewn about.
Gazing at the king size bed in the middle of the mammoth room Ranma frowns seeing and hearing the form on the bed clutching one of Goku's gis to her chest crying softly.
Walking over to the bed he sits down on it with another sigh Ranma gently pats her arm "hey, how you doin."
". . ."
"I, I know that this has to be hard, but Gohan really need you he, he has so much anger in him and pain. I'm tryin ta help, be there for him an all. But he needs you, he needs his mother."
". . ."
"I know we didn't get along that well when we first met but I think that we have become closer, cause we both care about Goku. Even though he is bein stupid."
"I just wanted to tell you that Gohan needs you and that I'll be there for him . . . and you."
"That's it okay," he says as he stands back up walking over to the door gingerly walking over the littered remnants of Goku's belongings. At the door Ranma turns around and looks back, seeing the ruffled blue hair of the woman on the bed he sighs and whispers, "take care Bulma, your to strong to let this get you down like this."
Closing the door Ranma walks into the hallway with a sigh, till he stops and thinks to himself that he sure is sighing a lot.
"Well since I seem to be making the rounds I better go down to the med-lab and check up on Ifurita. At least she seems to be getting better."
******************************
Subbasement three of the Capsule Corp. complex.
Exiting the elevator into the metal corridor of the main medical level, Ranma Saotome walked down the hall glad that Bulma had a chance to look over Ifurita while the others gathered the dragon balls.
'And Mr. Briefs has been checking up on her, though I ain't to happy about him and Mrs. Briefs choosing now to have to go to a convention on something or other.'
Striding over to a door he placed his hand on a metal plate at its side. With a swish the door opened into a room lit with florescent lights and lying on a bed under the harsh lights is Ifurita a number of cables and wires running from her arms and the socket on her back into a series of machines on the far wall.
Smiling at her as he strides in Ranma says, "Hey how're doing?" With a grin still planted on his face he sits down on the chair at her side.
Turning over slowly the pale haired woman smiles weakly back at him. "Hello yourself. And I'm doing fine it's just my power level is very low right now and without my staff it will be difficult to recharge."
"Ya I'm sorry about that."
"It's alright it's not your fault that Shen-lon cannot recreate my staff since it is made from elements that do not exist in this reality."
"Yeah that sucks, if he couldn't've affected things from or in other realities or I da've been home fifteen years ago. I do have some ideas about that, if Bulma doesn't get better and figures something on her own. Do you think a Senzu bean would give you a recharge?"
"I really don't know, though I guess it couldn't hurt to try," replies the El-Hazardian android.
Yeah when one becomes available we'll give it a try, and if that don't work, well I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
"How is Mrs. Son anyway?"
"She, she's taking it pretty bad I guess, she didn't even show up to see Trunks off. That's kind of understandable seeing how in his reality she married Vegeta of all people, that might be hard on her what with Goku not coming home. But she's strong and I think she'll pull through."
After an awkward pause Ranma continues to her, "Ifurita, can you still not sense Makoto?"
". . ."
"I . . . no, I can't. I just hope he got back after, everything that happened."
"Listen I think it will be okay, from what Krillan said he disappeared after the staff exploded so he probably got sent back," explains Ranma trying to put her at ease.
"You think so?" she asks quietly.
"Yeah I think so." Smiling back at her.
"Then so do I," she says smiling at him as well.
"And look on the bright side at least Mr. Briefs got you and all these machines moved into the medical level instead of the repair bay, it's a lot more comfortable here than over there let me tell you."
Smiling sweetly the android woman replies, "I'm sure your right about that."
****************************
The Ranma Universe.
The Tendo Dojo, just moments after Makoto's mind returned.
"Akane help me get him inside please?" asks Kasumi worriedly.
"Oh, of course onee-chan," (1) says Akane in a concerned tone.
Bending down Akane grabs the slight man and puts his arm over her shoulder lifting him up. Before Kasumi can get under his other arm Soun stops her "Daughters let me help," he interrupts lifting Makoto in his arms. Stepping up and thru the shoji (2) Soun Tendo places the young man down on a futon that Kasumi had drug out from the closet.
Leaning against the wall by the stairs Nabiki murmurs sardonically "so what did you do to this guy Akane?"
"SHUT UP NABIKI!" yells Akane turning to her sister in anger, "I didn't do anything, and Kasumi was with him when he just collapsed, right onee-chan?" (1) She asks Kasumi who is placing a wet cloth on Makoto's forehead.
"Yes," she murmurs still worried for her guest, placing a blanket on top of him.
"A bizarre look appeared on his face and then he screamed for Ifurita and collapsed."
"What could have happened to him?" Nodoka queries, "I hope nothing happened to her, or Ranma."
No one has anything to say to that except Akane who walks outside and looks at the sky and murmurs "me too."
**************************
The DBZ Universe
After leaving the sub-levels Ranma walks to the kitchen for a bite, wondering what to do about all of the problems that seem to be gathering around him. Stepping up to the fridge and rooting around inside his grumbles are cut short by the sound of someone clearing their voice behind him.
"Aachhum."
Spinning around Ranma exclaimed in shock "Jeez, Gohan don't do that."
"Sorry uncle," murmurs the boy sheepishly.
"Sokay kid, you are getting good at that though if you can sneak up on me."
" . . ."
"Uhm? Uncle, I . . ."
Quietly and with understanding Ranma leads Gohan over to the table and sits him down keeping his hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Gohan?"
Looking down at the tabletop fiddling with his fingers, "I want to apologize for earlier, I'm just upset you know?"
"Yah I understand." With a smile Ranma asks him, "So do you feel a little better getting all of that off of your chest?"
Smiling up at him Gohan chuckles a little, "yeah"
". . . Uncle? I have thought about everything and I think I was a little hasty earlier, you know?"
Smiling more broadly Ranma barks a quick laugh and sweeps Gohan into his arms "I knew you couldn't give up the art."
Laughing happily as his uncle spins him around in the kitchen Gohan eventually is set down and latches onto Ranma's waist. "I love you uncle."
Smiling fondly down on his 'nephew' Ranma hugged him back and said, "I love you to Gohan, and I'm here for you for as long as you want me," pulling him out at arms length he crouches down in front of the boy.
"Gohan?" at his answering nod the boy's eyes shining with tears Ranma continues, "Do you want to go out and do some training in the hills?"
Grinning from ear to ear the boy laughs and hugs Ranma again shouting out "YAA."
"Okay go change and into your gi I'll meet you out front, kay?"
"Unn," the lad grunts and scampers off to the stairs, only to stop on the first step and turn back to Ranma asking, "Do you think mom'll be okay?"
"Ya, she'll be fine, I checked up on her and Ifurita just a little while ago, okay?"
Looking sheepishly at his feet Gohan nods and thanks Ranma for all he has done for them.
"Don't worry about it kid, your mom and me put aside our differences long ago, and even if we didn't I'd watch out for her, cause it's the right thing ta do."
"Thank you," he murmurs feeling suddenly uncomfortable with his plans, Gohan runs upstairs to change.
Watching him leave Ranma wonders what that look on Gohan's face meant before shrugging it off as nothing and walking out back to wait on the boy.
***********************
As Ranma and Gohan take off into the sky not caring about the clicking of the photographers' cameras or their shouted questions, a form dressed in black lowered a set of binoculars and nodded to itself.
"Finally, now I will have my revenge and my proper place," murmurs a female voice from behind the black ninja like mask. With these words the figure stalks skillfully across the compound virtually invisible to sight.
"Bulma . . . you . . . will . . . pay."
************************
To be continued in:
Interlude Two: Ego
A Scene from Interlude Two:
Turning to face the prince of the Saiya-jin #18 yells back at him "YOU SHUT UP, stupid fool, you can't even use your arm.
End Notes:
One question for you my readers, it's about Gohan's age. In the cannon universe Gohan was 5 when Radditz showed up.
-1 year training for Vegeta.
-1 year between the time to Namek, the hunt for the Namek dragon balls, the fight with Frezza and the return home.
-2 years waiting for Goku and fighting Garlic Jr.
-3 years from the time Mirai-Trunks showed up till the androids.
So not counting time in the ROST when Cell showed up Gohan was 12. Right?
So then when Goku returns from the other world Goten is 6. So at least 7 years had to have passed since the Cell Games making Gohan 19 when he met Videl? That can't be right, can it? I always thought that he was 17 and going to high school not a guy who should be in college. So my question is can anyone tell me how a plot hole this big has not been brought up before? Or can anyone come up with a reasonable explanation. By the way what do you guys think of this new layout I'm using for my stories?
(1) - Onee-chan means big sister. Yes big sister, remember Ranma was in female form when he arrived. He had amnesia at the time so he spent an undisclosed amount of time thinking he was a woman.
(2) - A shoji is the porch and sliding rice paper door that leads to the koi pond
Anyway as always please Review I really appreciate all of your comments even if you didn't care for something. I just ask that you tell me what you didn't like so I can maybe address it. And of course positve comments are very appreciated, so please Review, so thank you everyone.
Signed: Verse12
Getting their attention with a cough he speaks, "Guys I have some bad news."
************************
Only Human
By Verse12
Verse12@hotmail.com
**********************
Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
Note: A little warning first, during the fight sequences I could only hint at some of the things that Ranma had changed during the last twenty years. But now you will see some of the things that are different, and a lot of the DBZ cast will be OOC because the previous events in the past that were totally different.
***********************
Chapter Six
Aftermath Part Two
Or
Shades of the Future
*************************
One Week Later,
*************************
A TV blares in a small dark room, "Join us next week as we do a in depth introspective on the boy who saved the world Son-Gohan. So see you next week on Weekly Insi."
"CRASH!" Sounds through the room, a small boot sticking from the remains of the television screen, sparks and smoke filling the air around it.
Huffing in fury over another TV special over that phony a young girl stands seething with her fists clenched at her sides after her outburst.
"One day," she intones, her voice trying to sound angry even though it comes out as a cute squeak. "I will get my revenge on him, for the laughing stock he of made my father."
"Those stupid people can't they see that they are being fooled. When that stupid BOY showed up, those sheep out there just loved him. And when daddy came home expecting his adoring fans they just ridiculed him and laughed at him, AND CALLED HIM A FAKE!"
"HOW DARE THEY, HE IS THE GREATEST MARTIAL ARTIST ALIVE!"
Suddenly breaking down crying the young girl falls to her knees and clutches her legs in her arms rocking back and forth. "Daddy," she whispers, "why did you have to go?"
Firming her resolve she wipes her tears away and glares at a picture taken from a paper featuring Gohan. With a snarl she intones to the photo, "I will have my vengeance."
And so with renewed tears in her eyes Videl sits on the floor of her room with only servants to care for her and wonders where her life went.
************************
Capsule Corp.
Leaning on a window in an upper floor Ranma Saotome gazes at the gates of the compound. Where he sees the reporters still gathered around the wall hoping for a shot of anyone involved.
"Geeze can't they get a life, we had a death in the family and they just want to make movies and junk about Gohan. Poor kid, I'd better go and see how he's doin today. He looses his dad and now his mom just shuts her self off in her room. Better check in on her to" he muses to himself as he rises to his feet and heads off to Gohan's room.
Walking down the corridor he comes to Gohan's room knocking on it he receives a whimpered.
"Come in."
Opening the door Ranma walks in to Gohan's room, seeing the boy sitting at his desk looking at a picture of Goku, with tears in his eyes. Ranma was dejected to see the lad in such a state.
"Hey kid, how're you doin today?"
Looking up at his uncle, Gohan murmured, "kay I guess."
"Hey you don't have to put up a front for me, I know it's hard," he says while ruffling Gohan's hair.
Tears running down his checks Gohan begins to cry again latching onto Ranma's waist causing him to grunt in pain from the boy's fierce grip. Arms waving while turning blue a semi-panicking Ranma cries out, "GAHG, Gohan . . . hurts, pain . . . let go . . . blacking out."
Gohan starts as he feels Ranma collapse onto him causing him to call out "UNCLE?"
Setting Ranma on his bed Gohan pats his hand and face lightly, "uncle? Are you okay? Hey uncle?"
"Uhhh?" moans the man, till he sat up on the sheets and begins smiling at the distraught boy "that's some grip you got kid."
"Uncle I'm glad you're okay," yells the boy once again hugging him.
"Easy kid, you got ta watch your strength."
Sheepishly the boy answered "sorry."
"It's okay you just need to watch it, you're stronger than you were last week. That's something we need to work on, get you used to your new level of power."
"I . . . don't want to fight anymore uncle."
". . .?"
"Did you hear me uncle?"
"Yeah, I just didn't expect to hear it. Why do you want to do something like that, not that you can't if you want?"
After some time the boy blurts out, "I . . . just, it's just to hard to keep on."
". . . alright kid if you mean it I can understand, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Just remember that we have a responsibility to the people of the world to use our strength to defend them."
Yelling out suddenly enraged Gohan screams "DEFEND THEM? YOU WANT ME TO DEFEND THEM? MY FATHER DID THAT HIS WHOLE LIFE AND HE CHOSE, he chose" Gohan trails off his voice cracking from the emotion of it all. "He chose to protect them, over being with me and mom? He, how could he do that uncle? how could . . ." no further conversation comes as Gohan breaks down in uncontrollable sobs and wailing.
"Oh geeze," murmurs Ranma pulling Gohan into a hug allowing him to cry himself out. Eventually the boy's tears trail off and he falls into a deep sleep. Smiling down at the lad sadly Ranma picks him up and places him on to the bed covering him with a blanket.
Whispering Ranma says to the sleeping boy, "just rest kid it will get easier, and I'll be here for yah."
Closing the door Ranma leans back against it and sighs, "I am not meant for this kind of stuff. Yet I always seem to be the one in them."
Walking in the direction of Gohan's mother's room the man sigh's "that stupid Goku, I know I raised him better than this, I just can't understand him at times."
****************************
In another hall in the same wing of Capsule Corp.
"Sigh" mutters Ranma standing in front of a door "lets do this."
Raising his hand and knocking on the door he says "I can't handle all this, what am I a psyco . . . llalo . . . gam, um, a shrink."
Getting no answer he nocks again, Sighing and calling out "it's me Ranma."
". . ."
"If I don't hear something saying otherwise I'm coming in."
". . ."
"Alright then, I'm coming in," he says out loud in a singsong voice trying to sound upbeat.
Peaking thru the door Ranma pears into the dark room, "hey where are you?"
Walking gingerly inside Ranma stumbles and falls over a pair of boots, crashing to the ground with a muttered curse.
"Geeze, what are these doing out," looking around the room his eyes adjusting to the dark he sees all of Goku's things strewn about.
Gazing at the king size bed in the middle of the mammoth room Ranma frowns seeing and hearing the form on the bed clutching one of Goku's gis to her chest crying softly.
Walking over to the bed he sits down on it with another sigh Ranma gently pats her arm "hey, how you doin."
". . ."
"I, I know that this has to be hard, but Gohan really need you he, he has so much anger in him and pain. I'm tryin ta help, be there for him an all. But he needs you, he needs his mother."
". . ."
"I know we didn't get along that well when we first met but I think that we have become closer, cause we both care about Goku. Even though he is bein stupid."
"I just wanted to tell you that Gohan needs you and that I'll be there for him . . . and you."
"That's it okay," he says as he stands back up walking over to the door gingerly walking over the littered remnants of Goku's belongings. At the door Ranma turns around and looks back, seeing the ruffled blue hair of the woman on the bed he sighs and whispers, "take care Bulma, your to strong to let this get you down like this."
Closing the door Ranma walks into the hallway with a sigh, till he stops and thinks to himself that he sure is sighing a lot.
"Well since I seem to be making the rounds I better go down to the med-lab and check up on Ifurita. At least she seems to be getting better."
******************************
Subbasement three of the Capsule Corp. complex.
Exiting the elevator into the metal corridor of the main medical level, Ranma Saotome walked down the hall glad that Bulma had a chance to look over Ifurita while the others gathered the dragon balls.
'And Mr. Briefs has been checking up on her, though I ain't to happy about him and Mrs. Briefs choosing now to have to go to a convention on something or other.'
Striding over to a door he placed his hand on a metal plate at its side. With a swish the door opened into a room lit with florescent lights and lying on a bed under the harsh lights is Ifurita a number of cables and wires running from her arms and the socket on her back into a series of machines on the far wall.
Smiling at her as he strides in Ranma says, "Hey how're doing?" With a grin still planted on his face he sits down on the chair at her side.
Turning over slowly the pale haired woman smiles weakly back at him. "Hello yourself. And I'm doing fine it's just my power level is very low right now and without my staff it will be difficult to recharge."
"Ya I'm sorry about that."
"It's alright it's not your fault that Shen-lon cannot recreate my staff since it is made from elements that do not exist in this reality."
"Yeah that sucks, if he couldn't've affected things from or in other realities or I da've been home fifteen years ago. I do have some ideas about that, if Bulma doesn't get better and figures something on her own. Do you think a Senzu bean would give you a recharge?"
"I really don't know, though I guess it couldn't hurt to try," replies the El-Hazardian android.
Yeah when one becomes available we'll give it a try, and if that don't work, well I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it."
"How is Mrs. Son anyway?"
"She, she's taking it pretty bad I guess, she didn't even show up to see Trunks off. That's kind of understandable seeing how in his reality she married Vegeta of all people, that might be hard on her what with Goku not coming home. But she's strong and I think she'll pull through."
After an awkward pause Ranma continues to her, "Ifurita, can you still not sense Makoto?"
". . ."
"I . . . no, I can't. I just hope he got back after, everything that happened."
"Listen I think it will be okay, from what Krillan said he disappeared after the staff exploded so he probably got sent back," explains Ranma trying to put her at ease.
"You think so?" she asks quietly.
"Yeah I think so." Smiling back at her.
"Then so do I," she says smiling at him as well.
"And look on the bright side at least Mr. Briefs got you and all these machines moved into the medical level instead of the repair bay, it's a lot more comfortable here than over there let me tell you."
Smiling sweetly the android woman replies, "I'm sure your right about that."
****************************
The Ranma Universe.
The Tendo Dojo, just moments after Makoto's mind returned.
"Akane help me get him inside please?" asks Kasumi worriedly.
"Oh, of course onee-chan," (1) says Akane in a concerned tone.
Bending down Akane grabs the slight man and puts his arm over her shoulder lifting him up. Before Kasumi can get under his other arm Soun stops her "Daughters let me help," he interrupts lifting Makoto in his arms. Stepping up and thru the shoji (2) Soun Tendo places the young man down on a futon that Kasumi had drug out from the closet.
Leaning against the wall by the stairs Nabiki murmurs sardonically "so what did you do to this guy Akane?"
"SHUT UP NABIKI!" yells Akane turning to her sister in anger, "I didn't do anything, and Kasumi was with him when he just collapsed, right onee-chan?" (1) She asks Kasumi who is placing a wet cloth on Makoto's forehead.
"Yes," she murmurs still worried for her guest, placing a blanket on top of him.
"A bizarre look appeared on his face and then he screamed for Ifurita and collapsed."
"What could have happened to him?" Nodoka queries, "I hope nothing happened to her, or Ranma."
No one has anything to say to that except Akane who walks outside and looks at the sky and murmurs "me too."
**************************
The DBZ Universe
After leaving the sub-levels Ranma walks to the kitchen for a bite, wondering what to do about all of the problems that seem to be gathering around him. Stepping up to the fridge and rooting around inside his grumbles are cut short by the sound of someone clearing their voice behind him.
"Aachhum."
Spinning around Ranma exclaimed in shock "Jeez, Gohan don't do that."
"Sorry uncle," murmurs the boy sheepishly.
"Sokay kid, you are getting good at that though if you can sneak up on me."
" . . ."
"Uhm? Uncle, I . . ."
Quietly and with understanding Ranma leads Gohan over to the table and sits him down keeping his hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong Gohan?"
Looking down at the tabletop fiddling with his fingers, "I want to apologize for earlier, I'm just upset you know?"
"Yah I understand." With a smile Ranma asks him, "So do you feel a little better getting all of that off of your chest?"
Smiling up at him Gohan chuckles a little, "yeah"
". . . Uncle? I have thought about everything and I think I was a little hasty earlier, you know?"
Smiling more broadly Ranma barks a quick laugh and sweeps Gohan into his arms "I knew you couldn't give up the art."
Laughing happily as his uncle spins him around in the kitchen Gohan eventually is set down and latches onto Ranma's waist. "I love you uncle."
Smiling fondly down on his 'nephew' Ranma hugged him back and said, "I love you to Gohan, and I'm here for you for as long as you want me," pulling him out at arms length he crouches down in front of the boy.
"Gohan?" at his answering nod the boy's eyes shining with tears Ranma continues, "Do you want to go out and do some training in the hills?"
Grinning from ear to ear the boy laughs and hugs Ranma again shouting out "YAA."
"Okay go change and into your gi I'll meet you out front, kay?"
"Unn," the lad grunts and scampers off to the stairs, only to stop on the first step and turn back to Ranma asking, "Do you think mom'll be okay?"
"Ya, she'll be fine, I checked up on her and Ifurita just a little while ago, okay?"
Looking sheepishly at his feet Gohan nods and thanks Ranma for all he has done for them.
"Don't worry about it kid, your mom and me put aside our differences long ago, and even if we didn't I'd watch out for her, cause it's the right thing ta do."
"Thank you," he murmurs feeling suddenly uncomfortable with his plans, Gohan runs upstairs to change.
Watching him leave Ranma wonders what that look on Gohan's face meant before shrugging it off as nothing and walking out back to wait on the boy.
***********************
As Ranma and Gohan take off into the sky not caring about the clicking of the photographers' cameras or their shouted questions, a form dressed in black lowered a set of binoculars and nodded to itself.
"Finally, now I will have my revenge and my proper place," murmurs a female voice from behind the black ninja like mask. With these words the figure stalks skillfully across the compound virtually invisible to sight.
"Bulma . . . you . . . will . . . pay."
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To be continued in:
Interlude Two: Ego
A Scene from Interlude Two:
Turning to face the prince of the Saiya-jin #18 yells back at him "YOU SHUT UP, stupid fool, you can't even use your arm.
End Notes:
One question for you my readers, it's about Gohan's age. In the cannon universe Gohan was 5 when Radditz showed up.
-1 year training for Vegeta.
-1 year between the time to Namek, the hunt for the Namek dragon balls, the fight with Frezza and the return home.
-2 years waiting for Goku and fighting Garlic Jr.
-3 years from the time Mirai-Trunks showed up till the androids.
So not counting time in the ROST when Cell showed up Gohan was 12. Right?
So then when Goku returns from the other world Goten is 6. So at least 7 years had to have passed since the Cell Games making Gohan 19 when he met Videl? That can't be right, can it? I always thought that he was 17 and going to high school not a guy who should be in college. So my question is can anyone tell me how a plot hole this big has not been brought up before? Or can anyone come up with a reasonable explanation. By the way what do you guys think of this new layout I'm using for my stories?
(1) - Onee-chan means big sister. Yes big sister, remember Ranma was in female form when he arrived. He had amnesia at the time so he spent an undisclosed amount of time thinking he was a woman.
(2) - A shoji is the porch and sliding rice paper door that leads to the koi pond
Anyway as always please Review I really appreciate all of your comments even if you didn't care for something. I just ask that you tell me what you didn't like so I can maybe address it. And of course positve comments are very appreciated, so please Review, so thank you everyone.
Signed: Verse12