Tales of Honor
Book 1: Lost

A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction by Nick Wilson

Disclaimer: None of these characters or situations are my property. They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, and whoever owns Ranma 1/2 in Japan. That said, I am a very poor college boy with no life, no money, and poor grades; therefore, suing me would be a futile effort on the part of any of these persons.

Chapter the Second: Tendous' Masks

Tendou Soun surveyed his two elder daughters with a sigh. Kasumi hadn't stopped crying since Nodoka made her decision concerning the cursed boy they'd all come to know and love in their own way. Even now, hours later, silent tears slowly made their way down her normally serene face. Nabiki's face hadn't yet managed to break out of the guilt-ridden look that she'd sported since her shock wore off. But he didn't know about how his youngest had taken the news. Akane had disappeared.

"Where is your sister?" Kasumi glanced at him, then turned her gaze to the stairs, and Nabiki didn't respond. Soun sighed, understanding. Akane had locked herself in her room and refused to come out. He'd just have to talk to her later.

"I don't suppose the two of you know the ramifications of what has happened, do you?" Nabiki glanced at him before returning her gaze to the table before her. Kasumi shook her head, her throat too raw from her earlier sobbing to speak. Soun wiped his brow with a sleeve. He had been hoping that he wouldn't have to explain; it could raise some rather difficult questions.

He moved to speak, but Nabiki beat him to it. "It means that his name will be struck from all public records; that, as far as the government is concerned, he never existed; and that the classified portions of our government will keep a very close eye on him to ensure that he isn't a danger to those around him." Soun could only nod.

"I don't know how you know, but that's. . ." Nabiki said something that he didn't quite hear, causing him to blink. "What was that, Nabiki?"

"Mother told us. . . Kasumi and me, I mean." Soun paled. "That's why we never tried to make you work. You couldn't. Not without Mother." Soun's head went down in shame.

"I'm sorry." There wasn't really anything more that needed to be said. . . That could be said. "I would have taken on some of our troubles if I could, but, without your mother, no one would take me for work and no students would come here. I. . . I lost every avenue except to pass on my love to my three beautiful daughters. . ." He started crying, but it wasn't one of his usual cries. These were the slow tears of genuine regret.

"It's okay, Daddy, we understand." But he could see it in her eyes. It would take him time to earn their respect again.

And earn it he would. This fiasco of a wedding had opened his eyes to what was going on around him. He had a great deal of work to do to right the wrongs he'd done his family, but he would do it. He'd been an honorable man before Kimiko's death despite his position in life; he would be honorable again in spite of it.

There was also the happenings of Jusendo. Were he more skilled. . . Had he kept up with Akane's training. . . His youngest daughter might never have been put in danger. She might have been less tempremental and not been so angry towards her earstwhile fiancé.

But what was done, was done. They couldn't change the past, only shape the future. And it seemed to Tendou Soun that this was as good a time as any to start.

First and foremost with the guilt-ridden child sitting before him.

Nabiki sat silently with her father and older sister around the table.

Several hours had passed since the pig-tailed martial artist had been exiled from his family and none of them seemed to know what to do. Akane had cried at first, after coming out of Ran... the guest room... a couple hours earlier, just before she locked herself in her room. Kasumi became despondent at the young man's misfortune, having simply sat and cried since he left. And her father seemed to be working himself up to saying something important.

Nabiki glanced up at her father's face again, sensing that he was about to say something directly to her.

"Yes, Daddy?" She blinked as she saw something change in him, something coming out that he hadn't shown to the world for a long time.

"Nabiki, something is bothering you, could you tell this humble, old man what it is?" She frowned, glancing back down at the table.

How could she tell him? How could she tell him that it was her fault that Ranma had been disowned and dishonored in such a way? That Ranma had asked her, as a man about to marry her sister, to keep everyone else away?

And instead she had invited them, for hefty sums that didn't even begin to cover the physical damages, let alone the emotional. Had she warned them not to bring weapons? Had she bothered to give Ranma a warning? Had she warned anyone at all about anything other than the fact that it was a wedding between Ranma and Akane?

The answers were no, no, and most definitely no. Looking back, she couldn't even remember why she'd done it. She'd just gotten so used to taking advantage of information on Ranma's personal life with his fiancés and rivals that she didn't even think about why she was doing it. She just went out and did it, without even thinking of the consequences of her actions.

How could she have been so stupid? If not for her, Ranma would still be a Soatome. He'd still be engaged to Akane and perfectly happy despite all the problems in his life.

She had crushed that happiness with her greed. She had to watch the joy in his eyes at the beginning of the wedding shift to confusion as the others showed up, then to betrayl as he was cast out of his clan, stripped of everything he'd ever held dear.

She remembered a lesson her father once taught her about martial artists: a martial artist's honor is everything to them. The more devoted the martial artist, the more important his honor is. And she'd stolen that from him as easily as she'd taken candy from a baby.

She couldn't get the image out of her head. His eyes had locked on hers for a brief moment after Nodoka declared him ronin, and she had seen something within him die in that instant. Not just his honor had been taken from him, but whatever childhood he had left as well.

Nabiki was disgusted with herself. Ranma had never really had a childhood. He'd had torturous training on the road, then too many fiancees to count here. She could have ended it long ago, without the suffering, if she'd wanted. But she'd wanted to milk him for every yen she could. And now his life was ruined because of her greed.

She looked up at her father, who was looking at her expectantly. How could she tell him any of this? Of the horrible person she'd become, taking advantage of even her own sister's wedding just to make a little money? Of all the times she'd taken advantage of an innocent person just to make a few extra yen?

It took her a few moments, but she soon realized that she couldn't. She couldn't tell him of how she'd failed her sister and would-be brother-in-law. She just couldn't.

Realizing that she'd started gaping at her father like a fish out of water, Nabiki forced her mouth shut and took a deep, calming breath before looking him in the eye.

"Daddy?"

"Yes? What's bothering you, daughter?" She grinned ruefully.

"It's my fault." That was so not what she meant to say. Oh well, too late to something else now. "I... I invited them all." She glanced back at the table, trying to fight back the coming tears. "Damn it! It's all my fault!" She didn't care who heard her. She had to get it out.

Before she knew what was happening, she found herself in a fierce embrace from her father as he started whispering calming words into her ears. Why was he doing this? He should hate her. She ruined her sister's wedding, damn it!

A single sob escaped her, and before she knew it, she was crying hard into her father's chest. She was telling him brokenly of every wrong thing she'd done. Every time she'd blackmailed someone... every time she'd lied or cheated... she even told him of every time she'd taken pictures of Ranma-chan or Akane.

It was all her fault. Ruining the wedding was her fault. Ukyou finding Ranma was her fault. Akane hating all boys was her fault! She was responsible for all of it!

He should hate her for it all. Akane should hate her for fueling the boys' obsessions. Ranma should hate her for taking so much advantage of him/her and getting him disowned like that. Hell, even Kasumi should hate her for never helping around the house; even Ranma helped Kasumi out occasionally!

A second set of arms joined her father's around her, followed by a third. Even Happosai joined in and hugged her, and it wasn't in his usual perverted way, either!

Why didn't they hate her? Why were they doing this? She tried to pull away and was surprised when Akane's voice came to her loud and clear.

"Give her some room. She needs to breath!" Nabiki hiccupped in surprise as she spotted her sister smiling sadly at her. Idly, she noted that Akane had changed out of her wedding dress.

"Wh-Why?" It was all she could say. She just felt too drained and meek to say anything else.

"Because you're my sister," Akane said simply. "And there's no way you could've predicted what happened today."

"And you always tipped everyone off when I was coming. That's not the action of someone who everyone should hate." Nabiki smiled ruefully at Happosai.

"Thanks, Akane, Gramps."

"Don't call me that, it makes me feel old." Nabiki laughed at that, but the others all face-faulted, except Kasumi.

"Um, I'm afraid, that you are old, Grandfather Happosai." The old man could only sputter at that, causing Nabiki to laugh even harder.

Life sucks.

For the past couple of hours, all I've done is sit and think 'bout what's happened to me.

I've lost my name. My honor's been stripped away from me and by my own mother no less! For reasons she'd encouraged!

And then there's Nabiki. I'd asked her to keep the others away. Yet, when it came down to it, she didn't even show the smallest sign of being surprised when they all showed up. Almost as if she'd expected them.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to let me know that she'd allowed them to come at the very least. She probably made a lotta money when she told them what was going on.

I hope she did, because I don't intend to let her make money off of me like that anymore. It isn't like there's anything she can do to me anymore. Without my name, I lose my honor and my dignity. There isn't anything Nabiki can do to me that hasn't already been done.

And while we're on the subject of honor, what good's that ever done me? A shit load of fiancés, rivals, and more trouble than it was ever worth.

Honor be damned. It's never done me any favors. It's 'bout time that I stopped doin' it favors.

Nodding up at the bottom of the bridge over the canal, I feel my resolve strengthen. It's 'bout time that I do somethin' 'bout this mess I luckily call my life.

First thing's first, I can't leave Nerima. There's someone here I can't stand to see without a decent fighter protectin' her.

So, I gotta get rid of Shampoo and the ghoul, and hopefully that'll deal with getting rid of Mousse, too. Perhaps I'll luck out and I can just scare them off? After all, the whole reason they started chasing me was for the preservation of their tribe. . .

The Kunous may be a problem to get rid of. They are crazy, after all. Hmm, maybe Nabiki might be able to help me with that. . . Naw, she'd turn around and make more money out of it, somehow. I'm gonna' have ta' find a way to deal with them sooner or later.

And what about my father and mother? Officially, they ain't my parents anymore, but I don't think I'll ever be able to stop thinkin' of them like that. And with me no longer officially bein' their child, they'll never be able to control me again.

That might be the only good thing with my whole situation.

No, wait. How could I forget about those stupid engagements?

There's Ukyou. . . She's been chasin' me for years, bent on either revenge or marriage, but she won't get either outta me. And somethin' tells me that she won't quit just 'cause I'm ronin. I hate ta' do it, but somethin' tells me that I'm gonna have ta' break her heart. . . several times over.

Frankly, I don't look forward to that.

Next, there's the Tendous. Kasumi's okay, she never did anything to me or tried to get anything outta' me. Mr. Tendou is also okay since he's pretty much harmless without pops. I'll have to be careful around Nabiki; she seemed like she kinda wanted ta' undo what happened. She'll be hard ta' deal with.

And, most importantly, there's Akane. How should I deal with her? I love her so much it hurts. All I really know is that I can't let her hit me with that mallet of her's anymore. I just can't afford it anymore.

And there's definitely no more pullin' my punches if I get in a fight. No matter who I fight with. I simply can't afford runnin' the risk of gettin' hurt anymore. Not without someplace I can go without havin' ta' worry 'bout protectin' myself.

Damn, I wish Doc Toufuu was still around. I'd've been able to trust him with this sort of thing.

I glance past the bridge, noticin' how dark it's gettin', and decide to find a place to set up camp for the night. Someplace clear where I'll be able to sense someone comin' towards me, even in my sleep. . .

End Chapter the Second

Notes in Brief:
First off, sorry about my absense. Let's just say that Research Writing and Calculus class don't mix too well with upcoming graduation or getting one's wisdom teeth removed.
Second, I get the feeling that I'm repeating Ranma's thought process, and I don't really like that. Hopefully, you won't have to look at this specific thought process again until Ranma hits a major revelation later on.

Released May 9, 2006