Chapter 6: Ranma Saotome?
Judge Sanu called the Court to order and reviewed the crowd. Tanaka sat at the Plaintiff's table alone, while Nodoka, Soun, and Ranma sat at the Defendant's table with their lawyer. The crowd was full of supporters for Nodoka and Ranma. In fact, there wasn't even standing room available. "Don't these people have jobs and school?" wondered Sanu. "I better make things quick or the city will stay at a stand-still," he thought.
"All right," he said out loud. "First order of business is that there was an accident at the labs on Friday and the Saotomes' samples were corrupted. So, I going to require that new samples must be collected from Mr. Tanaka, Nodoka Saotome, and Ranma Saotome. I am also going to require that Mr. Tanaka will be responsible for all lab costs *and* for all court and lawyer costs of both sides if it is found that he is not Ranma Saotome's father."
"I object, your honor!" Mr. Tanaka shouted out. "You're punishing me for pursuing Justice!"
"No, I am punishing you for wasting the court's time. You know full well you are not Ranma's father. If you are Ranma's father, this ruling has no effect on you. Are you saying you are not Ranma's father and that this test is indeed a waste of time?" Sanu challenged. "Keep in mind that my previous ruling regarding sixty days in jail will also apply if you continue this nonsense. You can back out now cleanly if you wish. Are you still claiming to be Ranma's father or not?"
"I am," Tanaka grated out.
"Then you still wish the tests to go forward?" Sanu pushed.
"I do," Tanaka said.
"Then so be it. Bailiff? Please gather the new samples," Sanu ordered. The Court waited silently as the three people submitted to the cheek swabs again. Once it was done, Sanu continued: "In the meantime, I can rule on a few other matters. Regarding the marriage of Genma Uchida and Nodoka Saotome: the Saotome family has submitted sufficient evidence to show that Nodoka Saotome suffered from advance OCD at the time of her marriage. More importantly, Nodoka also suffered from extreme paranoia and sufficient schizophrenia that her World View was obviously distorted. Therefore, she could not enter into any legal or social contract." The courtroom began buzzing until Sanu called everyone back to order. "Therefore, in accordance with Article 36 of the Family Code, the court must reject all requests for divorce. Instead the Court itself must hereby declare the marriage contract null and void and not needing any requests for divorce."
Tears leaked down Nodoka's cheeks upon hearing those words. The Emperor of Japan just declared through his representatives that she never married Genma – Genma Saotome never legally existed. All contracts he made were null as well. His stains of honor were lifted from the Saotome family. With a start she remembered her conversation with Kasumi in the garden so long ago. (1) She turned to Kasumi in shock. The young woman returned her gaze with sympathy, but also mouthed the words "I'm sorry." Nodoka now knew who was responsible for drawing the main Saotome family into this. Nodoka shook where she was, not knowing how to respond. Finally she uttered a low cry and hurled herself at Kasumi, who stood still to hold her. Nodoka cried into Kasumi's shoulder as Kasumi stroked her hair.
The courtroom burst into chatter as the implications became clear. Tanaka cried "No!" but was ignored.
Ranma blew out a deep breath and held his head in his hands – he knew it had been coming, but the shock was still tremendous. He felt Akane leave the audience and pull up a chair besides him, holding him.
Finally, Nodoka's lawyer stood up amidst the turmoil and yelled out: "Your Honor! I beg for a 15 minute recess!"
"Granted!" Sanu yelled back across the uproar – he had given up trying to take back control until some of the emotions had been spent.
Finally, Sanu called the Court back into order and people settled down. Tanaka was forced to give up the Plaintiff's table as Hayato Saotome took it instead. Shigeo Saotome now sat at the Defendant's table with his lawyer. There was a bailiff standing next to Tanaka as he sat in the audience near Hayato. Ranma sat with Akane, and Nodoka sat between Soun and Kasumi in the audience behind Shigeo.
Sanu started again: "Family Court will now rule regarding the disputed petitions between Hayato Saotome and Shigeo Saotome. Both men have requested the return of the Saotome Honor Blade in the possession of the Court. Will both sides abide by the ruling of the Family Court or must the issue be relinquished to the Summary Courts where such matters are usually handled?"
"I will," stated Hayato. Shigeo echoed him.
"Fine," Sanu said. "Since Shigeo Saotome has refused to agree to the Court's conditions for the return of the blade, including the condition to promise never to use the blade in a Seppuku ceremony, the Court hereby awards the blade to Hayato Saotome."
Hayato nodded in satisfaction, but Shigeo sighed. Sanu spoke: "I wish I could say I was sorry, Shigeo Saotome, but you don't get to choose your fate. You have committed various serious crimes, and you should be punished in a Court of Law. I wish Hajime Tanaka had the brains to press charges over twenty-five years ago." Tanaka's eyes narrowed at that.
Sanu took a sip of water (after checking the clock) and continued: "The Court will now attend to the petition submitted by Hayato Saotome regarding changes to his Family Registry as follows:" For some reason, Sanu stopped to look at Ranma Saotome, who only nodded. Sanu then continued: "The Court hereby approves the removal of Shigeo Saotome and all his descendants from the Saotome family tree due to loss of Honor for offenses against his daughters Airi and Nodoka; and for offenses against one Hajime Tanaka."
The Court gave a collective gasp at Sanu's words. Shigeo just seemed to slump into his chair. Hayato looked at his uncle sternly. Nodoka broke into tears while Kasumi held her. Ranma looked straight ahead while Akane held his hand. Tanaka just looked confused.
Sanu called for order again and continued: "In addition, Nodoka Saotome will be adopted into Hayato Saotome's family as his sister, allowable since he is now head of the family by Family Declaration, and his own parents are deceased. The Family Registry will also note the correct genetic relationship."
There was more confusion in the Courtroom. "But what about Ranma?" someone called out.
Hayato looked at Ranma, who only nodded again. Hayato sighed and raised his voice: "Your Honor, I beg to announce the decision regarding Nodoka's son."
"You must follow the decision as we agreed," Sanu told him sternly.
"It still should come from the Head of the Family," Hayato stated. At Sanu's nod, Hayato continued: "Since Ranma was born to Nodoka, the punishment against Shigeo still applies. We have reviewed several alternatives, but Ranma's status as a legitimate child of a non-existent relationship with no known genetic father complicates things tremendously. If we follow our first impulse, which is to adopt him into our family, he may still suffer the Honor burden from Tanaka and the label of illegitimacy. We also fear he may suffer the Honor burden of other claimants from those who will try and claim that Genma Uchida was still a legal representative of the Saotome clan. Our second course of action would be to seek his true father so Ranma can claim his true clan, or to have another clan adopt him. Either way would free him from Tanaka's burden and any further obligations."
Nodoka's crying suddenly stopped and her eyes became wide again, but before she could shout out, Ranma reached around Tofu and Kasumi and grabbed her hand. She looked at him as he stared back intensely. "Don't say anything, Mom. I will always be your blood son, and you will always be welcome to me. Trust me! Please!" he whispered fiercely.
Meanwhile, Hayato took a deep breath and continued talking: "While we cannot claim Ranma into our clan, we have no wish to completely sunder our connection to him. Therefore, we have commissioned an Honor Blade which he will bear for his true clan. The handle will bear the name Saotome, but the blade will bear the name of Ranma's clan." Ranma whipped his head around to stare at Hayato. Sanu knew Hayato was straying from the script, but not critically yet. Hayato continued: "It is with a heavy heart and the promise of an Honor Blade that we must release Ranma to the City of Nerima as its ward."
Ranma looked very confused, so Sanu figured it was time to finish this while the young man was off-balance. "Sorry, Ranma. You are underage. You do not become a ronin as you suggested," the judge said as he banged his gavel. "I now declare that Ranma, blood son of Nodoka Saotome, is now a ward of the city of Nerima, and due to his advance age and circumstances, is immediately available for clan adoption pending approval from the Court. Those wishing to petition the Court for consideration of adoption should submit their applications by 5PM Wednesday afternoon. Court is now adjourned."
Then the uproar began…..
Ranma sat stunned in a small private room in the Courthouse. Nodoka was holding him and had pulled his head onto her shoulder while crying over him. "Ronin, Ranma? Were things that bad?" she asked eventually.
Ranma sighed and lifted his head, "Mom, it was worse than that. You wanted me to be a man among men, but I couldn't even do that. A true man's Honor has to mean something to him, otherwise it means nothing. I couldn't carry your father's Honor – you couldn't either. My death would not redeem Shigeo and I couldn't be a Saotome and be tainted by Shigeo and Genma. I had to start from scratch. I want to matter – I want to make a difference."
Nodoka stopped weeping and looked softly at her son for a few minutes. Finally she said: "You have already made a difference in everyone's lives you've touched for the better despite the chaos that surrounds you. I know of no one who would choose not to know you. I think that's the greatest test of one's worthiness." She blew out a deep sigh. "All right, we will walk this path together if no one else will."
"I think other people will join us," Ranma told her. "I know Akane won't turn her back on me."
"Neither will Kasumi, Nabiki, and Ono," Nodoka added. "I wish I could say that about Soun, but sometimes I have a tough time reading him."
"I think he'll come around – he's come a long way himself," the young martial artist said.
There was a knock on the door and Judge Sanu let himself in. Ranma gave the judge a very direct look, but it wasn't accusatory despite his words: "You tricked me."
The judge nodded, but said "Only a little. You have tremendous potential and you have a long way to go. You need guidance. There was no way I was releasing you on your own. Besides, you are under age, and you need a family to support you."
"I have a family, Judge," Ranma stated.
"You have a girlfriend's family. You also need someone on your side too. Why don't you wait and see how this turns out before you judge me too harshly," Sanu told him.
"All right. Have things calm down now?" Ranma asked.
"A bit. Tanaka vanished in a royal rage. I may have an issue trying to find him when I need to lock him up for sixty days. The Saotome family is holding court for the Press in another room. They are doing a good job putting you and Nodoka in a positive light. Your friends are just down the hall waiting for you."
"I can still be around Ranma, can't I?" Nodoka asked.
"Nothing has happened that forbids that, Nodoka, so long as you behave yourself of course," the judge told her. "You are still Ranma's blood mother. Eventually, Ranma's birth certificate will have to be changed to remove Genma and update the clan father, but you will still be listed as his mother. There will be no adoption allowed that doesn't support your visitation rights. I doubt Ranma will be leaving the Tendo household anyway, no matter what happens."
"Are you sure Mr. Tendo will agree with that?" Ranma questioned.
"Trust me," Sanu returned. "In the meantime, it's time to rejoin the living. Your friends are waiting."
Ranma nodded and took Nodoka's hand, leading her down the hall to a waiting room. Immediately, Akane caught him in a fierce bear hug as the rest of the room began clapping and cheering. When Sanu said his friends were waiting, the judge wasn't kidding – The Tendos were all there (even Nabiki who skipped one class), Ono, Shizuka, Hideo, Yuka, Sayuri, Daisuke, Hiroshi, Ms. Hinako, Chie & Naoki, Ando, Imia, Ueda, Ojima, several other police officers Ranma knew well, Ryoga, Akari, Maomolin, Chiyoko, Ukyo, Konatsu, Mousse (who bore well wishes from Cologne), Ciren, Mausu, Daran, and several friends from school. There was also a smattering of other town adults that knew Ranma fairly well. All were there to offer Ranma support. Hayato Saotome had arranged for food to be sent to the gathering, and the bailiffs worked to keep the Press away while folks unwound after the Court show.
Eventually, Ms. Hinako rounded up all her delinquent students and ushered them back to the classroom (and the waiting gossip mills) except for Ranma and Akane. The rest of the gathering split up to attend to their own jobs/tasks except for Ranma's foster family, Kasumi, and Ono who accompanied Ranma and Akane out of the court building doors. When they got outside though, they found Soun Tendo waiting solemnly for them while puffing on a cigarette.
"Father?" Kasumi asked. "Are you all right?"
"I need to speak to Akane and Ranma alone for a minute. It's very important," Soun told the group.
"Father…" Kasumi started.
"Stop, Daughter. This is between Ranma, Akane, and myself. I'm afraid it doesn't concern you right now," the father answered firmly.
"All right," Ranma agreed. He held out his hand to Akane and she walked toward her father with Ranma.
Soun led them away just out of ear shot (supposedly) and then turned to the young couple. "I promised Kasumi that I wouldn't push the two of you into marriage, and I'm not going to," he said. They waited for the other shoe to drop. "But," Soun continued after taking a puff of his cigarette. "I really need to know these answers right now. Ranma? Do you love my daughter?"
Ranma looked Soun in the eye and answered "Yes, sir."
"Do you intend to ask her to marry you in the near future?" the father pressed.
"Yes, sir," Ranma answered again.
Soun looked at Akane. "Daughter, do you love Ranma?" he asked.
"Yes, Daddy," Akane answered softly (but with no hesitation).
"And if he asked you to marry him, would you say 'Yes'?" Soun asked.
"Yes, Daddy," she answered again while nodding her head.
Soun drew in deep from his cigarette and let it out again. "Fine," he said. Then he straightened his shoulders and looked directly at Ranma. "Ranma of Nerima, you are welcome to my house regardless of the clan name you bear. If you wish to marry my daughter, I will not oppose it. But if you want me to bless your marriage to my daughter, Akane, by attending your wedding, you must take the Tendo clan name as I did so many years before. I ask that you do this to honor Akane's mother, and to maintain the Tendo dojo in her name. Do you understand?"
The pig-tailed martial artist straightened up as he realized exactly what Soun was asking. "Yes, Mr. Tendo," Ranma answered formally.
"Fine," Soun echoed again. He held out a piece of paper to Ranma. "Here, hold onto this as a reminder of what I said." As Ranma took the paper, Soun started to walk away. Then he stopped and said over his shoulder: "Oh Ranma?"
"Yes, sir?" Ranma prompted.
Soun took another drag from his cigarette. "Try 'Soun', or 'Father', or even 'Dad'. If you ever call me Mr. Tendo again, I'll break your jaw." With that Soun walked away from the shocked couple.
As Soun left, the others rejoined Ranma and Akane. Tofu took the sheet of paper from Ranma's unresisting hands. "What is it?" Kasumi asked.
"It's an adoption application. Soun filled in everything but his signature," Tofu answered. "I'm guessing he was prepared to accept Ranma one way or another, but the bottom line is that you cannot marry your sister." Tofu added with a slight grin while looking at the still stunned couple. The rest of the group watched Soun's retreating back.
Soun stood silently in the graveyard looking at the Tendo family monument. Uncharacteristically, tears were rolling gently down his cheeks instead of flying from his face. "I did it, Love," he said quietly. "I managed to secure your legacy. I got you a worthy son who will help your Heir. The dojo will be in safe hands now."
Behind him, standing unseen, was a ghost. The ghost looked a lot like his youngest daughter, aged a decade or so. "My little idiot," she whispered to him. "Your daughters have already seen to my legacy. Indeed, they are my legacy, not the dojo. But if this is what you need to move on, so be it." Despite the fact that he could not hear the ghost directly, somehow, her words made it into his heart.
The old woman walked down the hallway towards Judge Sanu's office leaning heavily on her walking stick. When she stood outside his door, she banged on the door with her stick. "Yes?" a voice called out.
"Judge Sanu? It's Mrs. Ohayashi. We have a 4:30PM appointment?" the old woman shouted out.
"Yes, yes. Please come in," the judge called back.
The old woman opened the door and walked in to see the judge and his assistant, then closed the door behind her. A listener standing outside the door would have heard only low murmurings for a little while, followed by two shouts of astonishment. After a few more quiet murmurings, the listener would then hear the laughter of two men echoing loudly throughout the building…
A/N: Footnotes:
(1) It's been a while, so I thought I would remind folks: Kasumi and Nodoka made a bet between themselves back in Chapter 2 of "Ignition". The bet was that Kasumi could restore the Satome Family Honor and remove Genma as a consideration. If Kasumi was successful, Nodoka wouldn't be allowed to kill herself. Otherwise, Kasumi would be Nodoka's Second.
A/N: Next up: Applications