Chapter 4: Resolution?
At three o'clock Nodoka arrived at the Tendo home. She was wrapped in heavy winter wear, her umbrella slightly iced over. The weather had turned truly nasty that afternoon and if snow was unheard of in Tokyo this time of year, a near ice storm was a record setting event. The weather men were all confused saying that such a localized event, the weather was only this bad in Tokyo, was without precedent. Just a few miles outside of Tokyo there was normal fall weather, early fall at that. At any other time Nodoka wouldn't have left home during such terrible weather, but her son had asked her to come and she was worried about him. All morning she was plagued by a bad feeling that something was horribly wrong, that she was going to lose him again.
When she arrived she thanked Kasumi for her hospitality and accepted the hot tea she offered, then she hunted down her husband and demanded to know what he was doing about their child. When she confronted him about the state of their child Genma didn't seem the least bit worried, he told her that Ranma just needed a little time to come to grips with what he had to do to save his fiancé, like any man would and that her coddling would only make things worse. Soun seemed to agree with his friend, but Akane and Kasumi didn't look so confident.
When Ukyo arrived she looked resigned. She was sure Ranma had broken his silence since the wedding to finally tell her that she had no chance, he had chosen Akane.
Near the same time as Ukyo, Dr. Tofu arrived at the Tendo's. He was distracted and more than a little worried. He tried to hide it but it was so bad that he hardly stuttered when Kasumi welcomed him and offered a cup of hot tea. She exchanged a worried look with Akane at the doctor's lack of reaction. Ukyo was distracted by her own emotional burden but she too couldn't help noticing the Doctor's abnormal behavior. The only ones who didn't notice were Nodoka, who didn't know the Doctor well enough to realize it was unusual and the fathers who were too busy convincing each other that the schools would at last be joined.
Ukyo slid closer to Akane. "Akane, I know we are kind of rivals for Ranma but...what is going on? Please, you and Kasumi both look worried and Kasumi never looks worried. Dr. Tofu, he's just acting scary. Ranma is my friend and … I rather like you too, please tell me what's wrong."
Akane chewed her lower lip nervously while Ukyo spoke, not sure what to tell her.
"Ukyo, believe me I wouldn't lie to you, but I don't know. Two days ago Ranma disappeared for hours and didn't come home till after everyone else had left. Then he burned himself with boiling water and went to the clinic before we got back. Ranma spent the night at the clinic."
She could see that the chef was going to confront Tofu, so she grabbed her hand and with it her attention. "I already talked to Dr. Tofu and he wouldn't tell me because of doctor patient privilege, but … he told me that Ranma wasn't burned bad. Dr. Tofu examined me too and he said that Ranma and I both have this … energy in our chi. He said that it was making us healthier than before so he sent Ranma to see an expert of some sort, but Ranma hasn't come home since. He spent last night at his mother's house. The only time we've heard from him was when he called to ask everyone to be here at four. Ukyo, Dr Tofu said that this energy was because of what happened in China."
Ukyo didn't know what happened the last time Ranma and Akane disappeared on one of their unplanned adventures, but she could see that whatever happened it was bad enough that Akane was still uncomfortable talking about it.
"He said this energy, in spite of making us healthier, he said there was an 'imbalance in Ranma's condition'. I'm not sure what he meant, but he said Ranma promised to explain. Dr. Tofu tried to make it sound okay yesterday and I wasn't worried, but … today he doesn't look like he thinks its okay."
Ukyo was surprised to find that Akane was not only still holding her hand, but the Tendo girl was squeezing it tightly like it was her life line. When she arrived Ukyo was worried about what Ranma's announcement might mean for her, now she was worried about what it might mean for Ranma.
As the hour drew near to four o'clock everyone was a little surprised that there was no sign of the Amazons. It was unlikely that Ranma hadn't invited Shampoo, even if he hadn't Cologne always seemed to know what was going on. A cold spike of fear shot through Akane as it occurred to her that maybe Cologne did know. Maybe Cologne knew and there was no reason for them to come. 'Dr. Tofu said Ranma was healthy, he wouldn't lie' Akane told herself, a mantra to fight her fear.
****
The house was filled with a tense silence as everyone waited for Ranma to return. Come four o'clock there was still no sign of Ranma, so the group decided to wait in the dojo. Icy snow was falling as the large group traversed the distance between house and dojo under the protection of the covered walk.
To their surprise when they entered the dojo they found Ranma Chan already present and waiting. She was wearing his best formal kimono which was too large for her so she had to wear it bunched up. She was seated upon the floor beneath the shrine and the soul of ice was plain to see on her face.
"Ranma where have you been?"
"Ranchan are you alright?"
"Boy, what do you think your doing abandoning your fiancée and why are you a girl?"
"Son, I hope you are prepared to do the right thing. We can have a priest here in fifteen minutes."
All of these words flew at her at the same time, creating an indecipherable mess if one didn't already know what they were going to say.
Everyone fell silent when Nodoka knelt besides her part time daughter. Placing the honor blade beside her on the floor she drew the distressed girl into a comforting hug.
Ranma couldn't resist her mother's hug, but stiffened when Genma interrupted with
"Wife, I told you coddling him would only make him weak."
Nodoka released Ranma, recognizing her child's discomfort with displays of affection while everyone was watching. In her heart Nodoka cursed Genma for a fool, she gave him the evil eye while her right hand rested upon her sword. Genma wisely decided that it was best to wait and hear what Ranma had to say for himself before confronting the boy with his dereliction of duty.
The consummate hostess, Kasumi broke the resulting silence by asking "Ranma, would you like some hot water?"
The soul of ice cracked a little, Ranma was both gladdened and saddened by her loving offer. "Yes Kasumi, if you would. Please ensure that it is hot enough and could you also bring some cold water?" She gave Kasumi a small smile as she asked.
"Of course Ranma, it will be my pleasure. If everyone will excuse me." and Kasumi left for the house.
While everyone else was distracted by Kasumi's departure, the strangely calm Dr. Tofu took the opportunity to kneel on Ranma's other side and asked in a low voice that was still too loud in the silent room "Ranma, did you go see the people we discussed?"
Of all the people there only Akane and now Ukyo had any idea what the doctor was talking about.
"Yea Doc, I went to see them. I …" she struggled with what to say about her experience at the shrine, then decided to skip it and go on to what she understood. "I saw Cologne and she told me the energy was called Manna and that I shouldn't have it. She also said you were right about … well about the other thing."
"What is Manna?" Soun asked, only to be shushed by Akane.
"What other thing Ranma?" Akane asked in her most soothing voice.
Ranma was touched by her efforts and by the concern she saw in everyone's eyes, even pop's.
"It will be easier to explain after Kasumi returns with the water." She told her , then she had to close her eyes to suppress several tears. It was difficult maintaining the soul of ice when surrounded by all their worried faces, all the time envisioning the rejection that would come when they learned the truth. Fortunately it was at that moment that Kasumi returned, drawing everyone's attention to her burden. She placed a kettle of hot water and a pitcher of cold on the floor before Ranma.
"There you are Ranma and I made sure this time the kettle was plenty hot." She added the last when she saw the longing look Ranma cast the kettle. Ranma looked up at her, elfin features turned up slightly in a grateful smile but Kasumi had practiced at being a mother for her sisters and recognized the unshed tears in her blue eyes. The eldest Tendo girl felt her heart shudder, she knew now what was coming would not be good news. Inwardly she cried in sympathy for the poor child before her.
"Thanks Kasumi, if you could help just one more time, but … first things first." and without warning Ranma tossed the cold contents of the water pitcher on her father, who immediately changed into a panda.
*Why did you do that boy?* his sign read while a low growl escaped his muzzle.
Looking up at Kasumi again, Ranma offered her the kettle and asked "Would you please pour some of this on pops, not all of it, just enough to change him back."
"Of course Ranma."
Kasumi took the kettle and ignoring her own and everyone else's confusion, she poured part of its heated contents on the panda, returning him to his human form. Then she turned expectantly back to Ranma who gave her a bitter sweet smile and asked "Now if you'll please pour the rest on my head."
So saying, the red head extended her head before her as if baring her slender neck to a waiting blade. The similarity was not lost on Kasumi as she poured the hot water.
Everyone waited for Ranma to change into a guy and continue his explanation, but it didn't happen. Instead the petite girl pushed her wet bangs away from her face as she sat up straight again. Her eyes were still lowered, afraid to see the growing rejection she knew was before her.
"Boy, what happened? Are you locked again, was it the old woman?!" Genma's voice was harsh and accusing in her ears though he never meant it to be, he was just wrestling with his own worry and shock. Ranma cringed back from him as if struck.
Akane turned on Genma and yelled "Will you be quiet?!" Turning back to her fiancé she continued in a much softer voice, "Ranma, are you?"
Ranma shook her red locks in the negative and stuttered out "No, I … I'm not locked. What happened at Jusendo … I… my chi is gone and …" her voice kept breaking, preventing her from continuing. She gave Tofu an imploring look, her expression asking him to tell them for her.
Tofu placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, then pushed his glasses up with one finger before turning his gaze to his waiting audience. "What Ranma is trying to say is that her chi, her life force is gone and in its place is this manna energy. She is also trying to tell you that the manna that now fills her spirit is female. She isn't just locked, she's really a girl now."
Ranma found her voice and added "Cologne said the Jusenkyo curse works with a person's chi and that with my chi gone so is the curse, I can't change back no more."
Genma and Soun were both struggling with the death of their long cherished dream. Soun stammered out "Maybe, what if we get some water of drowned man."
Akane violently shook her head, fighting with her own tears. "The pools are flooded, there is no water of drowned man anymore."
Ranma broke into their shocked silence, her voice stronger than before.
"Wouldn't matter, the curse requires chi to work and I have none, it won't work with … I don't care, if it wasn't for this manna, chi can't give life and if it wasn't for this manna … if it wasn't for this manna in me Akane would be dead. I would rather die a girl than watch Akane die."
Suddenly her presence seemed to fill the room, leaving no doubt as to the conviction she felt as she said "I don't regret what happened if it means Akane is safe. Even if …" her voice trailed off, her sudden surge of strength abandoning her.
"I asked you all to come because you should know that has I am I can't keep the promises made to you." Saying this she looked beseechingly at Akane and Ukyo. "I'm sorry."
Before anyone could recover from her announcement, Ranma turned to her mother. Reaching out she stopped her hand just short of her mother's bosom, afraid her touch might be unwanted.
Still in shock, Nodoka turned her eyes to her full time daughter.
"Mom, would you come with me, I … I need your help."
Nodoka nodded her head, still too caught up to speak.
Rising to her feet Ranma spoke to the group as a whole. "I need some time alone with my mother. Please, just wait here until...just wait."
Not waiting for a response she led her mother from the dojo, looking back to make sure she brought the Saotome honor blade. Nodoka picked it up out of long habit and with unfeeling feet she followed her daughter back to the house. Ranma led her mother to the front door and helped her put on her winter gear, then putting on her own she took an umbrella from the stand. Giving one to her mother she led the way out into the falling snow.
After Ranma and her mother left the room everything fell apart all at once. Kasumi broke down in tears and latched onto Doctor Tofu, who finally seemed to realize who had her arms wrapped around him. The fathers just sat there, shocked into catatonia. Ukyo was starring at the wall, tears running down her cheeks, silently mouthing denials to herself. After a few moments of emotional floundering, Akane grasped her tattered nerves and tying them in a comfortable knot of anger she followed her fiancé out of the dojo. She didn't notice as Nabiki followed close behind.
****
Ranma led her mother through the snow and down several streets to a small park. Normally she would have preferred to do this at a shrine, but after her experience in Suginami she found herself afraid to even approach one. So instead she led her to the park and under the cover of a simple wooden roof over bare gravel. Seeing her mother safely under the shelter and out of the snow, Ranma drew a small, battered wooden box from the folds of her oversized kimono. She shed her coat and the kimono, leaving her dressed in a white cotton blouse and pants. Then kneeling before the box she spoke to her mother for the first time since leaving the dojo.
"Mother, there is one promise I can keep. The one I made to you. I'm sorry, but I can't be a man among men if I'm a girl."
Opening the box she withdrew a sealed envelope inscribed with her name, this she placed to her side. Then from the box she brought forth a sheathed Tanto blade, the handle well worn with age and stained with old sweat. Unbuttoning her blouse she opened it, exposing her naked breast and stomach. Having dealt with her shirt she unsheathed the blade. Afraid to see the rejection in her mother's eyes, she continued to look only at the knife. "Mother, will you serve as my second?"
Nodoka looked on in horror, her mind unable to grasp the significance of Ranma's actions until her daughter asked her to participate. "No Ranma, I won't … I don't care about your father's promise, I never did. I won't lose you again. I won't let him take you from me again."
Now Ranma did look up at her mother and with tear filled eyes she begged, "Please mom, its all I have left. I can't fulfill my duties like this, help me die with honor." Ranma raised the Tanto with both hands, the blade pointed in at her belly. She was prepared to do it without her mother's aid if need be.
Nodoka threw the honor blade away, it was now as deadly as a viper in her eyes. Falling to her knees in front of her daughter she grabbed her hands and the tanto they held, ready to wrestle it away if need be to stop her. "No Ranma, don't do it, please!"
They were both crying now.
"Mom, I can't live without … I want Akane to live a happy life, but I can't watch her live it with someone else. Please mother, let me die with the illusion that I'm still a man."
Nodoka was violently shaking now, not only her head but her whole body. "No Ranma, please. Don't leave me, I can't lose you again. The last ten years have been hell, don't leave me alone again. I can't face returning to that empty house!"
Ignoring the knife Nodoka grabbed her child in a desperate embrace. "Promise me Ranma, promise me you won't leave me again. I won't let you go until you promise. I love you too much."
With a broken cry Ranma dropped the Tanto and embraced her mother, her tears further soaking Nodoka's winter coat. Her mother still loved her, wanted her in spite of her curse! Both women cried heartfelt tears under the simple wooden shelter, on their knees in the gravel.
****
Ranma and Nodoka had been too caught up in their own emotional play to notice the two Tendo girls watching from behind a tree. The girls watched in confusion that turned to horror as Ranma shed her over clothes than bared the blade, asking her mother to help her end it. When Nodoka threw down her sword and dropped to her knees Akane made to bolt to their side, but a quick thinking Nabiki stopped her, blocking her cries with her hand.
"No sis, you can't …" trying to shake Nabiki off, her voice muffled by her sister's hand, Akane cried out "Let me go! Ranma needs me, I can't let him go!"
Shaking her little sister hard Nabiki hissed out in a harsh whisper, "Nodoka won't let him do it. Look! If you go out there now you will only make it worse for him, or do you know some way to marry another girl?"
They watched as the girl in question broke down in her mother's arms. Continuing in a softer whisper now that her little sister wasn't fighting to break free, "Will you spend your life with another woman Akane? Will you take her into your arms and your bed?" Forcing her little sister to look away from the crying women and into her eyes, "Will you take a woman to be your husband, knowing that you can never have children, will be cast out by society, by father and Kasumi?"
Nabiki knew she was pouring it on more than a little thick and heavy, but she had to make Akane see reason. She knew Akane thought she loved Ranma, but that was impossible now. She wouldn't accept that her sister could be a lesbian, had been angry when those rumors began at school. Nabiki had always been uncomfortable seeing her sister around girl type Ranma, not liking the way it looked. She knew her little sister could never embrace another woman that way and it would be better for everyone if Akane realized that now instead of later. Akane broke down into tears, allowing her sister to lead her back home.
All four women were too upset to notice as the snow turned to rain.
****
The days following Ranma's announcement passed in a blur at the Tendo home. Ranma and her mother hadn't returned after the aborted suicide attempt, Nodoka called later letting them know that she took her daughter home. Nabiki was the one to answer the phone and she didn't feel it was a good idea to bring the subject of Ranma up for a while, so she waited to pass the message on, then never did.
Strangely no one brought up the topic of Ranma's departure, each going on as if he no longer existed. Ukyo had left before Nabiki and Akane returned, so had the fathers, they had gone to seek wisdom in the bottom of a bottle. Kasumi and Tofu were also missing, showing up later they were together. The real surprise was that Tofu wasn't acting like a gibbering fool. He did look nervous, but instead of the clown they expected he was strangely calm and focused on Kasumi. Kasumi on the other hand would now blush and act flustered when ever her eyes fell upon the doctor. Now she was the one walking into walls.
Akane didn't return to her normal routine, or any routine. She would sit quietly for hours, occasionally breaking out in silent tears for no reason.
After two days Nabiki was ready to pull her hair out in frustration, why was everyone taking this so badly? She expected it of the fathers, after all their foolish quest to unite their families like some outdated story of brain dead samurai was finished. The only way they could unite the families now was if father was the one to knock up Ranma Chan, or, and here Nabiki shuddered with disgust, Genma could knock up one of Soun's daughters. That was not going to happen, she would make sure of that. There wasn't enough money in the world.
Kasumi seemed to be handling it fairly well, since the 'incident' as Nabiki now thought of it, her older sister had spent what little time she wasn't doing chores with Doctor Tofu. Who, apparently had finally gotten over his 'Kasumi-itis'. About damn time if you asked her.
The problem was Akane, the fool girl didn't seem to recognize her good fortune. Nabiki knew it was for the best, her little sister shouldn't be forced to marry just because her father missed his old drinking buddy. Why couldn't Akane see it, Ranma was no good, he/she was a freak and always causing trouble. Sure it was entertaining and sometimes profitable, take the wedding for example one of her better ideas, but it was not something any sane person wanted to deal with year after year. No, now her little sister was free to find a good man, one who would provide her with more than his worthless name.
She smirked to herself as she thought that now maybe Ranma Chan would find herself a man as well, but no, the messed up freak was no doubt a lesbian now. In years to come when the Tendo family gathered for the holidays they would surely hear that she had shacked up with some farm girl in the country, probably raising pigs or some other 'worthy' profession.
They were better off without Ranma, now if only she could find away to get rid of Genma too. She might as well try to wish away the rain. It had warmed up and hadn't snowed since Ranma left, she held that to be a good omen, but otherwise the rain had hardly stopped. It was a good thing it was only falling on such a small geographical area, or they would be dealing with flooding. Even so the drainage canals were filled to well up their walls. If Ranma tried to seek sanctuary under the bridge now she had better have webbed feet. Nabiki giggled at that image, then turned her mind back to finding a way to rid them of the other unwanted Saotome.
Some kami must have been smiling upon Nabiki for the very next day the old pervert returned. Sensing immediately that something had changed in the wa of the house, Happosai cornered Kasumi and she explained what had happened. The little letch looked troubled when Kasumi told him about Ranma being a real girl now and having something called manna for chi. That really got a reaction from the little troll. He sat there smoking on his pipe furiously for nearly an hour before exploding with sudden, irresistible force. First he gave Kasumi a lewd wink and asked her to congratulate Doctor Tofu for him, to which the eldest Tendo turned bright red, then he seized both fathers by their cowardice and dragged them out of the house on a training trip.
Nabiki wished he had left her father, not that he was worth much but who knew what kind of trouble he might cause without them there to keep an eye on him. Again she shivered when Picelot Chardin crossed her mind. She would deal with that bridge when she came to it, it was worth it to be rid of Genma. Now that they were rid of all the Saotome madness she could get back to what was important, making money. Telling Kasumi that she would be back in time for dinner she headed out. There were a lot of people to see, she had news to share that a certain Kuno would pay through his aristocratic nose for.
Author's notes:
And the melodrama rolls on, and on...It's amazing how easy it just rolls out when typing. I guess that explains Hollywood.
Regarding OOC;
I tried to base Ranma's behavior off of his actions while suffering under the moxibustion weakness point, a time when he seemed to lose all hope.
I apologize to any Nabiki fans out there, but in this story she comes across as a bit of a villain. She isn't really, she's just being protective in her own, self centered way. Her intentions are good, at least were her family is concerned, just a little twisted. This is just one way of trying to interpret her character and the way that works best for this story. If too many are offended then I may have to start posting my other unfinished story; 'Liquid Destiny', in which she is portrayed in a more heroic light.
I know by the end of the manga Genma was portrayed as so petty and self centered that he would sacrifice his son for a trinket, but he didn't start out that way. In the afore mentioned weakness point episode, Genma didn't abandon his son. I picture Genma as short sighted and obsessed, but not heartless or ultimately selfish. Like Nabiki he just has an odd way of viewing what is right.
Starting with the next chapter; 'New Beginnings & Old Returns', there will be some rays of sunshine breaking through the angst, but not many. Eventually I hope to return Ranma to more of the character Trashcat described. I just don't want to rush it in a way that feels shallow and false.
Apologies for this chapter being so short, the shortest in the story so far, but the next one is already more than twice as long and these seemed to be the logical places to break it down.