It'd been a tough few months for Ranma Saotome. What started as a stupid little spat between him and a Chinese prince had ultimately destroyed his life. First, his curse was permanently locked by the prince. Then in the hunt for the only cure, her pride and that of the prince had cost her the chance to fix it for good, as well as the life of a dear friend and rival. She returned to Nerima a broken woman.
The reality of her situation didn't have long to fester as Akane had been kidnapped and dragged off to some mountain in China. With nothing to lose, Ranma threw her all into saving the woman she thought she might have loved. The noble rescue earned her the respect and praise of her parents and Akane's father, but it was only a temporary distraction from the inevitable conversation over the loss of Ranma's manhood.
The simple fact was, Ranma couldn't marry Akane in this state. The fathers had conspired to curse Ranma with water from the spring of drowned man, but in a phone call with the Jusenkyo guide, that seemed impossible. Legend told of a tragic story involving that ladle. No artifacts or fresh curse could overwrite its magics. So the plan was to 'accidentally' curse Akane with the same spring water, but alas, the waters still hadn't returned to normal after the fight on Phoenix Mountain and of course Akane was furious once she learned of the scheme.
This left Ranma's mother in an odd spot. Her son had proven himself honorable and a 'man among men' even in the body of a woman, beyond any doubts she could have had, but the fact remained, having such a body was rather unmanly of him and violated the terms of the seppuku pledge she took so very seriously. While Ranma's personal honor was without question after recent events, she couldn't shake the responsibility of her own honor. Everyone had tried to talk her out of it; to convince her to accept it as fulfilled despite the circumstance. In the end, the Saotome family was left with two choices: do the one deed that would restore the family honor in her mind, or declare that Ranma had died an honorable death and have his name struck from the family register.
Unfortunately, the technical lie felt like an even greater dishonor than letting the honorable violation of the pledge to persist, and in the span of a few moments, Ranma had been made an orphan.
When the authorities were later involved to take care of the logistical aftermath, Ranma's curse being the cause was conveniently left out of the reports. It wasn't like it could be proven, afterall. The pledge itself and the testimony given by the Tendo family had shown that even in this modern world, some people in Japan took the old ways very seriously. The story given was that on Genma's return from the training journey, Nodoka couldn't cope with the fact that she still had a daughter, even though she'd been raised as a boy and was legally filed as one. When detectives had tried to interview Ranma for her confirmation of this story Mr. Tendo had told them, the only affirmation they received was a slight nod.
Ranma hadn't shed a tear when it happened. She hadn't spoken since. She didn't make eye contact with anyone for weeks and seemingly never ate. Kasumi likened it to a ghost haunting the Tendo estate. Nabiki had offered her condolences and covered the burial costs, an act she knew Ranma appreciated despite her never saying a word about it. Akane was beside herself with shock and tried anything and everything to cheer the moping redhead up, from cooking her favorite dinner to treating her to her favorite parfait. Akane even tried kissing the catatonic girl to no avail. Ranma didn't say a word to anyone for nearly a month after the funeral.
It was a warm night that found Ranma silently in the dojo staring at the images of her mother and father at their shrines next to the late Mrs. Tendo. She'd found herself here a dozen times since that shelf had been put up. It was a place she could silently cry. A place she could quietly ask herself why. Why she didn't just take that damn sword and snap it in two. Why her mother was so adamant about going through with it despite gushing about how proud of Ranma she was. Despite telling her earlier that dreaded afternoon to live a life free of burdens, to be happy, and to move on. She knew there was no going back when Genma finally admitted he was proud of her and how great of a martial artist she'd become. When Genma didn't try to escape his fate. Their final words to Ranma were that they loved her, and yet they still went through with it. Why? Why.
It was that pride and approval that kept Ranma from taking the coward's way out. Her life had been utterly destroyed in a matter of weeks and yet the love of her parents kept her from following them to the grave. She hated herself. She hated that she'd let the kettle get destroyed along with Ryoga. She hated that damn prince for starting it all. No, she hated her own damn ego for getting her locked in the first place. This was all ultimately her fault, and that was her burden to bare for the rest of her miserable life. And she'd do it to respect and honor her parents.
"You honor them by living," a voice called, snapping Ranma out of her own mind. For a brief moment, she thought her own conscience had been given voice by her grief, but turning towards the voice showed it was only Mr. Tendo standing in the dojo's doorway with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
"I know I've said it a dozen times by now, but you cannot blame yourself. You did the best you could and you made your parents proud. Very proud. You've nothing to regret, son."
Ranma merely winced and turned away from him to stare at some random far-off spot on the floor rather than looking back in shame to the smiling faces of her parents frozen in time for the rest of eternity in front of the final resting place of the Saotome honor blade. She did flinch though when Soun sat down next to her and set a tray in front of them.
Soun wordlessly took two small cups from the tray and filled them with sake from a bottle. He held one up to the girl who simply shook her head in refusal, but he sternly took her hand and forced it in. She finally met his eyes and saw there was no room for refusal there. Her gaze dropped and Soun grabbed his own glass and clinked it against hers. He slowly sipped his down before turning to her with a stern glare until she did the same. Ranma always hated the bite of alcohol and didn't much care for the taste of sake, but she figured she may as well. Soun waited until her first cup had been emptied and refilled before speaking again.
"Honor is what keeps us strong. It's what separates us from the animals. But it's also what breaks us. As martial artists and as people, our honor is ultimately all we have to keep us in line. Your father and I... had a long struggle to determine for ourselves what was worth putting our names to and what wasn't. He struggled his whole life and believe it or not, I struggle at times even to this day. We all do. It took everything in our power, you and I, to honor your parents' wishes to fulfill that damned oath," he paused, taking a deep drag from his cigarette before continuing, "and while it hurts us to live with the consequences, I think you understand that we... did the right thing."
Ranma winced again and Soun fought to keep his voice from cracking as the tears silently fell down his face. Ranma'd been over it in her head a thousand times and more, and ultimately come to the same conclusion. Stopping them would only tarnish their honor and probably gotten her a tanto as well. She HAD insisted that she join, as it was all because of her that they were going through with it, but Nodoka and even Genma had shut her down and refused her. She had come to the conclusion that, no matter what they would have tried...
"When someone's mind is set on accomplishing something, there's no going back," Soun seemed to finish her thoughts aloud again. "We will carry it with us for the rest of our lives. That is our burden and our duty. Living is the only way we truly honor their memory."
Ranma let out a heavy sigh after slamming her third cup of sake, and she finally whispered, "A martial artist's life is fraught with peril, eh Tendo?"
Soun couldn't help the cheeky grin he gave the girl as he finally noticed her own silent tears trailing down her cheeks. He gave a look to his old friend on the mantle and finished his cigarette.
"That it is, Saotome old friend. That it is."
The two shared a moment of relative silence between their sips and quiet sobs before Soun finally brought up what brought him out here in the first place.
"Ranma, I want you to know, even though the marriage pact can't be fulfilled, you are still part of this family. From that first day you arrived, I've thought of you as a son, and I'm willing to make that a reality if you want. Though, I guess on paper, it'd be as another daughter, heh," Soun let out a petty laugh at his own realization before he quite understood what he'd said. A quick glance to the glaring redhead next to him told him he screwed up. Clearing his throat, he said, "Ah, that is to say, I'm willing to formally adopt you since you're still underage. I understand if you don't want me to, but know that you are always welcome in this house. You are family to me and I expect the girls would say the same. Never forget that this is your home, Ranma. No matter what happens."
Ranma's breath hitched and she burried her face in her knees, gently sobbing. A family is all she ever really wanted and yet, beside their history together, she still felt guilty and like a freeloader to him. She's HAD a family, finally after never knowing her mother, and it was so damn short lived. She didn't know how she'd deal with being a part of the Tendo family proper. Would she have to change her name? Would she be registered as Ranko Tendo since 'Ranma' effectively died on Mount Horai along with Ryoga? And as accepting as the Tendos have been for this last year or so, would she ever truly feel like she belongs? Or would she always just be this guilty reminder of a marriage that could have been? Of a family that was destroyed because of her mere existence?
Soun patted her on the back and stood up, stretching his back in the process.
"Take as long as you need. In our eyes, you already are family regardless of whatever legal paperwork there may be. We love you Ranma. We truly do."
He could hear more vocal sobs coming from her knees as his words sank in.
"Take as long as you need, son. Goodnight," he finished gently before stepping out of the dojo and back towards his empty bed.
He was long gone by the time the sobbing girl had controlled herself long enough to whisper 'thank you' in his direction.
…
The following morning, Kasumi woke in alarm to the smell of food. Not burning food, as she feared it soon would be if Akane had been the cause, but something cooking nonetheless. She hurriedly tied her robe on and made for the kitchen to find Ranma in an apron and rapidly working between two pots and something on the counter. Immediately Kasumi let out a sigh of relief, both at the fact that it wasn't Akane preparing breakfast, but also relief at seeing Ranma up and about.
Ranma finally noticed Kasumi watching from the doorway and put down the tray in her hands before facing her properly.
"Sorry Kasumi, just figured I'd giva ya a break today and treat everyone to breakfast. Y'know, as an apology for bein' a useless wreck the last few weeks."
Rather than respond, Kasumi walked forward and embraced the shy girl who'd been rubbing the back of her head in shame. She started at the touch but soon relaxed and returned the hug.
"You have nothing to apologize for Ranma. You've been through so much in such a short amount of time... anyone would be lost for far longer. I'm glad to have you back, little sis- er, brother," she said quietly into the smaller girl's hair.
Ranma sighed at Kasumi's slip of the tongue.
"It's fine, Kasumi. Brother, sister... I guess it doesn't matter anymore. I gotta get used to bein' called a girl eventually, right?"
It still bugged her that she even HAD to admit that, but admit it she did. There was no going back. No undoing what had been done. Likewise, there was nothing holding her to her manly-man facade besides herself now. And what was the point of it now? She'd had a lot to think about these last few weeks and there was a lot she was just going to have to accept if she ever wanted to move on and figure out what to do with her life.
Kasumi squeezed one last time before letting go and grabbing an apron to help in the morning prep, despite Ranma's protests. Soon, the meal was done, and they had brought out plates to an eagerly waiting family who all seemed surprised to find Ranma holding some plates. Even Nabiki cracked a small smile when their eyes met.
"Good to have ya back, Saotome," Nabiki said, earning a shy smile and a light blush from the shorter girl setting the dishes on the table.
"Yeah, well, it was about time, right?" she replied, earning a nod of approval.
When they were done with setting the table, Ranma took her normal place next to Akane who leaned in for a gentle hug of her own, causing Ranma to really blush.
"I'm glad you're feeling better Ranma," she'd said.
Ranma nodded and looked towards Mr. Tendo before saying, "I owe it to your dad. He really helped me out last night."
Soun put down his paper and before he could say anything, Ranma turned to face him properly and said, "more than you could know."
Immediately Soun's famous tears threatened to flood the dishes on the table.
"Oh Son, I'm so glad I could help you in your time of need! Like I said last night, you are already family to me and you're welcome to make it official if you'd like."
Akane and Kasumi gasped at this offer and Nabiki only raised an eyebrow.
"Father, Ranma, that'd be a lovely idea!" Kasumi cried. "We'd love to formally adopt you!"
Once again, Nabiki just nodded her approval while Akane seemed rather torn. She agreed that it's a great idea and Ranma deserved to be a member of the family, but on the other hand... she supposed this was the final nail in the coffin of their relationship.
She sighed and turned to Ranma who acted like she didn't really care about Akane's opinion, but gave away her lie with nervous twitching.
"N-not that I was ever going to marry you anyway, at least this way you're still part of the family," she said.
"Ah... yeah. Guess so," was all Ranma could reply with. She figured after everything that happened that the relationship was over for good before it ever really took off, and she was relieved to no longer have the burden of all the engagements, but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a little hurt that the possibility was truly gone for good. She'd hope that in the future, something would finally spark between her and Akane to make the marriage work, but now that was completely off the table in favor of becoming siblings.
Ranma couldn't help but think this was the best for them anyway. Ranma never truly saw herself 'in love' with anyone, at least how the TV shows and movies seem to portray it. With all of her baggage, she resigned herself to being alone forever, but that didn't mean she had to drag others down with her. Akane deserved to be happy. She deserved to move on and find a man, a real man, who could be what she needed. Ranma had maybe hoped a few times that maybe that could have been herself, but she knew it would never work out. She could never be what Akane needed or deserved.
"I... I'll think about it. I really appreciate the offer. I'll have to think on it for a bit tho-" she began but was cut off by a rap to the door, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
"Oh, I'll get it!" Kasumi said, already on her feet and moving towards the door. A moment later, she returned with an older man wearing a long coat and holding a few manila envelopes in his arm. Next to him was a tall woman in a business suit of sorts, wearing a nice pencil skirt that Nabiki was clearly jealous of despite doing her best to try and hide it.
"Ah, good morning Mr. Tendo, girls," the man said with a slight bow. The woman gave a full bow alongside him.
"Detective Tanaguchi, Miss Hino! To what do we owe the pleasure this morning?" Soun asked as he stood to greet the two guests with handshakes.
"Sorry for disturbing you so early in the day and during your breakfast. We can come back later if you'd like," the woman offered, but Soun waved her off.
"Nonsense, nonsense, sit down and grab a cup of coffee," Soun directed and the two guests obliged, taking the opposite side of the table from him.
Miss Hino, sitting on the corner of the table next to Ranma, politely directed her attention to the quiet little redhead.
"And how are you doing today, dear? Are you feeling any better?" she asked with just the slightest hint of pity that Ranma didn't appreciate, but she knew that's how anyone outside the family would treat her after losing her parents to honorable suicide. Ranma tried her best not to hold it against the woman. After all, she was just doing her job. It's not like she knew the full family history, let alone anything about Jusenkyo.
"I'm... getting better."
"You're speaking, so I'd call that an improvement!" the man laughed, getting a chuckle of agreement from Soun and a nonplussed glare from Ranma. "We're actually here with a bit of good news this time! First, you'll be glad to know we've finally found the court's copy of your birth certificate," he said, filing through his paperwork before reaching over a sheet for Ranma to read. "We discovered a few clerical errors that seem to have been made by an unknown person at the time of filing. Needless to say, we've corrected the information."
Ranma scanned the document and sure enough, several parts had been either scribbled over or outright covered with white-out and re-written with pen. She let out a deep sigh at the scribbling over her birthdate, which had the year mysteriously written over.
"Yup, that's Pops' handwriting alright. So, where's the fixed one?" she asked, earning yet another sheet of paper.
Looking it over, she was not surprised to see her gender marker had been changed, but she was surprised to find that her mystery birth date was actually a whole year later.
"Wait, I'm fifteen?! I thought I was about to turn seventeen!" she cried in disbelief.
Nabiki snatched the two sheets out of her hand and examined the forms carefully before saying, "Well I'll be damned, the original really IS a forgery! The notary stamp is just a photocopy and there's alterations everywhere. And the new one all checks out. Your age, the sex marker, and even the spelling of your name changed, too."
Ranma didn't want to acknowledge that little fact she'd noticed, but Nabiki had to go and say it out loud. Her name was now officially written as the decidedly-feminine 'wild orchid' as far as the government was concerned. Miss Hino leaned over to Ranma with a smile and reassured her, it was for the best.
"Please don't be upset dear, that was my decision. 'Ranma' is such a masculine name and with how your sex had been forged as well, I thought your father might have done that just to be even more cruel to you."
Ranma wanted to hate this woman so bad, but seeing the earnest smile she gave her, she deflated almost instantly. This social worker had gone to great lengths to help her after the detective started looking into the death of her parents and she was probably the person who'd have to sign off on any formal adoption paperwork as well. Miss Hino had no clue about the curses or why the contract was thought to be broken by Ranma's mere existence, but Ranma and the Tendos didn't exactly make an effort to share the whole truth of the matter with the police. Afterall, they couldn't exactly prove the curses were real, now could they? No, they'd collectively decided to let the investigators believe that Ranma's mother couldn't handle the fact that she had a daughter despite Genma doing his best to raise her as a son, and in the end, she felt seppuku was the only way to restore their honor.
"I... guess I get it, Miss Hino," Ranma begrudgingly let out. "Still, it's hard to believe I'm actually a year younger than I always thought. That's hard to wrap my head around."
"Why would your father do something like this?" the detective asked, addressing her.
Ranma just shrugged.
"Pro'lly to pull some scam. Maybe it was to get me into a tournament I wasn't old enough for, or school, or just to get to China or somethin'. It could be a dozen different reasons."
The social worker gave her a sad look while the Tendos just nodded along, knowing that was absolutely a possibility when it comes to Genma.
"That all aside, we do have one more piece of good news today," Miss Hino said, pulling the last envelope from under the detective's arm. "We've found your family."
"What?" Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki all cried at once. Kasumi simply covered her mouth in surprise.
"Apparently your mother has an estranged half-sister, Keiko Higurashi," Miss Hino said, pulling out the last of the papers for the whole group to see, along with a few photos of a family none of them knew. Ranma immediately recognized the family resemblance, though.
"Wow, aside from the hair color, she looks almost exactly like mom," Ranma commented, earning nods from the Tendos.
"She's a widow who runs an old shrine on the far side of Tokyo along with her late husband's father, and she has two kids, Kagome and Souta. Kagome's about your age, too."
Mr. Tendo decided that was a good time to clear his throat and mention, "We were actually planning to formally adopt Ranma, if that is what she wishes. Would Mrs. Higurashi be a problem?"
He was not looking forward to a long drawn-out legal battle over this, but he'd use any influence he had with the city council to do what he had to.
"I doubt it, but we do need her consent before anything can move forward," the social worker said. "Legally speaking, she's got custody over Ranma even though she doesn't know it yet. She'd have to sign off on any attempt to adopt Ranma out. Given Ranma's history with your family and the fact that she's never even met Ranma, I doubt she'd put up any resistance. The reason we're here so early is so we can catch a train to go visit the shrine and discuss this with her today."
Akane suddenly stood up, ready to throw a wrench into any plans to take Ranma away from her.
"Can we come too? We should meet her before she has a chance to take Ranma away from us, right?"
"Now, now, Akane, it's Ranma's choice. We need to let her decide what to do," Soun placated. Akane let out a huff and sat back down.
"Well, what do you want to do?" she asked the redhead next to her, but Ranma wasn't even paying any attention to her. Her full attention was on the photograph of this woman she'd never met.
This woman who looked so much like her own mother. Up until about a year ago, Ranma didn't even know she had a mother. Genma was the only family she'd ever known. Whenever she'd ask, she'd get told it was a distraction from the art. As she got older, she realized it was far more likely that Genma had been ostracized by any family they had by robbing or scamming them. Had he tried scamming this woman too? Is that why she was 'estranged'? What did that even mean, anyway?
When she met her mother, she tried anything to earn her approval, even lying about who she was so she wouldn't risk disappointing her. Now, here was another chance to trace her family. A family she'd never known. What if this Higurashi lady was a nutter about honor like her mom? What if she made her kids sign some stupid pledge when they were young and had unrealistic ideals for them?
What if she was a normal loving mother who could be what Ranma had never been lucky enough to have?
"I... I wanna meet her," Ranma finally said aloud, her eyes never leaving the photo. "I at least gotta meet her. She's my only family, afterall."
Akane deflated and the rest of the Tendos just nodded in understanding.
"Great!" Miss Hino cried. "We'll tell her the news this afternoon and plan a day for everyone to meet."
"Why not today?" Akane asked. "Why can't we just take the trip with you?"
"Well, Akane..." the detective began, "For the safety of the child, we usually don't allow them to meet until we've broken the news to the family. Having a relative you never knew and being asked to care for them at a moment's notice is a huge thing to digest. She seems like a nice lady, but we don't know how she may react. Perhaps the bad blood between her and her sister is enough that she would refuse Ranma outright. It could even prove violent. It's best we tell her the news and plan for a meeting if she's up for the idea."
"That's right. We don't know how her family will take this news," the social worker added. "We'll be sure to call and let you know. If she's willing, the meeting could be as early as this weekend."
"Sounds like a plan, then," Soun said, glad to put an end to the discussion. It was a lot to take in, and they needed time to think about everything.
"Can..." Ranma began as the detective and social worker on her case began to pack up their documents to leave, "can I keep the picture at least? I just... even if it goes bad, it's good to know I have family out there somewhere, ya know?"
Miss Hino was touched by the sentiment and leaned down to give the short girl a hug that she reluctantly accepted.
"Of course, dear."
…
A phone call later that afternoon from Miss Hino confirmed that Mrs. Higurashi was interested in having a formal meeting. Kasumi shared the news with the family that evening at dinner and Ranma struggled to sleep that night because of it. She spent the night tossing and turning and staring at the picture of her aunt for hours on end.
To think, she had an aunt out there who looked so much like her mother, and she actually wanted to meet her. Granted, she could only possibly know as much of her past as the social worker did, so Ranma assumed her aunt would treat her like any normal girl rather than a god-slaying man amongst men.
Was that really so bad, though? Not to be bogged down by the drama over the curse or multiple fiancees or all of the failed promises and pacts. She could truly start over, start fresh, as Ranma Saotome. She could define herself rather than live in the perpetual shadow of her father's failed dreams. She wouldn't have to feel the guilt of seeing Akane's face every day with that subtle hint of pity just under the surface. She wouldn't have to witness Akane eventually moving on, finding a boyfriend who can fulfill her needs, and having a family of her own. Ranma didn't think she could take seeing that future unfold while she herself withered away, some lonely husk of a former man. Destined to be alone forever. Anyone who knew who she used to be would want nothing to do with her in a romantic sense, and while being alone certainly seemed freeing after the last few years of being hounded constantly for marriage, it was also rather lonely. And her future was destined to stay lonely. Never truly belonging with the Tendos. Never able to marry and carry on the schools.
What was she supposed to do with her life now?
"Never forget that this is your home," Soun's words echoed in her memory.
She wouldn't forget. No, this is the only true home she'd ever known, and she was grateful that the Tendos still wanted her around after all of this. They even wanted to adopt her. As much as she'd love that comfort, it would still be forever laced with guilt.
With her Aunt Keiko, she could start over and just... relax for a while. Find out who she is now without her family, and what she should do with her life. If it all went to hell, or if the Higurashis didn't want to take her in, she could always fall back on the Tendo Dojo. But, if they did let her live with them...
"I'm sorry, Akane," Ranma gently whispered into the emptiness of the guest room she stayed in. She was excited to meet this lost part of her family, and more excited to see what her life could be without the guilt of living at the dojo and the negativity and chaos that Nerima brought.
"I want to at least see," she continued.
Her decision made, she was finally able to roll over and get some sleep. Saturday was going to be a big day for her and it would change her life, hopefully for the better.
…
A/N: Yeah, I'm alive. I just don't have much time to write let alone motivation, but I still read stuff on here daily. Always hoping for more ranchan x ryoga fics, but alas, we are in a dry spell. And I'm not helping with this one. With Ryoga dead, how will my OTP live on? We'll see how far this idea gets lol.
Sorry this is such a downer. It popped into my head a few weeks ago and I've been slowly adding to it. I have a second chapter planned, but very little beyond that. I'm hoping inspiration will hit as I get closer. This is one of like four different Inuyasha crossover ideas I've had, but the only one that actually got started. Woo-hoo!