From jjlee1@home.com Tue Mar 21 00:14:00 2000 Received: with LISTAR (v0.128a; list ffml); Tue, 21 Mar 2000 00:14:01 -0500 (EST) Return-Path: Delivered-To: ffml@fanfic.com Received: from mail.rdc1.nj.home.com (ha1.rdc1.nj.home.com [24.3.128.66]) by ffml.fanfic.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3AE691EE1B for ; Tue, 21 Mar 2000 00:13:59 -0500 (EST) Received: from sparphogon ([24.10.116.15]) by mail.rdc1.nj.home.com (InterMail v4.01.01.00 201-229-111) with SMTP id <20000321051356.BMOS20681.mail.rdc1.nj.home.com@sparphogon> for ; Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:13:56 -0800 From: "Jeffrey Lee" To: Subject: [FFML] [Ranma][Altverse]Legends Part 4 [Repost] Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 01:10:23 -0500 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 Importance: Normal X-archive-position: 8130 X-listar-version: Listar v0.128a Sender: ffml-bounce@fanfic.com Errors-to: ffml-bounce@fanfic.com X-original-sender: jjlee1@home.com Precedence: bulk X-list: ffml Legends Part 4 By Belphera The sun rose up upon the Bay Area, the Tendo compound glittered with a beautiful hue. Sitting in the center of the solarium, a sturdy man sat deep in thought. Was this a sign from Kami? The mantra continued through his head throughout the dinner last night, his dreams, this morning, and now. Their physical similarities were not alike, but their eyes were filled with the same compassion, their voices filled with the same gentleness, and their actions; almost identical. A part of him wondered if he was just going through a stage of recovering from the death of his wife. Honestly he had no clue. Was he being truthful to himself? “Good Morning.” Came a melodic voice from behind him. Ranma looked up quickly and realized it was Kasumi. It was her. “It is a good morning isn’t it?” Ranma said as he stood to stretch the kinks from his arms. “The birds sing their songs, The Father has grace Mother and The Mother is happy. It is a good morning.” “You are very odd.” Kasumi commented. “You speak in riddles.” “Well The Father is the sun and The Mother is the earth, I am sorry for confusing you.” He replied with a slight bow. “No need to apologize.” She said with a blush. “You are an early riser. I am usually the first to wake.” “Really why is that?” he asked with an upraised eyebrow. “ I wake early to enjoy the morning purity.” “I am a resident, my hours at the hospital are very hectic.” She said as she turned to head towards the kitchen. “Well, where is this hospital of yours?” He said hoping that she would turn back around to look at him. Kasumi stopped and wondered if she should tell him. “I work at St. Jude’s Hospital, it is about 3 miles away from here.” She said as she turned back around. “That is not far, when do you have to be there?” Ranma asked as a plan began to formulate in his head. “By 7:30.” She replied, still wondering why he was so curious. “Would you be offended if I accompanied you to the hospital? We could have some breakfast on the way to the place. How ‘bout it?” Flustered, Kasumi averted her eyes to avoid looking into his eyes too much. “I wouldn’t be offended at all.” Walking through the crisp cool morning air, Ranma and Kasumi chatted idly about each others interests, goals, stories, and more. The environment reflected the mood of their stroll: happiness. As the morning continued, merchants awoke to open their shops, business men rushed through the streets, cars began to accumulate, and life returned to the streets. Continuing down the city block, they stopped at a small café for breakfast. Taking a seat outside, they looked at the hectic life of the city. “So Ranma what do you plan to do? Will you be staying in the US? Or returning to Japan?” Kasumi asked, taking a sip from her orange juice. “I will be staying for a while in America. I have decided to set up a school here in America that will jointly practice with the Tendo-ryu. However after that I am not sure if I will stay or return. I have certain obligations in China that I still responsible for.” Ranma replied as he idly noted the way Kasumi brushed her hair back. “Really, you may want to talk to Akane to help you start up. She has quite a few connections in that area.” She suggested. “Kasumi, You have known my mother for quite a while now. What is she like?” Ranma asked. “Well, your mother is a very strong woman. She’s built up the largest conglomerate in the world, and still managed to be a mother to my sisters and I.” Kasumi thought back to those times that she spent with Nodoka. “She is very concerned with honor, but reasonable and fair. I can remember many times when Nabiki’s business transactions stretched those limits.” “But what has she thought of me? I have been away for quite a while.” Ranma voiced his concerns. “Will she be able to accept a grown man back into her life as her son?” “Ranma, you need not worry, your mother loves you no matter if you were an old man. You are her son, she has many times wondered about you in the past. You just need to be honest with her, and tell her of your life. Fill her in on everything she missed.” At those words, Ranma flinched a bit. “Well I have some thinking to do, there are certain things in my life that I would like to remain a secret.” Ranma said as he looked to the sky. “Please Ranma, she is your mother. She has a right to know everything that has occurred in your life.” Kasumi pleaded, she couldn’t bear for Nodoka to be hurt if Ranma withheld information. “Yes but I have only know her for a very short period of my life. Sometimes there are doors that are best left closed.” Ranma reasoned, as he continued to look into the morning sky. Kasumi couldn’t believe it, he wasn’t going to tell his mother the entire truth. She had been with Nodoka for so long, and she knew that if Ranma didn’t tell his mother everything. Nodoka would take it as a sign of mistrust. It would kill her, and she had suffered enough. To live her life being true to her wayward husband, to fight through The Day alone, to fight for her corporation without the support of her son and husband, she had suffered enough. Many a times, Kasumi had caught her crying in her sleep, crying out for Ranma and Genma. And now they had finally come back and her own son didn’t fully trust her. It would kill her. “No! Ranma, please look at me.” Kasumi said as she grasped the younger man’s face in her palms, and turned them to face her own. “Your mother has gone through a great deal. She has gone through her whole life without you or your father. She has lived alone for so long. Do you know what is like to live alone? You had your father, she had no one except us, and we did our best to be her surrogate family. If you were to withhold parts of your life, she would feel betrayed. Please, promise me that you will tell her everything. Promise!” Kasumi looked intently into the two swirling orbs of Ranma’s eyes. For a moment Ranma seemed confused until a seriousness washed over his face, which was then replaced by mirth. “Very well, I, Ranma Saotome, Promise I will tell my mother everything of my life. For you, I will grant you this. Only under one condition.” Kasumi, looked at this man with adoration, his voice was so regal and commanding, full of confidence. “What condition?” “You will be there with me every time I tell her something important.” Ranma stated. Kasumi stared at him for a bit. “Y-You want me to be there? Isn’t that a bit personal, you don’t know me that well, do you really want to be telling me something that is so private?” “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t. I feel that you are a trustworthy person. So what will it be?” Ranma asked. “I guess I will be there.” “Good, tonight then.” Glancing at his watch, he commented “ We should be leaving now, you have work soon. I will accompany you.” “Thank you.” Back at the Tendo compound, everyone was beginning to stir again. Peacefulness reigned throughout the gentle house, until a certain lavender hair bundle awoke. “Where is Ranma?!” Immediately a group rushed into the room. “Where is he?” Ryouga looked around hurriedly. “Was he taken?” “Fan out, search the area, make sure there are no enemies around.” Genma commanded. “Arm yourselves.” Ukyou stated as she strapped on her spatula. “Ranko check your link with Ranma see if you can contact him!” Cologne asked. “I’m getting something.” The group gathered around the red headed woman. “I am getting a warmth. I see…. Pink?” “Pink? Ranko this is not time to be playing a joke, Ranma could’ve been taken.” “Oh….” Ranko smiled and sighed in deep relief. “It’s okay everyone, he is in the city with Kasumi. He is okay.” Everyone sighed in relief. For a moment they had thought that their enemy had even come to America. “Well I’m glad, since we are all up, why not get some breakfast… eh?” Genma began but felt a warmth behind him. Everyone turned around and saw a large violet battle aura around Shampoo. Backing away slowly, each male headed towards the door. “Hey boy, should we make a run for it?” Genma whispered to Ryouga. “It’s the only chance we have.” Ryouga said as he inched towards the door. “Run!” The rest of the morning ended in a battle cry. “Ranma no Baka!!” Elsewhere in the city the sun touched upon a darkened apartment. Opening his eyes Phadron relished in the feeling of the taste in his mouth. Last night was absolutely satisfying, the girl had been an innocent virgin, and what a body! Turning to his side, he looked at the delicate girl. She was a perfect specimen, but not as useful to him as Kasumi would have been. Smiling wickedly he glanced at the clock; 7:30. His shift didn’t start until noon. Still had some time to have some … fun. “Awake my slave.” He said with a guttural tone. The girl’s once beautiful blue eyes snapped open to reveal two red orbs. Stepping into the hospital, Kasumi laughed openly at one of Ranma’s jokes. It had been such a long time since she laughed without abandon. Such a long time since she has been happy with herself. “So this is where you work.” Ranma said as he looked around. “Well, this is work until I finish my residency.” Kasumi said as she walked to the front desk and picked up a clipboard. “Interesting, it is good that you have a healer’s heart.” Ranma said as he greeted one of the nurses, thus he did not notice Kasumi blush. “Yes well, I have to make rounds, it won’t be much fun for you, I guess you can head back now.” Kasumi said as she looked through her charts. “Yes well, I will take your advice on my relations with my mother, but don’t forget about tonight.” Ranma said. “Of course not, I will see you tonight. Thank you Ranma for accompanying me.” Kasumi said with a smile. Ranma faltered a bit at that. Her smile seemed to cause some sort of warmth to spread through his body. Usually it was only when he was with Shampoo or Kaze when that happened. Smiling, he bowed a bit to Kasumi before he was about to head back out, until he leapt out of the way of an incoming stretcher. “ A child with multiple gunshot wounds to the leg and several arrow wounds to the arms as well as deep sword cuts to the chest and lower back.” The medic barked. “ Found him in the middle of a battle between a local gang of martial artists and some street punks with guns. There are dozens wounded they are coming in right after us.” Kasumi’s face hardened as she took to the task of saving the young boy’s life. Ranma looked carefully at the boy as the boy was pushed to a room. Another stretcher bustled in this time revealing a young man in a ninja garb. He was convulsing as doctors gathered around him. However he shouted one thing that caught Ranma’s attention. “Ashkram’s Eyes!” With that Ranma’s eyes narrowed. Flinging the medics aside, he walked to the young man. “Speak shinobi! What has happened to Ashlram’s eyes?!” Ranma questioned. “Stolen!” the man said as he continued to convulse. Raising his hands, Ranma emitted a white light and touched it to the man’s face. “Sleep, fight the battle within your mind.” Ranma looked upon the now peaceful face with sadness. “Step away from the victim!” Security had arrived as they pointed a gun towards Ranma. Looking to the man, Ranma shook his head and walked away from the stretcher. The doctors gathered around the stretcher. “Stop him, he pushed this man into a coma!” a doctor shouted. Ranma raised both hands showing no ill attempt. “He now has a chance to fight the battle on a different plane. Just make sure his body is still functioning when he returns.” Ranma said as more stretcher rolled in. Reaching into his pocket, Ranma pulled out a phone. Dialing a number quickly he started rubbing his temples. Waiting for the other end to pick up he asked himself the universal question. “Why me?” In the Tendo dinning room, tensions were visible between Akane and the others. Her perfectly good morning was destroyed when Shampoo had started yelling and attacking Genma and Ryouga. Akane blanched at the beating that they had both taken while trying to run away from the enraged Amazon. However that meant that she didn’t get a full 6 hours of sleep, and that meant that she was not in a good mood. “So Shampoo where is my son now?” Nodoka asked when she noticed that Ranma was not at the table. “He is with Kasumi.” Shampoo said trying not to grind her teeth. Kaze poked at her food as she wondered why they were having eggs for breakfast. “Oh? Well we’ll just wait for him to return. I would like spend some time with him. Would that be okay with you Shampoo?” Nodoka asked “Yes mother-in-law.” Shampoo agreed. “But for now, why don’t you and me have a walk in the garden out back? Just some girl to girl talk.” Nodoka suggested. Shampoo smiled and nodded, it had been quite sometime since she had had a mother figure in her life. Her great grandmother was too much like a grandmother if anything. Returning to her breakfast, she noticed the look of envy that Ranko was giving her. “Well I have to be headed to the office.” Nabiki said as she stood from the table. “Excellent, Nabiki I will be stopping into the office today to sort through the up coming meeting with the Chinese emperor.” “Very well Mother.” Nabiki said as she disappeared into the kitchen. “Say Ranko is it? Do you practice any martial arts? I would like to spar with someone other than my students today.” Akane asked as she placed her utensils down. “ Of course, we are from the Amazon village. We would be honored to spar against you.” Ranko replied with an air of anxiousness. “We?” Akane inquired. “Of course, Ukyou and I would both like to spar with you if that is not a problem.” Looking to Ukyou, Ranko nodded.” “Of course not, I have no classes today so I would be delighted. I have wanted to test myself against someone from the Amazon village.” Akane said with excitement. “Great as soon as we-“ Ranko was cut off when her phone began to ring. Wondering who was calling her this early, she flipped open her phone. “What is it?” She asked testily into the phone. “Where are you now? The Eyes? They’re here? How is that possible? They were supposed to be back in China. Okay, I’ll be over with Cologne and Shampoo. No, of course not. What? Uh yeah she’s right here.” Turning to Nodoka, Ranko handed the phone to her. “It’s Ranma, he wants to speak to you.” Nodding, Nodoka took the phone. “Hello?” “Mom! I have urgent business down here at Kasumi’s hospital. This is Amazon business that must be taken care of. I would like to tell you something tonight though if it is possible.” Ranma said. “Tonight? Well, I suppose so. How about this, I will take Kaze shopping downtown. We will be right by the hospital. We can have lunch. It will give me the chance to get to know my granddaughter.” Nodoka said with a wink in Kaze’s direction. “That would be great mom, I’ll see you at lunch. Bye mom!” Ranma said quickly. “Bye dear.” Snapping the phone closed, Ranma leaned heavily upon the door behind him. He was hoping for a quiet vacation, but with the Eyes here in America and so close to the Heart, he would have to push aside personal business and destroy the Eyes. All he wanted was to spend time with his mother and look around to see if he could settle down here with Shampoo and Kaze. “Ranma? Are you okay?” as worried voice emerged from behind him. Turning around he saw that it was Kasumi. She had blood all over her hands and apron however even with this she still looked unfazed. “Yes Yes, it’s just something the gang member said… there may be trouble. Is it possible for you to allow Elder Cologne, Ranko and Shampoo access to the members?” Ranma asked “Well, I don’t think we can do that, hospital policies are very strict. Why do they need to see them?” Kasumi inquired, while wondering what it was that the man had said to cause such stress to Ranma. “Well Elder Cologne has certain medical abilities of the ethereal nature that she can demonstrate.” Ranma suggested. “As does Ranko. They both are well trained in acupuncture as well as the Healing touch.” “The Healing Touch? Oh my, I suppose the hospital board won’t mind much if they possess that sort of knowledge.” Kasumi said as she reached over to a phone. “Kasumi, I would prefer it if the board does not know about them. I don’t want them to be hassled. We just need a few moments with some of the shinobi clan that was brought in.” Ranma pleaded. He knew that if the board was to find out about Cologne and Ranko, they would not be able to keep a lid on their identity for long. “I don’t know… I could be suspended for doing this.” Kasumi said as she chewed on her pen for a bit. “Kasumi I promise that we will not cause any harm to any of the patients.” Ranma said warmly. Kasumi felt her knees weaken a bit, but remained firm on her feet. “I guess one or two members would be fine.” Kasumi agreed hoping that she was doing the right thing. “Thank you Kasumi.” Ranma leaned back once again pondering what to do. Kasumi looked once more at Ranma before heading off to help her fellow doctors. Catching a nurse by the arm, Kasumi told her to call in more doctors to help. Flipping onto his back, Phadron let out a sigh of content. Never before had he been this worn out, he had picked a durable host for his master’s dark powers. His sexual partner laid next to him also panting for breath. “Well as soon as the master’s next cycle, we will have more playmates.” Phadron grinned wickedly. “Of course, what shall we do in the mean time?” the girl asked in a monotone voice. “We will gather the parts that the master has asked of us. The Eyes and the Heart are within the city. The master will want them.” Phadron said as he got out of the bed. “What shall I do while you are away?” The girl asked seductively. “Amuse yourself, I heard that the Eyes are being held by a street gang called the Black Drake. Go retrieve the Eyes and do what you will with the gang.” Phadron commanded “Thank you… master.” Looking out the window of the limo, Kaze wondered what new and exciting things her new grandmama would be taking her to see. This city seemed to be a lot like the one that Auntie Ranko and Ukyou had taken her to see. Maybe there was a big toy store here too! Sitting back down she picked up her bottle of apple juice and sipped it as she listened to her mommy talk. “What exactly did he tell you Ranko?” “He said that the Eyes are here in San Francisco. It’s too close to the Heart, and when more and more of the parts are gathered and brought closer together, you know what happens then right?” Ranko said angrily as she tried to concentrate on something. “Why! Why does this have to happen now! I just wanted to settle down here with Ranma and Kaze, why does all this crap have to happen to us!” Shampoo wailed to the sky. Next to her Nodoka looked on the pair with a puzzling look. “Pardon me Shampoo, what exactly are you talking about? Is Ranma in some sort of danger?” Nodoka asked worriedly. Thousands of scenarios were running through her head as each consecutive one became more and more horrible. “No, but he has discovered that something has been stolen. And as amazons, we are responsible for that artifact.” Ranko replied with a tight lip. “I see, what exactly has Ranma been doing in China. During last night’s dinner he seemed hesitant about telling me about certain parts of his life. Why is that?” Nodoka inquired. “ I just have a feeling that he does not trust me. I am his mother doesn’t he realize that?” Shampoo and Ranko looked upon the woman with sympathy. Shampoo looked down and wondered what she could say without giving away their secret. “Nodoka-san, Ranma… he’s had a hard life.” Ranko began. “Before the war, when Ranma and f-Genma were on the road, he grew up in a harsh place; the streets. And they were no place for a child no matter what Genma says.” “How do you know of this Ranko?” Nodoka asked the red headed girl. “I… I am very close with Ranma. When Ranma feels comfortable he will tell you what his relation with him. You can say for now that I am like a sister to him.” Ranko said with a low voice. It was all she could do from telling Nodoka the truth. It hurt her deeply to sit here in front of her mother and not be able to talk to her as a daughter. Every fiber of her being wanted to scream ‘Here I am!’. But she could not, not until Ranma gave her the signal. “Really?” Taking the younger woman’s hands into her own, Nodoka smiled endearingly at Ranko. “How long have you been with Ranma? Perhaps you can tell me about him when he was younger.” “I can tell you what I can, but most of it has to come from Ranma. He has to get to know you again. He has to learn to trust you again.” Ranko said. Now outwardly Ranko was calm, but inwardly she was felt horrible. Tonight, she vowed to get Ranma to tell their mother about her. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. “And I will help Ranma ease into this transition.” Shampoo added. “Ranma will learn to trust you again, Mother-in-law. It is just that Ranma was emotionally dead for a very long time. He is just beginning to return to us. But he has always been very truthful with us. Ask him whatever you want, he will always answer you truthfully.” “That is true, in all my 300 years, I have not yet met someone as honorable as my son-in-law.” Cologne said as she shifted her staff to her lap. “As a mother myself, I know it is hard to see your child look upon you without total trust. I have been in that situation many times, but as long as you never stop being his mother and a friend to confide in, he will once again trust you.” Nodoka looked to the old woman with hope and respect. “Thank you Elder, you are right. I will wait for my son.” Just then a voice came over the intercom. “Saotome-sama, we have arrived at the hospital.” As she exited the hospital, Shampoo resolved to help her mother-in-law get to know Ranma better even if it meant compromising their identity. Truth be told she didn’t know her mother that well, she had died in the first wave of Amazonian attacks against the enemy. She remembered afterwards how she regretted all the things she never got to say to her mother, all the things that would have said if her mother was but alive for just one day. Life was just too chaotic, sometimes a person could be here and the next moment they were gone. It was in her power that Ranma get to know his mother again, and then he would not have to go through the regret that she went through. Walking through the sliding doors of the hospital Shampoo cemented her determination to get Ranma to open up to his mother. “Shampoo! Ranko, Cologne! Over here!” Ranma was standing by the front counter of the emergency room. Dodging all the doctors that were rushing through the emergency room, the trio made their way to Ranma. “I’ve managed to find out that they are from the Wolf clan.” Ranma reported. “I am hoping that the three of you can get some more information from them. My white magic is not as powerful as yours.” “Ranma The Great admitting that someone is better?” Ranko said mockingly. “What a shock!” “Where are these clan members?” Cologne asked. “Kasumi will let you see some of them. But we have to be careful not to let anyone see you perform these techniques. Our identities will be compromised if they find out about your powers.” _________________________________________________________________ Author's notes: This is a repost of the first draft, I've added a bit on. This is a really rough draft that I have been tossing around for the past few weeks. Part 3 had included a scene where Ranma meets his mother and what they discuss at the restaurant, but I stuck as to how to conclude that scene, so I will go back to it when I figured out how to end it. Please C&C all you like. I am still very shaky as to how to write these dialogues and the transition between each person. I hate putting " He said", "She said" after each line, if anyone can help me correct this i would be grateful. -Belphera -- .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List---. | Administrators - ffml-admins@fanfic.com | | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@fanfic.com | | Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject | `---http://www.fanfic.com/FFML-FAQ.txt ---'