[Ranma][Fanfic] Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 1 ======================================================================= Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 1 Ranma 1/2 characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi - Used without permission Ranma 1/2 Copyright by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Inc., Kitty, Fuji, Viz Communications Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family story created, written, and Copyright 1998 by Jim Lazar Continuity based on anime up to and including 'Back to the Happosai' episode. Events after that episode are not part of this universe. "Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese." E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: jim [at] animeprime.com Previous parts and my other fanfiction can be found at: http://www.animeprime/ff ======================================================================= This story takes place in my Ranma-ototo universe. Reading the six-part Ranma-ototo mini-series will help you enjoy and understand this story more (although I believe you can enjoy this three part story be itself). It is available on the RAAC archives or at my website at: http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime Here is a brief overview of the events of the Ranma-ototo mini-series: Ranma and Akane went back in time using Happosai's magic mirror. They met their younger selves and Mother Tendo (called Hanaki Tendo in this story). From this encounter, they believed that they were actually brother and sister. They confronted Soun and Genma with this news. After various orbit shots and threats, Soun and Genma finally told them the truth: Ranma is really Soun and his wife's (Hanaki) son. Akane is Genma and his wife's (Nodoka) daughter. Akane took this news bad, very bad. After some property damage, Ranma found her in a park. Not wanting to see her hurt any more, and because the big jerk loves her, he proposed to Akane. She accepted. After Ukyo saw Akane's new engagement ring, Akane and Ukyo fought. Akane took Ukyo to Dr. Tofu's clinic to treat some bad cuts. Ranma found her there, but not until after P-Chan's secret was revealed. Again, they went back in time to return a five-year-old Ryoga (who hitchhiked to the present with them the last time they went back in time). They also met Mother Tendo again and Ranma carved his and Akane's initials in a tree in the Tendo yard. They shared their first kiss, but actually their five year old selves beat them too it. Kasumi saw the teenage Ranma and Akane in the garden. Back in the present, Ranma and Akane informed the Tendos about THEIR engagement. Nabiki announced the news to Furinkan High, causing a large fight. She sold videos of it, of course. And now...another story set in the Ranma-ototo universe: Please Save My Family Note: This story has some darker parts, since it deals with some difficult parts of Ranma and Akane's lives. I have tried to keep a good balance of happy and sad moments. ======================================================================= Ranma turned over and pulverized the object next to him that had been making a horrible racket. Most mornings, this would have been the snoring coming from the large panda who slept next to Ranma. On this particular morning it was an alarm clock, and 'was' was the correct term, since the alarm clock in question was smashed flat by Ranma's blow. People who know Ranma knew that he never uses an alarm clock, instead relying on Akane to mallet him awake for important events. There were two reasons Ranma was using an alarm clock this particular morning: First he and Akane were getting along much better lately, which meant she only malleted him when he did something really stupid (at present, he was down to one or two malletings per month). The second reason is that today he wanted to get up early and surprise Akane. After he smashed the alarm clock flat, Ranma rolled over and went back to sleep. Five minutes later another alarm clock rang, even louder than the last one. Ranma reached for it, but as this one was further away, he had to get out of his futon to smash it flat. After he did so, he returned to his futon. As he was just falling asleep, he was drenched with a large bucket of water that was rigged to the ceiling. Transforming into a girl, Ranma shook herself awake. "Damn, should have never let Pop set up those alarms for me," she muttered. As she was pounding the panda hard with her fist, she noticed that it had big earmuffs on. Before Ranma could stuff the earmuffs somewhere uncomfortable for the panda, she remembered why she wanted the alarms set in the first place. After a quick trip downstairs for some hot water, he came back up and slipped into Akane's room. Being very quiet, he slipped into her bed and wrapped his arms around his fiancee. He turned her around and gave her a big kiss. On her big pink fuzzy snout. "Yaaaaaghhh!" Ranma shouted, backpedaling from the bed. Then, after he realized that it wasn't Ryoga in his pig form he calmed down and punched the pink stuffed pig. Ryoga or not, he didn't like to kiss pigs. Ryoga hadn't shown up as P-Chan since his secret was discovered by Akane. Well, truth be told, he had shown up a few times by accident, but always been politely offered some hot water and shown the door. Akane still didn't like to talk about her old pet. Ranma looked around the room, no Akane. He leaned out the window and looked around. Craning his neck back towards the koi pond, he spotted her. She was wearing her yellow kitty pajamas, the ones that always gave Ranma the willies. He quickly leapt down to the ground, walked to the pond, and sat by her side. He began to give her the wake up kiss he wanted to give her upstairs, but stopped as he noticed she was troubled and crying softly. "What's wrong, Akane?" "It's my birthday," Akane replied, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I know. I was going to wake you up with a kiss, just like you've been doing to me for the past few months," Ranma explained. "That's sweet," Akane said and a smile came to her face. She leaned over to her man and they kissed. As he held Akane in his arms, Ranma asked, "Why so glum on your birthday?" "It just reminds me of my mother...both of them. The one I knew and the one I didn't." "I can understand that, the events that led us to being swapped still make my head spin," Ranma said. I think it was for the best, since I doubt Dad would have made you into the great martial artist that Pop did," Akane said, using the terms for her two fathers that she had started to use to avoid confusion. Soun was very happy that she didn't start calling him 'Mr. Tendo'. Ranma, on the other hand, still used 'Pop' and 'Mr. Tendo', but recently had occasionally called Soun 'Dad', 'Father', or 'Crybaby'. The last one usually used when Soun went on a crying binge over his reunited family or impending marriage of his son to Akane. After a brief pause, Ranma said, "Well...you've gotten a lot better over the past few months, Akane." "Only because you finally started to hit me back, baka!" Akane yelled, although a little playfully. At least Ranma hoped it was playfully. "Well, now that we're officially engaged, I really don't have to charm you anymore," Ranma said with a smile. A few months ago that would have earned him a malleting, but things change. Instead, Akane just said, "Some charm! I hated that you'd never spar for real with me!" "I know, but I was always afraid I'd hurt you. I still am." Rubbing a sore spot on her leg, Akane said, "I realize that now." "Is your leg still sore from yesterday's training?" Ranma asked. "Sort of." Ranma grinned, looked around for a panda with a video camera, and then rolled up the leg of Akane's pajama pants. He gave the sore spot a sweet kiss. Akane grinned, looked around for anyone with a camera, and pulled Ranma up to her lips. Akane forgot about her sore leg and Ranma forgot about the present that he was going to give her that morning. * * * It was dark, very dark. She was sick of the dark, so she started to kick at the walls of her prison. When that only brought back mocking laughter and cries of joy, she decided to try tunneling out of her prison. She punched at the soft floor, wishing she had some sort of blunt instrument to use. Suddenly, as if reacting to her attempts to escape, the walls of her prison contracted and started to push her into the floor and eventually through it. She emerged into a brightly-lit room. She wanted to go back into her prison, but the large woman who held her wouldn't let her go. When she was spanked on her naked bottom, she wanted to hurt the woman. Not being able to do that, she started to cry. Kin Ono tied off the umbilical cord and cut it. "It's a girl." She checked the baby over and then handed the baby girl to her young son. She began to clean up the afterbirth. The pre-teen boy cleaned off the little baby girl and gently placed her into the waiting hands of the baby's mother, who smiled at her baby girl. "She's very cute, Mrs. Saotome. She looks healthy," a young Tofu Ono explained. "Thank you," Nodoka said. Then she added, "Can you wake my husband up now so he can meet his new daughter?" She glanced at the unconscious man in the corner, his rugged build only showing a little of the flab that he would gain in the years to come. Except for the five o'clock shadow, he showed no sign of the fur he would gain in the future either. Young Tofu walked around the bed, replaced the handkerchief that had fallen off the bald man's head, and then applied his fingers to several points on the back of Genma's neck. Genma awoke suddenly and said, "I tell you I can handle a little blood! I'm all..." he trailed off as he noticed that he had been unconscious for the rest of the birth. Getting to his feet he walked over to his wife and looked the new addition to his family. "How is my new student?" "Your 'daughter' is just fine, Genma dear," Nodoka replied. Genma examined the future heir to the Saotome School of Martial Arts then nodded approvingly. "A girl, huh? Well, we'll have her whipped into shape in no time flat!" Genma exclaimed as their daughter wrapped her finger around his finger and squeezed hard. Well it was more of a light touch, but Genma took it as an unbreakable hold, and exclaimed, "What a grip!" "Have you thought of a name for your new 'student'?" Kin Ono asked, using Genma's term. Nodoka and Genma looked at each other, then both said the name they had chosen for a girl, "Akane Saotome." Truth be told, Nodoka had picked the name, Genma had concentrated on boy names. "What a beautiful name," Kin Ono said. Young Tofu agreed with a nod. After Genma and Nodoka had fussed over their new daughter long enough, Kin spoke, "Okay, let's get her into her crib so she can get a little rest. You too, Mrs. Saotome." She took the baby and placed her in the bassinet inside the crib by the bed. Then she pushed Genma and her son out of the room. Out in the dinning room, Kin was enjoying some tea while her son collected the dirty sheets and began to wash them. Genma knelt across from her. "Mr. Saotome, there were some problems with the birth. Both your wife and Akane will be fine, but you should have them both checked by a medical doctor soon. Just to be safe." Worried, Genma asked, "What kind of problems?" "Well, the placenta wasn't fully formed and caused a lot of bleeding. I got it stopped quickly, but I almost had to call an ambulance," Kin said. "But they will both be okay, right?" "Yes, she's a strong woman. Make sure she gets plenty of rest, lots of juice and liquids, plenty of iron, and if she starts to bleed again call an ambulance immediately," Kin instructed. "Of course, I'll have our family doctor come over and look at her. Maybe Hanaki will be able to come over and help out. She's not due for another 3 months. Thank you." "It's my pleasure. By the way, if you have any more children it would be best to have them in an hospital, just in case she has this problem again." "Of course, thank you again." * * * Genma climbed over the hill, a small bundle strapped to his back. Suddenly he started to drool. Following the smell of cooking fish, he slid and stumbled down the hillside. He tried to eat the fish the man was cooking over a fire, the man quickly jumped back and Genma came up empty. "What do you want?" The man who was cooking the fish asked, as he tried to keep Genma away from the fish. "Just a little bite. That's all I ask," Genma pleaded. "No way! What am I supposed to eat? Get your own!" "Just one bite?" Genma pleaded again. "I said no and I mean no!" The man insisted. "This food is for me and my daughter!" "I can't go on. Help me. My child and I starving," Genma insisted. Right on cue, Akane started to cry. "There, there, quiet down. Please I'll do anything!" "Anything? Even the child on your back?" The man asked. Genma looked startled at the suggestion. "The only thing I need is a male heir to my family name. If you were to give him to me, I could bring him up to marry my daughter and then he can inherit the Daikoku School of Martial arts. And then..." he paused, then said, "Forget it! What kind of father would trade their son for a fish!" Genma had removed Akane from his back and handed her towards the man. "Throw in the pickles and the rice and my son, Ranma, is all yours," Genma offered, then thought to himself, The man was shocked that Genma would give up his son, but accepted the deal. After Genma had said his good-byes to 'Ranma', he took the offered food and left. Later 'Ranma' was sucking on a bottle as a twig lifted her back into Genma's arms. "Forgive me, but I couldn't allow my sweet Akane to starve," Genma said, then burped. "I shall remember you to my dying day," he pledged. To no one in particular, he added, "Of course, if you happen to find me again, you'll find I don't have a son named 'Ranma'." Genma started to chuckle as he left. * * * Nodoka Saotome and Hanaki Tendo walked through the park, pushing their carriages in front of them. Hanaki found an empty bench, picked up her son, sat down, and cradled him in her arms. Nodoka picked up Akane and joined her on the bench. "So Genma actually took Akane out on a training trip when she was only three months old?" Hanaki asked, and straightened her short dark-blue hair. "Yes, the scoundrel snuck out with her one night, but I don't think he will try that again. I made him sign a pledge that he wouldn't try it again without my permission," Nodoka explained. "Think he'll honor it?" "Considering the terms, yes I think he will," Nodoka said, as an image appeared in her head of her standing over Genma with her katana in her hands. Genma looked very scared or maybe pained was a better word, since he had a tanto blade sticking out of his stomach. Nodoka smiled, and then sliced off Genma's head in her mind. Nodoka had a very vivid imagination. "Well, my husband tried the same thing with our two daughters, so I made him promise to wait until Ranma was two years old before taking him on any training trips, and then only for a month at a time." "Oh, how are Kasumi and Nabiki?" "Kasumi is a gem, she's not even five yet, but she's already helping me clean the house," Hanaki said proudly, then continued, "Nabiki is just running around making messes for Kasumi to clean up." Nodoka smiled, then said, "Well looks like both of us ended up with the prince after all, just like we always fantasized about while we were growing up." "Yes and we didn't even have to kiss a frog," Hanaki replied. Deep down she didn't know why Nodoka loved Genma, he'd always seemed a bit lazy and sneaky for her tastes. * * * When Akane was one year old, Genma was playing with her at the Saotome house. Akane was dressed in a little yellow gi with 'footsies' on it. "Look at her strength!" Genma explained proudly, then added, "With the power in her hands, she'll be the greatest female martial artist the world has ever known!" "Well, just remember she's my little girl and I'm not going to let you turn her into a tomboy!" Nodoka explained, as she folded laundry. "Yes, dear," was Genma's humble reply. * * * A martial artist leapt at her opponent. A cry rang out through the house and a foot connected with her opponent's drawer. Yes, drawer. The opponent was a elegant china cabinet, which had many pillows tied around it's edges. The drawer creaked, but didn't break. Little Akane wiped her head and then looked around the room for her next opponent She glanced at all the furniture with padding attached, at the practice dummies outside, and then found her next opponent. With a flying leap and a yell, she slammed into her father's shin. Genma doubled over in mock pain, then conceded, "Oh, what a powerful kick! I yield to you, proud warrior!" He straightened his shin guards then sat down at the table and pulled his daughter into a big bear hug. Nodoka appeared out of the kitchen, also wearing shin guards, and put some bowls down on the table. "Akane, go wash up, dinner is ready," she said. "Kay," Akane replied sweetly and squirmed out of the bear hug, punching Genma softly to get him to release her. As Nodoka watched her daughter make her way to the bathroom to clean up, she turned to Genma and scolded him, "Honestly, Genma! How could you teach my daughter to kick so early! The 'terrible twos' are bad enough without her knowing the best way to break things with her feet!" "Yes, dear." * * * The Saotome family, dressed in their best clothes, all walked up to the Tendo gate. Little Akane was smiling broadly and wearing a beautiful pink dress. They knocked on the door and it opened to reveal a young girl with long hair. She appeared to be around seven or eight years old. "Ah, Kasumi dear. How is the head of the Tendo household?" Genma asked and tweaked the little girls nose. "Mommy's busy making dinner and keeping Ototchan away from it," Kasumi said with a big grin, ignoring Genma's usual joke about Kasumi actually running the house. Uncle Saotome was just so strange sometimes. They were escorted in and soon dinner was served. After the dinner, a big cake was brought out with five candles on it. "Kasumi made this cake all by herself. She's becoming quite the little cook," Hanaki said proudly. Akane seemed to be following this conversation intently. They all sang to little Nabiki, who seemed to be more interested in the small pile of presents across the table from her, than the song or cake. "Make a wish, Nabiki," Hanaki said. Nabiki thought a few seconds, wished that the nasty Kuno boy would stop picking on her, then blew out the candles. As they ate the cake, Nabiki unwrapped her presents. She got an abacus from the Saotome's, a dress from her mother, and yet another workout gi from her father. Little Akane gave Nabiki a beautiful flower from the Saotome garden. Ranma just stuck his tongue out at his big sister. After Akane reached for the last piece of cake, Ranma intercepted her, swatted her hand, and tried to get it himself. "Ranma! That's no way to treat a guest or a girl! Apologize to her immediately!" His mother scolded him. Grudgingly, Ranma obeyed, "Sorry, Akane...you can have it." He slid the plate over to little Akane. "We can share it!" Akane insisted. As Ranma smiled, she tossed half of the cake in his face. Soon, both Akane and Ranma were in an all out fight. "I hope they grow out of this phase soon," Nodoka said, wishfully. "Oh, I'm sure they will," Hanaki offered. "Maybe once Akane's new brother arrives that will help," Genma explained. Soun and his wife looked surprised, Kasumi just cleared the table, Nabiki played with her abacus, Ranma and Akane's fight had moved to the garden. "You're having another baby??" Hanaki asked. Nodoka nodded, then said, "In about six months Akane will have a new brother or SISTER." The last word seemed to be directed at Genma in order to remind him that it could be another girl. Nodoka and Hanaki hugged and cried. Soun shook Genma's hand vigorously, and said, "Another student! Both of our schools will be so well known that we'll have to turn away students!" A splash was heard and they saw a girl in Ranma's clothes get out of the pond. "What? How did that happen?" Nodoka said. "Stupid!" Akane shouted at Ranma from the pond. "Tomboy!" Ranma shouted back. He was standing by the pond in his shorts and holding Akane's clean dress triumphantly in his hands. "How on earth did he manage to get her into his clothes?" Nodoka asked, as she ran out to dry off her daughter. "That's my son!" "You really need to talk to our son about his hitting girls, Soun," Hanaki explained. "Yes, of course," Soun said, but inwardly congratulated his son on his victory and his noble act of keeping the dress from getting wet. He had learned not to say things like that out loud anymore or else he'd see his wife's mallet once again. * * * A few days latter, the two fathers stood in the dojo. Akane and Ranma were both dressed in their own gi. They squared off against each other. Nabiki looked in from the door. "You must both learn to settle your disagreements in a more productive manner. So let's have you spar against each other in the dojo. If you get thrown out of the circle-" Soun declared, indicated the chalk circle on the floor, then continued, "-you lose this match. Ready, Son?" Ranma nodded. "Try not to hurt him too much, Akane," Genma told his daughter. Akane nodded in agreement, but her eyes told a different story. Ranma declared, "I'll beat you just as easy as I did before!" "Not this time!" Akane replied, knowing that she was trying to keep her dress clean before. They took some little punches at each other, both missed. A few kicks were traded. Nabiki came up to the fathers and looked on at the fight, then asked Genma, "Why are Ranma and Akane fighting again, Uncle?" "It's just a little sparring match to blow off some steam, Nabiki. No one will get hurt, but I think Akane will win," Genma asserted. "Ranma is good! He'll win," Nabiki said. "Care to make a wager on that, Nabiki?" "What's a wa...ger?" Nabiki asked, stumbling on the unfamiliar word. While Genma explained the finer details of betting to young Nabiki, Ranma had landed a kick to Akane. Akane got mad and tried to trip Ranma, but couldn't. They each tried to punch each other again and missed. Suddenly, Akane grabbed Ranma by his wrist and heaved him over her shoulder and out of the circle. Soun was astonished. Nabiki dug out the five Yen coin she now owed Genma. Genma beamed with pride. "Tomboy!" "Baka!" "Looks like you need to train Ranma harder, Tendo," Genma asserted. "I guess so," Soun replied, flatly. He shook his head as he left the dojo, trying to get the thought that Genma had already taught Akane to throw her opponents so well out of his head. Genma took the five yen coin from Nabiki. Later that day he treated her to a big ice cream sundae, which must have cost much more than five Yen. Either Genma was a kind man or Nabiki had already learned how to get others to buy food for her. The latter was probably the case here. * * * Six months went by and Nodoka Saotome was due to give birth any day now, so Akane was staying at the Tendo house. Hanaki placed Akane on a stool in the bathroom and started to scrub her back. Ranma was playing with a toy cat and duck in the tub. The cat seemed to be trying to eat the duck. Ranma looked up, then asked, "Mom, can we get a kitty?" Hanaki looked over at her son and said, "I don't think so, Ranma. I really don't want any filthy animals running around my house." Somewhere in the future, a panda sneezed along with a cat, duck, pig, and wrinkled old man. A cry was heard from outside the bathroom, "Mommy! The dinner's almost done!" "Oh, dear...Ranma, scrub Akane's back for me will you?" Hanaki asked, then dashed out. "I'll be right back." Ranma looked at the little girl, "Why do I have to do that?" "Because," was Akane's reply. Somehow this was good enough for Ranma and he got out of the tub, took the sponge, and scrubbed her back. When he was done, Akane returned the favor. "What's that?" Akane asked and pointed down. "That's my winkie. Don't you have one?" Ranma responded. "No, why would I want one?" Ranma had no answer to that question, so Akane asked, "Can I touch it?" "Why should I let you?" "I'll beat you up if you don't!" After a brief water fight in the tub, Ranma and Akane stood before each other and started to play doctor. Of course, this is when little Kasumi came in and saw them. "Mommy wanted me to check on you..." was what she started to say, then she gasped and said, "Oh my!" Remembering the time she was caught playing doctor with one of the neighborhood boys, Kasumi quickly separated the two kids and then informed them that it wasn't right to do that. * * * At dinner that night, Ranma was acting like a perfect gentleman after being coached very carefully by his Mother. Akane was sucking down her food like there was no tomorrow. Hanaki looked startled at this, but just calmly asked Akane to slow down. "Okay, Momma Tendo! It's just that the food is so good!" Akane said. "Thank you, Akane dear." "When I grow up I want to cook just like you!" "I'm sure you'll make great food for your husband one day." "She's too much of a tomboy!" Ranma exclaimed suddenly. "Ranma!" "Sorry, Mom...Sorry, Akane..." Ranma said, sheepishly. Kasumi smiled, then said, "Maybe Akane and Ranma will get married!" "Oh, they do look cute together, but that is far away. No need to rush them," Hanaki said. She missed the thoughtful look that crossed Soun's face. Akane and Ranma didn't know what all this talk meant, but deep down they had a bad feeling about it. * * * A few days later, Ranma sailed through the air and landed in the koi pond. Akane stood over him and took up a mocking pose over her defeated opponent. "Ha! Still can't beat me!" she yelled. "Tomboy!" "Baka!" Akane yelled back, but then Ranma sneezed several times. Akane shrugged, dragged Ranma out of the pond, and into the bathroom. She helped him warm up in the tub. Hanaki poked her head in to see what they kids are up to, and caught them playing doctor again. She sighed, calmly told them they shouldn't do that, and finished washing them herself. * * * A scream reverberated throughout the hospital. Genma looked nervously at the door to the delivery rooms, wringing his hands nervously. In one of the delivery rooms, several doctors and a nurse were frantically working. "Careful...the umbilical cord is caught around the babies neck!" Doctor Ittowa exclaimed. "B.P. dropping, Doctor," a nurse said. "Damn! The placenta has already torn away from the uterus! Give me a clamp!" "Clamp," a nurse said, as she handed the clamp to the doctor. Suddenly Nodoka Saotome convulsed and arched her back. Doctor Ittowa cried out, "Twenty CCs of Lidocain, stat! And hold her down." A doctor who was assisting, yelled out, "Get a infant trauma team down here!" Doctor Ittowa had worked the umbilical cord off the baby's neck and then pulled the baby out of the birth canal. One of the nurses began to give the baby artificial respiration, when a team of doctors and nurses came in with a small cart. They placed the baby on the cart and started working on the baby boy, trying to get him to breathe. The assisting doctor examined the mother and then exclaimed, "She's bleeding, heavily." Doctor Ittowa looked down from where he was examining Nodoka's eyes, and said, "Looks like she had a stroke. Nurse, get an operating room and the on-call surgeon now!" In a flurry of movement, the nurses and doctors rushed out of the room, Nodoka was taken to the O.R. and the baby down to the I.C.U. * * * Genma knew something was wrong. It was too long without any word. He felt so helpless. He kept remembering Akane's birth and the complications there. Maybe they shouldn't have had another child. Maybe he shouldn't have... Doctor Ittowa walked into the waiting room and interrupted Genma's thoughts. Genma leapt to his feet and then recoiled at the look on the doctor's face. "No..." "Mr. Saotome, I'm sorry..." Doctor Ittowa began, but paused when Genma knocked down a wall and screamed in despair. * * * Ranma was holding Akane in a headlock. Akane squirmed trying to get out of it. Nabiki rushed by and kissed her brother on his cheek. Ranma was so startled he let Akane go. Akane proceeded to beat him up. Nabiki grinned, Akane had paid two whole weeks of allowance for that. "Lunch!" Hanaki called out. "Kay!" Ranma and Akane yelled out and ran indoors, smiling and holding hands as they went. They had already forgotten what had started the fight. A stuffed pig lay in the koi pond with half it's stuffing ripped out. * * * Later that day Soun Tendo answered his door. He gasped as he saw his longtime friend in front of him. "Genma!!!" Genma walked in the door, looking like he hadn't slept or shaved in days, mostly because he hadn't. "Soun..." Genma managed to sputter, then collapsed into Soun's arms and began to weep. After several minutes, Soun and his wife got Genma into the dinning room. Hanaki asked Kasumi to take the kids out for ice cream. Hanaki held Genma's hands lovingly, then said, "Genma what happened?" "There..." Genma began, then broke down again. Then, after crying for several moments, he began again, "There were some problems with the birth." He took a deep breath as Soun and Hanaki feared the worse. "Nodoka's in a coma, fighting for her life. My son..." He broke down again, shaking his head. Hanaki and Soun wrapped their arms around him and comforted him, they exchanged pained looks. Then they helped Genma into their guest room to get some sleep. * * * After sleeping for almost a whole day in the Tendo's guest room, Genma managed to get up and clean up in the Tendo's bathroom. As he picked at his food, he explained in more details, "Nodoka is in a coma, there may be brain damage, and the doctors don't know when or if she will come out of it." "Oh, Saotome, I wish you would have called me. I would have come to the hospital," Soun said. "What about your son, Genma?" Hanaki asked sadly. "He...he only lived a short time." The Tendos suspected as much from Genma's statements the previous night, but it still saddened them to hear it for sure. "We're so sorry, Genma. Nodoka is a strong woman, she'll pull through," Hanaki insisted. "I hope so. It's all my fault...I wanted a son so much, I should have never pressured her into it." "Genma, Nodoka told me she was thrilled to be having another child. I'm sure she didn't feel pressured into it," Hanaki comforted him. Soun added, "I know her well, Saotome. She would never of done something she didn't want to do, she's too strong willed for that." Genma shrugged, not entirely convinced. "I know it's a burden, but I have to be by Nodoka's side and handle some matters about her care. Can..." Hanaki interrupted, "Yes, of course. Akane can stay here as long as you need her too. She and Ranma have been starting to get along a better over the past few days anyway." They all hugged again, cried, and wished for Nodoka to get better. * * * The Tendo household was peaceful for the next few days, even if Hanaki and Soun seemed to be on edge about something. Kasumi and Nabiki went off to school everyday. Akane beat up Ranma every day. Soun started to train Ranma and Akane together, mostly to keep them from fighting by themselves. A couple weeks after Nodoka slipped into her comma, Akane asked, "Momma Tendo, where's my mommy?" Hanaki looked sadly at Akane, she had hoped Genma would be around for this, but he had kept putting it off. "Well, Akane dear...Your mommy is sick and has to stay in the hospital. Hopefully you can see her soon," Hanaki explained. "Sick? What about my new brother?" Akane asked. Hanaki flinched, Genma had indeed been telling everyone that he was having a son. "Well your little brother will be living in heaven. Turns out your parents already had the best child they could ever hope for," Hanaki said, brushing some hair out of Akane's beautiful face. "Oh. Well, I'll just play with Ranma-ototo then," Akane said and went looking for Ranma. "You do that dear," Hanaki sighed. Akane was such a sweet child, if you ignored her tendency to beat up her son all the time, that is. She smiled then went back to doing her laundry. * * * Genma spent the first month almost constantly at his wife's side. He talked to her, held her hand, washed her hair, and just sat by her side. When she was moved to the convalescent home, he did the same, but soon had to limit his visits to once a week as the months went on. He visited Akane often, but still wasn't able to care for her himself. He was barely able to take care of himself at that point. Life at the Tendo house settled down. Akane only went to visit her mother a couple times in the convalescent home and cried the whole time. * * * About six months after Nodoka slipped into her coma, Genma was having dinner at the Tendos. Hanaki was beaming and proudly told them all that Kasumi had cooked the whole meal by herself. Kasumi looked embarrassed at all the attention. Akane ate her meal with perfect table manners; Hanaki looked approvingly at her. Ranma didn't pick on Akane once during dinner. Genma looked down at his lovely daughter, then said, "Akane, I've decided that we will be going on a training trip to China next week." Everyone looked shocked. Hanaki said, "Genma, you can't really mean to take a four year old girl to China for some of your so-called training?" The bitterness in her voice told Genma that she had heard some of Soun's training stories. "Yes. For Akane to become the world's greatest martial artist, she must learn all the secrets of the Saotome Anything Goes Martial Arts school! For that she must train night and day." "Saotome, I have been training her hard here in the dojo, I'm sure you can train her here just as well in the wilds of China," Soun insisted. "Tendo, I am thankful for you taking care of my daughter while I dealt with Nodoka's illness, but Akane is my daughter," Genma declared. "Genma, why don't you ask Akane what she thinks?" Hanaki suggested, calmly. "Very well. Akane dear, how would you like to go on an exciting training trip with me to China? I can teach you all about martial arts," Genma asked his daughter. "Um, I want to stay with Momma Tendo, Poppa Tendo, Ranma-ototo and my sisters," Akane declared. "But I am your father, Akane. You must come with me and learn the ways of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts," Genma declared, taking a deep breath at the end. "You can stay here, Daddy! Big house!" Akane said, with a beautiful smile on her face. "Yes, Saotome, you are more than welcome to stay here," Soun offered, not wanting to loose the daughter he had to come to love over the past year. Hanaki nodded her agreement. "I'll consider the idea." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Akane was so much a part of the family now it would have broken their hearts to say goodbye to her. * * * Later that night Genma and Akane were sparring in the dojo. Akane dodged a soft kick from Genma, leaped up, and landed on Genma's shoulders. The sparring session quickly turned into a horsey ride. Then Ranma flew in and kicked Akane off her father's back. Akane took revenge by landing several fists to Ranma's chest and then a severe kick to his stomach. Genma looked on, noticing some of Soun's styles in the two kids attacks. Genma thought, while deciding to take the trip to China after all. The next night, Genma was dressed in his gi and slipped into the window of Akane and Ranma's room. He slowly slipped over to his sleeping daughter and nudged her awake. "Akane...wake up." Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, Akane said, "Daddy?" "Time to go on that training trip." "I want to stay here, Daddy." "What if we take Ranma with us? You both can use this training." "I like Ranma, he's easy to beat up." "That's my girl..." * * * Genma quickly got the two kids dressed into their gi. He packed some few spare gi and other pieces of the kid's clothing. He reluctantly packed a stuffed pig that Akane refused to leave behind. As he carried the two kids out to the front wall, a large mallet hit him very hard. Genma made an enormous splash when he hit the koi pond. Akane and Ranma just took up defensive postures, until they noticed who was holding the mallet. "Mommy!" Ranma cried and hugged his mother. "Momma!" Akane cried and hugged her as well. Genma swallowed hard. "Genma Saotome! To sneak off in the dead of night with your own daughter is bad enough, but to take MY son with you is the most dishonorable thing I could ever imagine. Nodoka would take great pleasure in using her katana on you if she was able," Hanaki declared, hefting her large mallet menacingly. Genma swallowed hard again, then spoke, "I only wanted Akane to be the best martial artist she could be. She was the one who wanted Ranma to come along." "I can believe that part, they are very close. Akane is suffering because her mother can't be with her, now is not the time to tear her away from a stable family she has grown to love," Hanaki insisted, then added, "And who have grown to love her." "I was only hoping to train them in the power of the Saotome School of Anything Goes of Martial Arts!" "From what Soun has told me about Master Happosai-" Hanaki said, then paused as a crack of thunder was heard in the distance. Genma looked nervously around. She continued, "-I don't think panty raids and peeping into girls baths would be good training." "There is much more to the Anything Goes School than that. The Master's perversions are not part of what I intend to teach Akane." "I would hope not. Master Happosai does not seem a good role model for anyone's kids." Another crack of thunder was heard. "Please stop saying the Master's name." "Oh please, stop being so superstitious. Now, if you promise to behave yourself you may train Akane here in our dojo," Hanaki offered, then after a tug from Ranma on her robe, she added, "And I think Ranma would enjoy the training as well. Defeated by a woman again, Genma sighed. Hanaki was a little too much like his Nodoka for Genma's liking. "I'm sorry. I was only thinking of myself. I will accept your hospitality " * * * Deep beneath the sea, a large treasure chest shifted and dislodged years of accumulated sediment. A mermaid swam by and noticed the movement. She whipped her large tail excitedly and swam up to the chest. She tugged at the chains that bound it and, after several minutes pulling, the rusty chains broke. She opened the chest and was driven back by a fast moving object. "Pu...bulb...tty...blub....lu...blub...dy!!!" The strange deformed creature bubbled, as it attached itself to the mermaid's shell covered bosom. Energy seemed to flow into the creature as it glowed in an eerie red light. The mermaid screamed and pried the creature off her chest, then used her powerful tail to send the creature into orbit. She then noticed that her shell bra was missing, exposing her breasts. She covered herself and went to find some new shells to use. The crab which swam beside her, started singing for no particular reason. The creature flew in a graceful arc over the sea to land on a beach in Japan. The beach suddenly became a nude beach, for the women at least, since their bikinis were stolen by a blur. [End - Part 1] ======================================================================= Email me at: mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net with comments, criticisms, or if you would like to join my pre-reader list. http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime Author's notes/ramblings: Well, I wasn't planning on continuing events started in my Ranma-ototo mini-series, but couldn't resist looking back and looking first hand at the events that caused Soun and Genma to swap Akane and Ranma. I gave Mother Tendo a name in this story because events were focused more around her (in the original Ranma-ototo mini-series I referred to her only as Mother Tendo). Hanaki means 'flower spirit'. I thought it appropriate for her. I received some questions on the fact that Genma was taking Akane and Ranma to China in this story when in the original history he puttered around Japan for a while. All I can say to that is that he didn't end up taking either of them anywhere, so it's not a problem. It was just his 'desire' to take them to China he didn't succeed in getting them away from Hanaki. As I reviewed the various anime episodes, most especially the first TV episode, I was amazed at how easy the altered events in Ranma-ototo could be incorporated. Many of the references in Ranma 1/2 were usually vague enough for me to flex them a little bit. I'd like to thank various FFML members and my pre-readers: Anthony Pardilla, Lathrop L Preston, David Johnson, and Jonathan Ng. Of course in the end, any mistakes and botched characters are my fault. Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (May, 1998) Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (June 6, 1998) Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (July 26, 1998) Revision 1.0 - First RAAC posting (August 5, 1998)