[Ranma][Fanfic] Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 2 ======================================================================= Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 2 Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission 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 will help you enjoy and understand this story more. It is available on the RAAC archives or at my website. 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, Hanaki's son. Akane is Genma and his wife, Nodoka's 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. Here is a brief overview of the events in Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family - Part 1: Akane was born to Nodoka and Genma. Genma taught her martial arts almost from day one. Ranma was born to Hanaki and Soun. Soun taught Ranma when he wasn't training his other students. When playing together little Ranma and Akane sometimes were nice to each other, sometimes fought, and sometimes played doctor. Genma and Soun started letting them spar together to work off their excess energy. Nodoka Saotome went into a coma while giving birth to another child. The child did not survive. Genma left Akane with the Tendos while he cared for Nodoka in a convalescent home. An attempt by Genma to take Akane and Ranma on a training trip was stopped by Hanaki Tendo. Genma relented and promised to stay and train Akane at the dojo instead. Under the sea, Happosai escaped from a chest that Soun and Genma had imprisoned him in years earlier... 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. ======================================================================= After being forced by Hanaki to abandon his plans to take Akane on a training trip, Genma trained Ranma and Akane in the dojo every day. Both of them made great progress. Soun was a bit jealous of Genma's success, but he knew that he couldn't give Ranma and Akane as much attention, since he had a large number of 'paying' students to teach. Genma was showing Ranma and Akane the finer points of throwing techniques when a cold wind blew into the dojo. "No...that's all wrong Genma, do it the right way." Genma blanched, then slowly turned around. "Ma...st...er?" He stammered. "Yup! I'm back to make you and Soun suffer for dumping me into the sea all those years ago!" The small deformed troll declared. "Master Happosai! It's so good to see you again!" Genma said, as he groveled at Happosai's feet. "Genma, you poor excuse for a student. How dare you think you can teach my techniques without my permission!" "But Ranma and Akane are our children," Genma informed his master. Happosai chuckled. "Ah, I never knew you two were that way." Genma recoiled at the suggestion. "We have wives, Master." The two kids just looked on confused and wondered who the funny little octopus was. "Hmm, so my students have families now. Well, lets see what the boy has," Happosai softened and lit his pipe. "Ranma and Akane, show him what you can do." "Who's the funny octopus?" Ranma asked. "I am not an octopus!" Genma whispered to Ranma, "Careful, boy, that is a very powerful martial arts master. Just spar with Akane for a bit." The two kids faced off and soon were trading blows. "Not bad, but he needs a lot of work." "They are only four years old, Master," Genma explained. "When I was four I could already emit my battle aura!" Genma thought. "Okay, I'll train the boy. He shows promise." "No, Master, I'm sure you have better things to do with your life. Lots of bras and panties to 'collect'," Genma suggested. "True..." Genma smiled in hope. "But I still need to find someone worthy of carrying on the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts." "Me and Soun are..." "Complete and total failures. You could never beat me! So why should I give my school to you?" Genma couldn't think up a reason at that moment. He tried for the next several years, but he never did think up a reason. Many years into the future, on his deathbed, he did come up with a reason; but forgot to tell anyone. * * * "I don't want that monster training my little boy! He'll warp his young mind!" "Hanaki, I know, but until we can manage to get rid of him we can't get him mad. He could blow up the house if he got angry enough," Soun explained. "You and/or Genma better be on hand during the training to make sure that old pervert doesn't teach my son any of his perverted ways. I will not have my son stealing underwear or running around sneaking peeks at naked women!" "Yes, dear." * * * "I want to train with Ranma!" Akane shouted for the millionth time and started to cry. Happosai smiled sweetly up at Akane, who was already taller than the old pervert, and said, "Akane dear, little girls are for looking pretty and wearing dresses, bras, and panties. Martial arts are for men." Ranma sadly watched Akane, as she ran away crying. He missed training with his 'sister'. Happosai and Ranma spent several months training. Then Happosai disappeared for several months. Genma and Soun hoped he would never come back. * * * Hanaki and Soun sat silently on their bed. Soun was holding his crying wife in his arms. "Are they sure?" "Yes, they want to do a mastectomy and then start the chemotherapy right away to keep it from spreading," Hanaki explained, between sobs. Soun looked sadly down at his wife and held her tight, then said, "We'll beat this. I won't let our happy family lose you." "Soun, whatever happens...keep my family together. I don't want to see their lives destroyed because of this." "Yes, I will. You just have to promise me you'll fight this cancer. The woman I married would never give up a fight." "I never gave up on chasing you. Did I, husband?" "Nope, even when I couldn't admit my love for you. The happiest day of my life was when I finally told you that I loved you and you were still by my side to hear it. I cringe at the thought that I might have waited too long and have lost you." "Love kept me by your side until you were ready, I just hope my children can find their loves without as much trouble as we had." "You've brought them up well, they will be fine adults," Soun said, then pulled Hanaki in for a kiss. Soun and Hanaki didn't come to dinner that night. They spent the night in each other's arms. * * * The days passed, Kasumi started taking care of more of the household duties and cooking. Hanaki spent a lot of time outside the house. 'Visiting friends' was the reason she always gave. Happosai appeared from time to time and trained Ranma some more. Genma trained Akane full time and Ranma while the Master was away. When Akane turned five, Hanaki gave her a little mallet to 'even things up a bit'. Ranma was getting extremely good and was routinely beating Akane in their little sparring fights. When Ranma turned five, Hanaki gave him a cute little red Chinese outfit. He had to be begged to wear anything else after that. * * * Kasumi, now nine, was collecting towels when she walked into the bathroom and saw her Mother examining herself in the mirror. "Mommy? What's wrong with your hair?" "Kasumi!" Hanaki exclaimed, then pulled on a shirt to cover the scar on the left side of her chest. She looked down at the dark-blue wig and decided that it didn't matter anymore, Kasumi had seen it all. "Kasumi, come over and sit by me." Kasumi did so, and sat on a bench next to her mother. She looked up at her mother's head. Fingering one of her remaining patches of hair, Hanaki said, "Kasumi, I've been sick for the past few months. The doctors are treating me, but the treatment causes my hair to fall out. They say I'm getting better, so you don't have to worry." "Sick? Is that why you've been out of the house so much?" Kasumi asked. Hanaki nodded. "What about the scar?" "Well, my breast had a disease. To keep it from spreading they had to remove it. They call it a mastectomy." Kasumi mulled the word over in her head. Kasumi then said, "Are you going to be all right?" "Kasumi, you're a big girl now. The younger kids wouldn't be able to understand this, so please don't tell them," Hanaki said. Kasumi nodded. Hanaki continued, "I am sick a lot now, but I seem to be getting better. There are no guarantees in life, but I hope to be around for a very long time. I still have to see my children get married, don't I?" Kasumi nodded, then hugged her mother tightly while they both cried softly. "That's my big girl. You're a great help to me with all the cleaning and cooking you do." Soun looked in on his wife and oldest daughter, then wiped the tears from his eyes and left them alone. * * * Hanaki walked through the park, then called out, "Akane...Ranma...time to go home!!!". "Okay, Mom!" little Ranma and Akane both replied in unison and started to run towards her. "Hope you two played nice," Hanaki said. Hanki looked up and saw the young couple that had been talking to Ranma and Akane. "Oh, hi. I hope the kids didn't disturb you two?" she asked. "Oh no, they are adorable," the young girl with short dark-blue hair said. "Yes, they are, but also quite a handful," Hanaki said, then is interrupted by a tug on her dress by Akane. "What is it Akane dear?" "When I grow up I'm going to marry him," Akane declared, as she pointed at the young man with the pig-tail, who looked a little awkward. "Well, that's nice dear, but it looks like he already has a girlfriend," Hanaki replied, indicating the young woman. "Oh...well...you see..." the young woman began, then trailed off. She blushed and pulled away from the young man a bit. "Don't worry you two, the kids are very imaginative...they keep saying they are going to marry each other when they grow up. If it wasn't for the fact that they fight all the time, I'd think they were serious," Hanaki said, then smiled lovingly at the kids. The young couple exchanged glances, both troubled and knowing. "Kids will be kids I guess," the young man finally managed to say. "That's what I said when I caught them playing 'doctor' a few months ago," Mother Tendo said. "Well, it's been nice meeting you O...basama," the young woman said, blushing for some reason. "Yes it has, but we have an appointment we have to keep," the young man explained. "Thank you for entertaining the kids. You're such a cute couple," Hanaki said, with a loving smile on her face. "Err...thank you," the young couple said together, blushing. Hanaki turned and walked away, little Akane and Ranma waved goodbye. The older Ranma and Akane watched their mother walk away, tears filling their eyes. * * * The next day, Hanaki was walking to her appointment when she spotted the young couple she had met the day before. "Oh, you're the young couple from yesterday," Hanaki said, smiling. "Oh...hi, Obasama. It's nice to meet you again," the young woman replied, a little nervously. "Yes, it is. You know we never did introduce ourselves yesterday. I'm Ryoga," the young man said, then continued, "and this...is my fiancee Shampoo." Hanaki thought, then said out loud, "It must be recent, you weren't wearing the ring yesterday." "That's very observant of you. Yes, he asked me last night," 'Shampoo' explained. She smiled broadly and held up the ring. 'Ryoga' put his arm around her shoulder. "Well, I know you'll make good parents. My Ranma and Akane kept going on and on about you two last night," Hanaki informed them. 'Shampoo' blushed and said, "You seem to think very highly of Akane, even though she's not your own daughter." "Oh yes, I love Akane just like my other children. Her own mother is too sick to take care of Akane herself and her father wouldn't know how to raise a daughter if his life depended on it. He said he was going to take her to China on a training trip. Really! Imagine taking a four-year-old girl to China! If it wasn't for the fact that Genma introduced me and my husband, I'd never let him near my kids," Hanaki explained. The young couple just absorbed all this information. "I'm afraid I have to go and do my shopping now, you two are welcome to come over anytime and play with the kids, I'm sure they'd enjoy it," Hanaki suggested. "It's the Tendo house down on Takahashi Street." "Well, we're just visiting Nerima, but we will try and drop by if we're in the neighborhood," 'Ryoga' promised. "That would be fine. Oh, Shampoo dear?" Hanaki inquired, as she leaned towards 'Shampoo'. "Yes?" "I know your fiancee may like it, but you really should wear a bra, and boxers are really not appropriate for a young lady. If you're not careful someone will call you a tomboy," Hanaki whispered to 'Shampoo'. Apparently 'Ryoga' heard her, since he started grinning. 'Shampoo' blushed. Hanaki thought, then considered, Hanaki said her good-byes and then walked off to her chemotherapy appointment, while she hummed a little tune. * * * Kasumi had just finished putting fresh sheets on all the beds upstairs when she noticed two adults kissing in the garden. She looked out the window and tried to remember if she'd ever seen them before. she pondered, as she watched them kissing. Down in front of the porch, little Ranma and Akane were watching the kissing adults, who they knew as Shampoo and Ryoga. "Ick, why are they doing that?!" Ranma asked. "It's called kissing, adults do that! I've seen Momma and Poppa doing it!" Akane asserted. "Well, I'm never going to do that! It looks gross!" Ranma insisted. "Want to try it with me? You never know it may be fun, they seem to like it," Akane hinted, as she pointed at the couple. "Nope, I'd never do that with a tomboy like you!" Ranma declared. Then he noticed that she was suddenly holding her little mallet, so he said, "Um, okay, but only once." A little awkwardly, the two little kids leaned together and kissed. It was just a quick press of their lips together, but a kiss nonetheless. Back in the corner, the older Ranma and Akane finally broke their kiss and then spotted their younger selves. "Icky!" Ranma shouted, as he broke the kiss. "Baka! Fine! I will never kiss you again," Akane promised. "Fine by me," Ranma agreed, then received a mallet blow from Akane. They both stormed off in different directions. After the young couple left the garden, Kasumi came out of the house and looked closely at the initials that the couple had carved into the tree. "T. R. and S. A.," she read aloud, as she examined the letters with her finger. A smile crossed her face. "Oh my." Later Kasumi was in her bedroom and writing in her diary. She wrote the following: ======================================================================= Dear diary, Mother went to get another of her treatments today. She says that she is getting better, but I'm not sure she is. She is so weak and unable to get out of bed some days. I promised her I wouldn't tell my sisters and brother, but I don't know how long they can miss seeing that she's sick. I'll keep helping out with the housework, it's kind of fun being head of the household. A strange thing happened today, I saw a couple of adults kissing in our back yard. They also carved some initials in one of our trees. The initials were 'T. R. and S. A.' Those are Ranma and Akane's initials too, but I know that the adults carved them. At first I thought maybe the adults were Ranma and Akane, but older. Maybe I'm watching too many anime shows on television. I wonder if I should talk to mother and father about them? Oh, I also met this cute young man when I borrowed a medical book from his mother. His name is Tofu Ono. He's a teenager, but so cute and handsome. I hope when I get older that I can marry him. ======================================================================= Kasumi closed her diary and pulled out the medical book. She opened it to the section on cancer and began to read it. She frowned the more she read. * * * The Tendo and Saotome families were going about their lives and looking forward to a long future together. Even Nodoka had come out of her coma recently. Unfortunately, she was incoherent and didn't recognize Genma at all. The few words she managed to say to him told the doctors that there had indeed been some brain damage from her stroke of two years earlier, but they were unable to determine when or if she may get better. Genma tried to visit her once a week to try to help her remember and get better. She was bedridden and only occasionally was she even aware of others. Genma tried to take this all in stride; at least his lovely wife was alive and able to speak. He brought Akane to see her once. Akane didn't even recognize her mother anymore, she had gotten so used to thinking of Hanaki as her mother that her mind pushed the thoughts of her real mother into the dark recesses of itself. Genma decided it was better to leave it like that until Nodoka could be a mother to Akane. * * * Akane was smiling. She giggled as her family all sang to her. She then leaned over and blew out the six candles on her birthday cake. Akane wished. Sadly, even the Goddesses can't grant all wishes. "Well, Akane, what is it like to be six years old?" Genma asked his daughter. Akane considered this question for a few seconds, then said straight-faced, "A lot like five!" This earned laughter from all the adults and Kasumi. The younger kids wanted to know what was so funny. After Akane opened all of her other presents, Ranma shyly offered his to Akane. Akane took it and opened it. It was a little plastic ring. Genma almost choked on his drink. Soun started to cry. The women all looked on with smiles, as Ranma playfully placed the ring on Akane's ring finger. "Isn't that adorable, looks like Ranma really wants to marry Akane someday!" Hanaki exclaimed, looking lovingly at her son. Soun and Genma exchanged glances and each raised an eyebrow. Soun started to cry. "Daddy! Stop crying all over me!" Nabiki said, trying to avoid the sudden barrage of water. Nabiki wondered to herself. Hanaki hugged her two youngest children closely. She had stopped considering Akane as anything except her own child long ago, she loved Akane as much as she loved her own children. "Maybe we should have a wedding ceremony for them?" Soun suggested. Genma quickly agreed. "Soun! If they want to get married in the future that's great, but let them decide for themselves," Hanaki scolded her husband, but it was also directed at Genma as well. After the kids went to play, Kasumi started to clear the table. Hanaki got up to help Kasumi, but was scolded by her oldest daughter, "No, Mother. I can handle this. You go and rest." Hanaki smiled and nodded at her oldest daughter, then she walked slowly to her room. * * * That night Kasumi wrote in her diary again: ======================================================================= Dear Diary, Tonight Ranma proposed to Akane and gave her the sweetest little ring. We all know it was just for fun, but I sometimes wonder if those two will end up getting married someday. I hope they will, as it would be nice to have Akane in the family for real. I'm getting worried about my mother. She seems to be getting weaker, although she claims she's getting better and is beating the cancer. I did some reading about cancer and think she's putting a brave front on for everyone. I hope I'm wrong. I don't want to lose my mother. Will someone please save my mother? ======================================================================= Kasumi closed her diary and cried herself to sleep. * * * The weeks passed, Soun stopped taking new students while he tried to spend as much time helping his wife fight the cancer within her. Genma took Ranma and Akane on a training trip to the mountains, they apparently had a great time. Akane even proudly claimed to have defeated Ranma without her mallet. Ranma denied it. Genma just shrugged off questions about that subject. * * * Kasumi helped her mother into the hot bath. She wiped the water off her face with a towel. Kasumi rubbed the sickly looking woman's shoulders and hummed a little tune. "You make sure to teach your children that tune, Kasumi dear," Hanaki said, softly. "Yes, Mother." "You know, don't you?" "Yes, Mother." "Kasumi, your father will not be able to handle this. I know you're young, but you're going to have to shoulder a great burden. Mr. Saotome will help, but it'll be up to you to keep the family together. I know you can handle the household chores, but...there is much more you'll need to do. Can you take my place?" "Yes, Mother. I will try, but no one could truly take your place." "First of all, make sure that Ranma and Akane grow up well. They will take this worse of all." "Akane?" "Yes...she's as much a part of this family as any of you kids, I hope she can remain a part of it. I've written letters to Mr. Saotome and your father, they should be honorable enough to follow my wishes, but you may have to do some prodding from time to time." "Prodding?" Kasumi asked. "Any good wife or mother knows how to gently guide their husband or children down the right path. Yelling and pushing will only force people to resist harder. Although, sometimes you have to be forceful too, don't worry you'll know when. Sometimes a gentle reminder, suggestion, or just a smile can move even the most stubborn people. How do you think I got your father to marry me," Hanaki instructed, then cracked a smile. "Nabiki has a good head on her shoulders and I believe she knows that I'm ill. She may even be able to help you with the finances, she actually helped me with the bills for the past few months." "What are finances?" Kasumi asked. "Ask Nabiki, dear," Hanaki replied with a smile. Then her body convulsed. "Kasumi, I need the bucket." Kasumi grabbed the nearby bucket and handed it her mother. Hanaki spent several minutes throwing up into it. Kasumi calmly wiped the blood from the corner of her mother's mouth. "Isn't there anything the doctor's can do?" Kasumi asked, tears started to flow freely from her eyes. "I've seen many different doctors and even some spiritual healers...I'm afraid the cancer was found too late. Kasumi when you and your sisters...including Akane...get into your thirties, you must examine your breasts regularly. I don't want to have any of you leaving this world before your time." "Yes, Mother, I understand." Kasumi helped her mother out of the tub and dried her off. She then helped her back to her room, and brought her dinner. After finishing her meal, Hanaki took Kasumi's hands in hers and looked into her daughter's sweet eyes. "Kasumi?" "Yes, Mother?" "Please save my family..." "Yes, Mother, I promise," Kasumi said, then knelt by her mother's side till she fell asleep. * * * Hanaki awoke the next day when a bright light filled her room. When she opened her eyes, two young adults were standing over her. They both gasped and turned to leave, since they had hoped to just look in on her while she slept. "Wait...please..." Hanaki insisted. The two figures stopped then knelt down in front of her, the young man with the pig-tail spoke, "We...We're sorry, but..." "Ryoga and Shampoo, wasn't it?" Hanaki asked. "Yes, we heard you were sick and wanted to come by and see if we could help," the young woman with the short blue hair said. "That's very nice of you. I'm afraid that the only thing left is to make sure the kids are taken care of and grow up to be fine adults," Hanaki said. "They do...err...I'm sure they will," the man said. The door opened and little Ranma ran in to the room and jumped behind his mother. Little Akane followed him in with her little mallet in hand. "Ranma-ototo, come back here!" little Akane shouted, taunting Ranma with the term she knew he hated. "Stop calling me that! I'm only three months younger than you!" little Ranma shouted back. Little Akane stuck her tongue out at the little boy. "Kids, please stop. Your mother is under the weather today," 'Shampoo' said. "Ryoga and Shampoo! Yippie!" little Akane shouted and glomped onto 'Ryoga'. "How's my beautiful girl?" "Ryoga' asked, messing up little Akane's hair. "Just fine now!" "Ranma, I think you and Akane should go outside and play nicely," 'Shampoo' asked nicely, smoothing out little Ranma's hair. "Okay! Hey Akane race you to the kissing tree!" little Ranma shouted. Both the little kids ran out. "Kissing tree?" "According to Kasumi, my oldest, she saw you two kissing out by the tree," Hanaki explained. "Oh. That tree holds special memories for us," 'Shampoo' said and blushed. "So when are you two getting married?" "Actually...we got married yesterday," 'Ryoga' said, then looked at his new bride and smiled. "And you came here for your honeymoon?" Hanaki asked, incredulously. "Just passing through and had to visit some family," 'Shampoo' said, then added quickly, "in the area." "Well, you two run off now. Have to look towards the future, especially when you're on your honeymoon,' Hanaki insisted. "We will, goodbye Mrs. Tendo," 'Ryoga' said, then took his wife's hand. "Goodbye Mrs. Tendo. Don't worry, your children will be fine." The newlyweds turned and started to leave, then 'Shampoo' turned around, flung herself at Hanaki, and hugged her tightly. 'Ryoga' wrapped his arms around both of them, then slowly pulled his bride to her feet. "Goodbye," he said. 'Shampoo' was rubbing a small plastic ring on a necklace as 'Ryoga' led her out. The two young adults exited the room and closed the door behind them. Tears were still flowing from Akane's eyes, Ranma held her close and wiped his own tears away. They turned to leave, but then Hanaki's voice was heard behind them, "Goodbye, Ranma and Akane. Live well." Ranma and Akane exchanged surprised looks. Then they said, together, "We will, Mother." Ranma held the mirror and let both his and Akane's tears hit it. "Paris?" He asked. Akane nodded. "Magic mirror, take us to Paris, turn of the century." As the mirror flashed, Ranma asked, "You know French, right?" Akane shook her head and frowned, then vanished. They began their future together, even if they spent a lot of time trying to find people who spoke Japanese in turn of the century France. After they disappeared, Kasumi carried breakfast into her mother. "Here you go, Mother..." Kasumi said, then stopped as she saw that her mother was crying. "What's wrong, Mother?" "Oh, nothing, but I may have one more thing for you to do for our family..." * * * The next day, Soun awoke and rolled over and gave his wife a kiss. He sadly ran his hands over her remaining hair and sighed. "I love you." After several moments, he got up and stretched. As he left the bedroom, for no particular reason he looked back at his wife. He stood and stared at his wife. His feet gave out. He continued staring at his wife. He willed her to breathe. Just one. Only one. Was that too much to ask. Just one breath. Later, Kasumi found her father cradling her mother in his arms. He had run out of tears to shed long ago, but the expression on his face told the story. Kasumi calmly slid the door closed and knelt down facing her father and mother. Tears flowed from her eyes, but she just waited until her father spoke. After several minutes of silence, Soun asked with a scratchy voice, "Kasumi dear. Will you please say goodbye to your mother and then go get Mr. Saotome?" He didn't look up at his daughter once. "Of course, Father," Kasumi said. She stood up, took one of her mother's hands in her's, and said a soft, "Goodbye, Mother. I'll keep my promise." Wiping the tears out of her eyes, she left to go find Mr. Saotome. * * * "Where is Mommy?" "Mommy had to go away." "Where." "Heaven." "When is she coming back?" "She can't, but she'll be keeping an eye on us." "I want my Mommy back!" "I know, we all do." "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mother." "Hanaki!!!!!" A muffled cry came from another room. "I'm so sorry, Soun." * * * "Mommy!" Akane cried out. Kasumi rushed into Akane's bedroom and held Akane close, "It's okay, Akane, I'm here...no one will hurt you. I promise." "Mommy!" * * * Ranma tossed rocks at the fish in the koi pond. The fish just ignored him. Ranma jumped into the pond and chased the fish. Genma lifted him out, then yelled, "Ranma! Stop it. The fish didn't make your mother go away!" "I don't care! I want Mommy back!" "I know. We all do. Please calm down...we can go train in the dojo if you like." "No! Martial arts are stupid!" "Just let your anger out, boy. Things will get better." * * * The next few days were hard ones at the Tendo household. Soun never came out of his room; he just spent the days and nights crying and staring at pictures of his wife. Nabiki moped around the house, but occasionally helped Kasumi with the housework. Genma arranged the funeral, plus tried to keep Ranma and Akane occupied by doing some sparring and training in the dojo. Akane started to take her anger out on Ranma, both during training and after. After a couple days of this, Genma tired to take Akane home with him, but she screamed and clung to Kasumi and called her 'Mommy' in her sorrow. Soun, Kasumi, and Genma all decided to let Ranma stay over at the Saotome house until Akane calmed down and stopped smashing Ranma with her mallet, or whatever else was handy, every time she saw him. * * * The day for the funeral came. Kasumi had gotten Akane and Nabiki dressed. She then had to try to get her father to snap out of his depression. "Father, it's time to for you to clean up and get dressed for the funeral," Kasumi said. "Why? She's gone...no reason to do anything," Soun said, just staring at the ceiling as he lay on his futon. "FATHER!" Kasumi yelled, then softened again, "Your children need you to be strong for them now. Ranma will be there too. You want him to think his father is dead too!" "Ranma?" Soun muttered. "Father, just get through today. Then take it one day at a time. Mother doesn't want you to collapse in on yourself. Your family needs you now," Kasumi said, then took her father's hand in hers. "Hanaki?" "Father, I promised Mother to keep this family together. The first step is saying goodbye to her," Kasumi said, calmly. Her father didn't move. Then Kasumi yelled, "NOW!" She slapped her father, very hard. "Kasumi?" Soun said, holding his cheek. "You need to clean up, I'll lay out your good clothes." "Yes, dear." "Thank you." * * * A cool wind blew across the cemetery. The Tendos were already standing in front of the grave. Kasumi stood by her father's side and supported him. Little Akane clung to Kasumi's leg. Nabiki stood beside Akane. Kin Ono and her son, now in his late teens, walked up and joined them. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Tendo. If there is anything my family can do, please ask," Kin Ono said, then hugged Soun. "Thank you," Soun replied, between sobs. Kasumi pulled Akane close, then said, "Remember, Akane, no fighting with your ototo today." "Kay," little Akane said, then wiped her tears away. Genma carried little Ranma up to the grave. He looked sadly down at the grave, then looked at the Tendos and his daughter. "Tendo. Kids," Genma greeted them and nodded. As the priest walked up to the grave, Kasumi looked over and saw two young adults standing in the shadows cast by the trees. She thought she recognized them, but wasn't sure. * * * The older Ranma held his new bride close. "She will always be your mother, Akane," he said, holding back his tears. At least for a few minutes, but then they flowed readily. Akane clutched the plastic ring between her fingers and she cried softly into Ranma's chest. The funeral came to a close, Kasumi looked over again at the adult Ranma and Akane. She smiled, nodded, and then herded HER family away. Both pairs of Ranmas and Akanes, old and young, walked away from their mother's grave holding each other's hands. Ranma held his bride close and kissed her, then said, "One last stop and then we start our honeymoon?" Akane nodded and cried on the offered mirror. "Magic mirror, please take us to see our mother the day before she..." Ranma said, then trailed off. The mirror knew. The mirror took them where their hearts wanted to be, even if their hearts didn't want their mother to die at all. [End - Part 2] ======================================================================= Author's notes/ramblings: This was a rough one to write. To have to describe the reactions of Hanaki's family as she lost her battle with cancer brought me to tears several times. I only hope Akane can forgive me for having to put her and her families through this. 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. 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. Even Happosai's history was easy to integrate. Having him out of the way for the early years of Soun and Genma's marriages made sense. Then at the ten-year mark before the anime started, to have him escape an earlier incarceration by Soun and Genma worked well. Just in case you are a bit confused about all the time traveling the older Ranma and Akane did in this part, the first two appearances (in the park and then the street/Tendo yard) were the two trips from the original Ranma-ototo mini-series. The second two trips (in Hanaki's bedroom and at her funeral) are from a future Ranma-ototo story, which I hope to have out early in 1999. I'd like to thank various FFML members and my pre-readers: Jonathan Ng, Anthony Pardilla, and David Johnston. 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 (August 3, 1998) Revision 1.0 - First RAAC posting (August 17, 1998)