Separation Anxiety part 10

        Ranma and Ran-chan watched Nodoka pace back and forth across the floor, she
had been doing it for almost two hours now. Genma sat across the room watching
carefully as Mr. Panda. "What is she doing? are we in trouble?" thought both
Ranmas.
        "Auntie Saotome whats wrong?" asked Ran-chan finally.
        Nodoka stared at her coldly. "Please don't call me that any more Ranko. It
isn't right." she said coolly. "I'm sorry, but I have allot to think about,
good night." with that she walked silently up the stairs to her room.
        Ranko shuddered and fell to her knees. "I've just been rejected by my own
mother?" she thought. She punched the ground leaving a hole in the floor and
stood up. She walked out of the Tendo dojo and into the night.
        "Ranma..." said Akane as she stood up to go after her. Ranma put a
restraining hand on her shoulder.
        "Akane let me." he said to her gently.
        "Ranma she is my friend." said Akane sternly.
        "Akane she doesn't want to be your friend. Can't you see that? She is still
in love with you. If you go after her now that blast she is building up could
be enormous. Let me." said Ranma calmly. Akane nodded and sat back down.
         Soun was in tears with Genma. "At last they admit their true feelings." he
sobbed with his old friend who held up a sign that said "Our families will be
joined at last!!"

        Ryoga walked on in the night. It had been a few hours since he had humiliated
himself in front of Akane. Yet again it was all Ranma's fault. At least he
could beat it out of him later. Suddenly he felt a huge presence of heavy Ki.
"Better get moving. I don't want to be around that for very long I'm depressed
enough as it is." he thought Idly as he headed straight for it.

        He came upon a young girl in the park. She sat on the bench with her head
bent low and tears fell down her cheeks. "Ranma!" he yelled recognizing her at
once.
        Ranma looked up at the sound of her name, she looked casually at the angry
lost boy as he stared at her. "What do you want P-chan?" she sneered at him.
        "You dare to humiliate me in front of Akane, and then call me that?!" he
growled at her advancing slowly, still unaware of the huge blue aura
surrounding her.
        "What are you going to do about it pig?" she spat at him. Ryoga charged. "So
what if you've gotten a little faster. You still can't beat me." she said as
she dodged his punches.
        "Damn! I forgot how much faster he is as a girl!" thought Ryoga angrily as he
pushed his speed to the limit.
        Ranma smirked and punched him in the gut with the chestnut fist causing Ryoga
to falter slightly.
        "You may be faster but your still not as strong." said Ryoga with a small
grin as he held the spot on his chest she had pummeled.
        "I guess I'll just have to finish this now then." said Ranma emotionlessly.
"Perfect..."
        Ryoga's eyes went wide as he finally noticed the blue aura surrounding her.
"No."
        "Shi shi..."
        "Ranma you fool don't!" Ryoga was just realizing that this was the source of
all the heavy Ki he had felt in the air. The blast would be enormous.
        "Houkou..."
        "Ranma we're in the middle of Nerima! Do you realize how much Ki you have
built up?!" cried Ryoga desperately. 
        Ranma faltered for a moment. Ryoga ran up and grabbed her as she passed out
from exhaustion. He felt his hands burn as the ki dissipated from he body.
"You never took me beating you this badly before. What the hell happened
Ranma?" said Ryoga as he lifted her up off the ground. "I'd better find the
goul, your too dangerous like this." he muttered.
        "Don't bother, I'll take her." said a voice from behind Ryoga.
He whirled around and stared at him in disbelief. 
        "Ranma?"
        "Yea, I'm the one you beat P-chan. You haven't even fought her yet." said
Ranma as he walked up to Ryoga.
        "Who the hell is this...and don't call me P-chan!" said Ryoga looking at the
girl in his arms. 
        "That is me. It was another botched cure." said Ranma with a sad gaze. 
        Ryoga inhaled sharply. "A cure?" he said staring at Ranma.
        "It doesn't work Pig. Put me down." said Ran-chan from Ryoga's arms.
        "What the hell happened?" said Ryoga staring at the pair in disbelief. Ran-
chan steadied herself against Ranma and stood shakily.
        "Get over it. If it's any of your business my mother hates me." said Ran-chan
as she walked off again. Ryoga grabbed her shoulder.
        "Oh no you don't. After all the heavy ki you had a minute ago your not going
anywhere on your own." he said sternly.
        "Whats it to you?" asked Ran-chan angrily shoving him away.
        "You were emitting enough to take a good size chunk of Nerima out. Including
the Tendo dojo, and I don't want to be wandering near here when it happens."
said Ryoga once again holding her back.
        "It was that bad?" asked Ranma with a concerned look. Ryoga nodded solemnly. 
        
        At the Tendo dojo Nodoka emerged from her room. "Where it Ranko?" she asked. 
        Akane looked at her. "She ran off after you..."
        "Oh my." said Nodoka with a worried look. 
        Ranma walked into the house followed by Ran-chan and Ryoga. 
        "Ranko dear are you all right?" asked Nodoka as she rushed to the young girl.
        Ranma and Ranko looked at her with suprize. "What?" said Ranko quietly.
        "I'm terribly sorry if you misunderstood me earlier. I was upset and I'm
sorry." said the woman holding Ran-chan in a small hug. 
        "You don't hate me Mrs. Saotome?" said Ranko quietly.
        "Of course not dear, and no more Mrs. Saotome. You should call me Mom." said
Nodoka smiling at the young girl.
        "What?" said Ranma and Ranko in unison.
        "I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner, I had no Idea Genma had an
illegitimate daughter. I should have realized, the way you spoke about your
brother, the little hints. I was blind. It's not your fault, that my husband
is dishonest." said Nodoka breaking into tears.
        Ranko held her in her arms. "I'm sorry too...mom." she said unsure of what to
do. "I guess I can be Ranko after all." she thought with a small sad smile.

        The next day Genma and Soun played Shogi in the living room. Genma had a
bucket of water next to him. The women had all gone shopping. Ryoga sat in the
corner and kept lookout for the poor man. While Ranma watched TV and the
hallway to the front door.
        "How terrible for you Saotome." said Soun.
        "Not so Tendo." said Genma with a frown.
        "Huh?" said Soun in suprize.
        "This while it is unfortunate for me, it will work out for the best. Now
Nodoka needs never find out about Ranma's curse. She will calm in time. If I
have an illegitimate daughter then there is no question of Ranma's manhood. I
can say I hid 'Ranko' from her out of shame and honor for her family. The
affair I can blame on my reckless youth and the master. With effort I can work
all this out so we can live peacefully and retire happy...without Seppuku!"
said Genma with a hearty laugh.
        "An excellent Idea Saotome." said Soun joining his friend.
        Ryoga watched the exchange with a disgusted stare. "Now I know he's Ranma's
father." he muttered angrily.
        "What was that P-chan?" said Ranma from his place at the table without
looking up from the TV. 
        Ryoga blushed "Nothing." he sighed.

        Ranko followed her mother through Nerima mall yet again. For the first time
in a very long time she was light hearted. At last she could acknowledge her
own mother. She had spoken to her father in private and knew his plans. She
didn't really agree with him, but if Nodoka took it the wrong way, she would
be the one next to him with the knife to her stomach. She accepted her role
and was more than happy to finally have a mother again.
        "Ranko?" said Nodoka.
        "Un?" said Ranko snapping out of her thoughts.
        "What was your mother like?"
        Ranko didn't know what to say. "I remember her being allot like you." she
said finally. "We were...separated when I was young."
        Akane smiled when she realized he was sticking as close to the truth as
possible.
        "And how long have you known my son and his father?" she asked.
        "We...met in China." she said thoughtfully.
        "Not before?" said Nodoka obviously a little suprized.
        "It was a chance meeting, I am a member of a tribe of Amazon women, remind me
and I'll introduce you to my adopted family, they live here in Nerima now."
said Ranko. She of course neglected to mention how recent the induction was.
"I've got to fill them in on Mom." thought Ranko.
        "My you must have lead an interesting life." said Nodoka as they entered yet
another store.
        "You have no Idea." said Ranko.
        "Ranko." said Nodoka with a small sad smile.
        "Yea?" said Ranko nervously, she was very uncomfortable about the subject
they had been speaking about.
        "I meant what I said the other night. I am honored to have a daughter like
you." she said giving the girl a small hug.
        "Aw mom..." said Ranko blushing.

        Akane and her sisters watched the whole exchange from a few feet behind. "I'm
going to be sick." commented Nabiki.
        "How sweet." said Kasumi.
        Akane just smiled.

        Nodoka walked on watching Ranko. "I think I already forgive him. She is such
a sweet girl, In a way I'm glad he made such a mistake, but I'd never tell
-him- that. I always wanted a daughter, now to think of a suitable punishment
for Genma." she thought.
 
TbC...

        Urgh, this one makes even my stomach turn a little, I'm suprized I can write
stuff like this, I have to say I'm with Nabiki on this one. Oh, well necessary
evils and all that. Ranko is getting a little too comfortable in her role as
Ranma's sister. Don't worry it won't last. I have a whole slew of new problems
for her. Next time: Back to school, again, plus Nodoka meets Cologne.  Give me
feed back!  C&C me at Catbert25@aol.com

Well thats it for now thats all there is up to now, I'll write more in a week
or so, Until then, Ja-ne!
Catbert25