Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi. The
characters of Sailor Moon belong to Naoko Takeuchi. This is all for non-
profit reasons, so please don't sue us. The story can be found at the
following sites:
Nighthawk's Fanfiction: http://nighthawk.anifics.com/
Sword of Destiny's Homepage: Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/shores/2307
UNCLES!
Story concept and idea by:
Tomas Megerson
Story written by:
Stacko & Eric Thorsen
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Chapter Two: It’s All Relative Part II
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"She's me." Hotaru said, still struggling with the idea.
Ranma and Hotaru just sat, staring at each other, for several minutes, trying to
understand how, what they'd just discovered, was possible. Ranma was the first to come to his
senses.
"Do you have any idea what our relationship is?" He asked in confusion. "All the private
investigator said was that we were related."
"Yesterday, my guardians told me that an envelope had arrived containing some legal
documents about my father." Hotaru explained, struggling to hide her excitement. "According to
them, I might have two uncles, but their names were lost in the same explosion that killed my
father. My guardians promised to look for my relatives, but they weren't very hopeful."
"Apparently they were successful." Ranma replied, smiling when Hotaru jumped in
surprise. "Now I don't know who your uncles are, but that private investigator was positive I
was related to you somehow."
"So you know we're related, just not how closely?" Hotaru asked meekly, and then
smiled when he nodded. "Can I call you Uncle Ranma until we find out differently?" Her
pleading expression was too much for Ranma and he nodded with a grin.
"Sure Hotaru." He laughed, and then grunted when she ran into him. "Easy short stuff."
He murmured as she hugged him, crying happily.
"Oh, Uncle Ranma, thank you." She gasped happily. Ranma was surprised by her
outburst and hugged her back. While he comforted her, he noticed all of the girls in the ice
cream parlor were staring at them, envious of Hotaru's position. Ranma waited patiently,
ignoring the stares until Hotaru calmed down then paid for their treat and led the way out of the
ice cream parlor.
"I'm sorry about that, Uncle Ranma." Hotaru said as they left the parlor. "I know how
you hate it when people stare at you."
"It's okay Hotaru-chan, I understand." Ranma replied. "Is there somewhere we can go
to talk without all these people around?"
"Of course, we can go to my house." Hotaru said, noticing that everyone was staring at
them. "That way you can meet my guardians too." They started toward the direction Hotaru
pointed out. After a short distance, Ranma noticed that Hotaru was out of breath and slowing
down.
"What's wrong Hotaru?" Ranma asked in concern. "Most people don't get tired this quickly."
"I'm okay, Uncle Ranma." Hotaru gasped between breaths, nervous about what he'd think of
her if he knew about her condition. "It's nothing."
"If it puts you out of commission this fast, it isn't nothing, Hotaru." Ranma replied in a no
nonsense tone. "So what's wrong?"
"Do you remember the accident that I told you about? Where my father died?" Hotaru asked,
staring at the ground. "I was there too, and something happened that makes me tire quickly."
Ranma lifted her chin and smiled at her embarrassed blush.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of Hotaru." Ranma said comfortingly. "It just means we need to
work on building up you endurance. Are you willing to let me help you with that?" Hotaru smiled
and nodded, making him smile in return. "Well, if you'll show me which way to go, I'll carry you
there."
Before Hotaru could ask what he meant, Ranma lifted her into his arms and
jumped to the roof of a nearby shop. Hotaru grabbed his neck and screamed in
surprise, then slowly calmed down once they were on the roof. After pointing
out the direction to her house, Hotaru wrapped her arms around Ranma's neck
and squealed in delight when he started jumping from roof to roof toward her
house.
* * * * *
As Hotaru and Ranma moved toward the house, Haruka was just getting off the phone with one
of Hotaru's grandparents. After hanging up the phone, she walked over to the couch where
Michiru was sitting and slumped down next to her.
"Well, I finally got a hold of him." Haruka sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "He agreed to
meet here this evening."
"Hotaru's grandmother as well." Michiru replied. "I just hope Hotaru will be happy with what
we've done."
"Speaking of Hotaru, where is she?" Haruka asked, sitting up. "It's been over an hour since her
school let out."
"You're right." Michiru said in concern, sitting up as well. "I hope nothing is wrong. We were so
busy trying to get a hold of these people we completely forgot the time."
"I'll go find her." Haruka decided, coming to her feet. She walked over to the closet and was
pulling her jacket out when the front door opened and Hotaru announced that she was home.
"And where have you been young lady?"
"I was on my way home when those boys started picking on me again." Hotaru explained.
"You got into another fight?" Michiru said in concern.
"No, they got chased away by my new friend." Hotaru replied, smiling.
"Really?" Haruka asked surprised. "Who is your ... new ... friend?"
Haruka stuttered to stop when she saw Ranma and recognized him instantly. She and Michiru
just stared at Ranma, speechless, stunned that he was standing at their door smiling. After a
while Ranma was getting a little nervous with the silence and whispered into Hotaru's ear.
"Why are they staring at me like that?" He asked, as quietly as possible.
"I think they're just surprised to see you Uncle Ranma." Hotaru replied. "It's not every day that
someone famous comes to our house."
"Oh, okay." Ranma said with a shrug, smiling at the two women. But Hotaru hadn't spoken
quietly enough and when Haruka heard her response, it shocked her out of her confused state.
"Hotaru, why did you call him 'Uncle Ranma'?" Haruka asked, eyeing Ranma cautiously.
"Because he is!" Hotaru said happily, hugging Ranma's arm.
"But how do you know that?" Michiru asked, still confused.
"She actually doesn't." Ranma explained before Hotaru could answer. "But yesterday I received
a phone call from a private investigator that gave me Hotaru's name and told me I was related to
her, though the investigator didn't say what the exact relationship was. I told Hotaru about all
this a little while ago, and she asked if she could call me 'Uncle Ranma'. I said she could until we
found out differently." Michiru nodded in acceptance, smiling.
"That's all right then." She said consideringly. "We actually located Hotaru's grandparents just
now and they've agreed to visit us this evening. You're welcome to stay and meet them, and
they should be able to clear up your relationship."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Ranma said, returning her smile. "Is there any where I can put my
pack while I wait?"
"You can put it in my room Uncle Ranma." Hotaru said, dragging him unresisting upstairs.
Haruka and Michiru watched them go up the stairs with mixed feelings.
"I think having Ranma around will be good for Hotaru." Michiru said, with a chuckle. "She
already has a lot more energy."
"I agree." Haruka replied, looking concerned. "I just hope she's not too disappointed if he's not
actually her uncle."
* * * * *
Hotaru led Ranma happily into her room, only realizing that there might be a problem when
Ranma stopped right after he came into the room.
Ranma saw his own face everywhere, in both forms, as well as several of his friends and
enemies from Nerima. The walls were covered with posters and wall scrolls, and her bed was
covered with pictures of him and piled high with plush dolls of Ranma in both forms in different
outfits and the rest of the Nerima gang. Ranma just stood there in shock until he heard Hotaru
crying.
"What's wrong Hotaru?" He asked in concern. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm sorry Uncle Ranma, I completely forgot about how you would feel about this stuff." Hotaru
sobbed. "It's just ... I'm your biggest fan, and ..."
"It's all right Hotaru." Ranma sighed, forcing his nervousness down. "I'm happy you're so
interested in me. I'm flattered actually, it's just I don't think of myself as famous or well known. I
guess I'll have to get used to it. Do you think you could help me?"
"Sure Uncle Ranma." Hotaru replied, her embarrassment forgotten. "It must be very hard for
you."
"You have no idea." Ranma said with a shiver. Hotaru hugged him gratefully, and he returned
the embrace. "Why don't you wash your face, and then we'll go back down stairs? I'm sure
your guardians are wondering what's taking so long."
"Okay." Hotaru said happily, skipping into the bathroom. After she washed her face they
walked back downstairs to the living room, where Haruka and Michiru were watching TV. The
couple looked up when Ranma walked in and he realized that they hadn't been introduced.
"I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier." Ranma said apologetically. "My name is Ranma
Saotome."
"We know." Michiru said kindly. "I'm Michiru Kaiou and this Haruka Ten'ou." Haruka waved in
greeting.
"Pleased to meetcha." Ranma said smiling. Hotaru simply stood grinning up at him.
"How was school today Hotaru?" Haruka asked after Ranma and Hotaru sat down. "Did you
learn anything interesting?"
"Mmm ... not really." Hotaru replied after a little thought. "Just the same stuff as usual. Math is
still boring, and my English teacher still says my accent is terrible. I'm enjoying the composition
class though."
"Have you finished your homework yet?" Michiru asked, eyeing Hotaru questioningly.
"Eeep! I forgot all about it." Hotaru gasped, embarrassed.
"Since it's partly my fault you forgot, how about if I help with that?" Ranma said with a smile.
"And if it's okay with your guardians, we can go to the park to do your homework." Hotaru
looked pleadingly at Haruka and Michiru, who smiled.
"It'll be fine as long as you're home before dark." Michiru replied. "Your grandparents are
coming this evening around eight."
"Okay." Hotaru said happily. After running upstairs to change clothes, she returned with her
school bag and a pair of shoes. Ranma smiled when he recognized her outfit as a copy of his
favorite Chinese shirt and pants, but in purple.
"Ready to go?" He asked as they put their shoes on.
"Yes." Hotaru said with a smile, following him out the door. A short time later, Haruka and
Michiru heard Hotaru's squeal of happiness, which rapidly faded away.
* * * * *
Hotaru sat at a picnic table, happily doing her homework as she listened to the birds nearby.
Ranma sat nearby meditating. She was glad her uncle was there, even though he wasn't much
help. Just being around him was fun. She had almost finished her homework, working on the last
math problem, when there was a sound of feet running toward them.
"Prepare to die, Ranma!" An angry male voice shouted, and when they both turned to see who
it was, they saw a young man in a yellow shirt and green pants, wearing a yellow tiger stripe
bandana, charging at them. As he was about to reach them, Hotaru felt a shove from behind that
sent her rolling.
"What do you want P-Chan?" Ranma said mockingly. "Poor widdle piggy got wost again?"
"Shut up Ranma." Ryoga growled. "You're going to pay for what you did to Akane!"
"So what did I do this time?" Ranma asked as he avoided and blocked Ryoga's attacks. "I
haven't been around her since last night."
"So you admit to abandoning her." Ryoga demanded, enraged. "How could you leave your
fiancée alone to go be with another woman? How dare you practice your diabolical schemes on
an innocent young girl!"
"Now what are you talking about Ryoga?" Ranma asked in confusion. Hotaru immediately
grasped his meaning and blushed hotly. "It's nothing like that. I was just helping Hotaru-chan
with her homework." Ryoga grunted in disbelief and tried several special attacks. Hotaru
gasped at the ferocity of the fight, distracting Ranma at a critical instant. Ryoga capitalized on
Ranma's distraction and landed a punch in Ranma's stomach. Ranma went sailing through the air
and landed near Hotaru, clutching his stomach.
"I have you now Ranma!" Ryoga shouted, jumping into the air. Hotaru growled angrily and put
herself in his way. "Get out of the way little girl, this is between me and Ranma." He growled,
stopping.
"I will not let you hurt my uncle." Hotaru said with a glare. "You're nothing but a big bully."
Ryoga stared at her in shock, confused by her statement. Ranma recovered from his minor
injury and stood up, placing his hand on Hotaru's shoulder.
"It's all right Hotaru-chan." Ranma said, smiling. "He didn't really hurt me. Besides, Ryoga is an
old friend of mine."
"But ..." Hotaru said in protest, and then sighed when he squeezed her shoulder.
"Why is she calling you 'Uncle' Ranma?" Ryoga asked, still confused. "I thought you were an
only child, like me."
"All I know is that I'm related to Hotaru in some way." Ranma said with a shrug. "I got a call
yesterday to inform me of that."
Ryoga considered that and suddenly became excited. Running back to his pack, he started
searching through it. Finally he brought out a letter and read through it. "Where am I?" He
demanded impatiently.
"Juuban ward." Ranma replied, while Hotaru looked at Ryoga strangely, confused as to why he
didn't know where he was.
"Yes!" Ryoga shouted, doing a little victory dance. "I finally made it! I'm in Juuban!"
"Why did you come to Juuban?" Hotaru asked in confusion.
"I got this letter telling me to come here to meet a relative of mine who had recently been
orphaned." Ryoga replied not noticing Hotaru's surprise. "I've been traveling since last week."
"Can I see that letter?" Hotaru said, getting an idea. "Maybe I can help you find them." Ryoga
handed the letter over to her and she opened it and scanned its contents. When she jumped in
surprise as she read the name of the relative, Ranma looked over his shoulder and jumped as
well.
"No way!" Ranma shouted. "It's not possible!"
"What is it?" Ryoga demanded nervously. "What's wrong?"
"The ... the person you're looking for ..." Hotaru stuttered in shock. "The person you're looking
for ... is me!"
* * * * *
To Be Continued...