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/
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Story concept and idea by:
Tomas Megerson
Story written by:
Stacko & Eric Thorsen
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Chapter Three: It’s All Relative Part III
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“What are you talking about Ranma?” Ryoga demanded nervously. “Of course we
aren’t related…What's wrong?” Hotaru’s breath was coming in short pants.
“The... the person you're looking for...“ Hotaru stuttered in shock. “The person
you're looking for... is me!” Ryoga just stood and stared at her, completely overcome with
shock.
“I don’t believe it,” Ranma yelled in denial. “There is no way Ryoga and I are
related.”
“What's that suppose to mean, Ranma.” Ryoga demanded, snapping out of his
confusion. “Do you think I like the idea any more than you do?” Their bickering snapped
Hotaru out of her own shock.
“Please don't fight.” She pleaded, looking from Ranma to Ryoga fearfully. “It's
getting late, and my grandparents will be arriving in a little bit. Maybe they can explain
this.” Ranma and Ryoga glared at each other, and then nodded in agreement. Hotaru sighed
in relief and went to gather her books from the rubble that used to be a picnic table.
Luckily, none of her books was damaged and she packed them away quickly.
“Okay, let's go.” Ranma said, taking her hand, then smiled smugly at Ryoga. “Better
come with us, P-Chan. I don't think either of us wants to miss this meeting.”
“Shut up Ranma.” Ryoga said angrily, embarrassed.
“Now what's wrong?” Hotaru asked in surprise.
“Ye-see, Hotaru-chan, P-Chan here has the world's worst sense of direction.” Ranma
chuckled, teasing Ryoga. “He probably wouldn't make it to your house until next week if he
doesn't come with us.”
“Well, that's okay.” Hotaru said, doubting what Ranma was saying. “I'd like him to
come with us anyway, so I can get to know him.” She smiled happily up at Ryoga, who
blushed and almost jerked his hand away when she took it. Without any further argument,
they set off for the apartment.
* * * * *
When they arrived at Hotaru's home, they saw two new pairs of shoes in the entry
hall and their suspicions were confirmed when Michiru came out to greet them.
“Hotaru, your grandparents arrived five minutes ago and...” Michiru's voice trailed
off as she noticed Ryoga in the back of the group. “Who's this?” She asked in surprise.
“His name is Ryoga, and it seems he got a letter telling him he was also related to
me.”
“Well, we'll be able to straighten out all of these relationships in a moment.”
Michiru said with a shrug after glancing over Ryoga's letter. “Our other guests are in the
living room, and I'm sure they will be able to help.”
She indicated that they should go into the parlor while she prepared the
refreshments. Ranma led the way, guiding Ryoga to keep him from getting lost, while
Hotaru followed, barely able to contain her excitement. She was so preoccupied, that she
didn't notice when Ranma and Ryoga froze halfway into the room. It was only when she ran
into Ryoga’s back that she noticed there was a problem. Glancing around them, she saw a
middle-aged couple sitting on one of the couches with startled expressions on their faces.
When she looked up at Ranma and Ryoga, Hotaru saw similar expressions on their faces.
Even more curious and excited, she dragged them to the other couch and sat between them.
Once they were sitting, Ranma and Ryoga regained their senses.
“Mom, what's going on?” Ranma blurted out, still a little in shock.
“Yeah, Dad.” Ryoga said in confusion. “Why are you here?”
“Patience Ranma,” Nodoka said serenely, regaining her composure. “I'm sure when
we explain, you will understand.” Ryoga's father nodded in agreement and they had to be
satisfied with that. A short time later, Michiru came into the room and laid a tray on the
table, then sat next to Haruka.
“Since our guests already seem to know each other, we won't waste time on lengthy
introductions.” Haruka said, and then indicated the older couple. “Hotaru, these are Wataru
Hibiki and Nodoka Morihoshi.”
“It's Saotome now.” Nodoka corrected gently.
“Of course, my apologies Mrs. Saotome,” Haruka replied. Nodoka nodded with a
smile, and Michiru cleared her throat.
“And who are your friends Hotaru?”
“This is Ryoga Hibiki and Ranma Saotome.” She replied, recognizing the
relationships immediately.
“Well, since that’s over with, maybe we can get on with the reason all of you were
asked here.” Haruka sighed, smiling at Hotaru. “That is, to determine whether Mrs.
Saotome and Mr. Hibiki are Hotaru's grandparents.”
“I hope we'll be able to help.” Wataru said smiling at Hotaru.
“All right, from the information we have found, we know that Hotaru's mother was
adopted as a baby and that her father changed his name to Soichi Tomoe about six years
before Hotaru was born.” Michiru said, reading from their notes. “But because of the
explosion that took doctor Tomoe's life, most of their family records were lost. The only
information we have discovered other than those two facts were fragments of two birth
certificates. Since your names were on those fragments, we were hoping you might fill in
some of the blanks for us.”
“Where would you like us to begin?” Nodoka asked.
“Well, Mrs. Saotome, if you could explain how your daughter came to be adopted by
the Tomogiri family that would be very helpful.” Haruka said candidly.
“Very well, though it is not a very pleasant story for me to tell.” Nodoka sighed. “It
begins shortly after my fourteenth birthday. A classmate held a party for our class and sadly,
there were no adults at his home that night. Like most parties at that time, the sake was
easily available and flowing freely. It wasn't long before everyone there was in an alcoholic
haze. That was when one of the boys I had a crush on confronted me. Because of the alcohol
and raging teenage hormones, I went with him when he invited me to an upstairs bedroom.
Two weeks after that, I found out that I was pregnant.”
“Mom?” Ranma asked in shock. “What are you saying?”
“I'm saying that you had an older sister Ranma.” Nodoka replied softly. “Of course,
my parents were furious when they discovered my condition and demanded that I do the
honorable thing and marry him. When I confronted him after school, he asked for some time
to talk to his parents, and foolish child that I was, I agreed to give him three days. It was not
until I went to his house on that day that I found out that his father had been transferred to
America and they had left the day before. I cried all the way home, afraid of my parent's
reaction.
“Fortunately for me and my child, my parents felt that the dishonor was with his
family, so nine months later, while visiting my grandmother, I gave birth to a healthy baby
girl. I had already realized that it would be impossible for my daughter and me to have a
normal life if I kept her. So, the day after she was born a local family adopted my daughter.
That was the last I saw of her.”
“And do you have the documents we asked you to bring?” Michiru asked gently.
Nodoka nodded and gave her a certificate in a protective envelope. After comparing it to
her notes, Michiru smiled and returned it to her with a nod.
“Now, Mr. Hibiki, if you would explain your involvement?” Haruka said, turning to
Ryoga's father.
“I'll tell you what I know.” Wataru sighed with a shrug. “Almost thirty years ago, my
wife gave birth to a healthy son, who we named Jiro. All was well, until he was seven years
old. Then my wife was killed when her car went out of control and fell from a bridge. The
enquiry showed that her brakes had been tampered with and her family accused me of
killing her. I was cleared of all charges, but the damage had already been done. Jiro was
convinced that it was my fault, and he became more and more rebellious. After two years I
did the only thing I could think of; I remarried.”
“I have an older brother?” Ryoga gasped in surprise.
“Yes Ryoga, you did.” His father said wryly. “Unfortunately, my marriage only made
matters worse. Jiro became even more rebellious, refusing to acknowledge his
stepmother's existence. I'm afraid I badly mishandled the situation and drove him further
from me until finally he would hardly talk to me at all. Then when he was twelve, he
petitioned to be transferred to his grandparent's custody. They used his unruly behavior as
grounds for the transfer and he was removed from my care. I'm sorry to admit that at the
time I was relieved.”
“How did his name come to be changed?” Michiru asked softly.
“I can only guess that after his grandparents received custody, they poisoned his mind
against me so much, that he wanted nothing to do with me or my family.” Wataru said with a
shrug. “Considering their feelings toward me, I would not be in the least surprised.”
“Thank you Mr. Hibiki, that fills in the missing details nicely.” Haruka said with a
smile. She and Michiru excused themselves to compare the documents Wataru and Nodoka
had provided with those they had received by courier. While they left the room, Nodoka
turned to her son.
“I'm sorry you had to find out about these events like this Ranma.” She sighed. “Can
you ever forgive me?”
“For what?” Ranma asked in surprise. “Not telling me about something that
happened nine years before I was born?” Mom, it was a mistake, that's all.”
“And you Ryoga?” Wataru asked. “Can you forgive me?”
“For doing what you thought was right?” Ryoga laughed. “There is nothing to
forgive.” Haruka and Michiru returned at this moment smiling broadly.
“Say hello to your grandparents, Hotaru.” Michiru urged, smiling when Hotaru stared
at her in shock. Hotaru stared at Nodoka and Wataru for several seconds, then ran to them
and gave them a huge hug with tears in her eyes. They returned the hug just as fiercely, and
then beckoned for Ryoga and Ranma to join them. After several moments, everyone
returned to their seats except Hotaru who stayed between her grandparents.
“I think that this calls for a celebration.” Haruka said happily.
“I'll get the punch.” Hotaru yelped and rushed off while everyone smiled at her
enthusiasm. Michiru followed her at a more sedate pace while the others made small talk.
In a few minutes, Hotaru returned with a full pitcher. Unfortunately, in her hurry, she
tripped over a leg of the table and the contents of the pitcher splashed over Ranma and
Ryoga.
Hotaru jumped to her feet, stammering an apology and froze, starring. “Ranko?” She
gasped. “But where are Ranma and Ryoga?” Ranma glanced over at her mother and realized
she would have to explain.
“We're right here Hotaru.” She sighed, reaching into Ryoga's clothes and pulling out
a little black piglet.
“But how?” Wataru gasped.
“It's a long story, but to put it bluntly, Ryoga and I are cursed.” Ranma explained,
blushing in embarrassment. “Whenever we are hit with cold water, we change to these
forms. Hot water is the only thing that can change us back.”
“So half the time you'll be my uncle and the other half you’ll be my aunt?” Hotaru
asked curiously.
“Yeah, something like that.” Ranma said uncomfortably, Nodoka smiled and nodded
to Ranma as she left the room with Michiru, who had brought the snacks.
“And half the time Uncle Ryoga will be my uncle and the other half he'll be a
household pet?” Hotaru asked, seeming to like this idea more. Nodoka returned at this
point with two cups of hot water, one of which she poured over Ranma's head. After the
change was made, she handed Ranma the second glass and he excused himself, taking Ryoga's
clothes with him as the pig followed. They both returned a short time later and resumed
their seats.
“Does this happen to you very often?” Haruka asked, wondering how anyone could
deal with something like that.
“More often than I’d like to admit.” Ranma replied while Ryoga nodded in
agreement. “It seems that we've become cold water magnets. If there is any cold water
around, we will probably be hit with it, usually at the worst possible moment. It's definitely
not under our control.”
“Speak for yourself Ranma.” Ryoga growled angrily. “It's your fault I've got this
curse anyway.”
“That's enough, son.” Wataru said sternly. “Ranma obviously has come to terms with
his situation. I think it's time we had a talk about accepting responsibility for your own life.”
“But...” Ryoga blurted out, then stopped when he saw his father's expression. “Yes
sir.”
“If you ladies and the gentleman will excuse us, my son and I need to have a talk that
has already been delayed too long.” Wataru said smiling at his hosts. “We will return in a
few weeks to discuss any changes to the current arrangements. Until then, I find everything
acceptable.”
Nodoka nodded her agreement, as did Michiru and Haruka. After Ryoga and his
father had left, Hotaru sat next to Nodoka and they were soon getting to know each other
better. As he watched them, an idea occurred to Ranma that frightened him, and he asked if
he could step outside to think. Michiru nodded absently and followed him to the front door.
“Where will you be if Hotaru asks?”
“Seeing as she's my biggest fan, she'll be able to guess.” Ranma said wryly. “Just tell
her I went outside to think.”
“Okay.” Michiru said, confused. She closed the door, and Ranma jumped to the roof.
He lay there for fifteen minutes before he heard his mother calling his name.
“Yeah mom, what did you want?” He asked jumping down next to her.
“May I speak to you a moment, son?” Nodoka asked, surprising him with her
uncertainty. When she suggested they take a short walk he agreed. After a short period of
silence, Ranma's curiosity got the better of him.
“What was it you wanted to talk about?”
“I noticed before you left that something was worrying you.” She exclaimed. “Can
you tell me what it was?”
“Well, I was thinking about how pop is going to react to this.” Ranma sighed. He
explained about his conversation with his father earlier. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get
the idea that pop doesn't know anything at all about this.”
“You are right, he doesn't.” Nodoka agreed. “Our marriage was arranged by our
parents and I felt that telling him wouldn't be necessary. My daughter had long since been
adopted and I thought she was out of my life forever.”
“Technically that's true mom.” Ranma agreed. “She died when Hotaru was born.
Hotaru is a different matter. She's a nice kid, and I don't want pop to hurt her.”
“You father would never attack a young...”
“Of course not,” Ranma interrupted struggling to explain what he'd meant. “But you
know as well as I do how much pop believes in the double standard. As far as I'm
concerned, it was a mistake that happened twenty-six years ago, and has nothing to do with
me. I only wish I could teach that guy who treated you like that a lesson.”
“Thank you Ranma.” Nodoka sighed in relief. “Unfortunately, I agree that your father
won't take this news very well.”
“Won't take it well?” Ranma laughed. “Mom, you know pop better than I do, but we
are going to have to be very careful about how we tell him. One thing I'm sure of, you aren't
going to be alone when you tell him.”
“Ranma, your father would never strike a lady, no matter how lose his sense of honor
may have become.”
“I know mom. The problem is that because of this indiscretion, he might decide that
you are not a lady. That's why I want to be there, in case he gets violent. I want to be there
to protect you.”
Nodoka stopped and watched her son for several seconds before smiling at him
lovingly. “Ah my son, if I had any doubts of your honor, they are gone now. You truly are a
man among men. You may come if you wish, but you are not to interfere unless he does
attack.”
“Fine by me.” Ranma sighed. “But if he does, I won't be held responsible for his
injuries. Those will be his own fault.”
“Agreed.” Nodoka said, hugging him. Ranma hugged his mother back and turned with
her back to Hotaru's house. They walked back in silence and thought about how their lives
were about to change. None of their thoughts would prepare them for what was to come.
* * * * *
To Be Continued...