"Reunions"

"REUNIONS"

(A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic)

>From the Desk of Megane 6.7

This is a work of Fiction.  All Characters and Landmarks, are the
property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Video, Kitty Films, 
Viz Video, Shonen Sunday, and anyone else who legally owns the 
rights.  


This story is dedicated to my family, whom I not only owe my 
existence too,  but everything I have, everything I am and everything 
I hope to become in the future.

    
THE TENDO DOUJOU
6:30 P.M.


	The storm continued to rage outside as Kasumi looked up 
from the preparations she was making for that evening's sukiyaki 
dinner and caught sight of a drenched Ranma-Chan by the open door.  
Kasumi emerged from the kitchen and was about to welcome her 
home when she suddenly noticed Ranma-Chan's eyes.

	Kasumi felt a chill go through her entire frame.  Never in 
her life, not even when she found out about her mother's terminal 
illness, had she been this scared before.  She wanted to run, to hide 
from those eyes, to pretend she had not noticed the hurt in them, the 
pain that seemed to take on a life of it's own and assault every one of 
her senses.  
	
	Yet she couldn't force herself to look away.  As frightened 
as she was, she couldn't help but study them, wonder what could 
possibly have hurt Ranma to this extent that a mere look would 
unnerve her so.

	Ranma-Chan was still for a long moment, seemingly trying 
to freeze time as if that would ease the pain she felt in her heart. Her 
soaked clothes were dripping water all over the floor and causing her 
to shiver with the cold.   Then she slowly made her way into the 
house.  Each step seemed to age Ranma-Chan ever so slightly.  As 
she came closer, Kasumi noticed that Ranma-Chan's hands were 
shaking.

	"Ranma!"  Kasumi exclaimed, her voice betraying her fear.  
"Are....Are you all right?"

	Ranma-Chan paused.  Everything seemed to stop for a 
moment, everything except the rhythmic pounding of Kasumi's heart.  
Then Ranma-Chan started walking again, this time right towards 
where Kasumi was standing.
	
	"R....Ranma?"  Kasumi was nearly paralyzed with fright.  
She desperately tried to find the center of calm, the one thing she 
relied on to deal with situations like this, no matter how grim.  

	"W....What's wrong, Ranma?"  Kasumi quietly asked, not 
wanting to upset her any more than she already was.

	Ranma-Chan stopped again.  She regarded Kasumi for a long 
time and Kasumi waited patiently for Ranma-Chan to speak, trying 
not to flinch from her intense gaze.  Finally Ranma-Chan broke the 
silence.

	"Kasumi....When your mother died....did you ever feel like it 
was your fault?  That....that you didn't spend as much time with her 
as you should have?"

	"M....My mother?"  Kasumi repeated.  "Yes....I did feel that 
way....at first.  But I had to be strong....for father's....for everyone's 
sake."  Kasumi's eyes suddenly flew open as she exclaimed.  "You 
mean....Ms. Saotome is...."

	Ranma-Chan's eyes began to well up with tears as she shook 
her head.  Kasumi could tell she was trying to hold them back, even 
now trying to act like a man, dispite being a woman at the moment.

	"What....What happened?"  Kasumi's voice was just a faint 
whisper now.

	Ranma-Chan's face was full of anguish, tears spilling down 
her face as she replied.  "It's my fault....I should have seen him 
coming....I should have been faster!  I let my guard down!   OH 
GOD, IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"

	Ranma-Chan collapsed to her knees and began sobbing 
uncontrollably.  Kasumi was immediately kneeling beside her and 
trying to offer whatever comfort she could.  They remained there for a 
long time, Ranma-Chan unable to speak and Kasumi not wanting to 
prod her with questions in her time of grief.  Kasumi wished that 
Akane could be here right now but she and the rest of the family 
were at the fair while Ms. Saotome had taken Ranma-Chan out 
bra-shopping.  Something had obviously gone horribly wrong....     

	As Ranma-Chan continued to cry, blaming herself over and 
over again, Kasumi, dispite her best efforts to stay strong for 
Ranma-Chan's sake, began to cry herself.  When Ms. Tendo had died, 
Kasumi had mourned in private, her father had become an emotional 
wreck and it had been left up to her to be strong and help keep the 
family together.  

	It seemed she now had been given the responsibility to help 
Ranma-Chan as well.  But crying was not going to help Ranma-Chan 
right now, no matter how much she wanted too herself.  Ranma-Chan 
was still blaming herself for whatever reason and Kasumi knew 
Ranma-Chan wouldn't heal if she continued to think that way.
 
	  "Ranma, what happened to your mother?"  Kasumi knew 
she couldn't help Ranma-Chan if she didn't have all the facts.  She 
needed to find out exactly what happened.  If Nokoda was still alive 
then something else bad must have happened to upset Ranma to this 
extent.

	Ranma was silent for a long moment before she looked up 
again.

	"It h...happened a c....couple of hours ago...."


*	*	*


A MALL IN NERIMA
3:30 P.M.


	Ranma-Chan sighed again as she glanced at the plastic bag 
that contained the new bra her mother had just picked out for her.  
"It's time you starting dressing like a girl." was the argument her 
mother had given her.  While Ranma-Chan liked spending time with 
her mother,  she wished they could do something that the male 
Ranma liked once in a while.

	"It's all Pop's fault...."  Ranma-Chan muttered to herself as 
she cursed her father for making such a stupid promise without her 
consent or knowledge.  Every minute she thought about getting a 
kettle of hot water, pouring it over her head and say "Look Mom!  
It's me, your son!"   		
	
	But if his mom was determined to see Ranma a man among 
men, she couldn't take the chance.  Sometimes she wondered if death 
would be preferable to living out a lie.  Then again, she had no 
evidence that the afterlife was any better so she had decided to accept 
the current situation for now.  At least she could be with her mother 
in one form or another....

	"OH HO HO HO HO HO HO"

	Ranma-Chan glanced up at the high-pitched laughter to see 
Kodachi "The Black Rose" Kunou blocking their path.  She was 
dressed in a red leotard, spinning her black ribbon with one hand 
while resting the other on her hip.  Ranma-Chan chided herself for 
not sensing her earlier and quickly assumed a defensive stance.

	"What do you want, Kodachi?"

	Kodachi laughed again, the laugh of a not-quite-sane woman 
as she replied in an icy tone."
	
	"Why my darling Ranma, of course.  Where have you hidden 
him, you wicked, wicked girl?"
		
	Nokoda stared at Kodachi.  "Ranko, who is this strange girl 
and why does she want to find my son?"

	Ranma-Chan's mind raced furiously for a plausible 
explanation while Kodachi turned to face Nokoda, a look of irritation
etched on her face.

	"You there!  What is my Ranma-Sama to you?"  Kodachi
arrogantly proclaimed while pointing a club in her direction.

	"He is my son."  Nokoda replied in an icy tone.  "And who 
might you be?"

	Kodachi laughed again, attracting the attention of everyone 
on the floor.  "Why I am to be his...."  Before she could finish her 
sentence, Ranma-Chan quickly interrupted.

	"Personal trainer!"

	Kodachi and Nokoda both turned to Ranma-Chan and 
exclaimed.  "Personal Trainer?!?"

	"Uh....yeah!  This here is Kodachi and she's teaching Ranma
rhythmic gymnastics!  It's part of his training to be a man among 
men!"  Ranma-Chan replied while praying that Kodachi would 
interpret this the wrong way or the right way depending on how you 
looked at it.

	Kodachi blinked.  Then she seemed to consider 
Ranma-Chan's words for a moment.  "Strange.  I was unaware that 
Ranma-Sama wished to learn from me...."

	Nokoda also looked doubtful.  "Genma never mentioned 
anything about this to me...."

	"That's because....um....because he just recently discovered 
it?"  Ranma-Chan offered.

	"WHAT?!?"  Kodachi's voice was full of disbelief and anger.  
"Ranma-Sama knows perfectly well that I...."

	"Can teach him rhythmic gymnastics better than anyone else!  
That's why he's looking around for you!"  Ranma-Chan quickly cut 
her off.

	 Kodachi's eyes instantly became starry.  "You mean 
Ranma-Sama's desperately looking for me right now?"

	"Oh yeah, he can't wait to meet you so he can learn all about 
rhythmic gymnastics!  In fact, I think I saw him around your house a 
little while ago...."

	"What?  Ranma-Sama visiting me in my humble abode?!  I 
must make haste and greet him properly.  Oh Ranma-Sama!  Your 
black rose is coming!  Oh HOHOHOHOHO!!!"

	And with that, Kodachi ran off, a swirl of black rose petals 
marking her departure.  Ranma-Chan breathed a sigh of relief and 
was about to thank the gods for getting her out of a tight spot when 
she heard her mother ask.

	"Ranko, did you really see my son recently?"

	Ranma-Chan swallowed hard and turned around to see her 
mother with a look of hope and anticipation on her face.  
Ranma-Chan felt horrible for what she had to do....

	"N....No, I didn't."  Ranma-Chan mumbled.

	Nokoda's face fell, disbelief evident on her face.  "But I 
thought you said...."

	"I...."  Ranma-Chan paused.  I'm your son, mom.  I've always 
been here.  I wanted to tell you so much but my idiot pop wouldn't let 
me, It really hurts me to see you sad....

	"I lied.  That girl is a loon so I lied to protect us.  Ranma 
isn't here right now."  Ranma-Chan replied, wishing she had spoken 
her thoughts a moment ago.

         	"Oh.  I....I see."  Nokoda's voice was laced with 
disappointment, it felt like a piece of her heart was being cut out as 
Ranma-Chan resumed shopping with her mother.  Then a little while 
later, as they on their way home, Ranma-Chan felt an impulse as they 
approached a ice cream vendor.

	"Let me buy you something!"  Ranma-Chan said as she 
reached into the purse that came with her dress.  

	"Oh, that's okay Ranko.  You don't have to...."

	"I want to."  Ranma-Chan smiled as she gave some money to 
the vendor and took the two vanilla cones in her hands.  She handed 
one of them to her mother.  Nokoda looked slightly embarrassed as 
she accepted the gift.

	"Thank you dear.  You didn't have to do that for me."

	"It was my pleasure."  Ranma-Chan replied.  Then Nokoda 
was surprised when Ranma-Chan suddenly took her hand and held it 
as they continued to walk down the street.  Nokoda was about to ask 
about it but when she saw the look of joy on Ranma-Chan's face, she 
smiled and gave Ranma-Chan's hand a little squeeze of affection.  
Ranma-Chan returned it and seemed to be even more happy if that 
were possible, completely oblivious to everything else....

	"CRASH!"

	Nokoda suddenly found herself on her back as a young man 
quickly got off her and began apologizing profusely.

	"I'm so sorry!  I wasn't looking where I was going!  I didn't 
mean to run into you two like that!  Please forgive me!"  the man's 
face was red from shame and embarrassment.

	"It's all right."  Nokoda replied as the young man helped her 
to her feet.  He was a handsome looking youth, with a yellow and 
black bandanna wrapped around his forehead, a sleeveless yellow shirt 
and green pants with bindings around his shins.  Then she 
remembered Ranko had fallen with her and she looked down on the 
ground....

	....Only to see a pig-tailed boy with hot coffee spilt all over 
his dress.  While Nokoda was trying to figure out why he was wearing 
a dress, she noticed it was the exact same dress that Ranko had been 
wearing.  There was a look of horror on the boy's face, as if he had 
been caught in the worst possible lie that a person could find himself 
in.

	"It's not....I didn't mean....I wanted to...."  The boy in the 
dress started to babble like a newborn trying to speak it's first word 
and failing miserably.	

	"Ranma?"  the boy with the bandanna exclaimed in a 
surprised voice, as if he just recognized the boy in the dress.  

	"Ranma?"  Nokoda repeated.  Then again.  
"Ran...Ranma?!?"  Nokoda felt herself becoming faint.  "Is....Is that 
you....All....All this...."

	The shock was too much for Nokoda as she fainted.  The boy 
with the bandanna quickly rushed forward to catch her before she hit 
the pavement only to stop as Ranma beat him to it.

	"Mom!  Mom are you okay?  Mom, please answer me!"  
Ranma was frantically trying to revive his mother while Ryouga stood 
nearby looking confused.

	"Mom?"  Ryouga inquired.  "That woman is your mom?"  

	Ranma didn't answer as he continued to try to revive his 
mother.  A few moments later, Ranma looked up at Ryouga and 
screamed.  "DON'T JUST STAND THERE, YOU MORON!  GET 
A DOCTOR!!!"

	Ryouga snapped out of it and quickly ran down the street 
looking for help and promptly got lost after turning the wrong corner.  
Meanwhile, Nokoda was finally starting to regain consciousness.  She 
weakly opened her eyes and saw a frantic and scared boy looking over 
her.  "Mom!"  Ranma repeated.  "Are you all right?"

	"I'm....I'm all right."  Nokoda replied softly as Ranma helped 
her to her feet.  Then Nokoda remembered what had just happened 
and turned to face her son.  "Ranma....So it is you?"

	A tear rolled down Ranma's cheek as he tried to explain 
himself.  "Mom....I....I'm so sorry you had to find out this way....I....I 
wanted to tell you...."

 	The crash of thunder interrupted Ranma's attempts at 
apology.  As Ranma looked up at the cloud-covered sky,  it began to 
rain.  It was only a light drizzle but it was enough to once again 
change Ranma into a girl.  Nokoda took a step back, startled by this 
sudden transformation, a look of fear soon replaced her surprise.

	"Mom...."  Ranma-Chan tried to continue.

	"Don't....Don't call me that!  Who are you really?!  You can't 
be my son?!"  Nokoda's voice was filled with uncertainty and fear.

	Ranma-Chan was crying without shame now, the rain hiding 
her tears and ruining her makeup.  "I....I never wanted to hurt you...."

	"What's going on?  How can you be that....boy and Ranko at 
the same time?  Where is Ranma?  Where is my son?"

	"I'm r....right here mom.  I f...fell into a cursed spring...."

	"YOU'RE LYING!"  Nokoda almost screamed, her voice was 
teetering on the verge of desperation.  She felt like her whole reality 
was crumbling around her, unable to accept what truth was being 
shown to her.

	"M....MY SON IS A MAN!  A MAN!!"

	Ranma-Chan flinched like someone had struck her hard in 
the chest.  She took one step back and then another and before Nokoda 
could say anything else, Ranma-Chan was running away as fast as she 
could, running away from the truth, and the consequences that it 
would bring.... 

		   
*	*	*


	Ranma-Chan paused to wipe her nose as she finished her 
story.  "S....So I just ran.  I ran for....I don't know how long....and 
then I came here.  That's the whole story."

	Ranma-Chan took in a deep breath and exhaled.  Telling the 
story to someone else, anyone else, had made her feel a little better but 
she was still consumed with guilt.  "And now she hates me."  
Ranma-Chan finished in a low voice.

	"Ranma...."  Kasumi began.  "Ranma, your mother doesn't 
hate you, she just wasn't prepared for such a shock...."

	"No, she hates me!  I saw the look in her eyes!  She wanted 
me to become a manly man and look at me!  Just look at me!"  
Ranma-Chan's voice grew shrill as she violently grabbed the front of 
her wet dress and ripped it open, exposing her breasts.  "Does a real 
man have THESE?!"  she cried out without the slightest trace of 
sarcasm or humor.   "Now I have to commit s....seppuku, it's the only 
way to make up for lying to her all this time....It's....It's the only way 
I can say how sorry I am....for everything I ever did...."  

	Kasumi's response had no words, yet the sound echoed 
throughout the Tendo Doujou.  Ranma-Chan's eyes were wide open 
with surprise and shock.  She gingerly placed a hand on the cheek 
where Kasumi slapped her, too stunned to do otherwise.

	"Ranma, listen to me!"  Kasumi was almost shouting, tears 
spilling down her face.  "I know you're upset about what happened 
but killing yourself isn't the answer!  Do you realize how many 
people you would be hurting if you did such a horrible thing?!"

	"I don't have a choice!"  Ranma-Chan replied angrily.  "I 
made a promise...."

	"No!  Your FATHER made a promise.  And it was a stupid 
promise, a promise he never should have forced you to agree to!"  
Kasumi lowered her voice a notch as she continued.  "Your mother 
loves you Ranma, I've seen how much she wants to be with you...."

	"You didn't see her an hour ago.  She was scared of me, 
telling me I wasn't her son...."  Ranma replied softly.

	"Anyone would be afraid if their son changed into a girl 
before their own eyes!  That doesn't mean she loves you any less!"  
Kasumi pointed out.

	Ranma-Chan sighed.  "It's....It's not that simple.  Even if she 
was just scared....She agreed to kill me and Pop if I was anything less 
than a man among men.  If I don't kill myself, my mother will."  

	"I don't believe that!  I think your father told you that so you 
would try your best.  I can't believe that your mother would be that 
cruel!"  Kasumi pleaded with him.  "If you kill yourself, what will 
happen to all of your friends?  and what about Akane?"

	Ranma-Chan didn't answer, she stared at her own exposed 
breasts, as if willing them to disappear forever.  Kasumi was about 
to try again when she looked up and gasped in surprise.  
Ranma-Chan glanced up and saw her mother standing by the door.

	"I....I'd better check on dinner."  Kasumi said as she rose to 
her feet and walked towards the kitchen, giving them some privacy.  
Nokoda closed the door behind her and slowly walked towards 
Ranma-Chan.  Ranma-Chan had the look of a cornered animal but 
showed no sign of running away.

	"I'm sorry...."  Ranma-Chan began.
 
	"Shut up."  Her mother coldly replied.

	Ranma-Chan immediately became silent, her eyes red from 
crying.

	"First I want how disappointed and angry I am that you and 
your father hid from me just to keep this secret.  Sometimes I used to 
wonder if you were both deliberately avoiding me since you were 
never here when I visited but I never truly believed it in my 
heart....until now."

	"Mom...."

	"I'm not finished."  Nokoda cut her off.  "I want to know 
what in heaven's name made you think that I wouldn't accept you as 
my child, regardless of what gender you happen to be at the time.  I 
admit it was a shock to see you change into a girl right before my 
own eyes but what shocked me the most is that you've been LYING 
to me for the past year about being Ranko!  Genma promised me to 
make you a man among men and a true man doesn't lie to his mother 
and make her think that he doesn't want to see her!"

	Ranma-Chan lowered his head to the ground in shame.  
Nokoda took a deep breath and then continued.  "I realize that your 
father had a lot to do with this and for that I WILL speak to him 
before too long but I'm still hurt that you though so little of me....that 
I would murder my own flesh and blood because you're not a whole 
man!"  I love you for who you are, Ranma!  I've dreamt of the day 
where I would see you again and we would be a whole family again.  
Do you think I would throw that all away for the sake of honor or 
pride?"

	Ranma-Chan slowly raised your head.  "T....Then you don't 
h....hate me?"

	"I could never hate you Ranma.  You're my son and I'll love 
you for the rest of my life.  But I would be lying if I said I wasn't upset 
that you lied to me and made me think you were someone else.  I think 
you owe me a lot more than an explanation or an apology!"

	Ranma-Chan voice was almost a whisper.  "What do you 
want?"

	"For starters....how about a hug?  I've missed you 
terribly...."

	Nokoda fell to her knees and held her arms out towards 
Ranma-Chan, tears running unashamingly down her cheeks.  
Ranma-Chan slowly rose to a kneeling position and then quickly 
made her way across the floor until she was finally hugging her 
mother, not as Ranko, not as a girl, but as her child.

	"Mom....I missed you so much mom...."  Ranma-Chan 
sobbed as she and Nokoda embraced each other.  They both cried as 
they celebrated their unification after such a long period of time.  
Kasumi emerged from the kitchen a moment later with a kettle of hot 
water.  Without saying a word, she set it down beside the rejoicing 
couple.  Ranma-Chan noticed it a moment later and then gently 
removed herself from her mother's embrace and reached out for the 
kettle, intending to change back into a man and then embrace his 
mother as her son....

  	
	"RANMA!  WAKE UP ALREADY!!!"
	
	Ranma suddenly blinked and glanced up to see the angry face 
of Akane Tendo staring at him from above.  "A....Akane?"

	"Come on Ranma!  We're going to be late for school if you 
don't hurry up!  I can't wait all day for you!"  Akane admonished him 
as she stormed out of his room and slammed the door.

	"S....School?"  Ranma slowly got up and then looked over at 
the window and was shocked to see the sunlight pouring through.  "It 
was a dream?"  Ranma mouthed in disbelief.  "No...."  Ranma couldn't 
believe that what he had just gone through was only a dream.  That he 
had finally been able to be with his mother as a man and not have to 
lie anymore.  That he would still have to pretend to be someone else 
and continue to deceive her in order to keep an empty promise, a 
promise shoved down his throat....

	"NO!  GOD DAMN IT!!! NO!!!"  Ranma cursed at the top 
of his lungs as he smashed his fist into the wall, creating a sizable 
hole.  Then he did it again and again, with no skill or precision, his 
hands were starting to bleed from the repeated abuse he was giving 
them.

	"Ranma!  What are you doing?"  Ranma turned to see a 
shocked Akane along with his father and the rest of the Tendo family, 
staring at him with concerned expressions on their faces.  Ranma 
stopped punching and glanced down at his injured hands then glared 
up at Genma.  Genma actually took a step back from the intensity of 
the gaze his son was now giving him.

	"Pop, we're going to see mom.  Right now!"  Ranma declared 
in a no-nonsense tone of voice.

	"What?!  Are you out of your...."  Genma began.

	Genma found he couldn't finish his sentence as Ranma 
rushed forward and in an incredible display of strength and speed, he 
grabbed his father by the collar of his gi, hoisted him high into the 
air and brutally smashed him back against the wall.  Ranma's eyes had 
fire in them as he continued.   "We're going to see mom.  I don't care 
what you or anyone else thinks about it and if you try to stop me again, 
I'll make you sorry you ever taught me martial arts in the first place.  
YOU GOT IT?

	Genma swallowed nervously as he had never seen his son 
this angry in his entire life.  He saw the look in Ranma's eyes and 
right then he knew they were both going to see Nokoda no matter 
what the consequences.

	"O....Okay."  Genma stuttered, his entire body trembling 
with fear at the power of his son.  Ranma held him up a moment 
longer before abruptly letting go of him, Genma crashing to the 
ground like a ton of bricks.  Then Ranma turned towards Akane, who 
was still in awe with the rest of her family on what had just happened.  
"Akane, I won't be able to join you at school today...."


*	*	*


	It was another beautiful day as Nokoda Saotome emerged 
from her home in her gardening outfit to tend to her flowers.  As she 
adjusted her wide-brim hat to keep the bright sunlight out of her eyes 
and protect her face, she noticed a couple of figures in the distance, 
coming towards her.

	Nokoda squinted to see who they were and then her eyes 
grew wide as she realized who they might be.  Trying not to get her 
hopes up, Nokoda started to walk towards them, trying to get a 
better look.

	As she got closer, her hat was suddenly caught by a gust of 
wind.  She was about to chase after it when she heard a shout.

	"MOM!"

	The shout was filled with love, pain and longing.  Nokoda 
felt her heart start to pound as she realized that this time it wasn't a 
dream.

	Her family had come home.

	"RANMA!  GENMA!"  Nokoda's cry was full of joy as she
 broke into a full run and met her son halfway.  At last, the Saotome
 family was reunited and this time the dream came true.  

	
	THE END.


I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.  C&C 
is more than welcome.  :)	      

Special thanks to Zen for his C&C!