For the Love of Mother....
Ranma/Oh My Goddess X-over.
Chapter 1 - Tears in the dark
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, and Oh My
Goddess characters belong to Kosuke Fujishima.
Notes: This take place just after the final volume of the manga. It is
Ranma's
second summer at the dojo. In the "Oh My Goddess" time line this takes Place
the summer after the MARA STRIKES BACK story line. This means Nodoka
knows of the curse, and the Goddess's for the most part have to rely on
MOON ROCK bracelets for power, under normal circumstances.
Special thanks go tho Richard Drysdale for his help editing this fic.
Ranma-chan sat alone in the quiet and darkened bathroom, the only
illumination coming from a few candles placed around the room.
The lights in the house had been out for two days now, the others having
gone on vacation. Meanwhile he was still here, taking classes to make up for
lost time in school. Around the room the shadows were deepening as the
candles began to flicker, the dim light from the flame cast an eerie glow
around
the room.
Turning she stared in the mirror at her face, at the face that had been a
curse since that fateful trip to Jusenkyo. It's ageless beauty, unchanging and
flawless, taunted her.
For the first time Ranma was actually glad for the body she had once
hated. Alone in the dark for two days, she had pondered all the events which
had occurred in the last year.
All the kidnappings, the fiancees, the rivals, monsters, debts and enemies.
Few of these were Ranma's fault, and yet all that happened always ended
up as another burden on his soul.
The pain that was caused by his father's inexcusable actions.
The promise to his mother had to long kept them apart. Yet now Nodoka
had leaving him behind, going with the others on their holiday together.
Now Ranma was completely alone, able to take her time and think. To think
about Jusenkyo, thinking of the pain and her life.
Things had become too painful to bear by herself and yet she was alone.
Her friends had left, her father had disappeared and her mother had gone
with them.
Now Ranma felt utterly alone.
The betrayal at the wedding had been painful, and now because of the
people that were both family and friends she was alone once more.
Still looking in the mirror, Ranma removed the tie which bound her hair into
a pigtail. Watching as the long tresses that had been bond for so long, fell
freely about her shoulders like a waterfall.
Ranma grabbed for the bottle of sake that she had brought from the
kitchen, downing its contents without even pausing for breath.
In the last year a slew of monsters and martial artists had endangered
everything which she held dear.
From Herb to Tarou and from the amazons to Saffron. No matter who she
fought or how often she triumphed, nothing seemed to matter. No matter what
sacrifices were made, they were never enough.
Akane, Genma and the others, they just could not be satisfied. If one was
chosen it would hurt and dishonor all the others.
Then there was Nodoka, mother, and symbol of the family honor.
Nodoka had little understanding for Ranma's problems, and what made
matters worse was that she had told him that the problems were his
responsibility to sort out, including any other fiancees that might show up.
Ranma pulled her thoughts away from these matters with a jerk. The pain
that they caused her when just thought about them was just too much.
Staggering to the family room on unsteady legs, Ranma grabbed for the
phone but somehow ended up sprawled across the floor instead.
Crawling to the couch she dialed blindly, trying to recall the right number
for the pizza shop up the street.
After the first ring someone picked up the pjone at the other end.
The voice on the other end sounded bored and spoke almost
mechanically.
"Hello, you've reached the goddess technical help line, one of our
representatives will be with you in one minute." The woman at the other end
of the line rattled off.
Hearing the message Ranma hung-up the phone. She was thinking of her
mother again and did not wanting to try for the pizza shop again.
Staggering to the couch Ranma landed on it moments before she blacked out.
As Urd stepped out of the television set, the sight of numerous opened
and empty bottles scattered around at random point of the room greeted her.
Frowning at the sight she shook her head at the sight.
"So much pain in one so young. Poor kid no wonder they sent me." she
muttered.
Looking around she spied the lone unopened bottle in the room. Picking it
up she examined at the label.
"Glen Levit single malt scotch" It proclaimed.
Urd sighed softly as she glanced from the bottle to the figure on the
couch.
"Might as well have a drink while I wait for the kid to wake up" she
rationalized to the silent room.
Smiling she took a swig of the strong spirits. As she drank she watched
the curled up on the couch in front of her who had a look of pain and
whimpered softly in her sleep. Even in her drunken sleep she held a great
deal of sadness lines of pain etchd in her face.
Moving over to couch Urd held the girl to her chest, stroking Ranma's hair
lightly and rocking her back and forth. Almost crying at the pain she felt
coming from the girl, Urd tried to soothe Ranma's troubled dreams as she
drank more of the scotch.
As the night wore on the goddess grew tired herself and had almost dozed
off when the girl awoke from her fitful sleep. Seeing in the disoriented and
confusion in the young woman's eyes, Urd smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'm here to help you." she told the girl gently, "Just relax.
You need to release your sorrow before it shatters your soul."
Ranma drowsily looked at the half drunken stranger who had just spoken
to her, then giving in and began to sob releasing years of pent up anger and
pain.
The pain of her life had finally broken through her defenses and now she
had a way to release it. Someone who would listen to her, who would help
ease her pain. The words came slowly and haltingly at first, but then sped up
until they tumbled from her mouth as she released the pent-up memories that
had tormented her during her life.
The few things good things that had occurred had been ruined by others
and Ranma had been forced to suffer in silence, unable to release the pain.
No one had been willing to listen to him, not even Nodoka. Now though
this stranger was sitting here and listening. Crying for the pain Ranma had
felt. This freely given sympathy only brought more tears to her eyes.
Ranma's family hadn't been willing to listen and yet here was a stranger cared
enough for her to allow release.
Sobbing her heart out, crying as though the pain could be washed away
by her tears, Ranma leaned into the strange woman's shoulder until the pain
had been released.
Looking for the first time into this stranger's face Ranma smiled bitterly.
The words which came from her mouth were filled with pain and bitter from
years of abuse of trust and pain.
"I wish you could be my mother, at least then I'd have a real family."
As the bright light flashed through the room Urd began to sputter a
protest, only to realize she was too late. The wish had been approved.
As the brightness cleared she looked down at Ranma and saw marks
which almost perfectly matched her own adorning the face and forehead of
the girl. It was only then that she realized what had happened.
She managed to only say one thing before she blacked out as the enormity
of the situation hit her.
"I'm a mother!?"