Subject: [FFML] [Ranma] [Fanfic] Childhood Mysteries part 5 {draft}
From: Thomas Scroggs
Date: 8/7/1998, 11:31 PM
To: ffml
Reply-to:
trscrogg@unity.ncsu.edu

This is the present draft for Childhood Mysteries part five.

It's a long way from being truely finished, but the plot points are all
in place.

C&C for me please.

Thanks

First fic alert. 

I didn't create these characters or their setting.  I am
using them without permission and realize that I could 
get in serious trouble for this.  I also realize that I 
am making no profit on this work, and not really capable
of being a good suee.

C&C welcomed and encouraged.  Flames used for 
experiments in spontaneous combustion.  

Thanks to my pre-readers, who helped improve this work 
greatly.  Special thanks to Toby Kilbreath and Talesia; 
who have given me many ideas for this work.

This occurs after the 36 volume of the manga, meaning 
that Nodoka knows of Ranma's curse, but the Saffron 
incident has not occurred.  It should also be noted that
I really don't know much about Nodoka's character.

Here it is.
Version 0.32
Date Started: 6/16/98
Last revised: 8/07/98

-------------------------
Thoughts <>
Authors notes and details ()
Stressed words --
Sound FX and some actions**
Ranma in girl form -chan
-------------------------

	What has happened already:
	Late the day before Ranma received a mysterious 
visitor...
	The visitor left him behind a small child, with 
a birth certificate proclaiming her as Saotome Miko...
	Ranma takes Miko to the mall and accidentally 
runs into Kuno, Kuno claims that Miko is a demon and 
attacks Ranma...
	After visiting Tofu, Ranma and Miko return to 
the Dojo...
	Unfortunately, the rest of the Tendo and Saotome 
clans are home, and they did not react well to this...
	And the Kuno's believe that Miko is a demon 
keeping them from their loves, and plan on doing 
something about it...

-------------------------
Ranma 1/2:
Childhood Mysteries 
Chapter 5: Impact
-------------------------

	<What now? > Ranma thinks to himself,  <Its bad 
enough this stuff has to start now, just when things 
started to settle down.  *Sigh* All I would have needed 
was a few more months and everything would have been 
ready, but it had to happen now...Just when everything 
was calming down. >
	This was just one thought of many as Ranma 
climbs the stairs and walks down the hallway to his 
room.  But just before he reaches the door he hears it 
close and catches the sound of quiet crying.  
	"I just had to ask." Ranma moans to himself.  He 
quickly steps into the room, not noticing the eldest 
Tendo sister climb up the stairs.

-------------------------

	Ranma entered his room with some apprehension.  
Actually, though he'd never admit it (even to himself), 
he's scared.  Scared that Miko will ask one of the 
questions he fears questions he can't really answer.
	Not that the sight of Miko is any better.  Miko 
is as he thought crying; or to be more specific crying 
into the pillow of the futon, which she is laying on 
top of.
	Ranma decides to start with the most obvious 
question, "You heard us talking didn't you?" 
	Miko nods into the pillow, but doesn't look up.
	*Sigh* "You weren't supposed to hear that.  And 
I...apologize for not making sure you where somewhere 
else before they started yelling."
	Miko looks up at Ranma and with tears in her 
eyes asks the question he fears most, "Are you really my 
daddy?"

-------------------------

	One of Kasumi's lesser known abilities is 
superior hearing.  Kasumi can hear almost everything 
going on around her with clarity that few others have.  
So when Kasumi hears the door to Ranma's room closing 
softly it only came surprise that it would be closing 
with Ranma still in the hallway, not that she could hear
it.
 	Still Kasumi is definitely shocked when she 
hears a faint sound coming from the room... <Crying? >
	Kasumi arrives at the door about the same time 
that Akane leaves her room, dressed in her usual workout
gi.  Seeing Kasumi pause outside the door to Ranma's 
room she decides to get closer to find out what she was 
doing.
	The two are joined by the middle Tendo sister 
just in time to hear Miko's voice asking the question 
they all wanted to know...
	"Are you really my daddy?"

-------------------------

	"That's what we...um...ugh..." 
	Akane's exclamation is cut short, when Kasumi 
places her hand over Akane's mouth and makes a shushing 
motion with her other hand.
	<Now maybe we'll find out want is going on 
here, > Nabiki thinks, ignoring the movements of her 
sisters, <And then I'll ask Ranma about that money. >
	<This isn't right, > Kasumi thinks privately, 
<But I need to know. >
	Akane just stands there in shock.  <Wha...What's 
with Kasumi?  She's never acted like this before. >
	All three girls bend closer to the door to 
listen.

-------------------------

	Ranma opens his mouth to answer when a laugh 
that could only be called terrifying laugh sounds 
through out the Dojo.
	"Damn, that's got to be Kodachi," Ranma looks 
quickly down to Miko, "Stay here, I'm going to get rid 
of her before she causes any trouble.  If anyone but me 
tries to open the door, hide, got it?"
	Miko nods once.
	Ranma turns and leaves, but as he does he 
notices something out of the corner of his left eye.  
<She's fading out...Nah, couldn't be.  Worry about the 
Kunos, not Miko. >  He also notes that all the Tendo 
sisters are out in the hallway, but puts the thought 
aside for the moment.
	Ranma arrives at the back door to the house just
in time to see Kodachi's ribbon yank Genma and Soun into
the koi pond.
	Kodachi laughs at the floundering fathers (or 
rather the floundering father and panda) but quickly 
ignores them when she notices Ranma's arrival, "Ah, my 
darling are you finally ready to confess your love to 
me?"
	Ranma ignores the fathers, (who have gotten 
untangled from the ribbon and are watching from the 
sidelines) and responds.  "I never loved you, Kodachi.  
And I never will, go away and leave me alone."
	Kodachi laughs, "Don't worry my wonderful 
Ranma-sama, even now my brother is removing that demon 
that binds to you to that pig-tailed hussy.  Soon you 
will be able to declare your love for me, free of that 
demon's influence."
	<Demon? What de...> "MIKO!"  Ranma is upstairs 
before the shout is even out of his lips.  As he 
reaches his room he hears the sounds of fighting coming 
from within.  He bursts into the room just in time to 
see Kuno leave...through the window.  But he also sees 
Miko lying on the floor next to Akane who is even now 
stepping down from the high kick that had sent Kuno 
flying.
	All Ranma needed was one question, "What 
happened?"
	Nabiki answers, in a quiet tone of voice, "We 
*gestures at Akane and Kasumi* where going to talk to 
Miko when Kodachi starts laughing.  Thing is we couldn't
find her, I mean she wasn't here when we came in.  Then 
Kuno breaks in screaming about demons and trips on 
something.  Then there she is, lying where Kuno tripped,
curled up and crying.  Akane gives Kuno the old boot and
then you show-up."
	*Sigh* "Kodachi was a distraction, she was going
to keep me busy while Kuno got Miko.  But I figured it 
out before Kodachi could get me caught up in a fight.  I
told Miko to hide if anyone but me tried to come in, 
and I guess she did too good a job.  You ok?"  This 
last was delivered to Miko, who is slowly getting up 
from her prone position.
	Miko nods and manages a smile.  "I was hiding 
when that bad man stepped on me.  Then she *points at 
Akane* kicked the bad man out the window."
	Akane snorts lightly and looks away.
	"Thank you Akane," Ranma says politely.  However 
he is sighing inside, <Is she ever going to get over 
this?  I hope so, but somehow...I just don't know. >
	"You know Ranma," Nabiki's voice was strangely 
calm, "I'm willing to bet that whatever your hiding from
us is big, very big.  So I am going to give you a 
friendly, and free, piece of advice.  Tell us now, 
before we find out ourselves, things will be much easier
on you if you do."
	"*Sigh* And what makes you think I'm hiding 
something from you?"
	Nabiki grins a predator-like grin, "Can't say I 
didn't warn you Ranma.  You can come to any of us when 
you decide your ready to fess up."
	The sisters leave, but not before each gives 
Ranma a different glance.  Kasumi's look was filled with
pity and a little curiosity; Nabiki would obviously 
enjoy finding out everything there was about Miko, and 
rubbing Ranma's face in it; Akane was just plain mad, 
though something else unidentifiable was also present.
	Ranma checks the hallway one more time to make 
sure there are no more listeners then turns back to 
Miko, "Come one Miko lets get you back to Dr. Tofu's."  
Ranma then picks-up Miko and carefully settles her on 
his back, her arms around his neck.
	"Daddy," Miko hesitantly begins, after they had 
gotten halfway to Dr. Tofu's , "Remember what I asked 
before that bad man came?"
	Ranma freezes for a moment then nods and begins 
to walk again.
	"I don't want to know."
	This time Ranma does more than freeze, he 
face-faults (to Miko's secret enjoyment), "Wha'...why 
not?"
	Miko squeezes Ranma's neck a little harder, "If 
I don't know I can still pretend you are, even if you're
not."
	Ranma smiles a sad and ironic smile, "Ok, Miko, 
I won't tell."
	Miko just smiles in response.

-------------------------

	One examination and lollipop (and a private 
warning to watch her leg) latter Ranma and child are 
back at the Tendo's.  Ranma is doing a kata in the back 
near the koi pond and Miko is watching from the porch.
	Ranma is quietly thinking up battle plans as he 
goes through his practice, <Let's see.  The Kunos know 
and have attacked.  That means I should expect Shampoo 
and the Old Ghoul soon.  Ukyou will probably confront me
before school tomorrow.  But Ryoga could show-up 
anytime.  Since Nabiki isn't here my bet will be that he
shows up *tenses to jump* NOW! >
	Just as Ranma's feet leave the ground the space 
he was standing in became filled with umbrella, "Ranma 
prepare To DIE!"
	<Might as well find out what he if he's heard 
yet. > Ranma grins, "Well if it isn't P-Chan!  What did 
I do to you this time?"
	Ryoga lands next to his umbrella, which he 
retrieves, and drops his pack, "You cheated on Akane!  
You've been stringing her along all this time when you 
already have a kid!  DIE!"
	"Now Ryoga," *dodges a bandana* "How can I have 
cheated on Akane when I Miko is older the entire time I 
spent in Nermia?" *Dodges an umbrella strike*
	"That doesn't matter, because today is the day I
finish you off, witness my new technique Bakusai 
Tenketsu Saikou!" (I could use a full translation and 
the proper wording please)
	Ryoga's new technique is an improved version of 
the original Bakusai Tenketsu, with a much bigger blast 
radius and a more violent explosion, an explosion that 
sent large (heart sized) chunks of rock in every 
direction.  Ranma himself is easily able to dodge all 
the larger pieces of rock will still maneuvering closer 
to Ryoga.
	Miko is another story.
	Luckily for her most of the rocks (and all the 
larger ones) miss entirely, but in her haste to try to 
dodge the rock her leg gives and she topples over onto 
her side.  Even worse as she lands a distinct *SNAP* 
sounds out.
	Ryoga, Ranma, and the Tendos (who arrived before
the blast occurs) stand in total shock for about two 
seconds before anyone even breaths.  Then Ranma screams.
	"MIKO!" Ranma shoves Ryoga aside, gathers the 
unconscious Miko into his arms and is over the wall 
before Ryoga has even finished falling over.  If he had 
stayed he would seen Ryoga transcribe a graceful 
arch...right into the koi pond...

-------------------------

	Ranma makes a dim note of the giant column of 
blue chi that erupts in the general direction of the 
dojo, but pushes it to the back of his mind, for he had 
just arrived at the clinic.
	Dr. Tofu ushers Ranma out of the check-up room, 
or rather tries to.  Ranma doesn't seem to be very 
co-operative mumbling something about 'all my fault'.  
In the end Dr. Tofu hits Ranma's sleep spot, dropping 
the martial artist like Kuno after glomping Akane.
	<Strange, > the doctor thinks to himself, <Her 
leg isn't really broken, but it's cracked slightly.  
There is nothing I can really do about it though.  A 
cast won't really help, but a cane might. >
	*Sigh* <But I doubt it will ever really heal.  I
wish I knew what caused the original injury to her leg, 
I might be able to do more if I did, but Ranma swears 
that he has no idea what caused it.  And I believe him, 
not that it's any stranger than anything else he's told 
me.  I really should do something to help Ranma get over
Genma's interference, and Mrs. Tako's death, but 
what...>
	Tofu ponders on these and other thoughts as the 
sun goes down and another day ends.

-------------------------

	A young lady stops and looks down at a letter 
she has just finished composing.  Her room is clean and 
well orginized.  Bookshelves are all over and they are 
all full.
	"It'll be good to see Ranma again," the lady 
mutters to herself, "It's been so long..."
	With a quick flourish the letter is complete and
in its envolope.
	The lady smiles to herself and begins to prepare 
for bed.  Just before she falls asleep she has one last 
thought, <I hope he has enough of a warrning, things are
likely to get messy. >

-------------------------
End Part 5
------------------------- 

(If I got any special technique names wrong please send 
me the proper words. Thanks.)

Finally its finished!	
Remember C&C is always welcome.
After all if you don't tell me what's wrong then I can't
get better.

The lady?  You'll find out in a few chapters.  

I'll do my best to get the next part out soon, but don't
get your hopes up too high.

Thomas Scroggs


Cartoon Survival Rule #4: You can hide anywhere.  Behind
trees, boulders, anything.  Just remeber, unless your 
hiding place is destroyed, don't change them.  If you do
you'll end up hiding behind the same whatever your enemy
is.