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 ------------------------- Ranma thinks to himself, 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... 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. Nabiki thinks, ignoring the movements of her sisters, Kasumi thinks privately, Akane just stands there in shock. 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. 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." "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, "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, Just as Ranma's feet leave the ground the space he was standing in became filled with umbrella, "Ranma prepare To DIE!" 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. the doctor thinks to himself, *Sigh* 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, ------------------------- 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.