On Sun, 29 Dec 2002 21:15:21 +1100 David Eddy <dje@progress.com> wrote:
The way the story has gone - see part one, which follows
this post - the title is no longer really appropriate.
It may become appropriate later in the story, but that's
another matter.
It still might fit depending on which father you mean.
Nodoka looked at the pledge, with its pathetic palm
print from a young Ranma, then back at Genma, horror in
her expression. "Husband, you cannot do this thing.
Clan honor will not permit it."
"I know you, {husband : Husband}. I have not gone through eight
years of marriage to you to be surprised by your actions.
I know it is your dream to train Ranma to be your catspaw
against that evil old man.
"So, {husband : Husband}, it falls to Ranma. I propose this:
You may take Ranma on the training trip you propose.
However, in addition to training him in your arts, you
must also train him to be a manly man, and to be a fit
husband for a Tendou girl."
Genma perked up and stood, smiling a gleaming smile.
"Well, that's no problem. I mean, with me as an example,
how could he fail to be attractive to the ladies?"
A slight failure to communicate there.
"Education, both traditional and modern. Duty.
Politeness. Forcefulness. Decisiveness. Compassion.
Modesty. Public {service : Service}. These are the characteristics
of nobility, and the tradition of the Saotome clan... and
it is these that will expected of Ranma when he goes to
meet the Tendou girls. Do you really think you can do
all that on your own, on the road?"
"Do not forget, *{husband : Husband}*, that there are other
branches of our clan, some of which have sons around
Ranma's age. He is simply the first in line to fulfil
the clan duty, because I am the eldest daughter; if he
fails or is... regrettably eliminated... there are others
that can serve."
{Hayao Saotome : Saotome Hayao} cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well,
as for that, it was a matter of clan duty, the fulfilment
of a promise. I regret that you have not found love in
your marriage, {daughter : Daughter}, but I still feel that your
marriage to Genma has been successful, for young Ranma
appears to be everything we might have hoped he would be.
Or rather, he could be," he finished, muttering darkly.
You've used the other name ordering everywhere else.
"I have a solution," said Hayao. "Ranma will reside
here for two months of every year. He will accompany his
father for the remainder of the year, and during that
time he will be enrolled in a correspondence course with
a top school. We will of course audit the results. As
for Genma, {daughter : Daughter}, you have my apologies but I have
decided that if he is incapable of holding to a sworn
pledge, he is not the kind I want around here. He will
remain married to you so that our honor is not sullied,
but he must never set foot on our domains again. We get
the best of both worlds - Ranma trained in martial
matters by a true prodigy in the field, the boy gets an
education, and during his time here we can teach him
about traditional matters. And as for enforcement..."
Hayao paused, and grinned unpleasantly. "We will simply
have to put the fear of Saotome into him."
"And I think we'll formally adopt that girl Ukyou.
Would you like to take her under your wing, {daughter : Daughter}?
After all, it was Genma who made the original betrothal
offer... it seems appropriate. Perhaps Yumi and young
Michiko will enjoy having an older sister."
"Of course, {father : Father}."