[Ranma] Legends

[tabyk]

* * * * * * * * * *   LEGENDS   * * * * * * * * * *


   > All characters mentioned from Ranma ½ are owned by Rumiko
     Takahashi. This story was written for entertainment
     purposes only.
   > I would like to give thanks to CyMage, Inuyasha-chan, and
     Rakhal for their editing and feedback.
   > Like "A Child's Prayer" and the first installment of "Future
     Memories" the idea for this story just grabbed my mind and
     wouldn't let go until it was written. I hope you all enjoy it.


    * * * * * * * * * *               * * * * * * * * * *


    I had been walking home from a day of shopping when I
spotted the girl again.  She was Chinese; I'm certain of that,
and young, no older then twenty by my own estimates.  She was
also tall, pretty, and had that lean muscular build one
associates with a professional athlete.  Only the large
eyeglasses that she wore seemed out of place on her.  I didn't
know who she was, or what she wanted, but for almost a month now
she'd been showing daily to look at the house.  The couple of
times that my son had called out to her she had run, but she
always returned the next day.

    We'd reported her to the local authorities but since she
hadn't actually done anything yet, besides act a little
suspicious, they had felt disinclined to do anything about it.

    With a sigh I walked through the opened front gate to be
greeted by an all too familiar sight of my son Ken yelling at
Father again.  My hopes of not being dragged into it lasted six
steps before they noticed me.

    "Mother, will you tell him to stop trying to teach crazy
things to the kids!  I'm sick and tired of listening to them cry
every time they get hurt because of some damn fool thing he's
told them!"  Grunting in disgust he then turned and stomped his
way into the house, leaving the two of us alone for the moment.  
I watched as Father slowly shuffled his way over to me, managing
to look both dejected and sheepish at the same time.

    Even at nearly eighty years of age the man still looked
good.  He was clean-shaven, having never felt the desire to grow
a beard or mustache, and had somehow managed to naturally keep a
full head of hair, though the ponytail had turned grey years ago.  
Recently his back had started to hunch on him, and he now
occasionally mentioned pains, though he could still stand tall
when something riled him up.

    "Sorry Mika."  Putting my bags down I reached out and lifted
his chin, moving his gaze from the tops of his toes to me, and
spent a moment looking into the bluest eyes I had ever seen.  
They were amazing, his eyes, so clear and pure that one could get
lost in them for hours.  Some of my earliest memories, before she
had passed away, were of Mother spending whole evenings doing
just that.

    Glancing towards the house to make sure neither Ken or Reiko
were listening I then kissed him on the cheek before stating,
"Father, I know you mean well, but you need to be more careful...
or at least more sneaky about it."  Flashing me his infamous grin
again said, "Sorry," before stooping over and grabbing the
majority of my bags.  Picking up the rest I then entered the
house with him following behind.

    I ran into Reiko almost immediately, her still holding a
sniffling Ryo who sported a number of fresh band-aids across the
top of his right hand.  The glare she leveled Father could have
fried fish before she glanced at me and sniffed in disdain.

    Sighing I walked past into the kitchen, the one place where
she was least likely to follow.

    I loved my family, but it was tiring at times.


    * * * * * * * * * *               * * * * * * * * * *


    "Father, you aren't twenty anymore."

    It was high summer, and the heat was awful, but it didn't
compare to the absolutely miserable look on Father's face.  He
said nothing as I carefully wrapped the freshly cleaned but still
bloody mess of his hand.  Finishing up I hugged the man, kissing
him on his weathered cheek before gathering up the pillaged
remains of the medical kit and stood.  Slowly standing himself he
glanced at me before saying, "I'll be in the dojo... um,
practicing or something."  Watching him sulk away was painful.

    Entering the house, however, was even worse, as both Ken and
Reiko were waiting for me.

    "Mother, you need to put a leash on the man.  He's crazy!"

    "He is not, and you know it.  He knew perfectly well what he
was doing... he just hadn't compensated enough for his age."

    Sneering as she sat on the couch Reiko mentioned, "He
challenged an entire SCHOOL of martial artists, injured two of
them, and then nearly crushed his fist trying to punch through a
brick wall.  I personally think it isn't his 'physical' age that
we aught to be worried about."

    I glared at the woman, and not for the first time wondered
what my son had possibly seen in her.  She was snobbish, lazy,
and held contempt for anyone who didn't see her as matron of all
that was important.  Every day I liked her less and less,
especially since she now paid more attention to her social
calendar then she did to the daily housework, or the day-to-day
affairs of her own children.  Looking back at Ken I met his eyes
and silently dared him to back her up, to ignore his own
childhood memories of his grandfather doing EXACTLY those things,
and pulling them off as if they were the easiest things in the
world, and turning away from me he finally muttered, "No dear,
this time Mother has the right of it."

    Now it was she who did the glaring, and I that sniffed in
defiance, before I said, "I will talk with him."  Returning to
the back porch I stood, leaning against one of the old posts, and
looked across the backyard to the koi pond and dojo while
thinking about the man that I loved most in this world.

    I could feel his mounting frustration every day now.  He so
desperately wanted, no, NEEDED, to pass on his legacy to someone.  
In the prime of his life he was quite possibly the greatest
martial artist that the world had ever known, but he held no
medals, no trophies, no physical reminders of the more
traditional kind to impart that accomplishment onto the younger
generations.  I remembered his look of disappointment when Ken,
as a child, had made it clear that video games and TV were more
important then learning a new punch or kick.  The look of quiet
desperation that he sometimes gave to Ryo or Cho as they showed
more aptitude for computers then sports.  He had worked his way
up from almost nothing, becoming an absolute master of his chosen
craft, but had no student to pass it on to.

    Walking across the lawn to the dojo I stepped inside to see
father quickly putting down one of the bokken that rested against
the wall.  Grinning at him I slowly started some warm-ups,
pulling from childhood memories how to twist and stretch ones
body in the most efficient fashion, before settling into a
facsimile of the relaxed stance I'd seen him use a million times.

    "I'm ready for my lesson, Sensei."

    The look of pure happiness on his face was worth it.


    * * * * * * * * * *               * * * * * * * * * *


    The police were just leaving when Ken arrived, stomping his
way through the snow to the front door.  "Mother, are you okay?"  
Glancing back towards the departing officers he added, "I was
called from work.  They said that you'd been attacked at the
grocery store."

    Taking his wet coat and hanging it I replied, "One could say
that."  Leaving him sputtering by the door as he removed his
boots I entered the living room and resumed my tea.  As soon as
he joined me I said, "A young man tried to take my purse while I
was shopping.  I convinced him otherwise."

    "You convinced him?!"

    "Well, the elbow shot to his chest got his attention, then
between the knuckle punch to the throat and the toe kick to the
groin he decided that such activities were probably unwise."  
Unable to stop myself I grinned just a little as I added, "I
can't wait to tell Father."

    I almost giggled at the comical look of disbelief on his
face, but was totally unprepared for the explosion that happened
afterward.  "ARE YOU CRAZY?!?  Are you even listening to what
you're saying?!  You're 59 years old!  You could have been
killed, and all you're thinking about is how proud your old man
will be?!"

    I stared at him in disbelief before an anger I didn't even
know I possessed boiled up within me and I found myself matching
my son's voice with my own.  "Yes I am 59 years old, but that
doesn't make me a cripple!  I was attacked, and because of Father
I was able to defend myself so I damn well will be proud of the
fact!"

    We glared at each other before he finally sighed in
exasperation, then looking around he asked, "Where are the
children?"

    "I would imagine they are still at the park with Father."

    "What?!  What if something-"

    "Father is PERFECTLY capable of handling the children.  I
made him take my spare cell phone, and he's to call if anything
happens."

    Hearing the front door open a second time I stood and
gathered my tea set, making it half way to the kitchen before
meeting Reiko.  Immediately realizing that we'd been fighting her
voice took on a boorish tone as she asked, "So what did he do
THIS time?"

    I left her there, somehow managing to get Mother's tea set
onto the kitchen counter without throwing it, before I screamed,
"MORE THEN YOU EVER WILL!"


    * * * * * * * * * *               * * * * * * * * * *


    I tucked a light blanket around him to hold off the Fall
chill as he snored, another one of a thousand sounds that brought
back a lifetime of memories.  The back pains were worse now, but
he refused to take the implants, or even pills, that would help
it.  Brushing his now white hair away from his face I gently
kissed his forehead before returning to the house, where I knew
they were waiting.

    Reiko started it by flatly stating, "We're putting him into
a retirement home."

    Not in the least surprised I immediately replied, "Never."

    "He tried to attack a sumo wrestler this morning!"

    "He thought the man was assaulting a woman and tried to
help."

    "It was the man's wife!"

    "He didn't know that.  Everyone makes mistakes."

    "Face it Mika, your father is starting to go senile.  Just
last week he-"

    "Reiko, stop."  It wasn't often anymore that my son spoke up
to his wife, and the look on her face clearly expressed the fact
that she didn't like it.  Taking a deep breath he then faced me
and said, "Mother, I really do think you should consider this.  
His health is deteriorating and he's too stubborn to do anything
about it.  He's starting to forget things now, and it's only
going to get worse.  The children are old enough now that they
don't need constant supervision, and-"

    "And now that you've gotten everything you can out of him,
you're just going to toss him away.  Tell me, how long before I'm
next?"

    Rubbing his head in frustration he replied, "I don't mean it
like that, Mother.  I just think it would be better if he were
someplace where he could be around people his own age, and who
have excellent medical facilities should it be necessary.  I can
easily afford-"

    "Where did I go wrong with you?"  Not even wishing to give
him a chance to speak I persisted.  "How did I teach you that
every problem could be solved by simply tossing money at it?  
We're talking about a man who has spent almost 60 years of his
life raising me, you, and your children, and this is how you plan
on paying him back?  By tossing him out of the only home he's
ever known?  How dare you.  How dare you to even suggest it, of
him, one of the world's greatest living monuments of what can be
accomplished with nothing but impossible dedication.  This is his
home, the place that he fought time and again to preserve, and he
will ALWAYS be welcome here."

    The silence stretched for quite some time before he replied.  
"Mother, I know you love him, more then anything else in the
world, but this needs to happen."

    Suddenly leery I asked, "Needs?  Why?"

    He paused, clearing his throat nervously, and it was Reiko
finally answered.  "My sister and her husband need a place to
stay, and I offered them the dojo until they get their feet under
them again."

    Under the table I felt my fingers curl themselves into
talons as I struggled to keep my temper.

    "And when were you planning on consulting me in this?"

    Clearly annoyed now the womans voice dropped into a sneer as
she said, "Who cares.  It's going to happen, so just get used to
it."

    I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or my son, but as
those words rolled around in my mind I felt something snap, and
closing my eyes I made a decision.

    "Get out of my house."

    "Reiko, apologize!  Mother, we don't mean it like this-"

    "Son, get that woman out of my house, before I physically
throw her out myself."

    "You can't do that!  Ken, tell her-"

    "THIS IS MY HOUSE!"  Climbing to my feet I glared down at
the woman who had stepped on, twisted, and ridiculed everything I
believed in and stated, "You have till morning to pack your things,
after that I'm throwing everything else to the garbage."

    "Mother-" He stopped as I snapped my head in his direction.  
"You as well.  Marrying her was your decision, so live with it!  
The children can stay or visit as much as they wish, but you two
are no longer welcome in this home."

    The next morning I threw them out.


    * * * * * * * * * *               * * * * * * * * * *


    Summer break, and with it the boys had come to stay to escape
the wrath of their mother and enjoy what freedoms I could give
them.  Watching them at war over crumbs and bits of sugared dough
as I baked cookies made me smile, and also helped take my mind
off other worries.

    Father was not doing well, though he took great pains to
hide it.  Now arthritic it was hard for him to be active for any
length of time, and he had a tendency to hurt himself while
trying to help around the house.  He tended to forget things now,
and every time it happened he would grow angry about it.  But
mostly he was just heedless, always looking for something to do,
for a purpose, a challenge, a goal.  I watched as the months went
by and he sank lower and lower into himself, and it physically
pained me to see him like that.

    I wished so hard to find him something to do, something big,
something that would give him just one more taste of the glory he
knew when he was younger.  I thought I owed it to him... I
thought the world owed it.  It was just wrong to let someone so
important just waste away.

    Pushing the thoughts away I peeked out of the kitchen to
find him sitting on the back patio, staring out across the pond.  
He was wearing his favorite black Chinese pants, along with a red
shirt, and looked deep in thought, though for all I knew he was
napping.  Ducking back into the kitchen I then stopped a major
raid on the already cooling cookies and started another batch.  I
think it was the tone in Cho's voice more then anything that
jerked me from my task.

    "Grandma, who is the girl?"

    Seeing both boys standing in the kitchen doorway, facing the
back, I walked over and peered out, and gasped aloud as
recognition finally hit me.

    She was absolutely gorgeous now having bloomed into full
womanhood, sleek and muscular with long flowing hair... and large
spectacles on her face.  She stood posed in front of Father,
waiting, and as I took a couple steps towards them he turned to
me.

    He held in his hands an old earthen jar, a look of anguish
and indecision clearly written on his face, and as we looked at
each other I suddenly knew that this was it.  This was his last
chance, but to take it he would have to leave me behind.

    A final chance to DO something with his life, and he'd throw
it away to be with me.  I basked in that love, something that
could never be taken away, and then said the only thing that I
could.

    "Be safe."

    He smiled, that beaming smile of his that said everything in
the world, no matter how crazy it got, would be okay, even as
tears fell from his eyes in thanks.  Looking down at the earthen
jug he then took a deep breath before up-ending it over him,
drenching him in what looked like water.

    And magic happened.

    Just as the first drops were hitting the deck the change,
something I had only ever heard about, or seen pictures
accompanied by epic tales, was completed, and where Father had
stood there was now a young girl.

    She was shorter then me, sporting a healthy solid build and
long flaming red hair.  Cinching tight her pants that were
threatening to fall off she glanced at me and grinned, and I
noticed that she had Father's eyes.  Then turning towards the
Chinese girl, the Chinese Amazon, she nodded and the two took off
running.

    With a single leap they cleared the garden walls and were
gone.

    Finding my face wet I wiped my eyes before facing two young
boys, looks of astonishment plastered across their faces, and I
burst into laughter.

    Some legends were just never meant to die.

    Saotome Ranma's certainly wouldn't.