Epiphany Chapter 2

By Tripolar Disorder

Revision 2.23


Nodoka was crying. Crying because she was holding her son. Her
little boy had finally returned to her. She was crying because
she was happy.

Ranma-chan was also crying. Her mother didn't care about her
curse, her mother wanted her.

Ranma kept thinking over what Nodoka said. She wished he had
never left. Everything that Genma had put him through might not
have happened. It made Ranma-chan only cry even harder into
Nodoka's arms.

Nodoka kept holding Ranma-chan until she calmed down. then she
held the redhead out at arms length so she could give her a good
look over.

"My Son.. er, daughter. I'm so happy to have you back. I'm
sorry your father scared you so much that you couldn't face me."

Ranma-chan couldn't say a word, only reached out and pulled
herself back into her mother's embrace, clutching tighter. She
wasn't audibly crying anymore, but tears still came down her
cheeks.

Kasumi continued to sit in front of the pair. "I assume you'd
like to know why your son is a girl."

Nodoka looked down, and Ranma-chan looked back up at her. She
stared into those deep pools of blue and could see the emotions
within her eyes. She saw the pain and suffering, and she knew
that Ranma-chan was begging to be accepted.

"It can wait. I'm just happy to have you back. Whatever my
bastard husband did, I can't imagine what caused this. It's
obvious that we need each other. I can listen to the details
another day."

Ranma-chan looked up and managed a smile. "Actually, it's not
as bad as it looks, I'm not a girl completely."

Nodoka looked back down at her sniffling bundle. "I'm not sure
I understand."

Kasumi decided to tell the story. "Ranma changes into a girl
when splashed with cold water, and changes back when splashed
with hot water. It's a magical curse that he got while training
in china."

Ranma-chan wiped her eyes. "It doesn't hurt or nuthin' Mom. It
happens so often, I almost don't notice it."


Sitting outside the house on one of the rocks circling the Koi
pond, and within hearing range, but seemly hidden from view from
everyone inside, a single person watched the events intently.

Thinking to them self, (finally, after all this time. She's got
her mother, and she's finally loved. Dammit, if I had known
that killing Genma would have done it, I would've done it myself
long ago.)

The invisible person continued to look on.


Nabiki came out of the kitchen with the kettle. "This time
Saotome, it's on me."

Nodoka noted that Ranma was mentally changing, like she was
putting on a mask. Her slight smile disappeared, and her eyes
seemed to lose their glow.

Nabiki held out the kettle and poured hot water over Ranma-chan.

Nodoka was stunned at the speed of the transformation. Ranma's
hair darkened till it was a deep black. Ranma's breasts shrunk
into well developed pectoral muscles. A few inches in height
completed the transformation. His face was solem and
expressionless.

Ranma stood up and turned to give his mother a better view.
Nodoka smiled. "You grew up just like I had imagined." She put
her hand on his shoulder.

She was about to suggest that They all sit down and Ranma tell
her about his training trip, when she was interrupted as Shampoo
stepped in through the open shoji doors. She didn't destroy any
walls as she came in, and she was acting cautious.

Shampoo looked over the scene, noting the bloodshot eyes from
both Nodoka and Ranma. She turned to Nodoka. "Nihao
Saotome-san. Is pleasure to meet you."

Shampoo knelt down in front of Ranma. "Am sorry hear Panda-man
dead, but am happy you find mother. Will leave alone for while.
Need time to mourn and have bond time with mother. Arien is
lucky to have mother."

With that, Shampoo bowed and took off.

Nabiki looked at Ranma. "That was different."

Kasumi quickly hid a small smile.

Nodoka turned toward him. "Ranma, is there anything else that
you should be telling me about?"

Kasumi saw this a cue to brew some tea, so she went into the
kitchen.

Ranma sighed. He figured he'd better start explaining the kind
of routine that occurs in Nerima. It was going to be a long
day.


Later that evening, after hearing all about Ranma's life on the
road, Nodoka was in the kitchen. Kasumi was off at Doctor
Tofu's clinic. She had said it was to return a book, but her
eyes had told a different story. 

So she was getting started on dinner when her thoughts drifted
to the last visit at the Tendo's. She had watched with 
fascination as Ranko had turned the making of a salad into
a martial arts demonstration. 

She now knew the truth and it made her both happy and sad.

Nodoka had grown quite fond of the strange girl. She was always
happy to see her, and always ready to help out. She had forced
Ranma into wearing a dress and act more "Feminine". Then
giggled, remembering how she had made the panda eat Akane's
cooking. 

(Ranma just wanted to see me. And risked exposing his secret.)
She remembered when the hot water pipe burst in the kitchen. It
made her smile to think how creative he son had to be.

As she was getting out the ingredients she was still thinking
how helpful Ranko had been in the kitchen.

"I almost wish Ranko was here. She was always so helpful." She
said out loud, not talking to anyone. She just didn't realize
that someone heard her.

Ranma was about to walk into the kitchen when he stopped at
hearing what Nodoka said. He silently turned around and dashed
up to his room.

Nodoka was getting started on the stove when she noticed
movement out of the corner of her eye.

Standing in the doorway was Ranma-chan. She was in the same
house dress and apron that she had been wearing the last time.
Her hands were clasped together in front of her.

"Can I help you make dinner Auntie?" Came a slightly trembling
voice."

"Of course dear, why don't you ..... Oh Kami!!" 

Nodoka dropped the wooden spoon she was holding, ran over and
wrapped her arms around Ranma-chan. Tears forming and
streaking down her cheeks.

Ranma-chan was shaking and Nodoka felt it, she swept the girl up
off the floor and had her sitting sideways on her knees. Arms
were now exchanged and Nodoka winced at the strength of the
tight embrace her female son had around her chest.

After several minutes, she could feel Ranma calm down, so she
decided to speak. "You don't need to pretend anymore. You are
my little prince..... princess too, and nothing will make me
change my mind."

Ranma-chan bit her lip. "Do you mind if I be your princess
tonight? I wanna help with supper an' I promise to watch any
veggies first."

Nodoka wiped her eyes, and chuckled a little. She let go of
Ranma-chan. They looked into each other's eyes. Nodoka saw
nothing but unconditional love staring back at her in her
child's eyes.

Ranma-chan picked up the spoon off the floor, and held it out 
toward Nodoka. "You dropped this...Mom."

She looked toward Ranma. "You don't have to remain a girl if
you want to help me. You can upstairs and change quickly."

Ranma seemed to ponder this a moment, before smiling and shaking
her head. "Nah, I'm already dressed to help. And your pot is
boilin' over." 

"EEP!" Was all Nodoka could say as she grabbed the spoon and
dropped it in the sink. She took down another from it's wall
hook and tended to the stove.

Soon Nodoka and Ranma were busy making the meal. Instructing
her charge on the proper way to make a salad, and what needed
to be added to the soup. She noted that Ranma-chan was smiling,
a genuine natural smile. Nodoka made sure to address her child
correctly and the rest of the meal prep went without any other
incident.


That night Nodoka was trying to get some sleep on the Sofa
downstairs, but she just couldn't get to sleep. Her instincts
were telling her something was wrong. Very wrong.

She crept upstairs silently. She stopped at the door to Ranma's
room. She thought she heard a weak voice on the other side. It
sounded like a small child crying.

Nodoka slid open the door a crack to see inside. Her eyes
strained to see the contents.

Ranma-chan was on the floor curled into the tightest of fetal
balls. Her arms were protecting her neck and her face, and she
was shaking from head to toe. It was obvious that she was
crying and at one point she heard the girl weakly scream out,
"Momma, help me!!"

Nodoka stood there shocked at what she saw. Her heart tried to
tear itself from her chest. 

It took more time for am eyelash to flutter, then for the door
to be thrown open with enough force to knock it off it's tracks,
and for Nodoka to rush to Ranma's side.

As she entered the room her eyes scanned every inch, there was no
one else there, nor signs of entry. Ranma was obviously trying
to protect herself from multiple blows. Nodoka realized that
Ranma-chan was having a nightmare. She tried to wake the girl,
but it only served to make Ranma cry out again. 

She lifted the girl into her arms and set her in her lap. She
snaked her arms in around Ranma-chan's waist, and began rocking
her crying bundle, repeating over and over that she was there
and that Ranma was safe. 

Ranma-chan stayed curled up for almost an hour, crying for most
of that time. As she started to relax and calm down, she
stopped shielding her body and instead put her arms around her
mother.

At no time did she seem to wake up, and instead continued to 
sleep in Nodoka's arms. She continued to hold on wondering what
was happening to her child.

Her question was answered when Kasumi appeared in the hallway.
She had moved past the broken remains of the door and looked in
upon the scene and deduced what had transpired.

"She was having the nightmare again wasn't she? She was
shielding herself and calling out for you."

The last statement came out like a question, as if another
response was suggested. Nodoka also picked this up, but didn't
give it away. "How did you know dear?"

Kasumi sighed then walked into the room. She sat down before
the Saotome matriarch.

"When Ranma was six years old, Genma dug a pit in the ground
near where they were camping which he filled with house cats
that he had stolen from that area. He then wrapped Ranma in
fish sausages and fish paste and tossed him into the pit."

"It was supposed to be technique for an unbeatable art called
the Neko-Ken. All it did was scar Ranma, both emotionally and
physically. He is now so afraid of cats, that even the mere
sight of one causes him to become hysterical and run away
screaming."

"Genma tried to get Ranma over the fear of cats by throwing him
back into the pit, day after day. Ranma couldn't remember
exactly how many times he was thrown into the pit, but we think
it was every day for about a month."

"I have seen Ranma relive that experience in his nightmares too
many times to count. He cries out as the cats bite and claw
him. He calls first for his father, then to you, to save him
from the pain."

"I wonder what Genma was actually thinking as he heard his son
crying out for his help, even though Genma threw him in there."

Kasumi had lowered her head while talking and when she brought
it up she noticed that Nodoka's face had gotten quite pale.

"Whenever I held her, to tried and comfort her, she continued
to call for you. I always ended up waking her up to get over
it. But tonight it seems Ranma finally got her wish."

Nodoka lowered her head. "I never should have let them go.
What other barbaric things did Genma do? I'm still surprised
that he, er she isn't completely insane. Hearing this I can't
fathom what you four aren't telling me."

At this Kasumi winced. Nodoka nodded. "I had a feeling that
Ranma's curse wasn't the only thing that he has been through.
I want you to tell me.." She looked down at her sleeping
bundle, now quiet and relaxed. "...Tomorrow. You can tell me
tomorrow."

"I promise Auntie, but I will leave you alone now."

With that Nodoka was left to comfort Ranma-chan again. She
continued to hold her the rest of the night.


From across the street, the invisible figure looked toward the
house and the closed window. Satisfied that intervention would
not be needed tonight, the figure took off.