Ranma 1/2-Ranko 1/2: Marital Arts
Lemon Series by J.K. Hayashi
*****************************
Standard copyright disclaimer regarding Takahashi, etc., etc., etc.
Standard lemon warning for those who don't like those stories or are
too young. Standard alternate universe warning for those who don't
like the genre. Standard Hayashi warning for those who don't like
reading my stories.
What has gone before:
Nothing. This is the recounting of the three visits between the
Saotomes and Tendos before they learn about the engagements.
*****************************
Episode 0: First Visit
Nodoka: "You're planning to what?"
Genma: "Dearest, now that Soun and I have finally gotten rid of
Happosai, I have to train our children to become martial artists. It
has to be done on the road, away from the softening influence of a
mother. I promise that I will raise them to be the best of people.
After all, Ranma will hardly be able to take over Soun's dojo after he
marries Akane if he wasn't, would he?"
Nodoka pushed Genma onto the chair. Genma had hoped that if he
could talk fast enough he would be able to stun Nodoka into giving
him an opportunity to go. It wasn't working.
Nodoka: "Now, you're going to tell me everything. Especially about
Ranma and Akane."
Ranma and Ranko continued to play outside. Every so often they
could be seen jumping onto the bamboo fence or the neighborhood
trees, already displaying the promise of ability that Genma and
Nodoka could sense in them.
**************
Genma watched as Nodoka finished her phone call to the Tendo
home. He could tell Nodoka hadn't been pleased at either
announcement he had made. Every time he had made a move to get
out of his seat Nodoka had been prepared with her katana.
Nodoka hung up the phone and walked to him, opening her kimono
and letting it drop to the floor. She sat on his lap and put her arms
around his neck. Genma breathed a sigh of relief because he wasn't
going to be killed. Nodoka ran her hands through his hair as she
brought his head to hers; his hands traveled down her back to rest on
her ass. They had been married seven years and still hadn't reached
the point of being even remotely tired of each other. Of course, the
last couple of years had been spent away from each other because of
Happosai. Nodoka's hands moved down to release the drawstring on
his pants.
Ranma and Ranko entered the kitchen for lunch. Used to the goings-
on between their parents, they opened the refrigerator, got lunch, and
went back to playing outside.
**************
By the next morning, Genma and Nodoka had worked out a
compromise. Genma would be allowed to take training trips with
their children as long as Nodoka would be given the same
opportunity. In between those times they would live like a normal
martial arts family. Genma found that he couldn't live the celibate
life (and he knew that Nodoka would somehow know if he ever
strayed). He also knew that breaking his promise to return would not
be forgiven.
Nodoka led her family to the Tendo Dojo. Ranko carried some
flowers. Ranma carried a sake bottle and some fish wrapped in pink
paper. He felt a little sorry for himself as carrying the gifts didn't
allow him to jump around the streets like his sister.
Nodoka knocked on the front door.
Nodoka: "Hello? We're here."
Kimiko: "Hold on! We'll be right there."
Kimiko Tendo opened the door and when she saw Nodoka, hugged
her. They held the hug a little too long, but not perceptible to the
others, in remembrance of their shared past. Behind Kimiko, her
children stood watching the exchange as Soun came forward to greet
Genma.
Kimiko: "Are these your twins?"
Nodoka: "Yes. This is Ranma, and this is Ranko."
Kimiko: "Let me introduce my children. This is Kasumi,"
[indicating the tallest one] "Nabiki, and Akane. Akane is five years
old, just like Ranma and Ranko. Children, these are the Saotomes,
old friends of your father and I. Where are your manners, children?
Kasumi, you help Uncle Genma with his packages. Nabiki, take the
flowers from Ranko, and Akane, help Ranma. Please enter."
**************
Ranko and Ranma were given a tour of the dojo by the three girls.
They decided to play "follow the leader".
Ranko: "Come on, its easy."
Nabiki: "Hey! I can't jump that high!"
Ranma: "Sure you can. We'll show you."
Ranma and Ranko jumped down from the tree next to the three girls,
then showed them how to jump.
**************
Nodoka and Kimiko glared across their cups of tea at their husbands.
They gulped.
Nodoka: "We're not saying that your idea to marry our children is a
particularly bad one. But we don't believe you should force them into
marriage if they don't want it. So, Kimiko and I have agreed to let
the engagement stand. For now. When Ranma and Akane are
sixteen, we'll let them decide for themselves whether or not to
continue with the engagement."
Kimiko: "And Soun... don't do this with Nabiki or Kasumi."
Nodoka: "Or Ranko."
The four parents watched their children walk along the top of the
dojo wall.
Nodoka: "Be careful, dears."
Ranma and Ranko: "Yes, mom..."
***************
Nodoka and Kimiko went to talk in the kitchen as Soun and Genma
started to play a game of shogi and celebrate how well Ranma and
Akane seemed to be getting along. Kimiko poured more tea for
Nodoka.
Kimiko: "How are Ranma and Ranko doing?"
Nodoka: "They're coming along fine. Everything seems to be one
big game for them. They both show a lot of promise."
Kimiko: "For Genma's school, or yours?"
Nodoka: "Both."
Kimiko: "Yes, well, all three of my girls show promise as well,
though I think only Akane shows any real interest in martial arts.
Soun doesn't really want to start training her. He thinks he'll
accidentally hurt his 'little baby'."
Nodoka: "Kimiko, are you... ready to start?"
Kimiko: [nodding] "A little scared that I might miss something.
Nodoka, do you ever regret not revealing our secret to our husbands?"
Nodoka placed her hand on Kimiko's. Both remembered a time when
their hands would be joined in lovemaking, before they chose to
separate and love only their husbands.
Nodoka: "Sometimes. I think that the four of us would have
survived the shock. I think it was the right choice; we couldn't have
hid our relationship from the neighbors for very long. Maybe
someday, when the children are grown up..."
Kimiko: "Yes, maybe someday..."
**************
The children slept in the dojo that night, since Soun hadn't yet
advertised that the dojo would be taking students. Ranma and Ranko
were particularly excited; Genma was taking them on their first
training trip the next day. In the guest room and the master
bedroom, their parents made love after checking on them. For
Nodoka and Genma it was almost frenzied as neither knew how long
it would be until they were together again.
*****************************
Episode 0: Second Visit
Nodoka watched from the picnic area as Nabiki ran with the string.
The kite leaped high into the air as Ranma gave Akane a lizard he
caught while playing tag in the bushes. The children had been happy
to see each other again, even after three years. Nodoka thought to
herself that part of it was that her children never did get to form any
true friendships on the road; they were always leaving after a month
or two. And the one that they did form, two years ago... she had been
very firm with Genma not to do that again.
Kimiko placed the containers of food on the mat and called everyone
to eat. The children all rushed in to quickly eat their food so that
they could go back to playing their games. Nodoka and Kimiko
smiled at them as they ran off into the park. They rose and started to
follow their children, leaving Soun and Genma to play shogi again.
**************
The five children ran to the arch bridge to look down at the fish in
the pond. Kasumi, the eldest at 11, took out some old bread from a
package that she carried and handed it out to everyone. Ranma and
Ranko looked at it and started to put it in their mouths, but stopped
when the others broke the bread into small pieces to throw into the
water.
As each piece hit the water the fish in the pond fought for it; soon
Ranma and Ranko were also throwing the bread into the water while
their mothers caught up to them.
Nodoka: "How has your training been going?"
Kimiko: "It's hard, sometimes, with Soun around. It's almost done.
I wish it didn't have to be a secret from our children, as well."
Nodoka: "You know that it would affect the way they interact with
other children."
Kimiko: "I know... that doesn't make it any better, though."
Nodoka and Kimiko smiled as their children waved at them from the
bridge.
Kimiko: "How about you?"
Nodoka: "Genma and I take turns with training trips. So he's never
had a chance to find out."
Kimiko: "What about making love?"
Nodoka: "There are times when he's gone that I really wish he was
there. I wish he wouldn't leave, but I can't stop him. He wants to
train Ranma and Ranko in martial arts. Its his dream."
Kimiko: "I know... Soun has started to train Akane. Kasumi and
Nabiki don't really show any inclination towards martial arts. I think
Kasumi is interested in science and Nabiki in math. Nabiki is very
good with numbers."
Nodoka and Kimiko started to walk up the bridge. Ahead of them,
their children had already run to a different section of the park.
Kimiko: "I think Akane really likes Ranma."
Nodoka: "I'm glad. I hope that they do fall in love. It would be nice
if it worked out."
Kimiko: [after some silence] "What happened to Genma's hair?"
Nodoka: "When did Soun decide to grow a mustache?"
**************
Kasumi watched as Kimiko chopped up vegetables for dinner.
Kasumi: "Mother, let me try."
Nodoka: "Not quite yet, Kasumi. You're still too young to use the
knives. Why don't you see if Auntie needs help with the miso soup."
Kasumi: "Do you need help, Auntie?"
Nodoka: "Of course you can help, Kasumi. Why don't you stir the
miso into the water while I get the other ingredients ready."
Kasumi stepped on a small stool to give her the height needed to
safely stir the miso, taking the small sieve and spoon from Nodoka.
Nodoka showed Kasumi how to stir the miso paste that was in the
sieve into the water slowly, by spooning the hot water into the sieve
and stirring, and every so often dipping the sieve into the water.
Kasumi smiled to herself as she performed her task. Nodoka turned
to the cutting board and sliced the tofu, the chinese cabbage, and the
green onions. She reflected that Kasumi would grow to be quite
beautiful, as would Nabiki and Akane.
Kasumi: "Auntie, I'm done."
Nodoka: "OK, Kasumi. Help me put these in."
Nodoka brought the cutting board to the pot. Kasumi started to push
the cubes of tofu, and the chinese cabbage strips into the broth.
**************
Ranma started snoring. Akane, Ranko, and Nabiki, who were
playing cards, looked sourly at him. That is, until they took out some
of Akane's felt pens from school.
***************
Ranma and Ranko started fighting each other after jumping out of
Akane's bedroom window. Nodoka immediately heard the
commotion and guessed what was going on, calling her children to
her. Inside the dojo, Soun went on with teaching his beginner's class.
When Nodoka first saw what had happened to Ranma she started to
laugh. Ranma started to pout. Kimiko and Kasumi also came out of
the kitchen and started to giggle. Nodoka took her two children to
the bathroom and undressed; Ranma definitely needed to be cleaned
and it seemed a good a time as any to take a bath.
Nodoka scrubbed Ranma's face and arms clean of ink; luckily, it all
washed off easily. A few minutes later Akane and Nabiki joined
them. Nodoka poured water on Ranma to wash away the soap.
Akane hugged Ranma.
Akane: "I'm sorry, Ranma. OK?"
Ranma: "OK."
Nabiki: [also hugging Ranma] "Me too."
Ranma: "OK."
Ranko: "Me too."
Ranma: "No."
Nodoka: "Ranma!"
Ranma: "She's not sorry."
Ranko: "Ranma's just mad he can't beat me."
The beginner's class was extremely surprised when two naked
children fought their way into the dojo. At least until the twins used
them as posts to bounce off of and knocked them unconcious.
Nodoka came running after her two children with a towel wrapped
around her mid-section, surprising Soun, then took her two children
by the ear back to the furo, where Akane and Nabiki were already
soaking in the hot water.
*****************************
Episode 0: Third Visit
Kasumi greeted the Saotomes at the front door. Soun ran around the
house crying.
Nodoka: "How is your mother, Kasumi?"
Kasumi: "Weak, but she wanted to talk with you right away."
Nodoka nodded and led her two children upstairs. She sent them to
check on Akane and Nabiki, then entered the room of her former
lover.
**************
The twins knocked meekly on the bedroom doors of their friends.
Nabiki was in Akane's room, and when the twins entered they were
almost knocked to the ground by the sisters, who started to cry in
their arms.
**************