Glad to see we're all back!!!

All right.  I tried sending it in all at once.  Not smart I guess.  So
here it comes again in two parts.

****************************
Sins of the Father
Chapter Six
Back in Nerima
or
Time for Dinner


The three teenagers sat lost in their thoughts for the last part of the
ride back to Nerima.  Suteko’s revelations about her mother had touched
a cord with her two companions.  Each now thought back on the times
spent with their own mothers.  Akane’s memories were a little fuzzy due
to the time since her mother had died.  She remembered many good things
and was secretly glad that she didn’t have to deal with the type of
personality change that Suteko was dealing with.  How a family could
treat a young girl the way they had was beyond her.  In her entire life,
she had always been a cherished child.  She may have been misunderstood
because of her focus on the martial arts, but she was always loved.  To
be ignored at a family gathering must have been very painful.  She could
now understand some of the pain she had seen in Suteko’s eyes when she
had asked about their families.  Akane looked at Ranma from under
lowered lashes.  She didn’t want him to catch her studying him.  He
always reacted badly.  Right now, his face looked thoughtful, something
Akane didn’t often see.  Hearing him reminisce about his mother showed
Akane a side of him she rarely saw.  She knew that he missed his mother
and she wondered just when was the last time he had seen her.

She understood that there was some reason that he and Mr. Saotome
couldn’t go back home, but she had yet to get that out of Ranma.  “Have
to work on that,” she thought.  Maybe having Suteko around would help.

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

Ranma sat and thought about his family.  Having a sister was just too
new a concept to truly seep into his thoughts.  After their talk about
her mother, Ranma’s thoughts turned to his own.  It had been too long
since he had even talked to his mom on the phone.  He hadn’t even
written her a letter.  It was one of the things that he held his father
responsible for.  “If Pop hadn’t made that oath to Mom about raising me
to be a Manly man, I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in.”  Ranma longed
to call her up and tell her about his curse, Akane, and his life in
general.  Surely his mother could help him resolve his feelings about
the girls surrounding his life.  He knew that he should make a choice
but he didn’t know who he wanted and he didn’t wish to hurt anyone.  But
thanks to Pop’s little training mission in China, and a slip, made it
impossible.  The more he thought about his mother, the more he hoped
that Suteko would knock sense into his father in the morning.

“Just how good is this girl?”  Ranma took a quick look at his sister. 
She didn’t notice, staring out the window at the rain.  She was
certainly quick.  He thought back to the morning and had to admit that
Genma was a bit slow.  But then he remembered her reaction at the
airport when he had come up on her unnoticed.  His reflexes were fast
enough to dodge the staff but also she had seemed to control the strike
at the last moment.  It would be interesting to spar with her.  Maybe.

He sat in thought, debating internally until they were almost to their
destination.  “Well, why not?  The worst she can do is turn me down.” 
He turned to Suteko and opened his mouth to speak.  “Suteko?”

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

Deep in thoughts of the past, Suteko at first didn’t hear her name.  She
pulled herself back to the present.  With a weak smile she turned to
face Ranma.  “Hmm, what?”

“Suteko, I was thinking.  Have you had time to practice, yet?”

For a few minutes Suteko was confused.  Practice what?  Then she shook
her head.  Ranma must mean the art.  That was his focus in life, if what
she had learned today was true.  “Been traveling all afternoon,
remember?”

Ranma just smiled.  “Yep, I just thought that you might like to have
someone to spar with.  You know --practice.”

Suteko was confused.  Practice?  “Ranma, I don’t think we should.  At
least not until after tomorrow.”

Akane joined the conversation.  “I agree with you, Suteko.”  Ranma
looked quickly from his sister to his fiancée.  Akane continued.  “It
could be taken wrong.  If someone saw you two sparing they might think
you were giving her training in your father’s techniques.  In an honor
battle, that could cause problems.”

Ranma sighed.  “That’s true.”  He thought fiercely for a minute.   He
really wanted to see his sister in action.  “What if I didn’t spar with
you but just watched you workout?”

She thought about that.  Would there be a problem with that?  Other than
the fact that she didn’t have a place to workout.  “Ranma, I’m sure
there would be no problem but I’m not sure it will be possible.  I don’t
have a place to workout.  I doubt Ukyo would appreciate me using her
spare room to practice staff work in and I don’t know the area at all.”

Akane thought of suggesting she use the dojo but that wouldn’t be good
either.  Then she thought of the field that was halfway between the dojo
and Ukyo’s place.  It was close to where the bus would be dropping them
off.  She mentioned it and Ranma grabbed at the idea.  That was
perfect.  Suteko looked a little doubtful but she did need a workout. 
She was stiff from all the sitting and wanted to stretch out.  She made
sure to get directions from Akane before the bus reached it’s
destination.

As they got off the bus Suteko was glad to see that the rain had
stopped.  She didn’t need to get wet and deal with the transformation
being wet caused.  There were puddles of course but traffic seemed light
at the time so she turned to bid her brother and Akane good-bye.  As the
bus pulled away they said their good-byes and set up a time to meet
later.  As luck would have it a car sped by, hitting the puddle square
and sending a sheet of water arcing over the three teenagers.  As the
water settled on the ground, Akane laughed.  Suteko and Ranma had the
exact same expression on their now opposite faces.  Suteko was right,
she did look like Ranma.  Just like Ranma with yellow hair, like an
American version of her fiancé.

Ranma looked at his sister and she looked back at him.  The disgust that
he knew was on his face, was mirrored on hers.  “I hate this!”  They
mumbled in unison.  Akane smirked but she quickly went to a nearby tea
shop and returned with enough hot water to transform the siblings back
to their natural forms.

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

Suteko reached Ucchan’s without further mishap and went inside.  The
dinner rush was just starting, so Ukyo just gestured behind her and
Suteko eased behind the counter and up the stairs.  The rooms at the top
of the stairs were small but neatly furnished.  One of the rooms was
obviously Ukyo’s bedroom.  She could see a photo of Ranma on the bedside
table.  She shut the door and went on to the spare room.  It was
half-filled with boxes.  Stores for the restaurant below.  There was a
futon under the window with a small table next to it.  Suteko sat down
on the futon and went through her pack.  She pulled out her bath kit and
a clean set of jeans and a t-shirt.  She hoped Ukyo wouldn’t mind her
using the bath this early in the evening.  She really needed one.

She tried the door across from Ukyo’s bedroom and found a typical
Japanese bath.  Spending time in Asia had gotten her used to the
difference in the bathing customs.  In America, you usually just took a
hot shower and you were done.  Taking a cold shower was definitely not
her favorite change, but soaking in a large hot bath was one of her true
pleasures.  When she returned to America, she planned on taking some of
her inheritance from Uncle Tanto and putting in a large tub for soaking
in her private bathroom.  After  half an hour, she climbed back down the
stairs dressed and sat at the counter.  When Ukyo had a minute, she came
over to speak with Suteko.  “Got everything?”

“Yep.”

“You hungry?”

Suteko smiled.  “Another one of your specials would hit the spot.”  Ukyo
nodded and poured out the batter.  Suteko decided to tell Ukyo about her
afternoon.   “I ran into Ranma and Akane this afternoon.”

Ukyo stopped what she was doing for a moment.  “And...?”

“We had a good talk on the bus ride.  He seems to be a good kid.”

Ukyo let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.  That could
have been real awkward.  Ranma had been with his father a long time.  If
he had decided that Suteko was a threat, he could have caused problems. 
No matter how good this girl was, Ukyo doubted that she was as good as
Ran-chan.  Though, she was an unknown.  No one truly knew her fighting
style.  Ukyo liked her but, in a fight she, would still root for Ranma. 
“So, whatch’a talk about?”  Ukyo asked as she turned back to the cooking
batter in front of her.  She quickly flipped in pancake over and waited
a amount before sliding it onto a plate and placing it in front of
Suteko.

“Mostly about family.  Learning a little about each other.”  She took a
large bite and held up a thumb in the universal sign for approval. 
After she swallowed she added, “Plus, I got his side on the fiancée
thing.”  She looked at Ukyo with a sly smile.

“Oh, really?”  Ukyo was curious.  Ukyo, like the other girls, never
really stopped to ask  Ranma what he thought of the whole situation. 
They each knew instinctively that they had the story right, even when
they didn’t.  Out of curiosity, Ukyo asked Suteko to tell her what she
learned.

“Much of what you told me with extra information thrown in by Akane.  A
very interesting story it was.”  Ukyo thought of asking more but could
tell by Suteko’s face that she wasn’t going to say anymore.

Ukyo decided to give up and asked something else.  “What’s your plan for
tonight?”  

“Ranma told me of a place nearby where I could practice.  Been too busy
lately and I could really use the workout.”

“When you going?”

“Thought I’d clean some of your dishes and then go out around eight. 
Should still have about an hour of light.”

“You don’t have to...”

“That’s okay, Ukyo.  I always pay my way and you look like you could use
some help here.”  As she said that, the rush started again.  Ukyo turned
away to deal with the customers.  Suteko picked up her plate and went
behind the counter and entered the kitchen.  She grabbed up an apron and
started in on the dishes.


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

An hour and a half later she put the final dish she had washed on the
shelf and took off the apron.  She walked out of the kitchen and saw
that Ukyo was cleaning off the grill.  She noticed that the place was
empty and the sign had been changed to closed on the door.  “Closing for
the evening?” she asked, a little surprised.

Ukyo nodded.  “I thought I’d join you.  I haven’t had a chance to
practice in a while, either.  Thought you might like some company.”

Suteko smiled.  “Sure, the more the merrier.”

“What?”

“Ranma and Akane are supposed to meet me at this open field by the bus
stop.”

“I know the place.”

“Good.”  Suteko eased around the counter.  “Why don’t you finish up here
and meet me later?”  Ukyo nodded and kept up her work.

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

Suteko walked briskly, glad to be moving and a little glad to be alone. 
It was nice to have company, but she was used to being alone.  When Ukyo
volunteered to come along Suteko wasn’t sure how to respond.  First
Ranma and Akane and then Ukyo.  In one day, she went from being totally
alone to an abundance of attention.  It wouldn’t do in her warm up.  She
always spent a few minutes mediating before beginning her exercises and
new people would just throw off her attention.

She quickly reached the field and was pleased to see it was empty.  At
home, a field this size would have had a ton of kids with bats and balls
out playing a pick up game.  She walked across to a lone tree near the
back fence and sat down in a lotus.  Easing into a light trance, she let
the images of the day slide across her mind and out.  Within moments,
she was grounded and centered.  She stood up slowly and flowed into the
first kata of her warm up.  Though not traditionally taught at her home
dojo, her Uncle Tanto had decided that Suteko should learn Tai Chi
Chuang from an old friend of his, Master Wing.  The gentle flowing
motions of the art had at first seemed strange to her, but after years
of study, she found that they were the best warm up she could have.  The
art was a defensive one, different from the attack staff work she had
trained in.  Uncle Tanto had realized that she had been training
exclusively in a weapon system and had no skills for unarmed combat. 
Now, she could defend herself but she was a far cry from being able to
master unarmed combat.  If he had lived, this past year would have been
used to train her in the unarmed style he had developed.  She was lucky
that she had learned the defensive work she had.  Mother had been
furious when she learned that Suteko was splitting her attention between
the family’s art and that of a man from China.  Her mother had become
very predijuced after her father had died.  That meeting Suteko told
Ranma of had changed her mother in many ways.  All bad.  The thoughts of
her mother was pulling her out of her focus, so she forced herself to
let them drop.

With a clear mind, she finished her warm up and then started over again,
this time bringing the speed up a notch.  Her speed was a bit slow, in
her way of thinking.  She should have reacted faster when Ranma had
walked up at the airport.  She didn’t realize that her speed was the
same as she had always had.  Her brother was just that much faster than
she was.

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

Ranma and Akane reached home just as Kasumi was laying the food on the
table.  They moved quickly to their places, making sure to get some food
before Genma ate it all.  There was just the sound of voracious eating
for a few minutes as the family devoured the delicious food.  Nabiki was
the first to speak up and ask Ranma about their afternoon.

“So Ranma, what’s this about you spending the afternoon with that girl?”

Ranma swallowed quickly and responded.  “She found us and wanted to
talk.”  He wasn’t sure what Nabiki was up to but he didn’t think there
was any way she could make money off this.

“Well boy, what you learn?  What are her plans?”

Ranma reached over and bopped his father on the head.  “I ain’t going to
tell you that, old man.  Wouldn’t be fair!”

“He’s right there, Tendo.  The girl challenged you.”  Akane’s father
started to pontificate.  The others just ignored him.

“But Ranma, my boy.  The most important concept a martial artist should
learn is to be prepared.  How can I be prepared if I don’t know anything
about my opponent.”

Ranma ignored him to steal the last pickle off his plate.  Genma didn’t
notice at first but when he did he roared and leapt up to attack Ranma. 
Ranma bounced back and they were off.  Genma chased him around the back
yard until one of them ended up in the pond.  It was Genma, this time. 
Ranma laughed and bounced up to the wall.  “Well, good-bye, old man.  I
got to meet Suteko now!”

Genma held up a sign that said, “Come back here, Ranma!”

Ranma just bounced off.  Akane jumped up to follow but she felt Nabiki’s
hand on her arm.  “Time to spill, little sister.”

Akane looked at her older sister.  “What do you mean, Nabiki?”

Nabiki pulled Akane away from the table and into the livingroom. 
“What’d you and Ranma learn about this sister of his?  Is she going to
be a problem?  We don’t need another character coming in here at all
hours, tearing down our walls.”

Akane sighed.  She had planned on following Ranma but it looked like she
wouldn’t get to.  “We mostly talked about family, Nabiki.  She wanted to
know about our mothers and stuff like that.  I don’t think she’ll be
much of a problem.  She really just wants to finish up her business with
Genma and go home.”

Nabiki lifted a brow, “Really, little sister.  Do you believe that?”

“She seemed to be very nice.  Just tired of traveling.”

Nabiki looked thoughtful for a moment.  It seemed strange to have
someone come here who wasn’t after Ranma or Akane.  “Well,....” she
continue to ponder and talk to Akane for the rest of the evening.  There
had to be some way of making a little money out of the situation.

		****************************
Well, there's the first part.  Be back with part two.
-- 

Lisa
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check out my web page at www.geocities.com/athens/2968
writer of fanfiction, fantasy, science fiction and other wierdness