First fic alert. This isn't the first thing I have written. But it is the first on I have even considered posting to the FFML. If you have read any kind of fan fiction before then you have seen the disclaimers that all (well almost all) fics have. I was warned that my previous please don't sue me statement was almost an open invitation to sue. Well, please don't sue. I have no real money I am a poor college student. My estimated net worth could not even come to a thousand dollars. C&C is welcomed and encouraged. Flames aren't, really. As a final note I have had this idea for a little over a year. Apologies to Belphera who has posted on the FFML a story called Revival. This story is very similar to my idea. But I do not plan to involve any crossovers. If it seems that I have created a crossover I am sorry. I need some help on the names I have created. Are they close enough to Japanese to pass? Or do they need to change. As a final note Kasumi might be a little OOC, at least from the cannon. I prescribe (at least in this fic) to the idea that Kasumi isn't nearly as oblivious as she seems. Ditto Happosai, he has had a bad night, he will be back later. Here it is. -------------------- Thoughts <> Authors notes () Stressed words -- Sound FX ** -------------------- What has happened previously... Ranma has gotten a mysterious, unnamed guest. That guest came with a large brown envelope stuffed with information... And a five year old girl. As soon as Ranma's back was turned the guest vanishes leaving the girl behind. Ranma tells Kasumi that she is registered legally as his daughter, and he intends to take care of her. Kasumi is worried about Ranma and is suspicious about his easy acceptance of the child. As we left last Kasumi was asking the question... -------------------- Ranma 1/2: Childhood Mysteries Part 1 -------------------- "Ranma what are you going to do about everyone else?" Ranma silently thinks about this while watching Miko, his 'daughter' eat. Her feeding frenzy had calmed down to a quiet roar, right now she was only eating at Soun's speed. "I don't really know, I'm just glad I have the weekend without the others. It might give me time to figure out what I am going to do about all the fiancees and stuff." "Are you sure you want to do this Ranma?" Kasumi asks with worry obviously in her voice. "Yeah, I am sure." Ranma tells Kasumi, and then turns to Miko, "Do you want anything to drink?" Miko only shakes her head as a reply. "Anyway the only person we have to worry about is Ha...ppo...sai..." Of course this is when Happosai entered the main room, or more like dragged, his way in. "What happened to you, you old pervert?" was Ranma's typical reply. "There isn't anything to do, no panties, no bras, no women, no nothing," Happosai laments. "Even I could have told you that," Ranma returns, with a smile in his voice, "No one hangs up things to dry in the pouring rain." "Oh well there was hope," Happosai finally notices Miko. He is slightly startled to see such a young child in the Dojo. "Who is this, Ranma?" Ranma's voice losses the humor and heads rapidly to the dangerous stage, "You don't need to worry about her you old pervert." "I don't know Ranma, Soun might be interested in the fact that you have brought such a young child into the Dojo. And you seem to be feeding her everything in the house." Ranma's voice is approaching the freezing point of water, a fact Happosai overlooks, "I told you it was none of your business letch." Happosai leaps at Miko and tries to make off with some of the food, only to be stopped in mid-leap by a now angry Ranma. "I am only going to tell you once old man," The anger in Ranma's voice is so evident that not even the Kunos could miss it, and Happosai certainly can't, "-Leave- her --alone--!" Happosai is a very old man, no one really know just how old he is, but to have lasted as long as he has means that he has at least some intelligence. Happosai can't miss the threat in Ranma's voice, and decides that discretion is the better part of valor, "You know maybe I should go see if anyone has left their treasures out by accident..." "Do that." As Happosai bounds out into the rain Kasumi looks towards Ranma, "Was that really necessary Ranma?" "If got that letch out of my hair for a while, yes it was." Ranma looks to Kasumi then to Miko, "Kasumi, I am going to go give Miko a bath, could you find me some old clothes to put on her?" "Ok, Ranma. Some of Akane's old clothes might be around somewhere." ----------------------- It takes Ranma a few minutes but he manages to get Miko undressed. Ranma carefully checks Miko over as he slowly scrubs her down. He is relieved to see that while she is underfed, a fact even more obvious when undressed, she doesn't seem to have been injured in any way. After scrubbing and rising the child off he carefully places her in the furo. (A large bath for soaking in.) Miko's eyes go wide as she realizes the water is warm and a delighted expression appears on her face. She smiles and giggles obviously delighted and happy. She splashes at Ranma, who jumps out of the while laughing out loud. Fortunately the water is too warm to trigger his curse. "Hey watch it," The laughing Ranma jokes, "I have already had my bath today. Now you soak in the furo and I will go see if Kasumi has found any clothes." Miko only nods in response. -------------------------- Kasumi has already found several outfits for Miko when Ranma reappears out of the bath. "Have you found anything Kasumi?" Kasumi smiles and hands Ranma a couple outfits, "These are all I have found so far," Kasumi's expression then changes into a frown, and worry again appears in her voice, "Ranma, you seem to be taking this better than I thought you would. What is going on?" *Sigh* "I can't tell you Kasumi, all I can say is...no I can't say it." "Why not Ranma, don't you trust me?" Ranma starts in surprise at this last statement but slowly shakes his head and sighs again, "No I can't, its not is if I don't trust you or nothing. But I can't tell you, I promised." Kasumi is surprised with Ranma's reluctance but manages to hide it. Ranma gathers the clothing and heads back into the bath, but before he closes the door behind him he turns to Kasumi and with a sad voice, "I am sorry Kasumi, I can't tell you why I want to take care of Miko. I am really sorry." Ranma closes the door and Kasumi sighs and says quietly to herself, "I want to help Ranma, but I can't help if I don't know what the problem is." Kasumi sighs again and returns to her search for clothing, "Maybe there is something in Nabiki's closet." ----------------------------- The sight Ranma returns to could make anyone laugh. Miko looks a great deal like a red raisin, but it doesn't seem to bother her any. "Come on out Miko," Ranma tells Miko, "If you soak any longer you could turn into a raisin." Miko smiles and for the first time, besides for eating, she opens her mouth and says, "Ok...daddy." To say Ranma is stunned doesn't even begin to describe it. Ranma instantly assumes a deer in headlights look and manages to stutter out (imagine the stuttering I don't know how to type it) "What did you call me?" With a look of total innocence Miko replies, "Daddy." (Still stuttering) "Why?" Miko smiles and giggles slightly, "That man that brought me here told me you where my daddy. He said that you would take care of me. When he left me in your room you where nice to me," Miko's voice drops to a whisper, "No one has been nice to me before," She continues in a stronger voice, "And you made that pretty lady give me lots of food." By this time Ranma managed to pick his jaw up off the ground and in a much steadier, but still nervous voice, slowly forces the words out, "Do you want me to be your daddy?" He fears the answer, but is not sure which answer he will fear more. Miko looks down at her feet and slowly, quietly whispers, "Yes." In a voice no louder than the one Miko just used Ranma says, "I don't really know how to be a father. But if you want me to be your daddy...ok." Miko yelps in joy and wraps both arms around Ranma's neck. "I love you daddy." Ranma smiles and begins to towel Miko off, "Now Miko, there is something's you need to know." "What?" "Very strange things happen to me all the time." "Like what?" It is at this point that Ranma has fully recovered from his surprise at being called daddy and begins to notice that Miko has a very beautiful voice, strangely melodic, it almost seems that she is singing every word. "Well for starters," Ranma begins, "I have many different women chasing me, for your own safety you better not call me daddy in front of anyone you don't know, I'm not really sure what they will do, but it won't be good." Miko is a little confused but agrees anyway, "What about that pretty lady that feed me?" Ranma thinks for a minute and then replies, "Its ok with her, she will probably figure it out soon enough anyway, but not in front of anyone else until I say it is ok." Miko nods slowly, still confused, but accepting anyway. Ranma reaches over for the showerhead and continues, "Here is another problem, now watch closely." And with that Ranma starts the cold water streaming over her head, starting the change. Miko stares at her 'father' whom no longer looks like her daddy, "..." "Miko when I get wet I change into a girl..." "How?" Miko interrupts. "My own father is rather stupid, he took me to this place in China called Jusenkyou, it has lots of springs and when I feel into one I started changing into a girl when I get hit with cold water. My father changes into a Panda when he gets wet. Everyone here know about it but there are still a few people who haven't figured it out yet." "Ok," Miko is confused, but is willing to deal with it, "Can you turn back?" "Yeah, watch," Using one of the buckets Ranma takes some water out of the still warm furo and dumps in on his head, triggering the return transformation. "Neat," Miko giggles. "Ok -daughter- lets get you dressed." ----------------------- After dressing her Ranma studies Miko for a moment. Now that she is clean Miko appears no older than she did before, around five or six. She is a little short for her apparent age, and she seems very cute. Her hair is very shiny, but not oily, and has small somewhat red or copper-like highlights. Her face is the only part of her that looks even slightly older. Her eyes appear to take in much more than they should, aging her appearance when you look into her face. Her eyes are her most unusual features, as they are most certainly copper in color, and seemed to look right into your heart. "What are you looking at...daddy?" Ranma smiles and say to Miko, "You are very pretty." Miko looks at her 'father's' sincere face and burst into tears. "What's wrong Miko? What did I say?" Panic rises in Ranma's voice, he is scared that she is hurt in some way. Through her sobs Miko explains, "No one has ever called me pretty before." "Its true, you are very pretty." Miko smiles at Ranma through her tears and nods slightly. "Come on Miko lets go show Kasumi how pretty you look." ----------------------- Kasumi was preparing a futon (A Japanese bed) for Miko next to Ranma's when Ranma walked in. "Hello Ranma," says Kasumi, "What is it?" Ranma smiles a mysterious smile and steps aside, revealing Miko. "Oh, my! (Sorry couldn't stop myself) What a pretty little girl you are." Ranma quickly looks to Miko to see if she is going to start to cry again, but instead Miko runs up to Kasumi and hugs her around the legs. "Thank you," she says with tears in her voice. Kasumi looks startled for a moment, she can not tell if Miko is happy or sad, but then leans down to give Miko a real hug, which Miko happily returns. "I prepared you a bed little one, why don't you Ranma get ready for bed?" "Ok." The pair reply. ------------------------- It is several hours later and Ranma can't seem to get to sleep, something just doesn't feel right for some reason. "Are you awake daddy?" Miko asks in a whisper. "Can't you sleep Miko?" "No daddy," Miko whispers in reply, "Can I sleep with you?" "Ok," Ranma replies, after thinking a moment, he then makes some room for Miko in his futon. After she crawls in Ranma carefully puts his arm around his daughter. Miko rapidly snuggles into Ranma's side and a dreamy look on her face as she rapidly falls asleep in his arms. "Good night, my daughter," Ranma quietly breaths out, "Have pleasant dreams." -------------------------------- End part 2 Yes I now that it ends with WAFFs but that will change in further chapters. After all the trouble hasn't had a chance to start yet. So far only Kasumi and Happosai even know of Miko's existence and only Kasumi even has the slights clue what is going on. Write me at trscrogg@unity.ncus.edu with C&C and other questions. I will not give away any plot ideas though. Sorry for not getting to everything that was in my preview. I will try to do better about that. Part 3 Kasumi corners Ranma and tries to drag some truth out of him. Happosai comes back for some more trouble. Ranma and Miko go shopping. Miko calls Kasumi 'Aunt Kasumi'. Kasumi tries to find some of the information that was in the packet.