Before I wrote it:
This is to make up for the other... um... thing that I'm posting today.
Wow! My first _serious_ 'fic!
After I wrote it:
This was much harder to write than I anticipated. I hope someone enjoys
this, because it took a lot out of me.
"Genma's Problem"
by Josh Green
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 are owned by Takahashi Rumiko,
Sogakukan, Inc. Tokyo, and VIZ, Inc.
Notes: I couldn't think of any other way to do this than first person.
Let me know if it works. I'm going by manga continuity, as best I know
it.
C&C very much appreciated. Flames will be extracted and fed to my
firedrake. Good Smog!
*****
My name is Saotome Genma. And I have a problem.
Many people would agree with me on this. Some of them think I'm a
cruel, vicious man who doesn't care for anyone but himself. I'm certain
that is how Ukyou sees me. Others think I'm simply an idiot who can't
see past the end of his nose.
How wrong they are.
It began when I was seventeen. Puberty was ending for me and my
hormones were becoming more stable. I believe that was the trigger.
I began seeing things. Things other people couldn't. Or wouldn't.
About a week after the visions started, I realized what was
happening.
I could see into the future.
Being able to see into the future, like many of the super-human
abilities that I have witnessed, isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
The first difficulty with seeing into the future is that you can
learn just how insignificant you are.
I would never save the world from some alien menace. I would never
develop a cure for cancer. I would never be rich. I would never lead
our nation to greatness.
But one thing did call to me from the futures I saw. Beckoning me,
welcoming me.
The Art.
vvvvv
I was sitting with my friend, Tendou Souun.
We were sharing a bottle of sake when I broached the subject.
"Souun, my friend. What do you think of going on a training trip?"
We had both studied martial arts since we were young. We were good,
but we had not dedicated our lives to the Art. Not yet.
Souun stroked his mustache while he thought about my suggestion.
"What did you have in mind, Genma?"
"I've heard of a martial arts master who's in Kyoto right now. He
teaches a unique style. It's supposed to be the most powerful martial
arts in the world."
I could see the gears turning in my friends mind. Neither of us had
the money to go to college, but if we could become famous and open a
dojo...
"What's the name of the style?"
I had him now.
"Musabetsu Kakutou Ryuu."
I'm sorry, my friend.
^^^^^
We trained under Happosai, learning much about the Art. Including
some things that we never wanted to know.
I, especially, put much effort into learning all that Happosai could
teach me. Souun, while as enthusiastic as I was, had more to
concentrate on than just the Art. He would often leave me alone with
the master for several days to visit his girlfriend.
After a few years, Souun wanted to end our association with Happosai,
but I pressed him into continuing.
Then everything changed.
I met Nodoka.
And I fell in love.
Seeing into the future is one thing, but the glimpses I had had of the
possible women in my life gave me no indication of how I might feel. I
was giddy. The master noticed and made some lewd suggestions, but
nothing could pull me off my high.
As my relationship with Nodoka grew, thoughts of marriage entered my
mind more frequently. From this, I learned of what is perhaps the most
debilitating limit of seeing the future.
A person only sees the paths that he chooses to look down. It would
be impossible to see everything that could possibly happen to a person,
so the ability focuses according to what the person wants to see.
As I looked down the paths of my marriage to Nodoka, I caught
glimpses of _him_ for the first time.
My son.
Ranma.
He became a beacon for me. A goal that only I could achieve. A
purpose for my life.
I began focusing my energies on Ranma rather than the Art. I could
see that in many paths of the future he would be a great martial artist.
I could see him gaining the glory about which I had once dreamed.
Souun and I plotted a way to get out from Happosai's control. I knew
the cave wouldn't hold him forever. It didn't need to. By the time
Happosai escaped from the cave, _he_ would be ready for him. Ready to
learn more than I ever could.
But that was the future...
vvvvv
"Must you take him away?" my wife pleads with me. Her eyes even more
so than her voice.
"It is for the best. Do not worry, I will make him a man among men!"
I hand her the piece of paper with my signature and Ranma's
handprints.
"Oh, Genma," she sighs after reading the paper.
^^^^^
The Contract. Ranma's dread. My brilliance.
I needed a way to keep Ranma and Nodoka away from each other. I had
already seen Jusenkyou in some of the futures. I knew what to expect
there, which would probably greatly surprise -- and anger -- Ranma.
With the chaos that I saw around Ranma's future life, I knew that
Nodoka would not be ready for the danger that comes with being around
our son. She would need the time between our return from the training
trip and the fight at Jusendo to learn how to use her katana for more
than just being a second.
I'm not much of a conversationalist and I knew that I would not be
able to convince her to leave Ranma alone once they were reunited. So,
I had to devise a scheme to ensure that Ranma would help me in keeping
the two of them apart. Jusenkyou would help me with that, but then I
had already decided that we would go there.
My worst fears concerning this were almost proven during Ranma's
fight with the Kumon boy. She came very close to getting injured during
their final battle. The paths I saw during those few moments convinced
me that no matter how much trouble I was putting Ranma through.
But the choices life give you, even when you can see the future,
aren't always easy.
vvvvv
"Ranma and Ukyou certainly seem to get along well."
I knew something important was about to happen. I could almost feel
the paths of time shifting about me.
"Yes, they do."
"We might consider engaging the two of them. I know that Ukyou would
like that."
I could now see where this was heading. The pathways were opening.
And closing. The longer I waited, the fewer choices I would have.
"Well, I don't know. Ranma is already engaged..."
We could take Ukyou with us. But she would slow our trip down. My
training time would have to be split between the two of them. Ranma's
skill would suffer. That wasn't acceptable.
"And here I was, willing to give the yatai as dowry..."
Now many of the doors were closed. I saw Ukyou growing up to lead a
normal life as an okonomiyaki seller. I saw Ukyou become an obsessed
killer, willing to do anything to get her revenge. I saw Ukyou grow up,
bitter and alone because she believed her first crush didn't return any
of her feelings. I saw Ukyou train in the martial arts, becoming
very skilled, in order to get revenge on the boy that she felt
humiliated her.
Mostly, I saw the last two.
"I think it's a wonderful idea!"
^^^^^
There are times when no amount of foresight can prepare you for what
happens. There are times when the control of events is taken out of
your hands by fate.
When this happens, everything becomes cloudy, uncertain. It's like
trying to peer through a thick fog. It can be a confusing and
frightening time for a person who is accustomed to seeing the outcome of
things.
The Neko-ken was my first experience with this, as well as my worst
failure. I had seen Ranma master the Neko-ken. I had seen his skill
improve in leaps and bounds afterwards, nearly becoming a chi master in a
few short years. I was obsessed with this vision and I couldn't let it
go.
vvvvv
"I-I'm sc-scared."
Why was this happening?
"You don't wanted to be scared of cats for the rest of your life, do
you?"
I couldn't understand. What was happening to my ability?
"N-no."
This wasn't how I had seen it. And now, I couldn't see anything!
"A man would never be scared of a little cat. You do want to be a
man, don't you, Ranma?"
It would turn out the way I had seen it. It had to.
"Yes," Ranma squeaked.
I opened the pit and dropped Ranma in again.
^^^^^
I was disappointed in Ranma. But I was more disappointed with
myself. And my ability.
Still, I relied on it. It was as instinctual to me by now as
focusing my eyes or flexing my fingers.
I thought I wouldn't have to worry unless I came to another time when
the outcome was fogged. But when fate decides not to interfere, the
human will can cause problems.
vvvvv
"These techniques look difficult."
"Yes, they are. But I've seen you fight. I know that you're skilled
enough to learn them and teach them to others."
"And you're willing to give these techniques to me?"
"Of course! The Yamasen-ken will make your dojo famous!"
^^^^^
And it would have. Should have.
I've learned that even when certain events seem inevitable, the
course can be changed. Kumon-san decided to test the techniques on his
own dojo and in the process destroyed it and killed himself.
I decided to give up my foreknowledge, as much as I could.
I fought it at every turn. Deliberately ignored some warnings that I
received in order to separate myself from it.
I finally won. It seemed to die inside of me, either from neglect or
abuse.
The timing was just perfect.
vvvvv
"We're going to leave in three days, Ranma."
"But I have a duel with Ryouga!"
So, the boy felt he was ready for a real fight, did he?
"When? Where?"
"Later today. Behind Ryouga's house. In the empty lot."
"No problem then."
"But Ryouga's got an awful sense of direction. Who knows if he'll
even find his way there today."
Bad direction is one thing, but surely the boy couldn't be that bad.
"Three days."
"Sure, Pop."
^^^^^
I didn't know that the boy would follow us all the way to Jusenkyou.
Ranma was at the point where a regular sparring partner his own age
would have done him good. I would have taken Ryouga with us if I had
understood how focused the boy was on becoming as good as Ranma.
But, I wasn't using my ability, and I've never been very insightful.
At Jusenkyou, things changed. Appropriate, as Jusenkyou is a land of
changes.
vvvvv
"C'mon, boy!"
I leaped to the top of a pole and taunted Ranma, knowing that he
wouldn't let my challenge pass.
"Right behind you, Pop!"
Ranma landed on top of one of the other poles, facing me.
We jumped at each other.
The whole of reality seemed to open before me.
I saw all the paths that could occur from this point. Joy. Sorrow.
Triumph. Defeat. All centered at this place, this time.
The pinnacle of achievement. Over there, the spring of the drowned
Phoenix, a bright voice seemed to whisper to me. You could make him
immortal, all-powerful.
The depths of despair. There, a cold wind said, the spring of the
drowned Ranma awaits.
Ranma got a good kick in while I was distracted and I felt myself
plunge underwater.
Unexpected. I felt my body change. I saw the possibilities closing,
but there was enough time.
Roaring, I leapt out of the water to the top of pole above the
spring. The guide was explaining the curse to Ranma. Now was the time
to move, before he fully understood what was happening.
"Pop?!" Ranma asked in a shocked voice.
I responded by kicking him into Nyannichuan.
One more piece of the future that I had seen so long ago was in
place.
^^^^^
There are many secrets to Jusenkyou. And there is at least one
secret about the curses found there as well.
I'm sure that Lukkosai knows the secret. Though his form would be
far from the most useful. Perhaps Taro and Rouge, as they seem to be
comfortable with their curses. Happosai and Cologne certainly know as
well, but it makes me wonder why they haven't taken advantage of it.
Perhaps they're afraid that they would end up as I have, knowing that
it's there but not being able to do anything with it.
Ranma doesn't know. Not yet.
Ever since Jusenkyou, I haven't been able to rely on my ability. I
don't know whether it burned itself out or whether it was damaged from
my suppression or whether it has simply fulfilled its primary purpose
and is no longer needed.
It comes to me again at times, mostly when Ranma is fighting a strong
opponent. Some of the paths that I saw while Ranma fought Saffron, I
will remember for the rest of my life.
I can feel it now, calling to me.
I open my senses, but see nothing but fog.
Looking out my window, I see Ranma sitting on a stone by the pond,
having a quiet discussion with Akane, who's laying on the grass.
A rustle of cloth attracts my attention and I turn to see Nodoka
enter the room.
"Gen-chan?"
It has been so long since Nodoka called me that. She sits down
beside me and takes my hand.
"Yes, dear?"
Now the fog thickens, and now it parts.
"I'm pregnant."
And for the first time in a long, long while... I faint.
*****
Notes:
This may lead into a serious mega-xover, if I ever get around to
writing my ideas out. That's way I brought up certain things and then
turned around and ignored them, not explaining.
This is what comes from trying to find a logical reason for why Genma
has behaved the way he has. Unfortunately, humans aren't completely
rational creatures, so he does slip at times. It also doesn't explain
everything, but that would take too long. :)
I'm not worried about making it reconcile completely with the Ranma
1/2 timeline, but I do want to make sure that the story makes sense in
and of itself, as a whole.
If you want me to make some of the past conversations more like the
original, I can try to find some scripts of the mangas somewhere, but I
don't think that it's absolutely necessary. (Especially, since it
would be translations anyway.)
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Josh Green, aka Pi -- SORT@BUCKET.UALR.EDU
http://bucket.ualr.edu/~sort/fanfic/
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