Crippled Part 2:                                                          A Time for Healing						By					    Dale Ratner		Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the official property of Rumiko Takahashi andseveral companies. Crippled part one was written by Gregg Sharp (MetroAnime@aol.com) as part of the Bet fanfic series. All requests and commentson Part One should be sent to him. All comments on part 2 and after should be directed to me at Shadow6865@aol.com		Recap: Thanks to the intervention of an angry Akane, Shampoo manages to severe Ranma-chanÕs spinal cord, leaving him wheel chair bound in the hospital but everyone else thinks he is dead. RanmaÕs condition effects everyone: Akane goes into denial about her involvement with RanmaÕs condition. Genma leaves Nerima all together on a training trip to calm his soul and look for answers about his life. Soun upset that the two schools will never be joined, his one dream since his wifeÕs death constantly walks a fine line towards insanity. The only onesÕs who seem to care about RanmaÕs problems are Kasumi and Nabiki but they do not think he is alive.And now, on with part two.		                        Chapter 2: RanmaÕs Alive?!		ÒIÕm going to do it this time.Ó Ranma repeated the mantra over and over again trying desperately to tap the confidence he once had. Slowly, he pushed his armsdownwards on the wheelchair, pulling off the seat and on his feet. Once he was on hisfeet he slowly tried to walk but failed and hit the ground with a small crash. Outside at the nurses station, assistant nurse Megumi Mitsui was enjoying her coffee when she heard the crash. Sighing, she placed her coffee down and went to help her patient getback into his wheelchair. 		ÒHonestly Saotome-san, I think that after five times you would stop tryingto walk.Ó Nurse Mitsui softly scolded her patient as she helped him get back into the wheel chair and dust his pants off. While she did find his efforts to walk annoying and awaste of time, she could not blame him for trying. She did not know much about her patient after his three month stay at the hospital but what she did know gave a perfectexplanation as too why he kept trying to walk. Martial Arts has been his whole entire life, he was encouraged by both his parentÕs to become the best martial artist in the world. Even though, he has been separated from his mother for the past ten years shestill had a strong influence on him. One of the reasons he constantly worked on martial arts even after the accident was because he believed it would break his motherÕs heart if he didnÕt. But those days were over now while Nurse Megumi knew that Ranma stillcould pack quite a punch and bench lift a great deal any hope of pleasing his mother was gone. Apparently right before Ranma was taken away from his mother at the tender age of six, she made a pact with his father that if Ranma did not become a Òmanamongst menÓ both of them would commit Seppuku. After seeing her son lying in a hospital bed without the ability to move around alone unless he was in a wheel chair, Mrs. Saotome decided that her son was not manly enough but her sympathy and love for her son made her give up her vow but her honor prevented her from taking care of him. ÒSo Saotome-san, where are you going to stay after we let you leave in two days?Ó Megumi said trying to start a conversation with her usually silent partner.	ÒI have no ideaÓ Ranma replied. ÒMom disowned me and last I heard my old man went on some sort training trip to cleanse his soul. But he probably just wanted to run away from responsibility againÓ Ranma muttered under his breath. 	ÒBut you need to stay somewhere. Where were you living before the accident occurred?Ó	ÒPops and I  were staying at the Tendou dojo in Nerima. I was supposed to marry the guyÕs youngest daughter and take over the dojo but they probably donÕtcare any more seeing that I ainÕt taking over no dojo like this.Ó        	ÒI see. DonÕt worry Saotome-san, I will find you a place to liveÓ Nurse Megumi said as she walked out of the room determined to make sure that Ranma didnÕt end up in some homeless shelter or foster home. ÒThe first place I should try is the Tendou dojoÓ she thought as she sat down at her desk and opened up the Nerima phone book looking for possible places that Ranma could stay.	Kasumi was sitting down at the kitchen table, trying to think of something to do.It was only 2 in the afternoon and she was already done with the afternoon chores. Things have been a lot quieter since RanmaÕs death and Saotome-sanÕs disappearance.She missed having them around; well she missed having Ranma around. He was fun, free, and exciting just like his name. She always giggled inside when he called Akane an Òuncute tomboyÓ or a Òklutz.Ó  Sure their arguments always led to things being broken which gave her more work and less free time but Kasumi didnÕt mind. Kasumi much like her mother Kimiko found some zen-like tranquility in household chores. What would drive most people mad, gave Kasumi a sense of being. She liked cooking, and sewing, and vacuuming it might be silly to most people but she loved being a housewife even if she wasnÕt married. She considered courting Dr. Tofu but he always acted so silly when she was around him, a relationship between them probably wouldnÕt work out. A loud ring coming from the living room quickly snapped Kasumi out of her mealoncholy thoughts and she went to pick up the phone.	ÒMoshi MoshiÓ	ÒHello. Is Mr. Tendou there?Ó a young female voice voice replied.   	ÒNo he is not. I am Tendou Kasumi, his daughter. May I take a message?Ó	ÒYes. My name is Nurse Megumi Mitsui at Tokyo General Hospital. I am calling in concern to a patient of ours. His name is Saotome Ranma.Ó	KasumiÕs heart almost came to a complete stop when she heard his name. ÒRanmaÕs alive!?Ó was the only reply that Kasumi could give.	ÒYesÓ responded Nurse Megumi.  ÒHe has been a patient of ours for a few months. DidnÕt your household get a call about his condition?	ÒNo, we did not. How is he?Ó replied an obviously concerned Kasumi.	ÒNot good. He will be wheel chair bound for the rest of his life and he needs a place to stay after his discharge in two days.Ó	ÒHow about his motherÕs house?Ó	ÒNo. His mother disowned him because of some stupid agreement about his father raising him to become a Òman amongst men.Ó	ÒI see. I will be over at the hospital to visit Ranma in a a few hours. DonÕt worry Mitsui-san Ranma can stay with us for as long as he likes.Ó	ÒDomo Arigato, Tendou-san. Do you want me to tell him?Ó	ÒNo. I will tell him myself when I come over. Good bye!	ÒGood bye, Tendou-san.Ó	After Kasumi hung up the phone, she looked at her watch to find out the time. Ò2:25 that means the Nabiki and Akane will be here any minute now. IÕm glad that Akane has gymnastics practice right after school today. I donÕt think she will be very pleased about having Ranma come back here.Ó Kasumi finished her thought with a frown on her face. She and Nabiki were appalled about AkaneÕs response to what happened to Ranma. They both thought that Akane had a problem with taking responsibility for her actions and her response to RanmaÕs alleged death confirmed their suspect ion.  Kasumi barely had time to get somethings ready and make herself look presentable before Nabiki came through the door.	ÒHello, Kasumi-chanÓ Nabiki said as she entered the door. She was about to take off her shoes when Kasumi stoped her.	ÒNabiki donÕt take off your shoes were going somewhere.Ó	ÒWhere?Ó	ÒTo the hospital?Ó	ÒWhy whatÕs wrong?Ó Is anything wrong with father?	ÒNo. RanmaÕs alive. He has been at Tokyo General Hospital for the past few months.Ó	ÒOh my god? Why hasnÕt anyone told us!Ó said Nabiki with a great rush pulling Kasumi out of the house.	Up Next: A visit, a return, a few meetings, an exile.Ó