Honor

By: Dreiser


	I'm surprised to see her in my dojo. Out of everyone who 
could have visited me she was the least likely. So much so that I never 
even considered the possibility of her arrival.
	I bow lowly to her and she returns the gesture. Her hands are 
neatly folded in front of her as she meets my gaze.
	"We have much to discuss."
	The comment fits her well. It is both elegant and to the point. 
Her grace is something that leaves me in wonder. She the lady from a 
house full of ruffians.
	"Indeed."
	My voice is deep and curls in the air. She dips her head in 
acknowledgment of my curiosity and turns from me to study our 
surroundings.
	"This is an impressive legacy you have. I would have thought 
that coming from such beginnings you would have far more lofty goals 
than antagonizing Ranma."
	"I have not antagonized him," I reply in offense.
	She turns to me and quirks an eyebrow.
	"No? Then what has the past year been? Just harmless fun 
amongst the boys? He certainly thinks otherwise."
	I scowl slightly and fold my arms over my chest as I study her. 
She thinks herself superior to me. I find that many do but none of them 
truly know me. How can you assume yourself superior to someone 
when you don't truly know who they are? Preposterous.
	"All our battles have been honorable."
	At this comment she offers me a wry smile and pushes back a 
strand of loose hair. The look she gives me is long and hard. I find 
myself wilting under it and her power.
	"I doubt that you even know the meaning of honor."
	My jaw tightens and I snarl in response.
	"How dare you--"
	"How dare I?" she quickly interrupts. "How dare you? How 
dare you sully your family crest with actions that are so obviously 
dishonorable?"
	She pauses to narrow her eyes and she starts again in a much 
calmer tone of voice.
	"Tell me, what is honor?"
	I stare blankly at her lost for a reply. Never have I heard such 
a vague question. Before I can answer she is once again speaking in 
quick harsh sentences.
	"Is honor about pursuing the affections of a girl who wants 
nothing of you? Is honor about harassing a boy who has never done 
anything but be himself?" Her voice lowers and she hisses, "You resent 
them for having the life that you want. She is surrounded by those who 
love and protect her while he lives the existence of a true hero. 
Something that you will never be no matter how hard you strive. That's 
why you wanted them both."
	"I want nothing to do with him! He--"
	"You lie. You do want him. You want to be him. You want 
that respect he has. That's why you chased after him as a girl. You 
wanted to take away the respect he has earned. You wanted to show 
him what it is like to be ridiculed."
	She pauses again to study me closely. I know with that look 
that she doesn't understand me or my actions but she wants to. This is 
a first for me. Never has anyone cared about me or the reasons behind 
my behavior.
	"I don't know why I did it... I wanted to be him and I wanted 
her. I resented them..."
	"And you feigned the same insanity with him as you did with 
Akane. But for what purpose? Perhaps if you had given yourself the 
chance--"
	It's now my turn to interrupt. I shake my head and smile 
wanly.
	"No. She would have never wanted me. Not all of it was 
acting. When I first met Akane my therapy was not so advanced and I 
was under... toxic influences. My original treatment of her was of my 
own manic doing. It was not an act like the past year has been."
	She lowers her gaze and sighs. It's obvious that my tale has 
been more complicated than she predicted. Most tales are. People are 
never what they seem. I've learned that lesson well over the years from 
dealing with my family.
	"What is honor?"
	Her soft question startles me and I avert my eyes to look out 
the dojo. Outside the wind is softly blowing and leaves fly across the 
spacious lawn.
	"Honor is the sum of a person's moral beliefs. It is very little to 
some people and very much to others. Honor is what we make of it. 
Nothing more and nothing less."
	For this answer I rewarded with a soft and gentle smile. She 
slowly rises to her feet and when I rise also she bows lowly. I return 
the gesture then lock our gazes.
	"I apologize. For everything. For it all."
	She dips her head in acceptance then turns to walk out of the 
dojo. She is nearly out the door when she turns back to me and says.
	"You have always had honor Kuno Tatewaki. You simply 
need to know it's proper use. I could teach you that if you'd let me."
	I blink in startled surprise. I never expected this. I take a 
hesitant step forward and question.
	"What of Ranma?"
	She smiles again and lightly touches her katana.
	"Do not worry about my son. He's far too busy in his own life 
to interfere with us. Will you accept my offer?"
	"Of course."
	With another small smile she quietly turns and exits the dojo 
leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sit cross legged on the floor and 
look up at the ceiling.
	What is honor? And can I ever truly know it?
	
-End-

Both characters in this fanfiction are from Ranma 1/2. This fanfiction 
was inspired by the works of the great goddess Rumiko Takahashi. 
This is part of the series of one shots I'm writing with the different 
character interactions after the wedding of Ranma and Akane. The 
stories that came before are in order: Shy, Obsession, Desire and 
Heartbreak. I found myself wondering about Nodoka and Kuno's 
different but still strange ideas about honor and this story was the 
result. Ah well, I am now off to wash my car.

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"If you don't love me now, you will never love me again. I can still hear 
you saying that we'll never break the chain."
-Fleetwood Mac-