[Ranma][Fic](1/2) Consultations

This has the same setting as "The way out" mini-fic, "Autumn Leaves",
"Keeping Up Appearances" and "Such things as dreams are made of"

What has gone before:
Ranma's better nature and a Chinese-Amazon artifact have combined to
return Akane's mother to life - in Ranma's body.  To say Akane has not
taken this well is rather like saying Ryoga doesn't have a very good sense
of direction ...

Consultations: Part 1.

  "I don't know why we have to go now." Akane complained.

  "You trust Dr. Tofu don't you?  I'll come with you if you want." Kasumi
offered.

  "No! No thank you." Akane replied, making Kimiko wonder just why she was
so forceful about it.

  "I think I'll tag along," Nabiki said with some of her usual acerbity,
"someone has got to keep an eye on the young loverbirds."

  "Nabiki!" Kimiko exclaimed, "that's not something to joke about."

  "You're so cute when you're embarrassed." Akane said, grabbing Kimiko's
arm as they set off to the clinic.

  The journey was short, and quiet, giving Kimiko a chance to think about
Akane's condition.  At least she seemed content to just hold hands - She
hadn't dared say anything to Akane last night after her mis-directed
farewell.  She had just hoped that her daughter was just confused by
sleepiness and wouldn't remember the following day.  Breakfast had been
... painful was the only word.

  "Ranma, Akane and Nabiki! What brings you here?" Dr. Tofu asked, they
hadn't moved as if they were injured.  Akane was cheerful - more so than
usual, Ranma looked very concerned about something and both Nabiki and
Ranma had flinched when he called his name ...

  Nabiki was the first to break the silence that followed.  "Dr Tofu. I'd
like you to meet Kimiko Tendo."

  Kimiko explained, as best she could, while Akane smiled beside her.

  "I see." Tofu stated, although if it had been any other family ...
"How are you coping with Ranma's loss? he asked Akane.

  "What are you talking about?  He's right here," Akane stated, looking
puzzled at the nonsense being talked - after all, she thought, Kasumi
wasn't here.

  "That's why we've come to you - Akane doesn't seem to accept what has
happened.  I don't know what to do, doctor - she wasn't like this
yesterday!" Kimiko's eyes pleaded with Dr. Tofu to be able to do
something, anything, for her daughter.

  "That's right," Akane said brightly, "we should have a general check-up
if we're going to be married soon."

  Tofu looked from one patient to the other.  "If I could see Mrs Tendo
first."

  "Oh, I'm not 'Mrs' yet, doctor." Akane said with a blushing smile.

  "He means me." Kimiko said, much to Akane's confusion - although she
didn't object when Kimiko left her.

  Tofu put down the light he had been flashing in her eyes.  Normal pupil
response, he noted finishing his examination.  "I can't find anything
wrong with you.  I suppose I'll have to accept your story - I'll miss
Ranma.  You don't think he's inside, suppressed underneath your memories
do you?"

  Kimiko frowned sadly as she shook her head.  She still wore the broken
ring that had been responsible for Ranma's loss - she thought of it as a
memorial to a friend she was never going to be able to meet.

  "I'd like to test something, if you would." Tofu said, continuing on
Kimiko's assent, "Could you take a strike at my hand?" he asked.

  Tofu winced slightly as he absorbed the impact, but he had learnt what
he wanted to know.  "You've had some martial arts training?" he asked,
rhetorically. "Ranma was a great martial artist - as he would have been
first to admit.  I expect this body is stronger, and faster than you
realise.  You should begin training again as soon as possible so that you
don't hurt anyone accidentally."

  "Why would I need to do that?  Can't I just stay out of fights?" Kimiko
queried.

  Tofu smiled, a little, and said "You'd think so, wouldn't you?  You will
also need to improve your skills I'm afraid Ranma had enemies, and
friends, who might not wait for your life story before attacking."

  Nabiki nearly fell over when the door opened suddenly.  She blithely
ignored the looks of disapproval she received - she had a right to know!
This was her mother, whatever she looked like, and she wasn't going to let
her out of sight again.

  "Sit down, please, Akane." Dr. Tofu said. "How are you feeling?" He
asked as he examined her head for signs of injury.

  "Wonderful! I'm getting married, you know.  I suppose it will take a
while to get things properly organised - I just can't wait!" Akane said.

  "Ah-hah." Tofu said noncommittally, as he continued his examination.
"When did you decide to do that?"

  "I finally told him I loved him last night - we stayed up all night
talking." Akane said cheerfully.

  "Have you noticed anything different about him recently?" Tofu asked
as he checked for signs of stress and measured her blood pressure.

  "No ... well just that he's been so well behaved - I suppose all his
insults were just frustration at not having admitted his feelings for
me. 'I Love You' isn't it amazing how much difference those three small
words can make?" Akane said, and smiled at Tofu.

  "Well you seem to be in good health - but I'd like to see you both again
soon.  If you stay here a moment I just want a quick word with Nabiki and
..." he trailed off - not wanting to lie with 'Ranma' or confuse her with
'Kimiko'.

  "I think you should consider taking her to a specialist," Tofu said
quietly.  "I can't find any physical symptoms to treat - and this is too
delicate for shiatsu points and acupuncture."

  "We can't take my daughter to a shrink!" Kimiko exclaimed, then looked
guiltily through to the other room where Akane was waiting - but she
didn't appear to have heard.

  "Mom's right," Nabiki said, hugging her comfortingly, "how would we
persuade her to go?  Besides they'd never believe what had happened - we'd
just end up with everyone in the sanatorium."

  "What about that nice old lady?" Kimiko asked, remembering what she had
been told about her.

  Nabiki looked blank for a while then came up with a rather unlikely
match for that description. "Cologne?  You might have something there - if
she can work with Dr. Tofu at another appointment" and if she was still
in Japan, she thought to herself.

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