Nodoka's Daughter
By James Lee
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. They are the property of their rightful owners. Suing me will get you nowhere I have no money.
Part 2: The Recovery
"Do you have to carry that thing everywhere?" Asked Reiko
pointing at the wrapped bundle.
"I don't feel comfortable without it." Responded Nodoka.
"I just afraid that your going to snap one day and as the Americans say 'go mailman' with it." Said Reiko going out the door.
Nodoka just stared at her friend while trying to figure out what "going mailman" meant. Giving up she followed Reiko to the girl's room. Upon entering the room Nodoka could see that the girl was indeed awake. Her eyes were open, but there was no life in them. She just laid there looking at the ceiling. Reiko moved to the sink and got two glasses of water, one hot and one cold. After getting the water she then spoke.
"Do you remember when I told you she had to be brought in for emergency surgery last week?"
"Umm..Yes."
"Well you see, we use to have her shoulder bones held together with metal pins. Last week those pins were ripped out."
"RIPPED OUT!? How?"
"A nurse had come in to give the girl a sponge bath. She was using hot water instead of lukewarm. When she used the water on the girl this is what happened." Saying that Reiko poured the hot water onto the girl.
Nodoka watch as the girl grew a head taller. She also gained fifty kilos and her chest flatten. Her hair turned from red to black. Nodoka gasped when she realized she was now looking at a young boy. Reiko continued.
"We took the pins out. We didn't dare put them back. We had to risk having the shoulder heal properly without the pins. Fortunately it seems to have healed okay so far."
Nodoka was shaking her head. "H-How is this possible?"
"We don't know. We've done every type of test we can on her:blood, x-ray, CAT scan, etc. All we've been able to find out is two things:one, the change is complete down to the DNA level, and two, hot water changes her into a boy, cold water changes her back into a girl." Reiko Demonstrated this by pouring the cold water on her, changing her back into a girl.
"Now do you still want to take him or her in?"
Nodoka thought about this then spoke. "Yes. Whether she's a boy or a girl she still saved my life."
Reiko looked relieved to hear this. "Okay. Now here's the even bigger question. Is she a boy or a girl?"
Nodoka once again started thinking. As she thought, two things came to mind. The first was that she had been a girl before the accident. However, a little voice in the back of her mind reminded her that it had been raining that day and she may not have been able to change back. The second thing that came to mind was that cold water was more common than hot water. Turning to Reiko she asked. "What are the chances of her getting her memory back?"
"Just about none I'm afraid." Said Reiko shaking her head.
"In that case. I think it would be best if I brought her back as a girl. With cold water being more common than hot and what not." Said Nodoka ignoring the little voice telling her that she might be making a mistake.
"Hmmmm. Makes sense. Okay. I'll write up the adoption and the transfer to Nagoya. I suggest you go home and pack. Your going to be there for at least a couple of months......Oh! We'll also need a name."
Nodoka Thought for a moment. "I think I'll call her 'Ranko', the female equivalent of my son's name."
"Ranko Saotome. Sounds good." Reiko said turning to head for her office.
Nodoka stayed a little longer and then went home. She had much to do.
*****
Two days later Nodoka and Ranko arrived at the rehabilitation clinic at Nagoya. After checking in they were lead to their rooms.
"This well be Ranko's room. Your room will be next store." Said the doctor as he gently placed Ranko on the bed. Nodoka nodded her understanding. "We'll start her physical therapy tomorrow. Tonight I'd like to ask you a few questions about your daughter's Past."
"I afraid I won't be much help Doctor. I adopted Ranko after the accident."
"Oh? I couldn't tell. I mean she looks just like you."
"Yes. I know." Nodoka had long ago realized that Ranko did look very much like her. Something about the way Ranko looked like her bothered Nodoka deep down, but she shook it off. Ranma was with Genma and the Tendos in China, of that she was sure.
The next day Ranko began her physical therapy. At first just trying to make connections with the different parts of her body and their purpose. She was soon able to move her eyes and fingers. Eventually she was able to move her arms and begin training on walking.
Two weeks after arriving at the clinic Ranko spoke her first words. At first the words were simple yes or no answers, but more words came later.
When Ranko was finally able to carry out a conversation Nodoka began to reteach her daughter on how to be a girl. How to act, how to Dress, how to put on makeup, and other girl "things". Nodoka was pleased to find her daughter to be a fast learner.
*****
One day Ranko and Nodoka were sitting on a bench inside the clinic compound. Ranko was on crutches, and was looking forward to walking. Turning to Nodoka she asked.
"Mother?"
"Umm....Yes Ranko?"
"Who am I?"
"You are Ranko Saotome. You are my daughter. I adopted you after you loss your memory in a car accident."
"Mother, why do I change sex when I get wet?"
"No one knows dear. The doctors were never able to find out why you change."
"Umm....Mother, am I a boy or a girl?"
Ounce again the nasty little voice inside Nodoka's head started telling her that she might have made a mistake. That Ranko just might be a boy. Nodoka quickly stomped it out. It was too late to turn back now. "You're a girl dear."
It was now Nodoka's turn to ask a question that had been bothering her.
"Umm..Ranko? The reason you were in that accident and that you lost your memory was because of me. D-D-Do you hate m-me for what happened to you?"
Ranko looked at Nodoka for a moment contemplating her last words. She then bent over and hugged Nodoka.
"I-I could never hate you mother. Ever since I woke up you've always been there for me. I love you."
With teary eyes Nodoka returned her child's hug. "Thank you dear. I love you too. Now how bout we go in and make lunch."
"COOL!" Ranko had grown quite fond of cooking.
*****
A week later Ranko woke up early. She was now walking slowly and had decide to surprise her mother. For once she'd wake up her mother with breakfast in bed. Getting out of bed, she slowly made her way to the clinic kitchen. She then made some egg omelets and toast. Placing the food and some orange juice on the tray Ranko then made her way to her mother's room.
Upon arriving at her mother's door Ranko could hear noise from the other side. This disappointed her, she had been hoping to catch her mother asleep. Placing the tray down she began to opened the door, but then stopped.
Through the open door crack she could see her mother in a martial arts gi. This struck Ranko as kind of odd. Although she knew her mother had other cloths, she had rarely seen her in anything but a kimono.
Ranko then saw her mother unwrap her bundle. Ranko had always wondered what was in the strange bundle that her mother carried everywhere. She could now see that it contained a very beautiful and very sharp looking katana.
Almost hypnotized Ranko watched as her mother performed an intricate dance with the weapon. Thrusting, slashing, and parrying in an almost elegant manner. Once finished, her mother placed the fine weapon down and begin another dance without the sword. Her mother punched, and kicked with the same elegance as before. When her mother was done with that dance Ranko opened the door fully.
"Mother? What are you doing?"
Nodoka jumped. "Oh! Ranko you surprised me. I was doing my practice kata."
"Practice kata?"
"Yes, I do it every morning. Do you see that sword over there?" Ranko nodded. "That is my family's honor sword. It has been pass down from mother to daughter for generations and it is my duty to practice with it everyday."
"What about those other moves? The ones without the sword."
"That was kempo. I practice that to keep in shape and to find inner strength. Also if I was to ever get in a fight and lose my sword I could use the kempo to defend myself."
"Can you teach me how to do that?"
Nodoka looked a little concerned at that. "I don't know Ranko. It's not really proper for young girls to fight."
"Ohh pleassse mother! I really want to learn this."
Seeing how badly her daughter wanted this, Nodoka sighed. "all right dear. But only if and when the doctors say it's okay."
"Ohh! Thank you mother!" Ranko said hugging her Mom.
Once the doctors said it was all right, Nodoka began to train her daughter in kempo and the ways of the sword. Nodoka was surprised to find that Ranko was a natural.
Ranko would learn overnight moves that took Nodoka years to master. It was as if she had been practicing martial arts all her life. With secret pride Nodoka watched as Ranko quickly reached her level in the last weeks at the clinic. Ranko even made up a new move the morning they checked out.
*****
Nodoka and Ranko stood in front of the Saotome home. It was a small two storied house with a garden in the front yard.
"Welcome to your new home Ranko." Nodoka said as she lead her up to her room. "This is your room. I've ordered a few things for you. My room is down the hall. The bathroom is across the hall to the left..."
Ranko looked around the room. It had a rather comfortable looking bed and a desk in the corner. There was also a small makeup stand. Ranko then looked out into the hall.
"Um..Mother what's that room over there?" Ranko said pointing at the door directly across from her's.
"That is your brother Ranma's room."
"Ranma?"
"Yes. he's on a training trip with your father. He's been gone a very long time."
"Will I get to meet him and Father?"
"Oh I'm sure you'll get to meet them someday. Now why don't you unpack your things and after that come downstairs, there's something I want to show you."
Nodoka then turned and left the room. After she was gone Ranko began to unpack. Once she was happy with where everything was Ranko then came downstairs. She found her Mother sitting in the living room, in front of her was a wrapped package. "Mother?"
"Come Ranko, sit down." Ranko sat down in front of her Mother. "This is for you Dear." Said Nodoka indicating the package.
"What is it?"
"Open it and find out."
Taking the package, Ranko tore at the wrapping paper. When she opened the box she saw a sheathed Katana. It wasn't as fine a weapon as the family honor blade, but it was a well made weapon. For a while Ranko was speechless.
"This is your sword. I expect you to keep it sharp and take care of it until such time that you inherit this sword." Said Nodoka indicating her own weapon.
"M-Mother...I...I don't know what to say..."
"Try thank you." Smiled Nodoka.
Ranko hugged her Mother. "Thank you Mother. I'll take good care of it. I promise."
"Your welcome Dear. Now get some rest, we're going shopping for school supplies tomorrow. You'll be starting at Juuban High next week."
"What about my 'condition'?"
"Mizuno-Sensei will explain to the school that you can't come in contacted with hot water." Said Nodoka as she guided her daughter to her room.
*****
"Class this is Ranko Saotome." Said the teacher as she introduced Ranko. "She has just come back from a long recovery at the hospital, I want you to make her welcomed. Miss Saotome, you can sit over there."
Ranko went to the desk she was pointed to. It was next to another girl with short black hair. The girl turned to Ranko as she sat down.
"Hi, I'm Ami. My Mother told me I might see you."
"Ohh?"
"Yeah, Dr. Mizuno."
"Your Mizuno-Sensei's daughter?"
"Um-Hm. Maybe we can talk during lunch."
"Okay."
With that the class begun. The first two classes were math and history, witch Ranko found to be quit boring. The next class was P.E. They were doing gymnastics that day and using her martial arts Ranko was able to make quit an impression on her classmates. Ranko had just taken a shower after class, when she was approached by girl with long brown hair done in a ponytail.
"Those were some pretty good moves you showed there." Said the girl.
"Thanks. They mostly come from the martial arts that my mom thought me." Replied Ranko.
"Really? Cool! I'm Makoto Kino."
"Umm...I'm Ranko Saotome."
"You know we're starting a martial arts club here at Juuban. You might...."
"EEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!"
Both girls turned to see a girl with long blond hair leaving the shower stall Ranko had just used. She was shivering.
"U-Usagi? What's wrong!?" Ask Makoto.
"T-That water i-is fr-frezzing."
Ranko looked a little sheepish. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I turned it off."
"You take cold showers?"
"Ah...yes. I've got this 'condition' that's triggered by hot water. That's why I take cold showers."
"H-How can you stand taking showers like that?" Asked Usagi.
"You get use to it after awhile." Ranko was lying. She had never gotten used to cold showers. However, they were the only thing she could take without risking a transformation.
The next class was lunch. After Ranko got her lunch out of her locker, she looked for Ami. Ranko found her sitting with Makoto and Usagi. Upon seeing Ranko they invited her to sit with them. She did and they began to talk.
Ranko found that she liked Makoto a lot. They shared many of the same interest, particularly cooking and martial arts. She found Usagi to be a bit ditzy, but otherwise friendly girl who shared her love of food (eating it that is). Ami proved to be friendly and one of the smartest girls in school. This was good because Ranko was having some problems catching up with the rest of the class.
The last class of the day was an art class. Ranko to her surprised found herself enjoying the class. She liked drawing and decided she was going to join the school's art club as well.
*****
"So Ranko, how was your first day of school?" Asked Nodoka as she watched Ranko enter the house.
"It was okay. I going to need some help catching up with the rest of the class. At least I got to make some very nice friends there."
"Ohh?"
"Yeah there's this girl there named Makoto who's into cooking just as much as I am."
"That's nice dear." Nodoka was glad that her new daughter was making friends. "So have you thought of joining any clubs there?"
"Uh..Huh. There starting a martial arts club."
"Martial arts club!...Ranko, you know how I feel about girls fighting." Said Nodoka in a mock scolding tone. She had long ago given up trying to talk Ranko out of martial arts though.
"Oh mom! It isn't like I going to be brawling in the streets you know. It's just going to be practicing after school and maybe entering a few tournaments."
"Oh All right. So are there any other clubs your interested in?"
"Sure is. I'm thinking of joining the art club."
"Oh really?" This was something different thought Nodoka.
"Yeah. I really enjoyed the drawing class I had."
"That's good Ranko. Who knows? If you stick to it you might become a good professional artist."
"Umm...Maybe. If not, I can still cook and fight."
*****
A few days later Makoto and Usagi were sitting with Ami and Ranko.
Ami was trying to help Ranko with her studies and figure out just
where Ranko stood scholastically.
"You don't remember how you did in school before the your accident?" Asked Ami.
Ranko shook her head. "No. I don't remember anything before the accident. I don't even remember the accident."
Usagi spoke up "Hey, we know someone who might be able to help with that!"
"Oh, we do?" Asked Makoto.
"Yeah! Rei could give her a fire reading."
Makoto nodded her head. "You may be right Usagi."
"Uh..Guys. Isn't that just a bunch of superstition." Asked Ranko.
"I don't know Ranko" Ami said. "Rei's helped a few people with her fire readings. You might want to give it a try...."
Usagi interrupted. "Yeah, let's go there now."
Ranko thought for a minute. "Umm..Okay."
A Short while later they where at the Cherry Hill Shrine talking to Rei. Rei had long black hair and dressed in her priestess robes. Ranko told Rei of her accident and her amnesia. She also told her of her adoptive mother Nodoka and showed Rei a picture of her.
"Wait a moment, while I talked to the fire." Said Rei turning towards the fire. "Ohh Sacred fire please tell me of this girl's past."
The fire flared and Rei saw various images in her head. The first image was of Ranko and Nodoka standing side by side. Then the image of a boy joined them. The boy looked like Ranko. His hair was black and done in a pigtail. He whore a red shirt and black pants. Then the image of Nodoka disappeared leaving only Ranko and the boy.Soon they were joined by the images of a large man wearing glasses and a giant PANDA! Then the image of a valley with many springs appeared and then faded. When the valley was gone Ranko and the panda disappeared too leaving only the man and the boy. The boy then turned into an infant and Nodoka reappeared nursing the baby boy. The images stopped.
Ranko looked at Rei. "Umm..well?"
Rei turned to Ranko. "I-I'm sorry. Most of what the fire told me didn't make sense. All I can say is that magic plays a large part in your life and that you are close to your mother." *I'm not about to tell this girl that the fire told me she was a boy. She'll think I'm out of my mind.*
BEEP,BEEP.BEEP...
Ranko looked around. The beeping was coming from Rei and her friends. "Ah..What's that?"
The others looked a little nervous. Suddenly Ami spoke out. "Ah..That's our beepers. Yeah. Ah..Ranko your going to have to excuse us. We need to leave. It's an emergency. Sort of."
"Do you need help!?"
"Umm..No." Answered Makoto. "We can handle it. Don't forget were going shopping tomorrow and making spaghetti at my house afterwards."
"Okay." replied Ranko as she watched her friends leave. She thought about following them, but decide she should respect their privacy. *After all. They haven't pushed me for details on my 'condition'.* Instead, Ranko gathered her things and headed home. *Hmm...Magic. That might explain my condition. I'll have to look into it sometime.....Nah!*
*****
The next day Ryoga Hibiki was wondering around lost in a mall.
"Where am I now?" He asked nobody while he tried to figure out where he was. Suddenly he was bumped from behind. Ryoga turned around to see a girl with long blond hair picking up her stuff.
"Usagi are you all right?" The blond was soon joined by another girl. This girl was in a blue dress and had long red hair done in a ponytail. *She's beautiful.* thought Ryoga as he watch the girl help her friend.
The red headed girl then turned to Ryoga. "I'm sorry about my friend, she wasn't watching where she was going."
"Oh, that's all right. Excuse me but you wouldn't happen to know were Nerima is would you?" Asked Ryoga.
"Nerima? This is Juuban. Nerima is the next district over. If you go out that exit there you'll see a road. Turn left and just keep following the road, you'll in up in Nerima eventually."
"Thanks ah.."
"Ranko"
"Oh. Thanks Ranko."
"No problem! Come on Usagi, Makoto and the others are waiting for us at the other entrance." Said Ranko.
Ryoga turned and left the mall. Upon getting to the road he turned right. As he walked down the road he thought about the girl he just met. *Something about that girl was familiar. I know I've seen her before. Was it her eyes? No. Was it her hair.......her RED HAIR..Wait a minute that was.....*
"RRANNNMMMMAAA...huh?" Ryoga found himself in a very large rice patty. "Curse you Ranma! You tricked me. For that you will pay!"
That said Ryoga turned around and began the journey of a lifetime.
*****
"So this Mamoru dumped you and now he's going out with other girls?" Said Ranko as she boiled the spaghetti noodles. "What a loser. You should find someone else Usagi."
"Yeah. You can give him to me." Added in Rei under Ranko's glare.
"Ah..Yeah. I guess. I really don't want to talk about it Ranko." Said a sadden Usagi as she flipped though Ranko's sketch book. In the book were drawings of Nodoka, various parts of Juuban, and Ranko's friends. "These drawings are really good Ranko."
"Thanks. I'm thinking of entering the school art contest at the end of the year."
"Oh really?" Said Ami looking up from her book. "I here the prize is a pretty good college fund."
"Really? That'd be cool." Said Makoto as she worked on the sauce.
"Well that's one of the reason I'm entering the contest." Ranko said as she moved to the sink to strain the noodles. Suddenly, the unthinkable (for Ranko) happened.
Slipping on a wet spot on the floor, Ranko lost her grip on the pot and drenched herself in boiling water. With a scream Ranko turned into a boy. The other girls looked at the boy in horror. Then Ami remembered something her mother had told her.
Grabbing a nearby pitcher, Amy went to the sink and filled it with cold water. She then threw the water on Ranko turning her back into a girl. After the change was complete Ranko backed herself into a corner and began to cry and shake uncontrollably.
"I-I'm Sorry. I-I d-didn't want you to see that...It-It's not my fault...I'm sorry.." Ranko was starting to babble.
"It's her condition." Said Ami before bending down to Ranko. "It's okayy Ranko. We understand. we're just a little surprised that's all."
"H-How did you know?"
"Mother told me to throw cold water on you if you ever came into contact with hot water. She didn't tell me why though."
"I'm sorry. I should have told you." Said Ranko who'd calmed down a little.
Makoto came up. "It's all right Ranko. It doesn't change who you are. Your still our friend. Now I think we should have those burns checked out."
Ranko sniffed. "T-Thank you. I hope this doesn't keep me from fighting. We got that kendo tournament next month."
"I don't think so." Said Ami. "Your cloths protected you from the worst of it. These are mostly first degree burns. They should heal in a few days."
Makoto looked a little sheepish. "Ah. Ranko? Can you answer a question? You don't have to if you don't want to."
"Umm. Sure"
"What's it like."
"You mean being a boy?" Makoto nodded her now red face.
"It throws your balance off. Everything feels different. I really don't know much past that. I try to avoid being like that as much as possible. I'm afraid that if I stay in boy form too long, I'll actually start to think I'm a boy." The other girl's shuddered at that.
As Ranko, Makoto, and Ami talked, Usagi went over to Rei and started to whisper to her.
"What's wrong Rei, you look a little pale? It isn't like you've haven't seen weirder stuff."
"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Rei had not told any one about what the fire had really told her and, after hearing Ranko fears about becoming a boy, Rei decided she wasn't going to. *If I tell her the truth now, it could destroy her.*
*****
About a month later:
"Well here we are at high school kendo championship and what a
surprise its been. What with the newcomers Juuban high making it all
the way to the finals. Now I understand that Juuban doesn't have a
kendo club, but they do have a martial arts club with a kendoist in
it. Is that right Kujaku?" The announcer turned to his partner.
"They sure do Hiroki and a female one at that. She's fresh from her victory over Tomobiki's Mendo and looks ready to take the championship."
"Will she's going to have her work cut out for her. Now Juuban faces last year's champions Furinkan High."
Ranko stood in the corner of the ring waiting. As she waited Makoto and Nodoka went over her to make sure every thing was okay.
"You ready for this Ranko? You look tired and you have been at this all day."
"Don't worry I'm ready. Besides, I'm the only kendoist in the club."
"Okay. Just so long as you don't get hurt. Remember if you win there's a pizza party in it for ya."
"Ohhh, I know I gotta win now!" Joked Ranko.
"Just be careful dear." Said Nodoka as Makoto exited the ring and the Furinkan team entered. The Furinkan champion was a tall boy with short black hair.
"Could it be the beautiful pigtailed girl? She who's...blah, blah, blah..(insert hour of poetic ranting here)..blah, blah, blah......for it is I the blue thunder of Furinkan High Tatewaki Kuno that you face today." As he said this thunder could be heard outside.
"RANKO!" Called Makoto from the stands.
"Y-Yawn. W-What!? Are we ready to begin?" Ranko stared at Kuno. *This guy is to weird!*
"Know this Pigtailed Girl if you win you may date me."
*Full of himself too!* Thought Ranko. "YEAH WHATEVER! Let's get this over with, there's pizza party with my name on it!"
"BEGIN!" yelled the referee.
"Very well I accept your challenge." With that Kuno charged, his bokken held high. He took a swing at Ranko, but she was able to dodge. Rolling under kuno's swing, Ranko used her bokken to swipe his legs from under him. Kuno hit the mate hard on his back.
"POINT JUUBAN!" As the referee yelled this the Juuban club cheered.
As Kuno got up Ranko moved to the far end of the ring and waited for the next round.
"ROUND TWO BEGIN!" Yelled the referee.
"So you wish to play hard to get! Very well, I go on!...DA, DA, DA, DA, DA, DA, DA...." Kuno's bokken became a blur headed straight for Ranko. With a yell Ranko put up a defense.
"LIGHTING PARRY(1)!" Ranko's own bokken became a blur as it parried each of Kuno's blows. Ranko knew however that Kuno would eventually wear her out and he was pushing her closer to the edge of the ring, she had to find an opening. Getting an idea, Ranko leaped over Kuno. Kuno, who no longer had a target in front of him, found himself lounging forward. As Ranko landed behind him, she swung and struck Kuno's back. This added to Kuno's forward momentum, pushing him out of the ring and into the stands.
"POINT WIN JUUBAN!" The Juuban club went wild.
Suddenly Ranko felt herself being grabbed from behind.
"Oh Pigtailed Girl! This victory can only mean you love ME and no other!!" Said Kuno as he glomped onto her and fondled her CENSORED. With the inhuman strength born of righteous female anger Ranko sent Kuno through the roof. Makoto ran up to her.
"Ranko are you all right!?"
"Y-Yeah I think so."
"Who was that guy? He seemed to know you." Said Makoto looking at the hole in the roof.
"God, I hope not! I never met such a Pompous ass..."
"Who cares!" Interjected Usagi. "It's party time!"
With that the rest of the Juuban martial arts club grabbed Ranko and started to carry her out of the ring.
Nodoka watched with pride as her daughter was carried away by her friends. Now that Ranko was fully recovered and settled Nodoka decided it was time Genma found out about the new addition to the family. It was also time Ranma meet his new sister.
"I think we should make that trip to the Tendo's now." said Nodoka as she followed Ranko out of the ring.
To be continued
Notes
(1)This is one of the new moves Ranko's come up with using her
mothers sword training. It's actually a modified version of the good
old Chestnut Fist that's been so drilled into her that it's now
instinct. She doesn't remember learning the Chestnut Fist, so she
gave it and other moves names she thinks sound good.
Some of the other moves she's come up with (or thinks she has) are:
SPEED FIST: Classic Chestnut Fist
WOLF STRIKE: Attack version of the Lighting Parry (Chestnut Fist with weapon.)
FOX DODGE: Uses the speed of the Chestnut Fist to dodge.