"Okay Gina, you win..." Brianna said. "Well take the time to try to find Ranma's mom."
Putting her hand on her sister's shoulder, Gina said, "It is best for Ranma to find his parents."
Moving back to the picnic area, the Diggers sisters saw that Ranma was happily alternating between eating and talking to Stryyp. "It sounds like you had a hard life kid..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Ranma replied. "Only thing I feel bad about is dad just leaving me. At least the cats were nice enough to protect me."
Moving over to her husband, Britanny tapped him on the shoulder. "So, did you find out anything interesting Muffin?"
"Well Britanny..." Stryyp began, a scowl appearing on his face as he turned his back to Ranma. He then spoke in a lower tone of voice. "If I meet her father I am personally going to use Flame Racker numerous times on him."
Nodding her head, Britanny realized it must have been bad. "Did you find out her family name?"
Nodding his head, Stryp replied, "Yes. Her name is Ranma Saotome."
Hearing that, Brianna took out a laptop from her bag. She then hacked... I mean, 'logged into' the Japanese government's directory of citizens. She frowned as she did find one record of Saotome Residence. "There should be a Nodoka Saotome living in the Juuban residence..."
Looking over at the screen, Gina then took out a small pen-like device from a duffel bag. "Let me set up the coordinates into the light gate. We'll take her home."
Looking up from the Sandwich she was almost finished with, Ranma asked, "Home?"
Nodding her head, Brianna answered, "Yes Ranma, we're going to take you back home."
After a minute, the Light Gate hummed, and what looked like a portal appeared. "Well, step in and we'll take you home Ranma."
(------)
It was an hour later. The Diggers crew had packed up and headed into the Light Gate with Ranma, (and her ten cats). Nodoka Saotome was a bit surprised at first, saying that this couldn't be her daughter. Thanks to some help by mental Imaging Device borrowed from Dao, they were able to learn exactly what had happened. (And boy was Brianna pissed).
"I'll show that good-for-nothing SOB.." Brianna thought as she was making a new Peebo. One that looked like a small black piglet of death.
Looking around the place, Ranma wondered what was taking so long that her mother would be upstairs.
Finally numerous moments, Nodoka came back downstairs, holding a katana, and carrying a piece of paper. "Ranma, would you come over here?"
"Okay mom." Ranma said, and stod near the center of the room. Nodoka nodded her head put the paper down on the coffee table in front of the couch where the Diggers sisters were seated.
"What's this?" Britanny asked. She could speak Japanese, but she couldn't read it.
"Let me look." Gina said. She was the only one that had specific knowledge in Japanese language and writing... Of course, her skills at reading and writing were poor at best, but she could read some parts of the contract. "WHAT!?!?!?" Gina was sceaming.
"What's wrong sis?" Brianna asked, feeling a knot of tension in her stomach worsening.
Looking up at Nodoka Gina said, "You cannot be serious about this!"
"Shaking her head, Nodoka replied, "But I am serious. That contract was signed by his... 'Her' father and Ranma herself."
"BUT IT'S A FINGER PAINTING!!!" Gina stood up and screamed.
Ranma trembled slightly. She didn't understand why everyone was yelling.
"What is it Gina!?" Brianna asked, the tension and vervousness getting ot her.
"Yeah sis, what's with the ciniption fit?" Britanny asked.
Calming down, Gina spoke slowly "Brianna..." Gina said, "This is a contract that basically describes that if Ranma fails to become a 'man amongst men', then she will have to commit seppuku."
The Diggers group blinked with that, but Stryyp's eyes hardened. "Isn't that ritual suicide?" Seeing Gina nod her head, Stryyp realized this was quite serious.
Gulping Ranma asked, "Suicide?"
Nodding her head, Nodoka continued. "Yes. You signed the contract, and you have failed. I am sorry my daughter, but you must die to maintain honor." Nodoka held the katana high, and then brought it down...
Only to have it caught by Brianna.
"WELL, F*CK THAT!!!" Brianna screamed in the older woman's face. "IT'S NOT HER FAULT WHAT HAPPENED, AS THAT EYE GLASS SHOWED YOU! IT'S ALL HER FATHER'S FAULT!"
Nodoka struggled to move the katana, but it wouldn' budge, making Nodoka wonder how strong the gaijin girl was. "You will release my katana now. This is a matter of honor. Ranma signed the contract and she must follow through with it."
*BZZZZZZZZZZT* *SIZZLE* *SPIT*
A very charred-looking Nodoka fell backwards, as Brianna held up her own revised tazor. "To hell with this family's honor..." Brianna spat. Handing the tazor to Genn, Brianna bent down and picked up Ranma. "Well kid, since it's obvious your family is a bunch of loonies, how about I adopt you?"
Looking back and forth between her mother that tried to kill her, and the nice woman that saved her and had fed her earlier, it was no contest. "Do you really mean that?"
Smiling Brianna nodded her head. "Yes I do. Gina, set up a Light Gate. We're going home!"
After a few moments more, Ranma got sent through that same Gate of Light that haed gotten her to her mother's home. She was in awe by the place she was in now. Here, she saw...
"What is this place?"
"Hey Cheetah! Sorry I'm late, I slept in! But I made more food!"
See other episodes by Red Priest of the 17th Order
(Posted Sat, 05 Oct 2002 14:49)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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