Genma watched Ranma for a few moments before joining his son. "Not a thing you can do at the moment, son. Let her be."
Ranma nodded, still wanting to do something but not sure what.
Genma thought it time for more philosophy, and as he had decided to pursue an anti-Happosai stance - went that route. "Son, what is the duty of a martial artist?"
"Ta be able to kick butt?" asked Ranma.
"Yes, that's... no that's not quite it," said Genma. "To protect yourself but especially those who can't otherwise do it themselves. Someday I hope you'll be protecting Hotaru there."
Ranma frowned in thought. "I'm supposed to protect her?"
"Yes, son," said Genma, not mentioning marriage or anything else. Keep it simple for now, use vague and general terms so Ranma could understand. "She's going to grow up into someone important and will need your help. Sometimes, like now, you can't do anything. Other times you'll be there for her and she'll need your strength."
Ranma brightened. It sounded like some new technique was on the schedule. "Okay!"
"Now," said Genma, figuring a distraction might help, "let's see about practicing your blocks."
Time passed. Ranma grew stronger and Genma continued vague predictions of Hotaru being important in the future. (He still avoided mentioning how or why, which to his mind would be a continuation of the school.) Because the two showed signs of becoming friends, some time for the two to play together was scheduled amongst the training.
Genma couldn't help some old habits, and it was the training he was familiar with. Ranma would have to get away from civilization to up the training level. Not to mention avoid some legal entanglements.
Still, Genma couldn't help but hide in the shadows and smile as the two children began a new game in the yard, trying to picture the two grown.
The smile faded as he saw a flicker of something else, that monster chi hiding within the frail girl.
Clearly he needed to find new techniques, focussing on control and mastery of chi. Perhaps some meditation and discipline techniques. The Way Of The Observant Thief had shown him a different path than the Way Of The Noisy Thief or the Way Of The Silent Thief. Perhaps...
Genma's attention was yanked back to the children as:
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(Posted Wed, 02 Jun 2004 09:31)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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