[Episode 116416] [Episode 116416]She opened the door to her room and crept up to the bed on which he lay. Concern was etched on her face as he looked at her son wondering when would awaken. She gently brushed some of his hair from his face. He snorted once, scratched his cheek and rolled over.
He was sleeping. She was up half the night worrying over him and he went from unconscious to sleeping without waking up.
“Oooh,” she growled, “Ranma, wake up.” but the boy didn’t stir. “Ranma! Get up!” she shouted, shaking him. Still her son didn’t react. She shifted into the form of her husband, “WAKE UP YOU LAZY BOY!!”
*POW*
{Pop, you had better have a good reason…} Ranma shifted in the bed as he looked around him in wonder. He had rarely seen a bed this large and for a moment he wondered who’s it was. A groan brought his attention to form of a woman lying on the floor.
“Mom?” Ranma jumped out of the bed and knelt next to his mother, “Mom! Who did this to you?”
Mystique gave him a scathing look as she held her face, “A brutish martial artist with a pigtail who sleeps like the dead.”
Ranma had to look around the room before he caught on, “That was you?”
Trying to stand on wobbly legs, “Considering it’s not my brightest moment, I wish I could say ‘no.’” she said.
“Aw, Mom, I’m sorry. Really. I didn’t mean it. I…”
“Stop, Ranma, It’s ok. It takes more than one punch to put your mother down. While I appreciate your concern, it’s time you were dressed.” Ranma looked down at his nakedness and gave a little squeak as he dove for the bedcovers. “Breakfast will be ready shortly.” his mother called as she walked out the door.
She passed by Toad who was crouched in the hall, starting at the darker spot on her blue face, “Not one word…,” she hissed at him. He just shook his head but continued to stare.
Later, there were plenty of pancakes sitting on the table and the smell roused the rest of the house.
“Whoa, you sure are being generous with the food, Mystique. Blob will love it.”
“It’s not all for him, and you will wait for the others.”
“Since when did you become such a domestic?” asked Toad as he took his seat.
“There are many things you don’t know about me, Todd, and much more that you never will. A lady must have her secrets after all.”
Toad was stunned, that was almost a joke… coming from Mystique no less.
“That’s for sure,” said Wanda coming in having caught the last exchange. “How’s Ranma this morning and what happened to your face?”
Mystique gave a long suffering sigh, “Ranma’s awake and if you ever try to wake him, just be sure to stand back a bit when you do. He’ll be down shortly.”
“Hmm, smells good.” Blob said eyeing the large stack of pancakes.
“Hey everyone.” Ranma said coming in, casually flipping over the table and into an open seat.
“You feeling ok, Ranma?” Wanda asked, still concerned. “I’m sorry about what happened.”
“It was a training accident, forget it.” He was about to simply grab the food when he saw she still looked a bit down and said, “Listen, if I let every little training injury stop me, I wouldn’t be here, OK?”
Toad interjected, “What did happen to you, Ranma? You looked like you were being turned inside out.”
“It sure felt like I was; that was the worst pain ever and believe me, I’ve been through a lot. I thought I was gonna die.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.” Wanda said getting up.
Mystique put her face in her hands and everybody else was quiet as she left, until Toad said, “Woo, you definitely have a way with the ladies.”
Ranma was busy shoveling a whole pancake in his mouth, he looked up and shrugged, “What?”
Lance leaned towards him, “Dude, you don’t know about her, she’s…”
“That’s enough, Lance.” Maystique commanded. “Ranma, you should go talk to her.” Her just gave her a questioning look, his mouth still half stuffed. “She really feels bad about what happened yesterday. I know you think it’s nothing, but to her it’s important.”
“I’ll go.” said Toad getting up.
“You sit and eat.” Mystique said, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him back into his chair, “This is Ranma’s job.”
Ranma sighed as he stood. He found Wanda on the back porch looking at the north sky with her arms wrapped around herself, slowly rocking back and forth.
“Wanda? I’m sorry, ok? Sometimes I say or do things without thinking, so if I hurt you, I’m sorry.” She didn’t seem to acknowledge him but continued hugging herself. He went over and knelt next to her. “Hey, you ok?” He hesitantly touched her shoulder.
Wanda instantly sprang down the steps before she turned around to face Ranma, her arms crossed in front of her. “I’m not crying, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I never said you were.” Ranma sat at the top step. He could see her eyes were red and a little puffy, but her mascara was still in place. “But, even if you aren’t, that doesn’t mean something isn’t wrong.”
“What do you know about it?” she asked defensively.
He lauged lightly, “Believe me, I know a lot about pain, and ‘bout hiding pain.” She still stood there looking like a scared rabbit ready to run. Hey, listen, I haven’t known you for that long, but I’d still like to think we can be friends. You hurtin’ me by accident ain’t gonna change that.” He remembered a Western custom and stuck out his hand towards her.
She looked at him and his hand, “You’re not mad at me?”
“Naw, the way I figure it, we all got something to learn here. I can tell you’ve had some training, but I’m suppose to help you take it further, if you’ll let me.”
She reached out and tentatively took his hand, he drew her back toward the house, as she reached the top step, she threw her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Hey,” he protested slightly before putting his hands on her shoulders. He got the feeling she was looking for something more from his than he was willing to give, much like all the other girls who were after him. “Listen, I’m not promising we won’t make mistakes or that there won’t be more accidents, but I will promise that I won’t give up an’ you have to promise the same, ok?”
She nodded against his chest as she shuddered slightly, but still no tears came. He believed in her; that was something no man had ever done. She would make sure she didn’t let him down. …And he did smell pretty good, for not having any cologne on.
“Come on, the other’s are waiting, an’ I’m still hungry.” he said pulling away.
“Yeah, me too.” she said with a smile.
When they went back inside, a severe looking woman dressed in a straight cut business suit was at the door talking with a delivery man. When she handed back the clipboard, she told him to leave the boxes on the porch and turned around, “Ah, Ranma. I hope everything is ok.”
“It’s fine, but who are you?”
The woman couldn’t keep a slightly hurt look from her face before schooling her features, “My name is Raven Darkholme, but really, Son, you need to get used to it.” she said patting his cheek lightly.
He blushed, “Mom?”
“He’s a bit slow on the uptake, isn’t he?” she said to Wanda who just smirked.
“Sorry.” he said, scratching the back of his head.
“I know you probably had your heart set on training today, but I’m going to have to put that on hold for a while,” she said as they walked back into the kitchen. “For the moment, I’d like to make this place livable again. And you boys are going to help, of course.” She pulled on one cabinet door which fell off it’s hinges in her hand. The other members of the Brotherhood studied their surrounding with disinterest.
“Yeah, y’know I wasn’t going to say anything.” Ranma said, looking at the paper coming off the walls. “But that’s ok, anything can be turned into training.”
“Somehow, I knew you’d say that.” his mom smiled.
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(Posted Mon, 30 Aug 2004 02:13)
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