"Okay," Ukyou said agreeably. "And maybe come up with a plan?"
"I've been thinking about what Master Yoda said about Kodachi," Ranma said slowly. "I think I can handle it, but I'm not positive. The bigger question is if we want to talk to her, or Tatewaki first."
"Hmm," Ukyou mused. "Well, Kuno would only pick a fight with you. Kodachi could go after either of us, if you get hit with cold water."
"Then I need to talk to Kodachi," Ranma decided. "Now how do we avoid Tatewaki until we get to her?"
"I shan't imagine that would be a problem at all, Ranma-sama," the girl in question murmured, causing both Ranma and Ukyou to whirl in alarm. She smiled, though it looked a bit strained, dressed as she was in her Catholic school uniform. "You seem quite familiar with this girl, Ranma-sama."
"Oh," Ranma said, blinking. "Yes. I think you've met before though, Kodachi. I guess I've never introduced you though.... Ah, Kodachi, this is my childhood friend, Ukyou."
Kodachi looked at Ukyou with a raised eyebrow, while Ukyou remained silent, not letting go of the arm that she had latched onto. "And ... are you more than merely childhood friends?" she asked, eyes locking onto Ranma's.
"Yeah," he said absently, which made Ukyou giggle and blush, and Kodachi twitch. "We're best friends." Ukyou's giggle gave way to a pout.
The gymnast blinked at this, then some of the falseness faded from her smile. "Of course," she said. "It would be foolish of me to assume that you would bring a lover with you when you sought me out." Then she cocked her head to one side. "But curiosity compels me to ask, Ranma-sama.... Why do you seek me out now, when you've been gone for so long?"
"It was just a training trip," he said dismissively. "Um.... I was looking for you because I.... We need your help, Kodachi."
"Help from me?" she asked, intrigued, as her smile widened. "My, this sounds most fascinating."
He nodded explaining, "Ucchan and I ... well.... I'm going to be honest. We need you to give us a place to stay. But before I could even ask for that favor from you, I need to try and ... well ... help you, I guess." He fidgeted, staring at the ground. "I'm not really good at explaining this, I guess," he sighed.
Yoda nodded agreement, but still did not reveal himself to Kodachi yet.
"I'm curious, as to what I need help with," Kodachi murmured, somewhat confused.
Ranma considered, and then disentangled himself from Ukyou, taking a few steps closer to Kodachi, and holding a hand out to her. Smiling, Kodachi shrugged, and placed her hand in Ranma's. Then he extended his senses, force and chi, feeling her emotions out.
She was off-balance, and because of the variety of emotions that Ranma had left her with, it took a long moment to see through to the center. And there was the problem, Ranma saw. It was deeper than Yoda had suggested, but also, much simpler.
Kodachi had loved her mother because in Kodachi's life, her mother had been the only person to ever show her compassion or kindness without it being asked of her. As she had grown, Kodachi wanted to be loved, accepted, and liked. But she simply had no idea how to go about it, and had slowly raised walls that separated her from the ones who would have reached out to her.
As she'd gone through high school, and eventually joined the gymnastics team, she fought to gain the acceptance of her peers, willing to sacrifice honor for victory, in the hope of gaining acceptance.... But she hadn't gotten what she sought. Indeed, long after the motions had become empty to her, she'd continued, hoping that some day, she would find acceptance, kindness, and maybe even affection.
In a way, her path had seemed right to her -- it was, after all, in this pursuit that she experienced her first taste of good-will since the death of her mother. It was a simple thing, her being saved from a fall (which he'd caused in the first place) which caused her to shift her entire paradigm. She'd known that one instant of happiness, finding not merely a friendly face and a helping hand, but a gentle embrace, and a concerned question for her welfare.
She'd not been left with what she needed to deal with the situation, so she struggled to reach her happiness as best as she knew how. Ranma suddenly drew his hand back, and dropped it to his side....
See other episodes by Sgt. Chibi De`Ohki
(Posted Mon, 18 Jul 2005 03:49)
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