Gods are not like mortals, though often that distinction gets blurred. Just like how an electron elevated to a higher energy level no longer runs in its old orbits, gods occupy a higher plane of reality. And yet, again like electrons, sometimes interactions between the levels occur when the conditions are favorable. However, that is where the analogy ends, for unlike electrons, the prestige and influence of the gods wax and wane over time. During the last time they held prominence, and the conditions were proper for interactions with the mortal plane, one of their number interbred with a mortal and founded a mortal line with a touch of the divine.
Ever since the time soon after Amaterasu’s progeny begat the imperial line of Japan, the gods have been on a steady decline in power and importance. Not because of anything Amaterasu or the imperial line has done. But rather, it is just the season of things, when gods tighten their belts and the strongest survive the long winter.
Not very often, but time to time, a god may have a vision that prophesies about their eventual return, or sometimes their potential extinction. One such prophecy was made before their current ebbing of importance; a prophecy of rebirth or death. A prophecy that caused the gods to take notice of and pay attention to a small mortal boy. A boy who could mean a new renaissance for the gods, or their permanent downfall and extinction. A boy who may either usher in a new era of the divine on Earth, or end them for good. A boy who would of been fed to the cats by his father, except errors in comprehension had led to potentially sleeping with the fishes.
In short, the divinities saw Ranma Saotome as their savior, while the devils saw him as their executioner. Someone this important could not be left in the care of just any mortal, and especially not Genma Saotome. Someone this important would need to be raised right, to champion the causes of the divine, to be their agent on Earth, and, of course, to secure their existence. He would need to be raised by the gods themselves. And this is why Ranma found himself in a new family, going to a very special school, one made just for him alone. All of his tutors are gods and goddesses. His foster family are all divine. He is highly respected, and the gods predict, well more like hope, that his line of descendants will be as preeminent as the emperor’s. They even hope, well plan, that the two families would unite in marriage one of these generations. But that’s all in the future, presently the child is being raised to be a great hero.
Ranma awoke to the melodious singing of birds as the sweet smell of the morning air welcomed him to a new day. Stretching his arms above his head as he sat up, Ranma smiled; he was excited to begin his day. Ever since he found himself at his new home, Ranma looked forward to each and every new day. Grabbing fresh clothes, Ranma left to bathe under the waterfall behind his new home. On his way out he greeted his foster mom, who was already busy preparing breakfast. The sound of her bustling around the kitchen followed Ranma out and was accompanied by the aroma of her cooking. At the cascade, Ranma greeted his new sister, gained when his current family adopted him, who was already cleaning up. Ranma stripped out of his night clothes before diving into the pool and swimming over to a rock under the waterfall.
"Good Morning, Ranma," his older sister greeted as she rinsed the soap from her eyes. Suds ran down along her naked and well figured body.
"Morning. Hey, who's teaching me today at the academy?"
"Not sure. Could you wash my back for me?"
Ranma scrubbed his sister's back, lathering it up and vigorously cleaning it with a coarse cloth. Working lower, he goosed her in the similar manner she would do to him. Her squeal was reward enough for Ranma.
"OK, do me now." Ranma turned around so his back could get cleaned as well. Leaning her weight into Ranma suddenly, Amadan pushed Ranma into the water. Laughing, Amadan stood with her hands on her hips, staring down at Ranma.
Ranma surfaced, spluttering from the water that got into his nose and mouth. "Hey!" He glared at his sister.
Amadan laughed gaily in response to Ranma's glare before helping to pull him back onto the rock. Soon, brother and sister finished their morning absolutions and waded to the shore to dry off and put their sandals and bathrobes on.
"Tag! You're it," Ranma cried as he tagged his sister and the two raced off towards the house. Bursting into the kitchen, laughing heartily, the two children scrambled to fill up plates with breakfast.
"Uh-uh-uh!" Their mother warned the two kids while waving a finger. "You know you're supposed to get dressed first, then eat breakfast. Up you go, and don't come back until you're decent. No bath robes at the table, those things are filthy."
The kids quickly complied; Ranma grumbled under his breath as he left for he was impatient to eat.
Returning dressed for the day, Amadan was quickly sent away to fix her hair. Ranma snickered as he had already taken the time to brush his hair. Sitting down, he began leisurely filling his plate, as his adoptive mother disapproved of him attacking the food like a wild animal overcome with a feeding frenzy.
"Mama," Ranma asked after swallowing some fried golden eggs, "do you know who will be teaching me at the academy today?"
Meidatsu smiled at her adopted son. "I believe that Amaterasu herself will be conducting your next block of lessons." The gods and goddesses all took turns in teaching Ranma; many jockeying for the honor and privilege -- as they saw it.
Ranma's face lit up; he was excited to hear one of the highest ranking deity would be meeting with him. Ranma couldn't wait to share the news. As soon as his sister reappeared. her hair brushed and tied back, he verbally pounced upon her. "Ama-chan, Ama-chan, guess what," he exclaimed in giddy joy.
Amadan smiled to see Ranma so happy. "What is it, little squirt?"
"My next teacher is going to be Amaterasu! Yipee!" Ranma began to jump and dance around. Amadan laughed at his antics.
"Sit down, Ranma. You can play after you finish eating." Meidatsu frowned at her son's exuberance. "Maybe running to school will work some of that energy out of your system."
Ranma, a giant smile still adorning his face, took his seat and recommenced stuffing his face.
Amadan began making her plate, grabbing food from the serving platters in the middle of the table. "So, now you got a new favorite teacher?" Amadan smirked.
Ranma became thoughtful, pondering the question with a seriousness that belied his young and tender age. "Don't know yet. Urashima-san tells the best stories," he finally answered after gulping down some juice made from golden apples, blood oranges, and ambrosius - a fruit that looks like a silvery tomato and glows with a color like pale moonlight.
Amadan playfully tussled Ranma's hair and smiled at him.
"Hiddy-ho," Ryoji, Ranma's adoptive father, called from the front door.
"Good morning, Dad," Ranma and Amadan chorused happily.
Meidatsu got up to give Ryoji a kiss to his cheeks. "How was your meeting?"
"It was fine. I just wish it didn't have to be so early, but no other time would do when you have to arbitrate between the Caretakers of Night and the Lords of Day." Ryoji plopped down into a chair and began to serve himself from the breakfast platters.
"Lords of Day? Then Amaterasu was present as well?" Meidatsu asked as she poured herself more juice.
Ryoji swallowed the food in his mouth before answering. "Yeah." Turning to look at Ranma, he continued speaking, "She's looking forward to meeting you today. When you're ready, I'll walk you to school."
Amadan wiped at her lips with a linen table napkin. "Do you know what she intends to teach Ranma?"
Ryoji nodded, his face becoming serious. "She feels it is time Ranma knows. Now that he has been here a couple weeks and has settled in. OK, Ranma? Today you learn why you are here. This afternoon, Susanoo wants to test your martial arts progress. Tonight, there will be a grand feast, so be ready to eat, dance, and party."
Ranma nodded his head. "What do you mean by 'why I am here'?"
Ryoji smiled kindly and replied, "You'll see soon enough."
"And the party? Is it a holiday?"
His adoptive family laughed, but kindly so. "We don't need a reason to party, any reason or none at all will do," Amadan stated.
"And tonight, we celebrate you, Ranma," Ryoji commented.
Ranma looked pleasantly surprised. "Me?"
Everyone nodded their heads. "There are plenty who want to meet you, so there will be a feast in your honor."
Ranma smiled, and kept his smile all through the day. Ryoji escorted him to the academy where he would meet with Amaterasu. Meanwhile, an ominous event was taking place on Earth.
"You can't be serious about approving it. Aren't you rushing things?" The case worker looked askance at his director.
"Why not? He's a bit too old for what most people are looking for and, for some reason, a bit too odd for those who would adopt a child his age. We have had issues, in the past, finding someone that would want him. She wanted the child that is, and I quote, 'in the most need of adoption.' Why not kill two birds with one stone?"
The case worker sighed. "But we haven't even gone through all of the background checks, getting a psychological profile done, any of the checks and assurances we go through. What do we even know of this woman? I'm not sure she is even as innocent as the press makes her out to be. I mean, she did marry the guy."
"Yeah, well..." The director of the orphanage trailed off as he fiddled with his tie. "Look, the palace is leaning on me to facilitate an adoption for Mrs. Saotome. And it is not like the candidate would ever be adopted, all indications point to him slipping through the cracks. If she is going to fail, at least she gets to fail with him and he gets to have a taste of home for a bit of time. If it was up to me, I'd have denied her application unilaterally, in a heartbeat, and with extreme prejudice. She already lost one son, why risk another child?"
The secretary rolled her eyes at the two old men. She thought Mrs. Saotome came across as genuine, and felt sorry for the poor lady. She thought that Nodoka would make a great mom, and that the little boy in question was a very nice kid, just a little bit misunderstood. Shame no one seemed to want him, she figured he just wasn't what they were looking for, but that someone out there would be perfect for him; maybe Nodoka Saotome would be that someone.
"Very well, at least we can get the kid out of our hair for a little while. I'll go tell him the good news."
The director nodded before picking up his phone to call Nodoka Saotome to tell her that she could pick up her new son, Mamoru Chiba-Saotome, later that day.
"Ranma," Amaterasu smiled at the child sitting in her lap as she spoke softly to him, "there is something you need to know."
"Why?" Ranma asked in the manner of all small children everywhere.
"Because, free will is important to us. In the end, only you should make decisions that affect your life. If I didn't tell you, then we would be manipulating you and your life. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Try to remember it and you'll understand it better when you are older and think back to this day."
"Will I laugh?" Ranma interrupted with his question.
"Huh?" Amaterasu looked at Ranma in confusion.
Ranma replied, "Papa-Ryoji always says how we'll look back one day and have a laugh."
"Ah," Amaterasu vocalized, "the wisdom of fatherhood. However, no, I don't think you'll laugh at your memory of this. Maybe of the party later. Now listen, I want to tell you why we have brought you here. Do you know what a prophecy is?"
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(Posted Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:59)
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