When little Ranma had experienced pain and weakness on being exposed to the green stuff, Genma saw it as a training tool.
It wasn't perfect though, even in Genma's opinion. The green hunk of rock did more than just weaken and hurt Ranma. The way his skin had begun turning green, and the retching and other side effects had been sufficient indicator. Genma observed that, observed the way Ranma's skin had felt cold and dry, and determined that the green stuff was also a poison. You could build tolerances for poison, and this he tried to do.
TRIED being the operative word. The results were not particularly good, though he learned in the course of the experiments in training that it was some form of radiation.
Radiation was BAD. Even if it hit Ranma immediately, Nodoka herself had spent some time in Hiroshima and knew a little about radiation poisoning and exposure. Longterm exposure to the green rock wasn't likely good for humans either. Her knowledge DID also provide a little more detail on containing and controlling the stuff though.
Lead was cheap. Lead and water should be sufficient for storage when it wasn't in use. Getting a small lead case and putting it in a cask of water should manage to contain the problem.
Genma still used it to build up the boy's immunity.
Ranma was eight when a break from the training on the island was decided upon.
"Where are you taking us, Saotome?" said Soun, wondering that as well as where Saotome had gotten the money for this boat. It wasn't a yacht, but something smaller and with a sail and engines.
"You'll see, Tendo," said Genma, smirking.
Soun let out a deep sigh, his eyes tracking to the back of the boat where two wives were keeping an eye on four children. "When did you have a child anyway? I thought you two..."
"She's expecting a child," said Genma, in the tone that some fathers get when a new child is well on the way. Proud, wistful, happy, nervous, and other things all mixed into a confusing whole. "A girl."
"How good for you, Saotome," said Soun. "About Kimiko... she..."
"I know," said Genma. "That's one reason why."
"What?" asked Soun. "How could you know?"
"I have access to information I didn't when we were younger," said Genma, looking out into the ocean.
"I've seen the charts, Saotome, there's nothing out there," grumped Soun. He didn't like being left in the dark. "It's... land?"
Genma nodded at Soun, turning his regard to the smudge on the horizon. "Our island. Our Fortress Of Solitude. There are answers there."
It was a stressful time for the three daughters. They knew SOMETHING was wrong. Otherwise Mommy wouldn't be going for tests all the time. Otherwise Mommy's hair wouldn't be falling out. Otherwise she wouldn't be huddled up against the cool of the breeze as if it were winter.
"Seagull!" proclaimed Akane, pointing as a white shape drifted overhead.
"We going to an island?" asked Nabiki, her eyes bright as she leaned way out over the rail.
"Don't do that!" admonished their mother.
"I wanna see!" said Akane, joining her sister at the rail and leaning out.
Nabiki leaned further out to see past Akane. Then she overbalanced, flailed around, and began to fall. She grabbed onto the nearest solid object with a deathgrip. Unfortunately that was Akane who suddenly had a balance problem of her own.
Kasumi was closest and tried to brace herself and catch Akane's hand before she could go over the side. Too late, she realized that wasn't going to work.
Mrs Tendo screamed as her three daughters went over the side of the boat with a splash.
Ranma moved. Soun saw everything from his vantage point as he rushed forward. One moment Ranma was there, apparently napping. The next he was a blur in mid-arc already WAY over the side of the boat.
There was a bubbling underwater. Then all three daughters suddenly were above the waterline and coming back at them before Genma could even completely shut off the engines. One after another of the daughters Tendo were lifted and set onto the deck. One after the other were hustled downstairs to change out of wet clothes and be admonished by their mother.
Soun stared at the little boy who had done what he had. The little boy who apparently didn't think much of the little exercise as he began wringing out his clothes without so much as a word.
"You didn't get anything to eat?" asked Genma.
"Nah, for some reason, the sharks close to home don't seem to want to get real close to humans," said Ranma, smirking as if it were some personal joke.
"Too bad," said Genma, sounding sincere to Soun.
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(Posted Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:11)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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