Ranma’s mind expanded as the Great Will of the Universe filled it with possibilities. He had to wrench it away from the distractions—they sparkled so bright and shiny—and focus on the problem at hand.
He needed to deal with the fiancée entanglement, which was mostly the fault of his father. Not all, though—Soun helped too—and the irresponsible duo had learned at under the heels of their master. If Happosai had been a bit more respectable—more the wise old martial artist and less of an eroge—it might have rubbed off on them.
However, there was a rub. If Happosai hadn’t spent his youth pursuing maidens and fleeing mobs he wouldn’t have become as great a martial artist—who then couldn’t have taught Genma to pass it on to Ranma—and that couldn’t be allowed. Unless… something else took its place as Happosai’s focus.
Martial artists, Ranma thought, honed their edge against other martial artists. So it stood to reason that if there were more competition around then the talent pool would be deeper. Not just in dojo and shrines, but whole villages maybe. Hidden like ninja, perhaps, but there if you knew how to find them.
But, why? There’d have to be a reason for so many to train and compete. Martial artist, mmm… Martial artists had a duty to protect people, like samurai. From bandits, pirates, and monsters. So if there were more thieves about then Happosai… Oh. Happosai would… No. That wouldn’t work out right.
Okay, if there were more monsters then Happosai would have a better focus. Monsters hidden in enclaves, or disguised among the population. Perhaps even going to monster school to learn how to blend in… Not all would be trouble, but for those that were…
It would make for a respectable tradition. Yes… that could work.
Only… more monsters would mean more magic—they went together like birds of a feather—and that already screwed up too much as it was. Unless there was someone able to handle the problems magic caused too.
So… Put it all together. Quickly, while he could. Hidden villages and schools of ninja, martial artists, samurai, pirates, monsters, sages, and mages. With Happosai becoming a respectable martial arts master—maybe even settled down with a family of his own—and Genma following in his footsteps as a monster hunter. Soun too.
There was a flash back, and the Great Will restarted the manga. Then it was raining as the family made its way down the streets of Tokyo.
Ranma stumbled as prescience left him. He looked around to get his bearings. There was his father—wet—in a clean and well cared for gi. He frowned. His mother was walking by his father’s side—dressed in an expensive kimono, parasol keeping off the rain, and sword scabbard openly carried on her back. Not bundled.
Something jogged his memory—or let him access the new files—and it suddenly made sense. Descendant of a line of samurai, and monster hunter in her own right, of course Nodoka would travel with them. After all, the family that slays together stays together.
Which also explained why his little sister, Hikaru, had tagged along as well.
Ranma paused and doubled his take. Yes, there was one younger sister—though looking younger than she was—with long hair braided down her back, bright red eyes alight with mischeif, and an innocent smile to warm the heart.
She was a cute and unexpected side effect of… well, of keeping the family together, he guessed. Okay, maybe not that unexpected in hindsight, and not unwelcomed, but still indicative that there would be unforseen consequences. Or perhaps foreseen consequences that he’d just inconveniently forgotten.
Ah, well. There was nothing he could do about them with the Great Will removed, except deal with them as they arrived. And thinking of arrival, it appeared that the family had done so.
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(Posted Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:29)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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