Ranma woke up that morning feeling refreshed. After falling asleep that night worrying about whether or not he should stay here or search for a way back home, he came to feeling better than he could ever remember. No stupid pandas punting him into a pond or crazy fiancés throwing water on him or trying to sneak into his bed . . .
He felt, for the first time in his life, at peace.
Seeing the bath tub still full of water, Ranma splashed his face with cold water and then used his ki to heat it back up to bathing temperature. He then stripped off his sleeping clothes to take a bath.
Little did he know that he was being watched. Behind a wall draping, a small figure watched in awe as the man turned from man to woman and back. Finally, as Ranma moved to step into the bath, she struck.
"Papa!"
Surprised, Ranma couldn't do much more than twist around as the figure slammed into him, making him land in the bath with a yelp. Looking up, he was surprised to find a redheaded child, looking to be about five or six years old. Her eyes were as blue as his was, and he thought her nose kind of looked like his, but her face in general looked like Aurieste's.
And she wasn't wearing any clothes.
Terror ran through Ranma's system as he imagined what Akane would do to him if she were to walk in on this. The terror grew exponentially when the girl hugged him, calling him "Papa".
Just then, the door opened, and Aurieste walked in.
Ranma, nearing a level of fear only reserved for when a certain species of animal was near, stammered, "Th-this isn't what it looks like, honest!"
The dragon-lady, instantly realizing what was wrong, smiled reassuringly, "You mean my daughter didn't just jump you while you were in the bath?"
"N-I mean, well . . ." Ranma trailed off, suddenly realizing that he wasn't going to get hit or anything. He looked down to see the girl curling into his chest, giggling all the while.
Aurieste moved towards the boy and her daughter slowly, as to not startle them. "My daughter was quite taken with you when you rescued her yesterday, and seems to have imprinted on you. She sees you as her father-figure, even though she knows that you aren't really her father. When I taught her how to shape shift last night, this was the form she chose."
Ranma nodded, suddenly both calmed and unsettled at the same time, "And she sees me as her Dad?"
"Exactly. I hope this doesn't make you too uncomfortable."
"Nah, just . . . well, I don't really know how to be a Dad . . . I haven't exactly had the best role models, I guess."
Aurieste knelt down beside the tub. "Just do the opposite of what Genma and Soun have shown you. A father is supposed to protect and support his children. Just be there for her, and keep her safe, and you'll do fine."
Ranma nodded thoughtfully, and gently caressed the dragon-child's red hair. The girl giggled, and then glomped his neck, kissing him on the cheek while she was at it. The Saotome scion couldn't help but blush at this.
His companion smiled at this, but knew that there was some business to handle before she let this cute scene continue, "Ranma, do you recall a group of elven females that you rescued from a small horde of orcs?"
Ranma nodded, "Yeah, what about them?"
"They came in wanting to talk to you last night. They feel like they owe you a debt for saving them. After discussing it with them, they have agreed to see whether you would join them in their travels or not. This way, they could guide you around this world that you have landed in as you seek a solution to your problems and a possible way home."
The boy grimaced, "It sounds like a good deal, though I'm not so sure about leaving now."
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Ranma scratched the back of his head nervously, "I mean I'd like to at least find a way to look in on them and make sure they're OK, but I thought about what you said, and I think I may be better off here than in my own world."
Aurieste couldn't help but grin, "I'm glad to hear that. Now on to the next point of business."
"Yeah?"
"It is traditional for young dragons to go see the world, so that they may learn more about their place in it. Normally, she would have two weeks to learn how to control her abilities, and then I would take her on a journey. However, I have a duty to this temple, and cannot leave it for so long."
"That sucks . . . "
"Yes, it does. However, there have been occasions where a band of heroes has earned a dragon mother's trust, and thus have been asked to accompany the young dragon."
"Yeah, so-wait, you want ME to take her with me on my trip?!?"
Aurieste smiled reassuringly, "You have earned my trust, and you are powerful enough to keep her safe from those that would harm her. Not only that, she sees you as her father, and she'd be heartbroken to see you go. Would you do me this favor, please?"
At first, Ranma didn't know what to say, but looking down at the little red-haired dragon child, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the temperature in the bath or the fact that he was naked in the same room as two females. "S-sure, I guess . . . "
He was rewarded with a mother's smile, and the triumphant shout of the child sitting in the bath with him. Aurieste couldn't help but chuckle, "Now, while I help you bathe our little friend here, can you do me another favor?"
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Could you help me come up with a name for her?"
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(Posted Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:55)
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