Britanny smiled a bit sadly. "Just let me pick up my bag, and we'll go."
Ramna blinked, and saw a traveling bag that many wandering martial artists used. "Here let me." He picked it up and placed it over his shoulder. "After all, my mom would get mad at me if I let a lady do any unneccessary work."
Brit smiled at him, that was sweet of him. "Let's go." As they started walking away from the park to Nodoka's house, Brit still had to fight back tears, the pain of losing her loved one was just too fresh.
Ranma looked at her and noticed something for the first time, she had a tail! 'Definately a cat-woman.' "So Britanny, why don't you tell me a bit about your family, I'm sure they're wondering where you're at."
Brit looked at him relieved that he was trying to get her to overcome her problems. "Well my dad's an archmage and he saved my life when I was little."
"Do tell."
Britanny nodded, "Yeah, he stopped a werewolf from killing me when I was a baby." As they talked they continued to walk to Nodoka's house.
********
Nodoka sighed, it had been three days since she had seen her husband and son and was starting to get lonely again. 'Perhaps I'll stop by the Tendo's tomorrow.' Suddenly she heard a knock-knock-knocking at her door. "Now who could that be?" She wondered to herself. Getting up, she made sure nothing was out of place, after all, you always wanted to make a good impression. She then went to the door to answer and was surprised to see her son holding a bag and with a girl she had never seen before. The girl was tall, she had to be around seven feet tall, not to mention that she had a lot of cat-like characteristics, why she even had a tail sticking out of her pants. She was about to say something about how manly Ranma was when she noticed the girl's appearance, puffy eyes and tear treks, indicating that she had been crying for some time, slightly mussed up hair and clothing that was slightly dirty.
"Come in Ranma and bring your friend to the couch." Nodoka said as she waved the two of them inside. Closing the door behind her after the two had gotten inside, Nodoka led them to the living room. Smiling pleasantly she asked, "Hello dear, my name is Nodoka Saotome, you already know my son, but what is your name?"
Britanny smiled, she couldn't place a finger on it, but this woman seemed to be like both of her mothers, it definately made her more relaxed, "My name's Britanny Elin Diggers."
Ranma decided to make it a bit easier on Britanny, "Mom, Britanny needs a place to stay for a bit. Can you spare a room?"
Nodoka smiled, "Of course I can. Oh where are my manners, please sit down. Do you want some tea?"
Brit sat down on the couch and nodded her head, "Yes please."
Nodoka smiled, "Ranma will you please leave Britanny's things by her and help me in the kitchen?"
Ranma nodded, he didn't know why she needed help, but if he could help he would. "Sure mom." So saying Ranma placed Britanny's stuff by the couch and went into the kitchen to help his mother with the tea.
As soon as he was in, he closed the door and Nodoka had this look on her face that said 'explain', Nabiki had that look a lot on her face when there was a situation that she didn't know about. "It's like this mom, her fiance had gotten into a fight to save his people and died while fighting." Ranma then shook his head and sighed, "They were to get married and she really loved him."
Nodoka nodded, "Well, at least that explains why she looks so sad. But what about her family?"
Ranma shook his head, "I'm not so sure, she said that she just went into her dad's study and took a light gate (whatever that is) and teleported to wherever it went to."
Nodoka nodded, "Then I can't just turn her out onto the streets. (Not that I was going to anyways.)" Nodoka then blinked, "How did you meet her anyways?"
Ranma frowned a bit, "Air-Akane, and I went pretty darn far. Landed in a park, saw a stone path, picked a direction and went until I saw her sitting on a bench crying. Talked to her a bit and she told me why she was so sad. Told her a bit about my life, (not all the details mind you.) And then on the way here, she told me a bit about her family."
Nodoka nodded, "Well then, since I can't just turn her out, and she doesn't know anyone else in Japan. Uhh, does she?" She asked a bit embarrassed that she had assumed anything without proof.
Ranma nodded, "Yeah, she said that no one in her family knows anyone in Japan and it was a great way to try and get over Strype."
Nodoka raised an eyebrow, "Strype?"
"Her fiance."
"Oh." Nodoka nodded, she knew that many people just had to get away from the sorce of the pain for it to heal. "Ranma I'm going to ask a question and I want you to answer in all honesty."
"Sure mom, what is it?"
Nodoka smiled a bit, took the kettle off of the heater and started mixing some teas. "Do you love any of the fiancees?"
Ranma staggered with that question. He thought about it for a moment and then shook his head, "Mom, I don't even know what love is. Not the kind that everyone else is proclaiming anyways. I've hardly had any friendships, how can I say I love someone?"
Nodoka nodded, "Very well then. Tomorrow you are going to the Tendos and are going to pick up your things and bring them to my house."
Ranma blinked, "Um, why?"
Nodoka sighed, "That girl, Britanny, knows what love is, and she's hurting because her loved one is gone. You can help her heal and learn what love is in the process."
Ranma backed up, "Whoa mom, are you trying to get me and Britanny hooked up?"
Nodoka shook her head, "I wouldn't mind it if you did get together, but you need to learn what love is." She sighed sadly, "And unfortunately, no one in your life has been a good example. You can learn what love is from Britanny and Britanny can heal from her loss by being around someone else." She then smiled sadly, "Once you find out what love is, answer my question and tell me if you love any of the fiancees." She then winked, "I'll even forbid them from showing up at the house or bothering you. And if any of them ask, I'll just tell them that you're on a training trip."
Ranma nodded, "Sounds good to me. I think we should get back out to Britanny and give her some tea."
"No problem, it get's so lonely around here sometimes."
"What could you teach the boy that I can't?"
"How to deal with life."
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See other episodes by Philip Weigel
(Posted Mon, 09 Jun 2003 23:23)
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