Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Truth Revealed ❯ The Truth Revealed Side Story ( Chapter 2 )

The Truth Revealed

By DigiSim

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Sidestory 1: Reminiscing

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Happy Birthday K-chan. I wish we could celebrate together but we both know that is impossible. I really hate that you left all those years ago but I know that you had no choice. Death can be cruel as well as kind. I just feel awful every time I think of you lying in that hospital bed while your body was ravaged by cancer.

If only there had been something I could have done, but sadly there was nothing. I'd never felt so powerless in all my life. Imagine me, Soun Tendo of the Tendo school of Anything Goes Martial Arts being powerless. I think our daughters took your death harder than I did sometimes.

Kasumi tried to replace you in every aspect except for the bedroom to try and hold on to your memory. Nabiki drowned herself in the family finances. Akane…well I wish I knew where she got that temper of hers but I think I have some idea. She just threw herself into the Art with a vengeance. As for me, if it hadn't been for the screw-up with the pharmacy and those damn pills then I wouldn't have been such an emotional wreck. I could have used our friends back then to help me cope.

Our friends. Yeah right. If they had really been our friends then they wouldn't have shunned us like they did just because of our love for one another. So what if we were brother and sister. That didn't matter to us. Though you recall our parents were the worst. It's probably for the best that they kicked us out of the family and we had to change our names. It's a shame we couldn't have two of our closest friends come with us. They stayed true to us at least. Too bad they live where they do and can't visit more often.

I have seen them from time to time though. Just last week they showed up for a visit. The girls love them both dearly and think of them as family. In a way they are actually. They always seem to bring a little bit of sunshine with them whenever they visit.

As you know, Akane is engaged to Genma's son Ranma. We tried to hold a wedding for them four months ago but that fell apart. With all the insanity in Nerima, I'm surprised the dojo was still standing after the battle. I never knew you could make okonomiyaki explode. Nodoka was almost hurt in the fight and that made Ranma extremely angry. I've never seen him that mad before. After his very visible display of displeasure, everyone backed off on their self-imposed missions of either killing Ranma or marrying him. For two months things were quiet but then it all started up again. Akane toned down on her temper towards Ranma however. If the sounds I heard coming from her room sometimes are any indication we'll be grandparents around May of next year.

Just last month though, Ranma disappeared. Nobody knows where he went, why he left or if he's in any danger. I'm not too worried since I know he can take care of himself. Genma is having trouble sleeping because of Ranma's absence. I think he misses the morning spars he and Ranma engaged in. Nodoka is also worried for her 'little man among men.' It breaks my heart to listen to her crying late at night when she thinks no-one can hear her.

As for the rest of the Nerima contingent, the Amazons are still trying to come up with answers to the mystery. Cologne spends every waking hour pouring over her ancient scrolls and tomes for a solution with Mousse always by her side. I'm not certain but I think they are closer than most people realize. Shampoo is seen riding all over town on her bike while calling out Ranma's name and making herself hoarse in the process. She comes by the dojo sometimes for Kasumi's sore throat remedy.

Whenever anyone sees Ukyo, she always looks as if a breeze blows wrong then she'll burst into tears. I went to her restaurant recently and she ruined my order three times before finally getting it right thanks to all her crying. I later realized that I had inadvertently ordered a 'Ranchan special' and she soaked the front of my gi top while she sobbed into my chest as I comforted her. I guess everybody needs a hug now and again. She fell asleep in my arms and her waitress Konatsu put her to bed and handled business for the rest of that day.

Akane just mopes around the house when she doesn't have to go to school or eat meals. She finds a comfortable place to sit and just strokes her belly while singing softly to 'Ranma junior.' She doesn't show yet since she's still in her first trimester. If that isn't proof that she has a bun in her oven, I don't know what is. Well, that and her throwing up every morning. Nabiki has taken up the Art again. I've heard her going through kata in the dojo and have even helped her out a little now and again. If she sticks with it, she could soon be back to the level she was at when she quit a few years ago. If I remember, she was as good as Ranma was when he first arrived. Kasumi still puts on a cheerful face but I can tell it's tempered by grief. She doesn't realize this, but I know that she and Ranma became lovers quite a while ago. She's also been going through batteries and chocolate like mad recently.

Kodachi Kuno has enlisted the help of Ryoga. With his natural talent to get lost, he can cover more ground than Shampoo can on her bike while she's high on caffeine. As for her brother Tatewaki, all he does is practice his kendo. Their father is no help though. Koucho Kuno just went to Hawaii and hasn't sent word of when he'll be back if at all.

The last I heard from the Master, he was over in Tomobiki looking for a rare tiger-stripped bikini. He came home a few times looking like he had been electrocuted and burnt with a blowtorch. He keeps trying though. He also says he's going to keep an eye out for Ranma when he's not too busy. I hate to say it but every little bit helps. Even help from little perverts.

A young man by the name of Hikaru Gosunkugi came by once offering his services. He claimed to be skilled in voodoo of all things. Like I said, every little bit helps so we accepted his offer. The results were less than impressive. I hope his hair grows back soon. That's what you get for wearing lit candles strapped to your head though if you're not careful. I think he does it to try and commune with the spirit world. A ghost girl that visited the dojo a while ago named Kogane showed up because of him and accidentally scared the poor young man. That's why his hair caught on fire.

Well hon, there's not much left to tell you. Everyone prays for Ranma's safe return of course. When he disappeared, it's like almost everybody in Nerima dropped some pretense of certain behavior, like removing a mask that hid their true selves. I just wish you could come back. If you do happen to see Ranma, send him back home. I love and miss you K-chan. I'll see you next week. Rest well.

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Soun Tendo sat kneeling in front of his wife's grave marker in the local cemetery, paying his respects as usual before he would head back home. A presence soon made itself known behind him but didn't intrude. Soun just suppressed a sigh while the person behind him finally spoke after a short while.

"You still miss her, don't you." It was more a statement then a question.

"That I do old friend, that I do. She was my light you know. Some days I really wish I could join her." Soun didn't hold back the sigh that came to his lips this time.

"You got to have courage. You'll see her one day. But for now your family needs you even though it doesn't seem like it. How do you think your girls would feel if they suddenly lost their other parent?" He made a good case.

"I know. They wouldn't handle it very well. It's just so hard sometimes. I'd rather go through the worst my youth had to offer more than face a new day. Other times, the thought of my daughters is the driving force that gets me out of bed in the mornings just so I can spend time with them. They all remind me of K-chan in little ways, Nabiki especially with her hairstyle."

Chuckling softly, Soun stood and turned to face a short, orange Tyrannosaur that barely went past his knees. "You know Tai, Kari was lucky to have a big brother like you. It's a shame the other Digidestined treated the two of you like they did, except for Matt and T.K. of course. I never would have guessed they were lovers. At least they supported you like Gatomon and I did and still do."

"Thanks Agumon, that means a lot coming from you. Come on, Kasumi picked up a couple of watermelons at the market the other day. Let me treat you to a slice or two." As the two left the cemetery chatting amiably, back at Kimiko Tendo's, formerly Kari Kamiya's, grave a figure materialized. The figure was a young woman wearing yellow bicycle shorts with a light brown belt, a hot pink sleeveless form-hugging Tee with a white stripe running horizontally across the breast area, long fingerless gloves that covered her arms all the way to her biceps in the same hot pink color as the shirt, white calf length socks and high tops also in the same hot pink with the toes being white. She had her pageboy-styled hair pinned back at her left temple by a red barrette and had a digital camera hanging around her neck on a strap.

"He really misses you a lot."

"I know Gatomon. I miss him too. I'd come back from the dead for him if it was possible. The way I am now though, I don't think he'd want a ghost for a wife, let alone a ghost sister." Kari bowed her head as a couple tears made their way slowly down her pale cheeks.

The champion-level cat Digimon looked up at her former partner. "Don't be so sure. I know he still wants you and you've never left his heart. Tai never got remarried. I think he stays single to honor your memory."

"That's sweet of him but I can tell it's hurting him too Gatomon. I just want him to be happy even if it's not with me. Don't think I don't know about the time the two of you spent alone in the Digital World. He called out Angewomon's name one night while we were making love but he didn't notice."

The cat Digimon just blushed. 'Tai, you and your big mouth.' Clearing her throat nervously, Gatomon asked, "Did it make you mad?"

With a smirk on her face showing that she was indeed Nabiki's mother, Kari answered. "A little at first, but then I was flattered that he was associating me with your Ultimate form. It made me feel like you and I had a closer bond. I've never done it with Agumon or any of his forms though." This statement made the two burst out laughing.

"At least he didn't compare you with my Mega form. That would have been bad." Gatomon giggled. Kari blinked in confusion at her friend. "Why would that be? For that matter, what does your Mega form look like? I've never seen it." The small cat Digimon answered. "Neither has Tai actually. You know Falkor the Luck Dragon from that movie 'The Neverending Story?' It's kinda like that."

A sense of seriousness settled on Kari's face just then. With the new attitude, Kari seemed to age slowly as her clothes morphed from 'young pre-teen sexpot' to 'respectable woman.' She even acquired a few inches in height and filled out slightly in all the right areas, looking more like her mother used to in her early thirties. The only thing that didn't change much was her hairstyle; it just gained a few inches in length but stayed relatively the same. As her clothing finished its change into a pair of lemon yellow slacks, a pale pink blouse and a pair of white tennis shoes, Kari turned her gaze on the girl cat. "Gatomon, promise me something. If you ever get the chance, take care of Tai for me."

With Kari's change, Gatomon changed as well. As her Digivolution finished, Angewomon raised the helmet covering the upper half of her face and stared into Kari's eyes with her own ice blue pair. "You know I would do anything for you Kari. Even in death, you are still and you always will be my friend." With gentle smiles on both their faces, the two women quickly and easily found themselves in each others arms and shared a deep kiss that spoke of a long love affair and an even longer friendship.

Reluctantly, the two soon ended the embrace and stepped back slightly from each other. As Kari faded into the ether, a few more tears, this time ones of joy, slid down her beautiful face. Angewomon felt an ache in her heart as her oldest friend finally vanished. It was joined by another in her loins as her mind turned to thoughts of Tai. The problem now was how would she seduce her best friend's brother. The angel-type Digimon took off into the morning sky while formulating plans, as well as anticipating their success. She squirmed a little in desire as her womonhood quickly became drenched.

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Author's Notes:

Well, that's that. This would have been released a little sooner if it wasn't for those jerks at Xcel Energy. For some stupid reason they cut the power to the building for a while. It's bad enough with my constant cases of writer's block and the phone interrupting when I get into the story. Stupid telemarketers. Then this happened. Good thing Microsoft Word auto-saved what I had written. My notes were the only thing that ended up getting lost.

Anyway, this will be the first of a few sidestories concerning my very first fic. Of course none of the characters are mine. Just the ideas used are. I know it will take a while to get to the next one but like I said, there are too many distractions sometimes. I won't beg but I would like it if I get a few reviews. It helps to know what you people like about what I write as well as what you don't. Praise is nice of course but that's not why I write. I'd like to get paid for writing something but that won't happen anytime in the near future. I don't write fanfics for profit anyway.

I don't know when but I will be continuing some of my other works sooner or later. It takes a bit of time but they are growing into something I feel good about releasing to the general public. As always, remember my motto, "My fic, my rules." See you in the funny papers.