[Ranma][FanFic] Honor
Drei...@ix.netcom.com
Honor
By: Dreiser
I'm surprised to see her in my dojo. Out of everyone
who could have visited me she was the least likely. So much
so that I never even considered the possibility of her arrival.
I bow lowly to her and she returns the gesture. Her
hands are neatly folded in front of her as she meets my gaze.
"We have much to discuss."
The comment fits her well. It is both elegant and to
the point. Her grace is something that leaves me in wonder.
She the lady from a house full of ruffians.
"Indeed."
My voice is deep and curls in the air. She dips her
head in acknowledgment of my curiosity and turns from me
to study our surroundings.
"This is an impressive legacy you have. I would have
thought that coming from such beginnings you would have
far more lofty goals than antagonizing Ranma."
"I have not antagonized him," I reply in offense.
She turns to me and quirks an eyebrow.
"No? Then what has the past year been? Just harmless
fun amongst the boys? He certainly thinks otherwise."
I scowl slightly and fold my arms over my chest as I
study her. She thinks herself superior to me. I find that many
do but none of them truly know me. How can you assume
yourself superior to someone when you don't truly know who
they are? Preposterous.
"All our battles have been honorable."
At this comment she offers me a wry smile and pushes
back a strand of loose hair. The look she gives me is long and
hard. I find myself wilting under it and her power.
"I doubt that you even know the meaning of honor."
My jaw tightens and I snarl in response.
"How dare you--"
"How dare I?" she quickly interrupts. "How dare you?
How dare you sully your family crest with actions that are so
obviously dishonorable?"
She pauses to narrow her eyes and she starts again in
a much calmer tone of voice.
"Tell me, what is honor?"
I stare blankly at her lost for a reply. Never have I
heard such a vague question. Before I can answer she is once
again speaking in quick harsh sentences.
"Is honor about pursuing the affections of a girl who
wants nothing of you? Is honor about harassing a boy who
has never done anything but be himself?" Her voice lowers
and she hisses, "You resent them for having the life that you
want. She is surrounded by those who love and protect her
while he lives the existence of a true hero. Something that
you will never be no matter how hard you strive. That's why
you wanted them both."
"I want nothing to do with him! He--"
"You lie. You do want him. You want to be him. You
want that respect he has. That's why you chased after him as
a girl. You wanted to take away the respect he has earned.
You wanted to show him what it is like to be ridiculed."
She pauses again to study me closely. I know with
that look that she doesn't understand me or my actions but
she wants to. This is a first for me. Never has anyone cared
about me or the reasons behind my behavior.
"I don't know why I did it... I wanted to be him and I
wanted her. I resented them..."
"And you feigned the same insanity with him as you
did with Akane. But for what purpose? Perhaps if you had
given yourself the chance--"
It's now my turn to interrupt. I shake my head and
smile wanly.
"No. She would have never wanted me. Not all of it
was acting. When I first met Akane my therapy was not so
advanced and I was under... toxic influences. My original
treatment of her was of my own manic doing. It was not an
act like the past year has been."
She lowers her gaze and sighs. It's obvious that my
tale has been more complicated than she predicted. Most tales
are. People are never what they seem. I've learned that lesson
well over the years from dealing with my family.
"What is honor?"
Her soft question startles me and I avert my eyes to
look out the dojo. Outside the wind is softly blowing and
leaves fly across the spacious lawn.
"Honor is the sum of a person's moral beliefs. It is
very little to some people and very much to others. Honor is
what we make of it. Nothing more and nothing less."
For this answer I rewarded with a soft and gentle
smile. She slowly rises to her feet and when I rise also she
bows lowly. I return the gesture then lock our gazes.
"I apologize. For everything. For it all."
She dips her head in acceptance then turns to walk
out of the dojo. She is nearly out the door when she turns
back to me and says.
"You have always had honor Kuno Tatewaki. You
simply need to know it's proper use. I could teach you that if
you'd let me."
I blink in startled surprise. I never expected this. I
take a hesitant step forward and question.
"What of Ranma?"
She smiles again and lightly touches her katana.
"Do not worry about my son. He's far too busy in his
own life to interfere with us. Will you accept my offer?"
"Of course."
With another small smile she quietly turns and exits
the dojo leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sit cross legged
on the floor and look up at the ceiling.
What is honor? And can I ever truly know it?
-End-
Both characters in this fanfiction are from Ranma 1/2. This
fanfiction was inspired by the works of the great goddess
Rumiko Takahashi. This is part of the series of one shots I'm
writing with the different character interactions after the
wedding of Ranma and Akane. The stories that came before
are in order: Shy, Obsession, Desire and Heartbreak. I found
myself wondering about Nodoka and Kuno's different but still
strange ideas about honor and this story was the result. Ah
well, I am now off to wash my car.
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"If you don't love me now, you will never love me again. I
can still hear you saying that we'll never break the chain."
-Fleetwood Mac-
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