After While
By: Missfortune
See part 1: Drunkard's Revenge for disclaimers and notes.
Ryouga limped up the path to the cottage using his umbrella as support. Two small children were in the front yard playing with a small black piglet. Both children stopped as he made his way up the path. They stood and looked at him curiously. They looked like twins. One boy and one girl. They both had silky black hair, but the boy had deep soulful brown eyes and the girl had sparkling blue eyes that reminded him of another set of blue eyes. But the last time he had seen those eyes they were glittering with tears, pain, and fear. Ryouga sighed at that most painful memory. Over the past four years he came to greatly regret his actions all those years ago.
He often wondered what his and Ranma's child looked like. He wondered how things could have been if he hadn't exploded. Over the years a small memory had surfaced to haunt him. A memory in which Ranma whispered his love for the lost boy, just before Ryouga tore himself from Ranma's body and stumbled out of his life for six months, only to return for his blood. Maybe he and Ranma could have worked things out. They could have been together. Ryouga would have been able to be present for the birth of his child. He could have been a father. But hindsight was twenty twenty and that was in the past. What was done was done. Over the years he had searched for Ranma, but when you were eternally lost, finding somebody was near impossible.
"Hewo," the little boy said.
"Hello," Ryouga said quietly smiling at the little boy. "Is your mommy or daddy home?" he asked.
The children nodded. "Mommy and Anty and Unca are all here," the little girl replied.
"I was told that I could get help here," Ryouga said.
The children nodded again. "Unca's a doctor and Anty and Mommy are witches." the boy said.
"Shh!" the little girl said. "You're not sposed ta tell!"
"Riona, Ryushi, who are you talking to?" a voice called from the house. Ryouga froze. That was the voice that haunted his dreams every night for the last four years. Could it really be? A figure appeared in the doorway drying a plate with a towel. Ryouga's heart skipped a beat as he saw that familiar pigtail. Ranma!
The plate that Ranma had been drying shattered on the floor.
"Mommy!" the children cried.
"Ranma!" a female voice called out from inside the house. A figure appeared behind Ranma catching him as his knees gave out.
"Mommy!" the children cried out even louder running up to Ranma.
"Unca what's wrong with Mommy?" the girl asked with tears streaming down her face.
"He just got a shock. Move back babies so Uncle can get him to a chair." a female voice said taking charge. Another familiar figure loomed in the door. Ryouga met the fierce gaze of Kasumi.
"Hello Ryouga," She called out calmly.
"Hello Kasumi," Ryouga called back. She had hardly changed at all. Except for the look of confidence about her and the telltale swell of her stomach.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
"I was told in town that you could help me," Ryouga replied indicating his left leg which was roughly bandaged and bleeding.
Kasumi inclined her head. "Yes, we can help. Please come in," she called.
Ryouga limped up to the door where Kasumi stepped aside. Ryouga walked into the small cottage.
TBC...