The characters in this story belong to their respective creators and rights holders. 
Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi. Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko 
Takeuchi. All original content is the creation of Samuel Phoenix. Recognition is given to 
John Sanchez for a small kick of inspiration that helped produce this story, and to 
Harold Ancell who has been a near constant source of input, information, and ideas.  
 
Awkward Consequences
Chapter 9b: Walking the Distance... 
PsyckoSama (syp104@psu.edu)
http://www.fanfic.net/~psyckosama/

Hotaru giggled wildly as Ranma carried her through the air over 
Juuban's rooftops. The first time he carried her through the air she 
had been terrified. Even the second time, after they had made love, she 
had been apprehensive, but now she was free of her fears. Ranma would 
never drop her, so she was free to enjoy the ride, and enjoy it she 
did.

She had never felt this carefree. Here she was soaring through the air, 
from rooftop to rooftop in the arms of her beloved. It made her feel 
like a heroine in a shojo manga, a beautiful maiden rescued from some 
great evil by her one true love. This is how Usagi must feel whenever 
Tuxedo Mask appears to aid the Senshi.

She smiled, and snuggled into her love's chest, losing herself in the 
beat of his heart, the strength of his arms, and the grace of his 
athletic bounds across Juuban. 

It was a real disappointment to her when they stopped.

Hotaru cracked open her eyes to take a look at the surroundings. They 
were on top of what looked like an apartment building, a tall one. The 
view wasn't bad, but she would rather be flying.

"Ranma, why did we stop?" asked Hotaru, making her disappointment 
obvious with her tone.

Ranma sighed, and slowly put her down onto the roof. "Hotaru, I got a 
question for ya."

Hotaru blinked. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, ya wanna visit you friend, right?"

Hotaru nodded. Part of her really wanted to show off her boyfriend, and 
she needed to tell Chibi-Usa and Usagi about "Ranko" before they 
mentioned the curse to anyone.

"Well..." Ranma blushed, and scratched the back of his head. "Where 
does she live?"

Hotaru turned a matching pink, and let out a sigh. She had been so 
caught up in everything that she forgot to tell him where they were 
going. Hotaru looked over the edge of the roof in an attempt to get her 
bearings relative to the streets; she was not used to this method of 
transportation. She didn't recognize roofs.

Once she had her bearings, she pointed toward Chibi-Usa's home. "Uh, 
about three kilometers that way. I'll tell you where to go once we're 
in the area."

"Okay," replied Ranma. 

He moved to pick her up again, but she waved him off. "Ranma, we need 
to talk."

The pigtailed martial artist took a step back, and looked at the girl 
before him. "About what?"

"Ranma, how are we ever going to tell Haruka-papa about Ranko?" asked 
Hotaru. "I really hate lying to her."

Ranma sighed, and looked up into the air. "So do I. I had to hide 
behind 'Ranko' for months with my mom... I really don't like to do it, 
but I don't know how to tell her."

Hotaru smiled and put her arms around him. "Ranma, you just have to be 
yourself."

Ranma shook his head. "No, I'm already doin' that. I don't put on any 
act when I'm 'Ranko'." He sighed, and looked at the Tokyo skyline. 
"Hotaru, I've never had that many friends, and now that I have 'em, 
they all mean a lot to me. Every last one of them of 'em, even my damn 
fiancées and rivals... I would rather die than forsake any of 'em."

Hotaru sighed, and looked down. Would he have to choose between her and 
his friends? She hoped it could be resolved in another way... she 
wanted him to be happy. "I'm sorry that I forced you to choose..."

Ranma shook his head. "No. I'd have to do it eventually. You just made 
it so I couldn't stall anymore. I'm grateful for that..." He sighed and 
looked down. "Hotaru, chances are I would have ended up," Ranma 
suppressed a shudder, "marrying Akane..." 

Hotaru blushed and hugged him tightly, placing her head against his 
chest. "She was that bad?"

Ranma chuckled bleakly. "No, she's worse... she'd never listen ta me, 
she would always hit me, and she'd always overestimate 'er skills and 
everything... then usually leave me ta suffer the consequences. She'd 
probably end up killin' me with her cooking."

Her cooking? No one could be that bad. "Surely you jest," commented 
Hotaru, with a chuckle.

Ranma looked at her seriously. "No, I ain't kiddin'. The girl could 
burn water." He paused for a moment than added, "I swear, if it wasn't 
for Shampoo and Ucchan she'd probably already have killed me."

"Why's that?" asked Hotaru. While she knew Ranma was hers, she wanted 
to know how she would measure up to the 'competition'.

"I always had a place ta eat for free when Akane cooked. Sure, she 
would always hit me with something when I got home, but I would rather 
get smacked over the head with a table than eat that toxic crap that 
she cooked; unless it was her curry. Her curry is actually passable."

"How well do they cook?" asked Hotaru. She was not the world's best 
chef, but she was adequate. She just hoped she didn't have that much to 
live up to.

"They're really good cooks."

Drat. Time to bug Makoto for cooking lessons. Changing the subject, 
Hotaru said, "Tell me about your friend, Ryouga."

"Okay, but could ya you tell me about this Mama and Papa stuff? I 
really wanna know. It's gettin' confusing." stated Ranma.

Hotaru sighed, and nodded. She would have to tell him some time. It 
must be very confusing for him. Oh well, no time like the present. 
"Okay, Ranma." She looked at the Tokyo skyline. "It's... a very long 
story. I really don't know where to begin."

"The beginning always helps," commented Ranma.

Hotaru chuckled morosely. "Okay, Ranma. I'll start at the beginning, 
but only if you do the same." She looked into her beloved's eyes, and 
said, "I want to know about your life. All about it."

Ranma smiled, and nodded. "Okay, Hotaru-chan... I'll explain the last 
couple of years to ya today. That's the hard part. The rest is pretty 
easy."

"Fair enough. So, should I start?"

Ranma shook his head. "Tell it to me while we're on the way to yur 
friends'."

Hotaru shook her head. "It's far too long. At the speed you move, we'll 
be there before I've even begun!"

Ranma chuckled. "Lets walk then!"

"But, it's almost three kilometers! That's a pretty long walk..."

Ranma blinked. "You think that's a long walk?! I like ta get a twenty-
five kilometer run in every day before lunch!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "Ranma, some of us *aren't* superhuman!"

Ranma smiled and looked Hotaru in the eyes. "Come on, it'll do ya some 
good. You'll need to keep in shape if your going ta have a baby."

Hotaru paused. He made a good point. At the moment she was in no 
physical condition to carry her child to term! She needed to get 
healthier, and in better shape. "Ranma, I'm not healthy enough to carry 
a child, am I?"

"Hotaru, I don't know if you are or if ya ain't," stated Ranma. He 
placed his hand on her shoulder, and continued. "How about I teach ya 
Anything Goes! You'd make a great martial artist, and it'll get ya in 
shape too!"

Hotaru blushed bright red. He was offering to teach her his art! "You 
really want to teach me?"

"Sure," Ranma said, "you're gonna be a Saotome soon, so ya might as 
well learn the Saotome style."

Hotaru beamed. She was going to be a Saotome soon? She had never 
thought of that. Saotome Hotaru. She liked the sound of that! "Thank 
you Ranma!" she cried, as she hugged him.

Ranma smiled and put an arm around his fiancée. "Hotaru, I want ya to 
understand that this ain't gonna be easy. It's gonna be tough, really 
tough. I'm gonna start teachin' ya the basics, and getting ya in 
shape."

"Hai!" exclaimed Hotaru. She couldn't wait! 

Ranma smiled, obviously ecstatic at the idea of sharing his love for 
the martial arts. "Okay, now for the first stage..."

Hotaru smile grew wider. "What is it?"

Ranma smirked, and pointed towards Chibi-Usa's house. "We walk."

Hotaru sighed. Well, every journey begins with a single step. "So... 
can we get off the roof first?"

Ranma nodded, and swept Hotaru into his arms. Once he had a firm grasp 
on her, he jumped off the building. When Ranma landed, he helped her 
back onto the ground, and together, they started walking.

"So, Hotaru-chan, what's with this Mama/Papa stuff?"

Hotaru shook her head. "It all started with my father..."

---------------------------------- 
  
Ranma walked silently as he processed what he had heard, mentally going 
over her story. She had almost died in an accident caused by her 
father. Then she was brought back to life by the "Death Busters" to be 
used as a host for a being called Mistress 9. The damn thing had 
actually managed to possess her, and it was only Chibi-Usa that saved 
her. Once she was free, she killed their master, Pharaoh 90, and saved 
the world. Unfortunately in the process was turned into an infant, and 
promptly adopted by Haruka and Michiru. That was where they had 
stopped.

It was unbelievable, but at the same time, it made sense. He had 
thought his life was weird. It also explained some of the more negative 
aspects of her personality. No wonder her self-confidence was so low. 
For her entire life, she had been raised to act as a host for a being 
that would destroy the world, and from the way she spoke she still 
lived in fear of herself because of it.

He gazed over to her. They hadn't spoken for several blocks, since her 
last rest. She was starting to look unnerved, and apprehensive. She 
probably thought he was going to reject her, like she'd been for most 
of her life. He knew now what he must do. Time to build up her 
confidence.

"Hotaru-chan..." 

Hotaru stopped walking and turned to him. Her skin was glossy from 
sweat, and her breathing was heavy. She looked like she could use 
another break. If he were his father he would have walked her to and 
beyond the point of exhaustion, but he really wouldn't feel right doing 
that. Who knows what it would do to the kid.

"Yes, Ranma," asked Hotaru anxiously.

"I'm... I'm really sorry ya had to go through all that crap. You're too 
nice a person to have ta suffer like that."

Hotaru blushed, and smiled. "Thank you, Ranma."

Man, she looked cute when she smiled. Hey, saying that might be a good 
idea! "Hotaru, ya look really cute when you smile."

Hotaru gasped lightly, not expecting the compliment, and blushed. "You 
really think so?"

Ranma nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, I do!"

Hotaru smile widened and she just seemed to shine with joy as she 
placed her hand in his. "Thank you, Ranma!"

Ranma smiled. "Hey, no need ta. Just tellin' ya the truth."

This served only to make her blush more brightly. "Really?"

Ranma nodded. "Really."

Hotaru sighed in contentment, and pulled herself closer to Ranma.

After a few moments Hotaru looked up to Ranma, and said, "Ranma, can we 
take another break?"

Ranma sighed, "Again?" He really hated cutting the walk short like 
this, but until he knew what was safe it would have to do.

Hotaru nodded.

"Hotaru-chan, where's this place at?"

"Oh, it's only a couple of blocks!" replied Hotaru.

Ranma rolled his eyes. It was only a couple of blocks? "Hotaru, do we 
really gotta stop here? It ain't much farther."

Hotaru pouted. "Please?"

Ranma shook his head. "I've got a better idea."

Hotaru blinked. "What?"

Ranma smirked. "We can finish our talk later. I wanna meet your friend 
Chibi-Usa. She sounds really nice. I'll just carry you the rest of the 
way. That okay?"

Hotaru nodded vigorously, and said, "It's about two... two and a half 
blocks."

With a smile, Ranma lifted Hotaru and bound off. In a flash, the two 
were flying over the roof tops at break neck speed, and it was only a 
moment before Ranma leapt back onto the ground. As soon as they were 
back onto solid ground, Ranma put Hotaru down.

"So, where is it?" asked Ranma.

"You passed it," Hotaru told him with a grin.

Ranma blushed, and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, Hotaru-
chan."

Hotaru giggled. "It wasn't by that far. Here, I'll show you," said 
Hotaru as she started walking towards her friends house.

Ranma smiled as he walked behind her. She had a cute butt too. He 
really liked being around her. It was going to be good to train her.

Mentally, Ranma began to think about what to do. While his father was a 
great fighter, and had helped turn him into the best martial artist of 
his generation, he was very harsh. 

There was no way that Ranma would ever do anything like that to Hotaru, 
especially now, with the baby. Even after the baby was born, he doubted 
he could do it. She reminded him of a porcelain doll, exquisitely 
beautiful but fragile. Haruka on the other hand... "Hehehehe..."

Hotaru looked at him inquisitively. "Why are you laughing?"

Ranma smiled slyly. "I'm gonna go easy on you for awhile... make sure 
nothin' happens to the baby."

"Why's that funny?" asked Hotaru skeptically.

"It's funny 'cause Haruka ain't gonna be that lucky," replied Ranma 
with a self-satisfied smirk.

Hotaru smiled. "Just don't hurt her, okay?"

"Nothin' permanent," stated Ranma. It was then that he noticed that 
Hotaru had stopped walking. Looking at the house in front of him he 
asked, "This it?"

"Yep," replied Hotaru. Without another word, she walked up and knocked 
on the door. 

After a moment, an attractive middle-aged woman with long purple hair 
opened the door. She smiled when she saw Hotaru, and said, "Hello 
Hotaru-chan." She paused for a moment when she saw the sweat on 
Hotaru's brow, and the slight deepness in her breathing. "Hotaru-chan, 
are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Ikuko-san. I'm just a little winded from my walk. I just 
need to sit down for a little," replied Hotaru.

The lady of the household nodded, and said, "You know you're always 
welcome here, Hotaru-chan." She paused for a moment and took a look at 
Ranma. "Who's this young man?"

With uncharacteristic strength, Hotaru reached over and wrenched Ranma 
next to her. She smiled widely, like a cat who just snuck into an 
aviary. Hugging him tightly, she said, "This is my fiancé, Saotome 
Ranma!"

Ikuko's jaw dropped. "Did you say, fiancé?" 

Ranma blushed, and Hotaru nodded vigorously.

Ikuko blinked. "When did this happen?"

"He just asked me," stated Hotaru. "Here," she added as he lifted her 
left hand to show Ikuko her ring.

The older woman eyes grew to the size of saucers. "That's a very 
beautiful ring, Hotaru!"

"She picked it out," muttered Ranma with a flush.

Ikuko coughed and stood up straight. "Where are my manners...?" She 
turned to Ranma, bowed, and said, "I am Tsukino Ikuko, and welcome to 
my home."

"Hello, Tsukino-san," said Ranma.

The woman shook her head, and said, "There's no need to be so formal, 
Ranma-kun. Call me Ikuko." 

Ranma smiled. "Okay, Ikuko-san."

The woman smiled and looked at the two teens. "Would you like to come 
in for some tea?"

Hotaru nodded. "Hai!"

Ikuko quickly led the teens into the Tsukino living room then went to 
the kitchen to get some tea. Both Hotaru and Ranma sat down at the 
table.

Ranma smiled to himself. This didn't feel too bad. He was meeting her 
friends. Maybe he should introduce Hotaru to his friends one of these 
days. 

Nuku-Nuku would be easy, since she always stayed in one place, so would 
Ryouga, who had a strange way of always running into him. Ryu and 
Sakura would be a pain to find, but where you find one you would find 
the other within a reasonable distance. Then there was Terry... the 
kami only know when he would show up next. Oh, and he might as well 
introduce her to his extended family...

Ranma's train of thought was interrupted as Chibi-Usa was heard coming 
down the steps. Stopping half way down, she asked, "Ikuko-mama, do we 
have visitors?"

From the kitchen the woman replied loudly, "Yes, Hotaru-chan's here, 
and she brought her fiancée."

There was a rumble of motion as the pink-haired girl flew down the 
steps, and all but exploded into the room. "Hi, Hotaru-chan!"

"Hi, Chibi-Usa-chan!" exclaimed Hotaru, as she grabbed Ranma's hand as 
if to say "mine".

Chibi-Usa smiled, and gave the pigtailed martial artist a once over. 
"He's a hunk!"

"Er... thanks, I think," mumbled Ranma. 

"Chibi-Usa," Hotaru began, "when we're done with tea can I borrow your 
bed?"

The pink-haired girl's eyes widened, "You just didn't ask what I think 
you did, did you?"

Hotaru body blushed, becoming a rich shade of crimson. In a frantically 
embarrassed voice, she said, "No, no, no! I just want to lie down!" 

Chibi-Usa snickered to herself. Her mouth rising into an amused smirk, 
she said, "Sure you do..."

In an attempt to curtail Hotaru's embarrassment, Ranma said, "Don't 
worry, we ain't gonna do anything on your bed. We already did that 
today." Needless to say, it had the opposite effect as intended as 
Hotaru blushed an even deeper red.

"Oh," said Chibi-Usa. She smiled, the look in her eyes becoming almost 
predatory. "So when did this happen?"

Hotaru took this as a chance to get back at her friend for all of her 
embarrassment. "Right after he got me this!" she exclaimed, as she 
thrust her left had forward.

Chibi-Usa's eyes widened as she at looked the ring. "Wow... now that's 
a nice ring. It really suits you."

"Yeah," commented Ranma, "It's purple and kinda looks like Saturn."

Chibi-Usa blanched. "Hotaru?"

"I told him. Setsuna-mama said I could."

Chibi-Usa paused. "Puu said it's ok?"

Hotaru nodded.

The pink-haired girl nodded. "So did you just get the ring when he 
bought it or did you do something special?" 

Hotaru blushed brightly. "He asked, after we..."

Chibi-Usa's face lit up. "How romantic!"

Ranma blinked. "How's that romantic?"

In a sing-song tone Chibi-Usa said, "To have your lover ask for your 
hand while in his arms after embracing your passion for one another... 
That's so great!"

Ranma just shook his head. He didn't even want to understand that one.

Ikuko opened the kitchen door carrying the tea. It was then that things 
went to hell. Ranma's blood froze in his veins as a monster entered the 
room.

He trembled with terror as the deadly predator stalked up behind the 
purple haired woman, its lithe body flexing, ready to kill. Its deadly, 
razor-sharp claws prepared to rend flesh from bone. Its evil, glowing 
eyes burning with hate and malice. Then it hunched back, and opened its 
maw to expose its jagged, flesh ripping teeth and voice its horrible, 
soul chilling battle cry...

"Meow?"