A Story from "The Bet"
Crippled: Body & Souls

By Bryan Neef
From an idea by Gregg Sharp

Episode 3: Visitors

Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publishing rights are held 
by Viz in the US and Shogakukan in Japan. My purpose is to honor the 
creator and her works. No infringement intended.

***

Ranma sat in his chair, fighting his homework.  He still hated school, 
but not nearly as much as he had before the incident.  He also hated 
himself more.

The frustration built to the point he snapped the pencil in two.  "Why 
won't this work?" he growled as he threw the offending material onto 
the table.

Nabiki looked at him from the kitchenette.  She shook her head as she 
stepped into the main room.  When she took Ranma in, she knew he would 
be difficult.  She still wished he were better.

"Honestly, Ranma, you're as bad as a child.  You don't need to fight it 
so much."

"That's easy for you to say.  You're good at this stuff!"

Nabiki sighed as she picked up the book.  "Hai, Ranma.  I'm good 
because I work at it.  I also use it every day.  Tell you what, after 
dinner, I'll help you with this."

Ranma grumbled something as he nodded.  Nabiki smiled, patting his hand 
before returning to her dinner preparations.  "I've got some news for 
you."

"What?" asked Ranma as he flipped through his history book.

"I've found a rehabilitation program that should help your muscles and 
keep you in shape."

"Well, my upper body is fine, but I'd like to get more out of my 
workout.  What kind of 'rehab?'"

Nabiki smiled her mischievous smile as she brought out the plates.  
"Swimming."

"Swimming?  You mean I have to be a girl for it?"

"Hai.  I'd rather you do this than your 'jogging.'"

Ranma glared at her for a moment.  "Why?"

"Because I can workout with you.  I don't like the idea of you being 
out there alone."

RAnma raised an eyebrow.  "You can always come too."

Nabiki stared at him for a moment, then laughed.  "Tell you what, I'll 
jog with you in the morning, and you swim with me in the evening.  I 
don't want to fight of any men by myself."

Ranma smiled.  "All right.  If I don't like it, we quit and find 
something else."

"Fair enough.  So, when do we start jogging?"

"Six in the morning."

"Six?"

"Hai."

***

Tanaka Tomoko finished packing her bag.  She turned to her husband.  

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked her husband, Hiro.

"Hai.  Ranma needs us.  I mean, he was so full of life before the 
attack."

"That may be him trying to make up for his loss."

Tomoko glared at her husband.  "At the very least, he was an athlete.  
You saw how well toned his muscles were."

"So did the twins."

Tomoko smiled at her husband's observation.  "The children truly liked 
Ranma.  Even with his curse."

"True.  They actually haven't seen it, but they accepted it well 
enough.  He did seem left out when we all talked."

"So it's settled, with Ranma an orphan, we bring him into our family."

"What about his 'secret admirer?'  Do you know who he is?"

"No.  Ranma couldn't figure it out either.  The one woman he thought it 
was acted totally surprised when she found out he was alive.  I don't 
think she knew."

"I see.  Well, at this point, all we can do is offer him a family."

"I know, Dear."

In the hall, three teens listened at the door.  The twin girls looked 
at each other, smiling.  Their younger brother caught the smiles and 
groaned inwardly.  The trio stepped back, moving to the family room.

"This is so cool.  Mom and Dad are really going to try to adopt RAnma," 
spoke Kei, one of the girls.

"Maybe.  It sounds like he already has someone," replied the boy, Isao.

"True.  But who?  I say we talk to his old friends and see if they know 
anything," replied Yuri, the other girl.

Isao frowned.  "Won't that end up hurting him?  He told us everyone he 
knew wanted him dead."

"Don't be silly.  He's just emotionally traumatized.  He'll be afraid 
of everyone.  It's our job to help him."

"We can help him by not telling his old acquaintances he's alive.  
Especially Tendou Akane."

***