nerdiethings | Ranma CMO Post

So the family into which we are born decides everything after all.

I don’t think that’s it. If I wanted, I could turn my back on my family and responsibilities.

But I don’t want to do that.

So saying no means hurting your family…

Saying no means hurting people I love. And that’s something I try not to do.

I know what it is to regret things undone.

[Intellectually, she understands that her family experience is unique in bad ways.

But she doesn’t know what good parenting looks like and it’s hard for her to recognize it in the Queen.]

Lady Saotome said that disobeying the family was a lot like killing her and her husband. Saying no was a knife in her heart.

That’s awful! How manipulative…

I don't think... anyone in the Saotome house was used to thinking that there was any other decision to make. Until it was too late.

You should have options too.

You must understand… this is what I choose. I’m happy to do this. I want to be a good ruler—no matter what that means.

Still... doesn't sound like much of a choice...

I’m happy to serve my people. [ She takes Ranma’s hands in hers. ]

You made the choice to stay by my side, to swear your life to me, even though you have an entire life ahead of you. I have to be the kind of person who deserves that. I want to be someone who deserves that. That is the future I choose.

[O-oh. Oh god.

Tears spring to her eyes.]

Y-you don't know what you're saying... I didn't swear to serve because of who you could be... I wanted to serve who you already are...

And who I am is a person who wants to make sure the future is safe and happy for everyone.

[ She lifts her hand to wipe away any stray tears. ]

I accepted your choice. I think you could do much better for your life, but… if this makes you happy, I won’t argue it further.

So do you understand why I want this?

But I-I can't. [She shakes her head, desperately.] I can't get a better life, I don't deserve that. The only thing I can do is...

I want to protect you. I.. I owe you that. I owe your sister that...

You don't owe us, Ranma. You didn't kill my sister, regardless of your family status or who you worked for.

You can't take on that responsibility.

But I could have. I could have stopped... I could have saved...

[The tears only get more pronounced.]

I was there, Fuu.

[Fuu's normally so unflappable. Nothing seems to get under her skin, even in the short amount of time that Ranma has known her, even in her sadness, she seems... prepared, ready, regal, all the time.

That is not the case right now. Her eyes widen and her face just... falls. It's one thing to know your sister is dead. It's another entirely to be speaking with someone who was present for the event that changed your entire life.]

... What?

When the estate... marched on the town... I was there.

I was right outside the house where... Kuu was.

I don't... understand. [Her eyes are glassy.]

H-how... how could you have been there...?

I... was sent out... with the knights. They wanted me to help the... hunt.

I didn't kill anyone... but I might as well have.

The... hunt? W-what on earth could they have been hunting... that could have brought on my sister's death?

...they were hunting... for a healer. A peasant with magic. Lord Genma was paranoid that it would make the locals feel powerful enough to rise up against him...

But she wasn't a peasant! How... how did word even get back to him? She had barely arrived...

I don't think... the rumors were based on Kuu at all. Lord Genma wanted a target to feel strong. The people who wanted to please him invented one.

[She's not sure whether it's better or worse now that she knows what her sister died for.]

... You couldn't have stopped them. No one could have, except the Saotomes themselves. You can't put the weight of that on your shoulders.

[She gulps.]

I could have. Lord Genma's orders may have come first but... I could have lied. I could have invented something...

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