"Soothing Noriko", a Ranma 1/2 fanfic by KaraOhki, June 7, 1998.
   
   Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi (Yes, we know), and this
   story is not intended for
   
   commercial purposes, or to infringe on her rights.
   
   The author can be contacted at karaohki@snet.net
   
   { } indicates thought
   
   *****
   
   Author's Note:
   
   For those who've read my story "Breaking Free", this short story will
   fit into that time frame.
   
   Subject: Mr. and Mrs. Ranma Saotome are discovering some of the
   dubious "joys" of parenting.
   
   SOOTHING NORIKO
   
   The wailing was soft at first, and then increased in volume.
   
   Ranma sat up, and was joined seconds later by Akane. Akane pushed the
   sheets back, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and was dragged
   back by Ranma. He tucked her in, and got up.
   
   "It's my turn. Go back to sleep."
   
   Akane merely nodded, and closed her eyes. She had dark circles under
   them from lack of sleep.
   
   Noriko was teething. Ranma couldn't remember anything he'd experienced
   that was as difficult as watching his daughter cry, sometimes for
   hours on end. He would have preferred suffering through a training
   trip in the rain to seeing her like this.
   
   Noriko's diaper needed changing, and Ranma hoped that being clean and
   dry would soothe her, but she continued to cry. His tired legs moved
   without thought as he paced back and forth, rubbing her back, and
   talking softly to her.
   
   ****
   
   Ranma held his breath as he tucked Noriko back into her crib. When he
   tried it ten minutes ago, she'd begun to cry again. This time she let
   out a soft sigh, and settled down.
   
   Within seconds, Ranma was back in his bed, asleep.
   
   ****
   
   By the time Akane finished changing Noriko, she was wailing at the top
   of her voice. Akane couldn't help but marvel that such a tiny girl
   could make so much noise.
   
   {Ranma has a morning class to teach. He needs his sleep.}
   
   Akane carried Noriko downstairs, and retrieved her teething ring from
   the refrigerator. Noriko, however, would have none of it. Every time
   her mother tried to put it into her mouth she turned her head away,
   screaming.
   
   By this time, Akane was near tears herself.
   
   "Please, sweetie, take this. It will make you feel better."
   
   Then Akane's sleep-deprived brain remembered something someone had
   told her.
   
   {Please, please let this work.}
   
   ****
   
   Ranma opened his eyes, to see Akane's half of the bed empty. He turned
   over, but she was not in the rocking chair. A quick check of Noriko's
   room proved it empty, and he went downstairs.
   
   It was dark and quiet downstairs, and Ranma was beginning to worry
   when he saw light coming from the direction of the bathroom.
   
   ****
   
   Akane looked up as the bathroom door slid open, and held her finger to
   her lips. She was in the tub, cradling Noriko against her. Noriko was
   sucking on her teething ring, her half-closed eyes gazing at her
   mother.
   
   Ranma kept his voice to a whisper.
   
   "What made you do this?"
   
   "Your mother suggested it. She said that she spent a lot of nights in
   the bathtub with you when you were teething."
   
   Ranma couldn't help grinning.
   
   "Maybe that's where I developed my love of soaking. May I join you?"
   
   Akane's response was to make room.
   
   Within minutes, Noriko was asleep, and Ranma took her from Akane. He
   placed the baby on his chest, wrapped one arm around her, and the
   other around his wife.
   
   ****
   
   The increase in the weight on his arm indicated that Akane had fallen
   asleep. Ranma shifted her so that he could hold her more securely, and
   settled down to wait.
   
   Eventually, Ranma would have to wake Akane so they could all get back
   to bed, but for now he was quite content to let his girls sleep.
   
   _________________________
   
   Thank you for reading