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“Son.”
Ranma tore his eyes away from the koi pond to see his father, who had a sheepish look upon his face. “Mind if I sit down?” he asked softly– it was the most gentle that Ranma had heard his father’s voice in his whole life.
“Sure, Pops,” Ranma mumbled, resting his chin on his knees and staring back out at the koi pond. He felt his father lower himself down next to him. There were a few moments of tense silence as Genma stared out at the koi pond with his son.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” Genma said rather suddenly, breaking the awkward silence. “I know that despite how much you two fought, you loved each other.”
“I was a coward,” Ranma said bitterly. “I could never get up the damn courage to say it to her and when I finally do say it to her, it’s too late.”
“You’re not a coward,” Genma said firmly. “Boy- Ranma. Listen to me. You are not a coward. The courage and bravery you showed against Saffron are a testament to the man you’ve grown to be in spite of my own failures. I know that I am not a good father, I never have been. But I have never been prouder of you than the day you sacrificed everything, even your own manhood, to try to save all those lives.”
“Pops,” Ranma said hoarsely. “I… how can you be proud of me? I failed. Akane is gone and… why doesn’t everyone hate me? It’s my fault she got caught up in that in the first place and-”
Genma wrapped his son in a hug and pressed his lips to Ranma’s crimson hair. “Breathe, son. Just breathe. Nobody is going to blame you for what happened. Not me, not Soun, not Nabiki, Kasumi or anyone. She sacrificed herself to keep you safe, and you practically moved the heavens and Earth to try to save her. You did good by her, and that is what a good husband should do.”
“It still hurts,” Ranma muttered.
“It may always hurt, my son,” Genma said softly, nudging Ranma’s chin with his hand. Ranma looked up at his father through tear-rimmed azure eyes, and Genma gave him a soft smile. “But she would want you to live, Ranma. Live a happy, fruitful life until you’re grey and old and then someday reunite with her in the heavens.”
“I’ll try,” Ranma murmured, bowing his head. “I’ll… I’ll try.”