[UY/Ranma/SisPri][FanFic] Lonely Souls - Prologue "R" Side (2/2)

[pye...@gmail.com]

"Oh, my!"

Nabiki grimaced. "You got it."

She had been on the patio outside the sitting room, about ready to go
to school, when Genma, Souun and Nodoka had their little
kaffeeklatsch. And it was a VERY lucky thing she had her personal
dictation machine with her at the time. It struck Nabiki as odd that
the adults hadn't waited until she was out of hearing range before
Genma dropped his bombshell on Nodoka and Souun. Then again, despite
their skills, Souun and Genma certainly were NOT the swiftest people
on the block. It had been child's play for her to avoid being spotted
until the chance came that she could get to Kasumi and pass on the
news.

Kasumi took a deep breath. The sisters were meeting in the kitchen
just after Nabiki had returned from school. "I can't BELIEVE they'd
be so callous about Ukyou or Shampoo and their claims on Ranma-kun!"
The eldest daughter shook her head. "What are they trying to do?
Start a three-way blood feud?!"

"Nah! They just don't like the idea of losing control over things
like that, I think." Nabiki shook her head before she spat, "Damn it
all! Neither of them are ready to get married, Onee-chan, especially
while they're still in high school! And to have THIS dropped on their
heads so SOON after Akane-chan was nearly killed, not to mention what
might be going on with Ranma-kun?!"

Kasumi perked. "Oh, my! Is there something wrong with Ranma-kun?"

"I . . . " Nabiki paused, and then she slowly exhaled. "I'm not
really sure about it, Onee-chan. But over the last few days, I've
sensed that SOMETHING'S bothering him." She sat down before tracing a
finger in a circle on the counter. "Yeah, I can see the idea of him
avoiding anything to do with Ukyou or Shampoo. And having him be very
civil to Akane-chan is pretty good in and of itself. But . . . " Her
eyes narrowed. "Something's bugging him big-time. Problem is, I
can't see what that something might be, Onee-chan."

"What could it be, then?"

"I dunno. And we better find out what it is before the idiots decide
to do something stupid. Not just the ones here, but also the ones
elsewhere. If they do and Ranma-kun happens to take it the wrong
way . . . "

She raised a finger in warning. The eldest sister nodded. "Agreed."

* * *

"And that's what happened!" Ukyou wiped her eyes as she spoke into
the receiver. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I . . . "

"You WERE doing the right thing, Ukyou!" her father's voice echoed
over the earphone. "They had no right in forcing a marriage between
Ranma and that girl without taking into account what happened to you
over the last ten years. I don't care what supposedly happened
afterward. You HAVE a right, a DUTY, to see to it the Saotomes adhere
to what they agreed with us, child!"

"I . . . yes, Dad! I know! But still . . .!"

"No, Ukyou!" Kuonji Haruka sharply replied. "There is no choice but
to do this. And if they try to fight it out, we'll fight it out. Our
honour has precedence here. Listen, didn't you tell me about this
'man-above-men' contract Ranma was forced to sign with his mother?"

Ukyou nodded. "Yes, I did."

"Well, if his mother supposedly goes along with THAT, you have to
wonder what sort of mother IS she! Do you REALLY want to see Ranma
living under that sort of threat for the rest of his life? Believe
me, if you offer Ranma the chance to get away from that woman, he'll
take it!"

Ukyou shook her head. "I dunno, Dad. Ran-chan's been getting along
pretty well with her, so I've heard . . . "

"Come now, Ukyou! I know her type. She'll want to do to the boy
what people like her have done to their children for ages. Lord it
over their child to the point where he won't be able to do anything
without getting her approval first. Tell me, Ukyou, do YOU want to
have someone like her for a mother-in-law? You know how some of them
can be at times!"

The chef blinked, sighing. "Yeah, Ran-chan does seem to defer a lot
-- hell, a little TOO much, if you ask me! -- to her."

"My point! Ironically, his father did the lad a favour in keeping
him away from his mother! You love how strong Ranma is! How could he
be that way, STAY that way, if he's being forced to defer to his own
mother like that?!"

"Yeah, you got a point . . . "

"I'm glad you understand that." Haruka chuckled. "Don't give up
hope, Ukyou. You're in the right. Don't forget that!"

"I . . .!" Ukyou reluctantly nodded. "Alright, Dad."

The conversation was soon concluded. Konatsu, who had been cleaning
up tables, looked at his employer. "Ukyou-sama, do you really think
Ranma-sama will acknowledge what you might demand of him after what
happened last week?"

Ukyou stared at the male kunoichi before sighing. "I dunno,
Konatsu." She grimaced. "But I DO know that I have to make up to Ran-
chan somehow. When I do that, then we'll see what we'll do next.
Okay?"

He nodded. "As you feel is right."

* * *

Shampoo blinked, a grin slowly crossing her face as she read the
letter that just arrived by carrier pigeon from her home village:

"To the Warrior Nu Shanpú,
"Greetings,
"In the wake of the report sent by your honoured great-grandmother,
the Elder Nu Kelun, concerning the events several weeks ago on Mount
Phoenix in the battle with Saffron, the Council decrees the following:
"That the marriage, as established by combat, between yourself and
Saotome Ranma, is acknowledged as true under our laws.
"That you, Shanpú, must continue to strive to bring your husband to
the village as soon as possible to consummate said marriage.
"And that you, Shanpú, will eliminate, by whatever means possible,
all obstacles standing in your way of consummating your marriage with
your husband. This must be done in the light of the many crimes your
husband's father, Saotome Genma, student of the hated Happoosai,
eternal enemy of the Nujiézú, has committed against womankind.
"We wish you the Goddess' blessings as you pursue those goals and
hope to see you and your husband returned to the village soon.
"With the Goddess' blessings, I remain,
"Nu Misú, Chair of the Council of Elderwomen"

Shampoo sighed. Misú -- "Mist" -- was not just the supreme leader of
her tribe, but a great-grand aunt several times removed. Mist and
Cologne had been friends for ages, standing together against the
tribes' foes in battle after battle. To receive a letter like this
from her had as much impact on Shampoo as anything Cologne might
demand. Sighing, she read the post-script, written in Mist's
beautiful calligraphy: "Remember, Shan, the one who killed Saffron
and fought Herb to a standstill must NOT elude the Nujiézú."

*That settles that!* she mused as she folded the letter and left it
on the bar. *But will Airen accept it, especially after what happened
last week?*

Since the letter was personal, neither Cologne nor Mousse had read
it. Remembering the weapons-master, Shampoo grimaced, and then she
slipped the letter into her jersey. She would have to talk to her
great-grandmother, but clearly, an apology to Airen was in order.
Indeed, threatening Airen's mother, even by accident, was NOT a smart
thing. And she would have to speak to the Mercenary Girl about what
precipitated that mess in the first place. Shampoo strongly believed
Airen's fool father and Tendou Souun had forced him into that farce.
If so, she'd have some words with them, especially the stupid panda.

He had long deserved that!

* * *

"So this is Moroboshi Ataru, huh?"

"Hai, that's him." Tampopo smiled as she cleaned up her dishes, just
unpacked out of their boxes after she moved them from Tomobiki.

It was the next afternoon after school. Ranma hooked the framed
picture on the wall near the doorway into the kitchen before moving to
set up the rest of the pictures Tampopo hung around her restaurant to
make things homely. "Heard all sorts of things about him. Not all
nice, y'know."

The cook sighed. "Hai, I know. I know. But people can say the very
same things about you, Ranma-chan. Not to mention the other members
of the 'Nerima Wrecking Crew.' Don't forget that." She winked at
him.

Actually "her." Before coming to Tampopo's, Ranma had been splashed
by the old lady near the Tendou home. He had told the cook about
Jusenkyou the night they met. Much to Ranma's delight, Tampopo simply
shrugged it off. Even more, when some of the workers who had been
moving stuff into her shop tried to flirt with the martial artist,
Tampopo laid them all low with a battle spatula that put Ukyou's to
shame. And her threat about not cooking a THING for them in response
to their trying to "pick up" Ranma was effective, especially after
Ranma himself got a sample of her cooking. Kasumi? Who was Kasumi?!

Ranma sighed. "I guess we all got our enemies, huh?"

"Yes, that's true. Too many people, especially your age and male --
and some of the females, too -- in Tomobiki just HATED the fact that I
waylaid Lum every time Ataru-chan ducked into here to avoid her
cooking, not to mention being bullied by the rest of them. Pity she
got sent home; the last few nights she was on Earth, she was starting
to show some progress with Ataru-chan."

Ranma stared at her. "Did you want them to get married?"

"I really wish I could answer that. My . . . " She paused,
shrugging. "My main concern was the fact that there was this boy. A
person who could've gained friends and had a healthy adolescence if he
had ever been given a chance. Suddenly, he is picked to become
Earth's 'champion' in a silly tag game to protect us from being
invaded by aliens. THEN he winds up being 'married' to an alien who
didn't understand what her presence on Earth was ultimately doing to
him! I . . . " She turned to sit at the counter. "Lum is a nice
girl, Ranma-chan. But she has no CONTROL over herself. Even more so,
her behaviour influenced her cousin, a little BOY of five, to act in
the very same manner she did. And then you tack all her friends from
outer space, pile Ataru-chan's classmates on top of that . . . " She
then made an exploding motion with her hands. "And when it was all
said and done, things got destroyed and people's lives were
disrupted. And look what happened? They turned and blamed ATARU for
it. Every DAMN time!"

Ranma sighed, walking over to sit beside the cook. "I guess that
would get to anyone, even me." She leaned her chin on her palm.

"That's why I did what I did," Tampopo admitted. "I gave Ataru-chan
ONE place in Tomobiki where he could be free of them all. And because
of that, he came to trust me about things no one, not even Lum, knew.
And I . . . " She sighed. "I was happy to be there for him. He
really needed it at times."

"So where is he now?" Ranma wondered.

Tampopo shook her head. "No. I know you're curious, but I won't say
anything. There are those who'd take those words and totally ruin his
life. Chief of which are the twits who're Ataru-chan's biological
parents. He renounced all legal ties to them before Lum was sent
home."

Ranma gaped. "He's roonin?!"

"No, he's not. His clan is a matriarchy where the succession goes
from grandmother to granddaughter, not father to son like in most
other families," Tampopo reported. "It skipped his parents'
generation and went to him. Muchi and Kinshou -- they're Ataru's
parents -- have no power in that respect." She then added in a
whisper, "Especially now that his grandmother is dead."

"Whoa!" The transformed martial artist whistled, gazing at the
ceiling. "He's lucky. Did anyone in Tomobiki know about this?"

"Not really, thanks very much to Kinshou. And I'd rather not talk
about that now. It IS violating Ataru-chan's privacy." The chef
playfully batted Ranma's nose before she stood up to prepare something
on the stove behind the counter. "Besides, it's pretty much all
settled now. He's somewhere where no one can try to hurt him further,
so he'll finally have a chance to get his wits about him, and then
decide what he wants to do with his life. And you did tell me about
your fiancée's sister Nabiki." She wagged a finger at Ranma. "By the
sounds of it, she might take whatever information I might give you
about Ataru-chan and sell it to the highest bidder. I don't want
that."

Ranma snorted. "Don't blame you."

"So what do you want to have?"

"Hmmm . . . how good are you at making okonomiyaki?"

"Pretty good. What type?"

"Hiroshima-style. Beef and shrimp with soba."

"Alright."

Tampopo got to work. Watching her, Ranma was instantly reminded of
Ukyou and the magic that she could unleash over a stove. A frown
turned her lips as she banished the chef's image from her mind. No,
she couldn't think of Ukyou now, especially after what happened. If
she wanted reconciliation, Ukyou had to make the first move. And if
she got uppity, that was no problem. Ranma had no intention of
marrying her even BEFORE the fight on Mount Phoenix. Was it really
Ranma's fault that Ukyou never got the message?

"Hey, Tampopo-chan! Can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Ranma-chan?"

"Was Lum really that bad of a cook?"

Tampopo chuckled. "I'm not so sure. The chances are good that she
was pretty bad no matter what she tried, but I think that the real
problem was that she was busy preparing Oni food for a Terran."

"Really?" Ranma's eyebrow arched. "Damn, pity she had to go home.
We could've introduced her to Akane." She then stopped before a chill
warped through her. "Excuse me! On second thought, that's NOT a good
idea!"

Tampopo glanced at her. "She's bad?"

"Bad . . .?" Ranma sighed. "Well, it was plain awful to watch her
go at it at times! And I got stuck eating it all. It was a miracle
that I didn't wind up dead or in intensive care from the things she
made. But . . . " She shrugged. "She's got better. She does a good
curry, but . . .!" Another shrug. "I think her big problem is that
she thinks she's good because Kasumi does it every day, three times a
day, so Akane assumes she can do the same. It doesn't work that way,
Tampopo-chan. You probably know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do know that. Does she read the recipe at least?"

"Not that I know of."

"Oh, dear. That IS a problem, then. So how many times did you have
your bilges pumped from her cooking, Ranma-chan?"

"I've lost count."

"And no one's tried to stop her beforehand?"

Ranma shook her head. "Not really, I'll admit. I guess the only one
who could is Kasumi, but she doesn't do it often."

"Kasumi? The eldest sister?"

"Yep."

Tampopo hummed. "And their mother's dead?"

"Yeah. She passed away about ten years ago or so. I don't know the
exact date and all that. I . . . " Ranma shrugged. "Well, I figure
it's kind of personal with them and they are hurting from her dying
and all that . . . "

"Wise thing. Still, if Kasumi has been forced to become the home
keeper, I wouldn't be so surprised if she went easy on Akane. To turn
from an 'older sister-to-younger sister' relationship into a 'quasi-
mother/older sister-to-younger sister' situation would be
disorientating. If their father had been smart, he would have
remarried. It would've done the girls a lot of good."

"You think so?"

"I believe it would've been the proper thing to do." Tampopo
sighed. "Ranma-chan, can you tell me something?"

"What?"

"What do you see in Akane, anyway?"

"I . . .!" Her brow furrowed as she considered that. "I don't
know."

Tampopo stared at her. "Just like Ataru-chan."

"Eh?"

She chuckled. "When Lum first came to Earth and it became obvious
that he was becoming seriously attracted to her, I asked Ataru-chan
that question. He . . . " She shrugged, turning to monitor the
okonomiyaki. "It's nothing to be ashamed about, Ranma-chan. When you
feel an attraction to someone, things do get quite confusing. Let me
ask you this, then: What IS love?"

"I . . .!" Ranma stuttered, and then she sat back in her chair to
think about it. "Well . . . I guess ta be in love with someone means
you're taking a commitment ta be there for her. Ta protect her and
support her and . . . well . . .!" She shrugged before giving her
host a hopeful look. "I . . .!"

Tampopo flashed a sympathetic look. "You haven't really had any
chance to talk this over with anyone, haven't you?"

"Not really."

"Is there anyone you can trust to have a conversation like that?" the
chef then wondered. "Because it looks to me that you really need to
get your thoughts in order before you contemplate doing ANYTHING."
Tampopo flipped the okonomiyaki onto a plate before placing that
before Ranma.

Her nose twitching excitedly as a mouth-watering aroma zeroed in on
her mind's pleasure centres, the martial artist picked up her
chopsticks. "Well . . . " she mouthed around a morsel of food. "Not
really, I guess." She gulped it down. "I mean, there's Kasumi." She
cut another slice. "But I don't wanna put her into a position
where . . . " She downed that. "She might end up standin' up to the
rest of her family." She then cut up another slice. "Man, this is
really good, Tampopo-chan!" Ranma grinned. "And there was Doc Ono
Toofuu. He was a chiropractor who lived here sometime back. Don't
know what happened to him . . . " Her voice trailed off, and then she
sighed. "Then again, I remember one time when he used a shiatsu point
on my back to force me to be carried home from his office by Akane,"
she ruefully lamented.

Tampopo's eyebrow arched. "Oh, really? That's not behaviour I'd
condone from my doctor. What about your mother? I can sense you have
no trust in your father anymore, but surely, your mother might
understand some things."

Ranma shook her head. "Not really. Mom's pretty traditional and all
that. I . . . I guess, deep down, she . . .!" She paused before
shrugging. "I don't know what she wants. Giri means a lot to
her . . . "

"Giri? What about your happiness? Good grief, doesn't she want you
to be happy with your life, Ranma-chan?"

"I . . .!"

"ARE you happy with your life?"

Ranma shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut as the concern in Tampopo's
voice sheared through her emotional guards like a knife through
butter. Before she could do anything, fingers touched shiatsu points
on her temples. Ranma quaked. The dam then broke as gentle sobs
burst from her lips. Almost immediately, arms wrapped around her as
she felt Tampopo comfort her. "Let it out . . . " the chef cooed into
the martial artist's ear. "Let it out, Ranma-chan. It's okay. It's
okay. It's okay to cry, Ranma-chan."

"N-no . . .!" Ranma burbled. "Men don't cry . . . "

Tampopo shook her head. "Who told you that? Your father?" she
asked. Feeling Ranma nod, she sighed. "He lied to you. Kami-sama, I
can't believe he'd force you to accept a lie like THAT! What was he
trying to do to you?"

Ranma listened to the question, sniffling back her tears before
staring at her host. "N-no one . . . " she stuttered before looking
down. "No one's ever asked me things like that 'b-bout me, Tampopo-
chan . . . "

"Is that a fact?" Tampopo gazed on her for a moment, and then she
nodded as if she had just made a great decision. "Ranma-chan, I want
you to listen to me for a moment. I'm going to make a promise to
you. And I really want you to believe that I will adhere to this
promise, okay? Are you listening?"

The martial artist nodded. "W-what?"

"I want you to know that if in ANY way you feel you have to break
away from these people you're dealing with now -- your parents, the
Tendous, the others -- I will be there for you," she vowed. "That's a
promise I am making to you right now. I want to be your friend, show
you what REAL friendship is about. And I want to help you figure your
way out of this MESS you're in. I really do, because you need it more
than anything else does. What's more, you DESERVE help. Do you
understand what I'm telling you? Do you?"

"I . . .!" Ranma stared wide-eyed at her. "Why?"

Tampopo shrugged. "Can't I help you?"

"I . . .!" the younger woman stuttered before rapidly shaking her
head. "No! I can't ask ya to do somethin' like THAT, Tampopo-chan!
You don't wanna get involved in my life! You don't! Trust . . .!"

A finger landed on her lips. "That's part of your problem, Ranma-
chan." Tampopo chuckled. "I take it the idea of you being the ONLY
person to settle your problems is another thing your father taught."
Her eyebrow arched again on her seeing the younger woman's eyes
widen. "Well, am I right?"

"It ain't that!" Ranma said. "I mean, yeah, a lot of the crap I've
gotta deal with was because Oyaji's a lunkhead! But believe me, you
don't wanna get inta this whole mess. People, especially Akane, Ukyou
and Shanpú, not ta mention Oyaji and Akane's dad, won't like the idea
of someone buttin' . . .!"

"And why is that?"

Ranma blinked. "I don't get it."

"Why is it they're trying to stop you from finding some way out of
this mess?" Tampopo wondered, and then she paused before taking a
breath. "Perhaps I should ask that this way: Why are they so AFRAID
of you making your own decisions about your life? Why? It's YOUR
life that you have to live! It's not Akane's. It's not Ukyou's.
It's not Shanpú's. And it certainly isn't your parents'! WHY?! Why
are you letting them get away with this nonsense?!"

"I . . .!" Ranma shuddered, tears flowing down her cheeks, and then
she leaned in as Tampopo comforted her. "I don't know anymore."

Sobs stole her voice as Tampopo sighed. "Then you have to find out,
Ranma-chan. For your sake most of all."

* * *

"So where were you yesterday? You were gone the whole day!"

Ranma blinked. Then glancing around to ensure Shampoo was nowhere
near, he gazed at Akane. "It was somethin' personal. Don't worry
about it, okay?"

She tensed before she stared at him. "'Personal?' About what?"

"Akane, if I tell ya something's personal, it's personal, okay?!" he
snapped. Taking a final sweep of the surrounding area to ensure
Shampoo wasn't close, he hopped down as they headed to the front gate
of Fuurinkan High. "Sheesh! You don't hear me buggin' ya about
somethin' ya wanna keep personal if ya tell me to mind my own
business! So why're you doin' it to me?!"

She stopped, staring wide-eyed at her fiancé. Her body then quaked
as a surge of anger roared up her spine. "Hey, don't tell me
something like that, Ranma! I'm trying to show a little concern for
you, you know!"

He stopped some distance away before he stared at her. "Why don't I
believe what you just said?" he wondered before heading into the
school.

Akane watched Ranma head inside, her legs rooted in place as his
question echoed through her mind. "Ranma . . . " she whispered.

"You okay, sugar?"

Akane gasped, spinning around to see Ukyou staring at her. "Ukyou?!"
she breathed out. "Ah! Um, is there something wrong?"

"Is there somethin' wrong with YOU?" the okonomiyaki chef countered.
"Did you and Ran-chan have a fight or what?!"

"I . . . " Akane blinked, and then she shook her head. "No, no
fight. It was just a little disagreement. So . . . "

"If you say so. Look, can you ask Ran-chan to come to the cherry
tree . . . " -- she pointed to a tree at one end of the campus -- "At
lunch? I REALLY have got to talk to him. You, too. Please, will you
two come there today?"

Akane stared at her rival, quickly noting the flash of pain and fear
deep in Ukyou's dark eyes. "I . . . al-alright."

"Thanks."

* * *

"Akane? Ran-chan?"

The couple and Ukyou sat under the cherry tree the chef had specified
before classes had begun. Akane and Ranma gazed on each other before
the former turned to Ukyou. "I forgive you." She reluctantly
nodded. "I can't blame you for getting so upset at what happened last
week!"

Ukyou blinked, and then she smiled. "Well, since you say it was
those two dingbats you have to call fathers that started it, not to
mention what Nabiki did to milk it along . . .!" She chuckled before
turning to Ranma.

He sighed. "I forgive you, Ukyou-san."

Ukyou jolted, her mind clouding over on hearing the words she needed
to hear from him. She was then brought up short by the way he just
addressed her. Akane was also taken aback. "Ranma . . .?" She gazed
on her fiancé.

Ranma sighed. "And yeah, you certainly had a right to do what you
did last week, Ukyou-san. I don't hold it against you."

Akane exploded. "SAY WHAT?! What the hell does THAT mean?!"

Ranma spun on her. "What about her honour, Akane?!" he demanded, the
ice in his voice making both girls duck. "What about the fact that
she spent TEN YEARS as a boy 'cause of what Oyaji pulled on her?!"

Silence fell. "Ran-chan . . . " Ukyou repeated.

Ranma stood. "Ukyou-san, I can't begin to apologise for how much
that fool father of mine hurt you. I can't start to think of any way
to pay you back for your sufferings. I know you love me and want to
marry me but . . . " He paused before shaking his head. "I'm sorry,
but I can't give that back to you. To me, you will always be my
oldest and best friend. But I can't accept you as BOTH friend AND
fiancée. Ya have to be one or the other, not both. I . . . " He
stopped, and then he shrugged. "I'm sorry."

He walked away. Akane and Ukyou watched him. The latter then
shuddered. "Now, wait just a damned minute here, Ran-chan . . .!"

Akane stepped into her path. "No!"

"Wha . . .?!" Ukyou sputtered.

"Leave him alone, Ukyou!" Akane ordered, glaring the chef down.
"Don't you understand what you're doing to him?!"

"But he has to . . .!"

"Has to what?!"

They stared at each other, and then they glanced together towards
where Ranma had gone. The martial artist was nowhere in sight. Both
women blinked. Akane sighed. "Damn, this is such a mess!" She shook
her head.

Ukyou took a breath. "Yeah, you got that right," she muttered.
"Akane, I'm sorry. I know how much you care for him and all that, but
I gotta warn you now." She held up a finger. "I can't and WON'T give
up my claim on Ran-chan."

Blinking, Akane stared back at her. "Why?"

"'Cause that's what my dad wants, okay?!" Ukyou snapped. She
shuddered before calming herself. "I'm sorry. Look, it's not your
fault and it's not Ran-chan's fault. I happen to like you, but I
just . . . " She squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't give up on him.
If I do, I give up EVERYTHING that makes my life what it is. I'd be
made roonin so fast, it'd make your head spin. I'd have to start from
scratch again, both as a chef and as a martial artist. I'm sorry, but
that's the way it is. I'm trapped and the only way out is through Ran-
chan. I . . . " She shook her head, shrugging. "That's the way it
is."

Akane stared at her. "Ukyou," she breathed out before gazing
intently at her. "I can't believe that your dad would . . . "

"Believe it," Ukyou flatly announced.

* * *

Ranma and Akane were silent as they headed home after classes. Both
had small bundles in their hands, boxes full of fresh okonomiyaki;
Ukyou had prepared them before final class. Ranma kept his eyes
peeled for Shampoo and her bicycle. Akane stared at him. "Ranma?"
she then ventured.

He glanced at her. "What is it?"

"You know, you were right." She took a breath. "She was hurt
because of what your father did to her. What could we do to help
her?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. Try ta find her family yatai if we could,
but I don't remember what Oyaji did with that. I can't just duck out
of helping her, Akane. She definitely deserves ta get something out
of this. But . . . " he stuttered. "What?" he then asked with a
shrug.

"Yeah. What could we do to pay back ten years of misery?"

Ranma sighed. He needed to talk to Tampopo about this. "Akane,
look, I'm gonna go for a walk, alright. I'll see ya later."

"Eh?!" Akane stared at him. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere ta clear my head." Ranma bounded to the nearest fence.
"Tell Kasumi she don't have to cook anythin' for me tonight!"

Akane watched him race off. "Ranma," she whispered, lowering her
head. "Why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"

"Aiyah! Is Airen alright?!"

Akane jolted, spinning to see Shampoo walk her bicycle up, an empty
lunch box on the cargo rack over the back wheel. "Shampoo!"

"Did you have a fight?" the warrior-maiden asked.

Akane blinked, surprised that Shampoo had asked her something like
THAT, and then she shook her head. "No, no fight. What's wrong?"

"This . . . " Shampoo's voice halted. "This one wants to apologise
for what she did to stop the wedding last week." She lowered her
eyes. "This one heard from Mercenary Girl that Airen's stupid father
and your father set that up. But can you . . .?" She paused before
staring at her rival. "Can you tell this one something? Did you
really want to marry Airen last week or was it because of the
Nanniichuan water the Jusenkyou guide sent to Airen?"

Akane shuddered before nodding. "Yes, I did want to marry Ranma,
Shampoo. He's saved my life so many times, that . . . "

"You think it's an honour-debt, right?"

Akane stared intently at Shampoo before relaxing. "It's more than
that. I love him. I . . .!" She paused. "I don't know when it
started to happen, but it did. I can't deny it, Shampoo. It's not
fair to Ranma and . . . "

She pointed to herself. "You think it's no fair to you, too?"

"Hai."

"This one understands. In fact, this one understands much more than
you might think. But . . . " She closed her eyes. "It doesn't
change one thing. This one still loves Airen. And this one can't
give up on Airen. It . . . it's not over yet," Shampoo then breathed
out.

Akane shuddered as a chill warped through her. "No . . . "

"If this one can't bring Airen back, she . . . " She gazed at Akane,
helplessness flashing in her eyes. "This one will face disgrace and
worse. Even more, the Council doesn't want to let Airen go. After
Airen killed Saffron and defeated Herb, what do you think the Council
should do?!"

Akane stared at the warrior-maiden, the phrases "disgrace or worse"
and "Council doesn't want to let Airen go" echoing in her mind again
and again. "No . . .!" She shook her head. "No! No! No! DAMN IT
ALL, NOT THIS!"

"Akane!" Shampoo cried out.

Too late; the youngest Tendou daughter was out of earshot. Shampoo
watched her go before she closed her eyes. "This one is sorry,
Akane. This one really, really wishes there could be another way."

* * *

A forlorn "Tadaima!" echoed through the Tendou home. Hearing that,
Nodoka stepped out of the kitchen, blinking on seeing tears in Akane's
eyes as she slipped off her shoes. "Akane-chan, what's wrong?!" she
gasped as she immediately moved to comfort her future daughter-in-law.

Akane jolted, staring blankly at Ranma's mother. By then, Souun had
come. Quickly noting the look on his youngest child's face, he
panicked. "Akane-chan! Are you alright?! What's wrong?!" he
parroted Nodoka's question.

"I . . .!" Akane blinked. "Nothing's wrong, Dad, Auntie. I'm
okay."

She turned to head upstairs. "Akane?" Souun gasped.

"Was it something Ranma did?" Nodoka demanded.

Akane stopped, her eyes widening. She spun around, outrage exploding
from every point on her body. "***NO!***" she bellowed loudly enough
to blow them into the floorboards. "***RANMA DID NOTHING TO ME!
NOTHING!***" She then turned on Souun. "***WHY IS IT EVERY TIME
SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOU TURN AROUND AND BLAME RANMA?!***" Then she
pointed accusingly at Nodoka. "***AND WHY CAN'T YOU TRUST YOUR OWN
SON FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, ANYWAY?!***"

She marched upstairs. Souun and Nodoka remained quiet before
exchanging a surprised look. "You think your husband might be right?"
the former asked, glancing up the stairs as the door to Akane's room
opened and slammed shut.

"Perhaps."

* * *

The week marched on.

Tuesday lunchtime saw Shampoo come to the school cafeteria to deliver
lunch for her Airen. Before presenting a bowl of hot ramen to Ranma,
the warrior-maiden apologised for her part in the failed wedding,
especially in putting her Airen's mother into harm's way. Hearing
that, plus hearing that Shampoo had not put any drugs into the ramen
-- a fear Ranma had possessed concerning Shampoo's meals for a long
time -- he accepted her apology.

Then, to everyone's shock, he added, "Shanpú, you've had to live with
your laws for your entire life. I don't really understand the reasons
behind them, but they're something you can't deny, even living here in
Japan. Because of that, I admit that you had every right to do what
you did last week. I can accept it. I can even try to understand
it. Please, it's alright."

Shampoo floated back to the Nekohanten on Cloud Nine.

After school, Ukyou gave Ranma another packaged okonomiyaki. He
accepted it, though he still addressed her as "Ukyou-san," something
that still clearly hurt the young chef. Once she was gone, Ranma
parted from Akane, declaring he wanted to go for a walk. Akane
accepted that, still bothered greatly by the words Ukyou and Shampoo
had spoken to her the previous two days.

She needed a chance to be alone, too.

Once they were separated, Ranma proceeded to a playground to gobble
Ukyou's okonomiyaki before he headed to Tampopo's to spend some time
with his new friend. There was no way he was going to insult the
older chef by bringing samples of Ukyou's cooking into her
restaurant. And besides, he had enough room for whatever Tampopo
might make him, plus any surprises that might be waiting for him back
at the Tendou home. Before leaving the chef for the day, Ranma
received several special packets of a homeopathic cure Tampopo had
once given Moroboshi Ataru in case he had to deal with Lum's cooking
and couldn't duck out of his home to avoid it. "It should be more
than enough to deal with whatever Akane might want to prepare for
you," she advised him.

Ranma certainly appreciated that.

* * *

"She said that to you?!"

Genma stared hopefully at his wife and his best friend. Nodoka
nodded. "Yes, she was quite boisterous about it, my husband. It
appears that, even if they are uncomfortable openly expressing it,
they do feel it."

Souun sighed. "I do agree, Saotome-kun. Perhaps you were right, but
I do want us to wait until this weekend before we approach them. And
we keep the wedding date as flexible as possible. Let them decide
when they want to wed."

"That sounds more than fair enough," Nodoka mused.

Genma blinked before sighing. "Alright, I can go along with that.
I'll keep an eye on the boy anyway, just in case. I still haven't
figured out where he goes to when he parts from Akane after school."

"Spying on our son, Genma, may not be the wisest thing to do."

"Yes, Saotome-kun, he might take it the wrong way."

"Still, I want to make sure he isn't slacking off." Genma held up a
hand to forestall any protests from Souun or Nodoka. "Don't worry. I
won't press anything with the boy, but I don't want him to lose his
edge."

Souun and Nodoka stared at him, and then they nodded.

* * *

"Oh, my!" Kasumi whispered; she was in the kitchen, having been there
since before Genma had got together with his wife and the Tendou
patriarch.

*Saturday,* she mused with a grimace, and then she sighed.

She had to talk to Nabiki about this as soon as possible.

* * *

Wednesday was a quiet day, save lunchtime. Like the day before,
Shampoo came to Fuurinkan High with lunch. When she got there, a
trivial annoyance imposed himself on her. "De Big Kahuna say there be
NO take out in the . . .!"

*CLONG!*

"This one doesn't care what you say, Palm-Tree Man!" Shampoo snapped
before swatting the tree-topped school administrator into the
afternoon sky with her bonbori. With that, she marched into the
cafeteria. "Nihao, Airen!"

The warrior-maiden was quick to notice that Ukyou had already given
Ranma some okonomiyaki to enjoy for lunch. Even more so, there was a
bowl of some brown-grey sauce -- curry? -- too. Who had . . .? Her
eyes then fell on Akane, she having a very expectant look on her
face. Oh, no!

"Oh, hi, Shanpú!" Ranma perked up. He then noticed her staring
warily at the bowl of curry rice Akane had made the previous evening.
"Oh, relax! Relax!" He waved her down as Shampoo came up. "This is
pretty okay!"

Shampoo stared intently at Akane, who gave her a neutral look in
return. "Akane's never cooked good before, Airen."

Ranma sighed before taking his chopsticks, forking out a small hunk
of curry rice for Shampoo. "Here! Try it."

Everyone stared at the warrior-maiden. Shampoo blinked. Then
realising that Ranma would NOT try to intentionally poison her with
bad food, she took the curry rice into her mouth. Munching it, her
eyes widened as the spices hit home, and then she swallowed it.
"You're right, Airen! This IS good curry!" She nodded, gazing at
Akane. "There might be hope for you yet, Akane!"

Akane grinned. "I am trying."

"And ya gotta keep ON trying, Akane," Ukyou moderated. "And listen
to your sister and Ran-chan's mom, too. Remember, they've been at
this a lot longer than you have. You can't get it right overnight."

Hearing that, Akane nodded. "Yeah, that's true."

The other students watching this scene then exchanged worried looks.
Many of them were clearly wondering when Rod Serling was going to show
up and tell them that they just took a trip into the Twilight Zone.
By then, Shampoo had served out the lunch she made before heading
out. Just as she was about to mount her bicycle for the ride to the
Nekohanten, she noticed a folded note tucked into the frame. Drawing
it out, she opened it to read:

"Shampoo,
"Come to Hikarigaoka Park, near Yamada Fred's yatai, tonight at eight
o'clock. Don't be late. Ukyou and Kodachi will be there, too. It's
about something you all need to know about Ranma and Akane.
"Feel free to tell your great-grandmother, but DON'T let Mousse
know. You'll understand when you hear what I have to tell you.
"Nabiki"

Shampoo stared at the note. Nodding, she hopped onto her bicycle.

* * *

Thursday and Friday buzzed past almost in a blur.

Matters between Ranma and Akane remained cordial, which pleased Genma
very much. Souun and Nodoka also accepted what was happening,
realising that if things were to happen between the two, they best
happen very soon.

Genma didn't bother to report his failure to trace Ranma when he went
off to "clear his head." Try as the Saotome patriarch might, he
couldn't trace his son several blocks before losing him. How was that
possible?

Was the boy keeping an eye out for him?

School was still boring for Ranma, though he did try to pay attention
to the lectures. Lunch and physical education classes remained his
favourite times in the day. Noting that, his classmates were
comforted by one seemingly "normal" thing. Though lunchtime did
stretch it a bit. On both days, Ukyou and Shampoo showed up with
fresh meals for their fiancé. Akane also added in her curry, plus a
reasonable attempt at a stir-fry she made with Kasumi's help.

Seeing Ranma's conditional approval -- some habits DO die very hard!
-- made Akane's smile glitter like the sun.

After school, Ranma parted from Akane and made his trek to Tampopo's
for dinner and chat. He had been quick to notice Genma trying to
track him down when he started to do this, which forced Ranma to dip
into his knowledge of the Umisen-ken to ensure the panda didn't learn
of Kamekichi Tampopo. Hearing what Ranma had been doing on her
behalf, Tampopo could only smile, telling him that it was no real
problem. She was prepared to stand at his side against Genma. Noting
the chef's obvious martial art skill, Ranma could agree, but still
felt it was only proper. One just did NOT put one's friends into
danger like that!

During his times with Tampopo, Ranma soon evolved a basic strategy to
get some control over his life and resolve a lot of the outstanding
issues hanging like Damocles' sword over his head. Indeed, Akane's
father had it exactly right the day after the wedding attempt; things
could NOT happen with the extra fiancées, not to mention all those
other hangers-on, looming over Ranma's head.

And Ranma certainly could do with some peace and quiet.

First priority was Ukyou. He had to do something to repay the debt
his family ultimately owed hers. This basically meant that he
couldn't use the actions of the Gambling King concerning the Kuonji
family yatai. The infamous gambler WAS a well-known cheat and Ukyou
had only been five years old when she "gambled" the yatai away.
Kuonji Haruka, as head of Ukyou's family, would have been within his
rights to ignore what had happened between Ukyou and the King -- and
since Genma had taken the yatai shortly afterward . . .!

There was one possible solution concerning Ukyou: Finding the Kuonji
yatai and returning it to her in the same or better condition that it
had been when it had been taken. Regardless of which, he was not
interested in marrying her. Ranma just couldn't envision doing
something like THAT with his friend. He wanted his "U-chan" back, the
person he trusted so much when they were kids. He didn't want her as
a wife. And he sure as hell didn't want a mistress, even if that
might be something Nodoka would consider proper.

If Nodoka wanted to press an insane idea like that, Ranma would
refuse.

It was just unfair to all concerned, especially Ukyou.

Next would be Shampoo. Ranma would have to spend some time looking
over the Nujiézú laws to find some loophole in the Kiss of Marriage.
If not . . .! Well, Ranma couldn't think of much beyond that point.
He did owe Cologne a lot for teaching him the Chestnut Fist and the
Rising Dragon Ascension. Could his actions on Mount Phoenix be
parlayed into something for both Ranma and Shampoo?

That would have to be investigated.

Then there was Kodachi, but that had an easy answer: The gymnast
needed therapy and couldn't be allowed to duck out of it until she
agreed to get it. How that could be done, Ranma had no idea, but he'd
try to figure it out.

With that done, he'd have to decide what to do with Akane. Ranma
liked her very much. He cared for her a lot and certainly didn't want
to see her hurt. But the whole matter with the Nanniichuan still
rankled him. Yes, Akane had admitted she loved him just before the
wedding. But with the revelations that came after that event, he was
unsure of what sort of love she meant.

Ranma sighed while he was considering that point. He didn't want
things to go back to the way they were when he first met Akane. Yes,
he instinctively knew that he could, if he wanted to, avoid her
punches and mallet strikes -- how he let that keep happening, he
didn't understand -- but if he did that, what would happen? Would
Akane be so offended by his "avoiding his just punishment" that she'd
want to end the engagement once and for all?

Did he want that to happen?

What would his mother think?

Nodoka did like Akane and Ranma didn't want to disappoint her.

"I want to learn how to love her, Tampopo-chan. That much I think I
want to do with Akane," Ranma admitted to the chef Friday night before
he headed back to the doojou. "But I gotta know first what her
feelings are."

"Do you think you should tell her that soon?" she asked.

"No, not yet. I gotta clear the air with all the others first before
worryin' about that. I'll talk to her about the cask soon, though.
Maybe when I find out about that, I'll decide what to do then."

"That sounds pretty rational," Tampopo admitted.

* * *

"Tadaima!"

"Okaeri nasai," Kasumi called out as Ranma, Akane and Nabiki stepped
into the sitting room after classes on Saturday. "How was school
today?"

"It was alright," Akane admitted before she noticed Souun, Genma and
Nodoka awaiting them by the dinner table. The determined looks on
their faces made the youngest Tendou blink. "Is there something
wrong?"

"No, Akane, but there is something we should talk about," Souun
declared, waving them to the floor mats across the table from them.
"Please sit down. The sooner we get this over with, the better for
everyone."

Akane and Ranma exchanged a look. *Uh-oh!* they thought, though they
sat themselves. "What's this about?" Ranma asked.

The adults exchanged a look. Souun sighed. "Ranma-kun, two weeks
ago, I promised you that we'd set aside all talk about weddings until
such time as all the potential suitors have been fully dealt with."

Ranma nodded. "Yes, that's true."

The Tendou patriarch took a breath, glanced at Genma, and then he
carried on, "Well, when we made that decision, we didn't take into
account you aren't . . . well, trained to deal with this sort of
thing. Since you came, we've assumed you would do the right thing.
Clearly, you don't fully and properly understand what the right and
honourable thing is in this case. For that," -- he bowed his head
apologetically -- "I personally apologise to you for making so many
assumptions about you in the past. It was wrong and it brought a lot
of disharmony and mistrust between yourself and my daughter, Ranma-
kun."

Akane's eyes widened. "Dad . . . "

"I . . . " Ranma blinked. He hadn't expected this. Taking a deep
breath, he nodded. "It's okay. You did what you thought was best."

Souun and Genma brightened. "Well, you might be pleased to hear
this," the latter declared. "Son, when we made our decision two weeks
ago, we assumed the problems were many and difficult. We were wrong
to assume that, and then mislead you and Akane-chan. The problems are
actually quite trivial."

The younger people blinked. "I wouldn't think of them as 'trivial,'
Oyaji," Ranma protested. "They do matter, you know . . . "

"No, my son, you're wrong," Nodoka spoke up. "You've only been led
to believe they are more than what they seem." She held up a finger.
"Outside the Tendou Clan, you have an engagement with Kuonji Ukyou.
After her actions, in the matter when our house was destroyed, then
two weeks ago, she clearly demonstrated she would not respect the
family she supposedly wishes to marry into. I won't have her be part
of our family. Yes, she will be compensated for her dowry, but she
will not be, from today on, recognised as your fiancée."

"Mom, she deserves more than that," Ranma automatically countered.
"Yeah, I don't want to marry her, but she spent ten whole years actin'
as a boy so she could get her revenge on us for what Oyaji pulled on
her. And I want her to be my friend. I'm not gonna cast her off like
Oyaji did."

Nodoka stiffened. "I'd hardly call someone like her worthy to be
your friend, my son, much less a fiancée," she frostily intoned.

Ranma shuddered, ducking Nodoka's look. Akane sighed. "Dad, what
about Shanpuu? What do we do about her, then?"

Souun snorted. "She's an outlander, Akane, trying to impose her laws
on a place where they have no effect. She has no right whatsoever to
think of Ranma-kun as her husband, 'Airen' or what have you!"

"What happens if she goes back to her village empty-handed?!" Ranma
demanded. "You know how harsh their laws are!"

"That is her problem, not ours," Nodoka stated. "Perhaps if she is
punished because of her 'failure,' then her people will see reason at
last and learn to treat other outsiders much better than they treated
you."

Genma snorted, he nodding in agreement. "Agreed. The Kunous have no
claim on Akane-chan or yourself, so anything they say is worthless.
And if they try to press the point, we'll deal with them. Outside
that, there is nothing else to worry about. Now, given that we know
what to do, we can get on with the wedding preparations and see you
both finally married."

Silence.

More silence.

Still more silence.

Then . . .

"SAY WHAT?!" Akane and Ranma screamed.

"Of course!" Souun nodded with determination. "Please. We realise
how much you don't like to be pushed into this, but we DO want to see
you wed. And we DO know that you two love and care for each other a
lot. We are all in agreement about that, so why delay it anymore?
Everything else can be brushed aside if you just let your hearts guide
you to where you should go."

"It's the right thing to do, Ranma." Nodoka gazed on him, her hands
squeezing the katana in her arms. "It's the manly thing to do."

Ranma jolted. Kasumi sighed. "Auntie . . . "

Akane blinked as her mind rolled through what everyone had just
said. A smile then crept across her face, the same smile she had
shown Ranma when he saw her in her wedding gown two weeks ago. Seeing
this, Nabiki and Kasumi blinked before they exchanged a look. Why was
she smiling? Did she WANT this to happen? Did she really mind being
forced into this as soon as possible?

And what of Ranma . . .?

Ranma?

Ranma was still staring at Nodoka, a lost, hurt look etched on his
face. As if he was asking himself who this woman was and what the
hell had she done to his mother. Nabiki gazed on Nodoka, who was
looking towards Souun and Genma, not taking notice of how much she had
just hurt her son. Damn it, did she HAVE to bring that rotting old
seppuku agreement into this damned mess?!

"Akane?" Souun probed.

Akane jolted, flustering. "Dad, I . . .!"

The door to the sitting room flew open as twin bonbori sailed in.
Souun and Genma didn't react fast enough before they were knocked
out. Nodoka bolted to her feet, her hands moving to unwrap her
katana. A throwing spatula slammed into her wrist, making her drop
the blade. A ribbon snapped up the katana, yanking it from Ranma's
mother to dunk it into the koi pond.

"Just before you say anything, Akane, we got something ta say to
these jerks!" Ukyou growled, battle spatula at the ready.

Kasumi smiled. "Oh, we have more guests."

She headed into the kitchen, quickly followed by Nabiki. "What are
you guys doing here?!" Akane demanded, bolting to her feet.

"Stoppin' something that has no right to happen, sugar," Ukyou
snarled before she spun on the adults. "Did you really think you'd
get away with it so soon after we stopped you the first time?!"

"You have no right to be here, girl!" Nodoka snapped. "This is an
honourable arrangement between two families, neither of which you
belong to nor will you ever be ALLOWED to belong to . . .!"

She gasped as a throwing spatula wings past her, cutting several
strands of her hair. Nodoka staggered, and then she turned to Ranma,
who sat where he had been since the meeting started. Ukyou lunged in,
whipping her battle spatula in an overhead strike. Genma smashed his
fist into Ukyou's chin, sending her flying over Akane into the wall.
Kodachi's clubs and another of Shampoo's bonbori slammed into Genma's
head. By then, Souun was on his feet, he moving to disarm the girls
and throw them out of his house.

The wall behind Nodoka exploded inward, the force staggering the
older woman. "SHANPÚ!" Mousse screamed out.

Shampoo back-pedalled from Souun's fist before driving her bonbori
into his stomach. "Stupid Mùsi! What are you doing here?!"

"Doing something that needs to be done!" Mousse focused on what he
thought was Ranma -- his glasses were on his forehead again -- and
then he lashed out with a storm of chains and knives. "DIE, SAOTOME!"

"Hey! You're aiming at ME, you idiot!" Akane screamed as she danced
clear of the weapons-master's onslaught. "Get out of here!"

Shampoo grabbed one of her bonbori and flung it at Mousse. Nodoka
was in her line-of-fire; the spheroid-hitting tool winged her in the
side, sending her into a wall. Ranma, seemingly uncaring of what just
happened to his mother, grabbed it out of mid-air, and then he fired
it at its intended target. Mousse screamed out as the bonbori slammed
into his head, sending him flying out of the house. Thunder then
echoed from the direction Mousse vanished. "HOLD!"

Akane rolled her eyes. "Oh, shit! He's back!"

People turned as Kunou Tatewaki stormed in, bokken in hand. "I did
not grant permission for this unholy union between my fair Tendou
Akane and the foul sorcerer Saotome Ranma to occur! HAVE AT THEE,
SORCERER!"

He wound up slamming into Mallet-sama. "Get it through your head
finally, jerk! YOU HAVE NO SAY IN OUR MARRIAGE!"

"Beautiful Akane . . . " Kunou groaned, dropping to the floor.

Akane shuddered before she spun on Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi. "And
that goes for you too! I've HAD it with you blasting your way into
places where you don't belong! Ranma is MY fiancé!" She thumbed
herself, and then she pointed accusingly at Ukyou. "Not yours!" --
then to Shampoo -- "Not yours and especially not YOURS!" She pointed
at Kodachi before she pointed at herself again. "I would have been
married to Ranma had it not been for you!"

Ukyou tensed herself. "Well, I'm afraid that it ain't gonna happen,
sugar! If Ran-chan's gonna marry anyone, it'll be me! You got your
dowry! I had mine stolen! So you better cough him over right now!"

"Not a chance!" Akane snapped before looking over. "Ran- . . .
huh?!"

Everyone stopped on seeing an empty space where Ranma had been
sitting not seconds before. "Where did Airen go?!" Shampoo demanded.

"I think he left when you started arguing over who was going to marry
him," Nabiki announced, she standing at the kitchen doorway.

The four girls exchanged a shocked look. Ukyou grunted. "Damn it!
We better find him before he gets too far away . . .!"

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone spun on Genma, who was now staggering to his feet. "My son
will marry Akane even if it's over your dead bodies!" the Saotome
patriarch growled.

He gasped as a ribbon snared him by the throat. Kodachi yanked Genma
into the yard, sending him face-first into the cherry tree by the koi
pond. Before he could recover, a storm of bokken strikes followed.
"HOW DARE YOU PRESUME YOUR FOUL MAGUS OF A SON WILL MARRY TENDOU
AKANE?!" Kunou thundered.

Shampoo looked at Ukyou. "Let's go find Airen!"

"Right!" The chef nodded, and then she screamed as chains wrapped
around her. "Hey! What the hell are you doing, Mousse?!"

"Ensuring Saotome will NEVER have my Shanpú!" the weapons-master
vowed.

He then screamed out as Shampoo's bonbori slammed into him. "Stupid
Mùsi! Mind your own business for once!" Shampoo growled, and then she
screamed out as Souun lunged at her with a table. "Aiyah!"

He unleashed the Demon Head. "RANMA WILL MARRY AKANE!"

That caused Mousse to release Ukyou. He then fired a storm of knives
at Souun. "HOW DARE YOU THREATEN SHANPÚ?!"

Souun's battle cry turned into a panicked yelp. Ukyou growled,
lunging into the front lawn before taking a look around. "Akane?" she
whispered before cursing herself. "Damn! She must've gone after Ran-
chan!" Her eyes fell on Genma, who was being deluged by a joint
assault from the Kunous.

"Well, might as well get some practice in," she declared.

* * *

"Ranma! Ranma, where are you?!"

Ranma looked over as Akane ran toward the bridge over the Shakujii
where he normally came when he wanted to be alone. He remained quiet
as she jogged up. "Baka! There you are!" she breathed out. "Why'd
you run off like that?"

He looked nowhere in particular. "I didn't want to get involved this
time. Doin' that doesn't do spit for any of us, so I decided ta do
something else. Feels nice not to be in the centre of some useless
fight like that."

Akane sighed. "Ranma . . . " she whispered, and then she took a deep
breath before continuing, "Ranma, they're not going to stop just
because you left. Don't you understand?! It's YOU that they're
fighting . . . "

"***THEN IT'S THEIR PROBLEM!***"

Akane gasped, her eyes widening as Ranma's battle aura clicked on,
surrounding him in a sea of pure crimson fury. "R-r-Ranma . . .!"

He pointed at her. "Is that all I am to you?! Just a THING for all
of you to fight over?! Somethin' nobody, EVEN YOU, really cares a
flying DAMN about?! Is that all I really am to you?! IS IT?!
WELL?!"

She shuddered, her mouth fluttering as she tried to give him an
answer. Staring at her, Ranma growled. "Fine! Since I'm not bein'
given any chance to decide anything for myself, then I say this: You
can beat each other senseless for all I care now! Hell, you can KILL
each other for all I care! Either way, I'll be rid of you all! When
you FINALLY decide ta treat me like I'm a person, THEN talk to me!"
And with that, he stormed off.

Akane was rooted in place, her eyes wide as those words echoed inside
her mind. Suddenly, a storm of anger welled in her as she felt Mallet-
sama materialise in her hands. Growling, she lunged after him.

"***RANMA NO BAKA!***"

The mallet slammed home on the back of Ranma's head.

And then it shattered!

Akane gasped as the pieces cascaded around his head. He turned
around to glare at her, clearly not the least bit affected by her
attack. Her eyes then locked on his face as a grip of mortal TERROR
snared her heart.

The look there . . .!

Oh, no!

Oh, Kami-sama, please, no . . . not this . . .!

Don't let it end like THIS!

Ranma shuddered. Then a strange calm crossed his face. "Fine," he
declared before turning around and walking away.

Akane stayed rooted in place as he turned a corner and vanished. She
then blinked as a voice in her mind began to warn her that what she
had just done was probably the most STUPID thing she had ever done
with her fiancé.

"Ranma." She shuddered, turning away. "I'm sorry."

* * *

"I'm surprised he didn't kill her for that!"

"For all his faults, Cologne-chan, the boy is not THAT!"

Cologne blinked, and then she stared at Happoosai before a slow nod
shifted her head. She then glanced in the direction Ranma had
disappeared. "He's going to that new restaurant that'll open this
week," she reported.

"Smart, given who runs the place," the grandmaster of Musabetsu
Kakutou-ryuu calmly noted as he drew his pipe and took a puff.

Cologne looked at him. "You know her?"

A grin split his face before he whispered something into the Nujiézú
elder's ear. She blinked, and then her eyes went totally wide.
"GODDESS! Happy, you m-MUST be j-joking!" she sputtered, staring at
Happoosai.

He shook his head. "Nope." A deep breath. "It's time for some
damage control here, Cologne-chan. I'll worry about the two
dunderheads and the fool's wife. Keep Shampoo-chan and Mousse
occupied for the time being." A tired sigh. "Maybe the boy will
listen to us with them out of the way."

She watched him go, nodding. "I hope you're right, Happy."

* * *

"So, you are the one, aren't you?"

Chikage drew out a tarot card from her pocket to look at it.

The Fool, herald of new beginnings.

A befitting card indeed.

"Ane-kun?"

* * *

To be continued . . .