Well, here is episode 2... as before, please send comments to
polaris@interpac.net. I am currently wondering whether or not to add episode
1 to the remailer, but with 3 parts per episode, its going to clog it up
really fast. There are some minor changes in episode 1, practically all in
explanatory notes. If nothing else, I'll eventually post it to r.a.a.s. and
people can get it from the ftp.std.com address.
Magical Interludes: December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi
*******************************************
The story so far:
Magic has come into the world based on scientific principles. Minor
and low-level abilities appeared first world-wide, causing unrest in
major metropolitan areas as people, groups, corporations, and
governments sought to take advantage of the new power base. The
unlocking of major talents seemed to be linked to the appearance of
'Vortices', people who were at the center of energy/magic storms.
As of December 24th, there were five vortices: 1) An unnamed
female irish historian from Missouri; 2) An unnamed person who
destroyed an eighth of San Diego; 3) J.D., a japanese telescope
operator in Hawaii; 4) A white New Zealand sheepherder; and 5)
Ranma Saotome. A vortex underwent 18 hours of fever and
delirium, which culminated in a physical manifestation of the vortex
around the body. The first three surviving vortices found themselves
with access to power and memories of lives they never lived yet did.
The extent of magical ability was not known at this time, though
some initial level of ability was later found to occur in about 1 in
1000 people. The appearance of vortices (and the subsequent chaos)
seemed to be moving westward. It would be a nervous Christmas
Eve as people for the most part, tried to live their normal lives while
the events occurred around them. The fifth vortex, Ranma Saotome,
differed in that he managed to draw three 'daughters' into his reality,
though he almost died doing it. The three sixteen year-olds (Ayuki,
Keiko, and Midori born to Shampoo, Nabiki, and Ukyou
respectively) came under the care of Nodoka Saotome. Dr. Tofu and
Kasumi found that they had healing abilities, and while mind-linked
discovered their attraction for each other. Ranma and Akane also
admitted their love for each other, though no one except their
families accept it yet.
It is December 25th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
*******************************************
Chapter 2: Confrontations - Part I
Akane woke with Ranma's arm around her. She snuggled against
his body, noticing the way his chest rose with each breath, then
sighed and closed her eyes. Wakened by the slight movement,
Ranma opened his eyes and drew Akane closer, the smell of her hair
causing him to smile. Akane looked up at his face and kissed him.
Akane: "Good morning."
Ranma: "I love you. Somehow it seems easier to say today."
Akane smiles and is about to reply when some noise can be heard
coming from the hallway.
Soun: (crying) "They have slept together! They must be married
soon!"
Genma: "We must congratulate them!"
Nodoka: "Don't either of you go in there and embarrass them!"
Genma: "We must go in!"
Nodoka: "Dearest, I'm warning you... where's my katana?"
Genma: "Now, dear. There's no need to overreact."
The doors to Nabiki and Kasumi's rooms open and they enter the
hallway (Nabiki in a sweater and shorts, Kasumi in a nightgown).
They both rub their eyes as if they just woke up.
Nabiki: "What's all the noise out here?"
Nodoka: "Your father and my idiot husband want to go in and
bother Ranma and Akane."
Nabiki: "Don't worry, they didn't do anything."
Nodoka: "How do you know that?"
Nabiki: "I didn't hear anything coming from Akane's room last
night, so they probably just kissed for awhile and feel
asleep."
Akane and Ranma blush at Nabiki's accurate assessment. But
neither of them move to get up.
Kasumi: "Oh, I have to prepare breakfast."
Nodoka: "Don't worry, Kasumi. You still look tired. Why don't
you get a little more sleep and I'll prepare breakfast."
Ayuki: (entering from a guest room) "I'll help."
Keiko: (entering with Ayuki) "Me too."
Midori: (entering with others) "And me."
Nabiki: (heads back into room) "Wake me when its ready."
Nodoka heads downstairs to the kitchen, followed by Ayuki, Keiko,
and Midori. She also drags Soun and Genma by their collars,
letting their butts bounce on every step of the stairs. Kasumi heads
back to her room and closes the door behind her. She drops the
nightgown from her shoulders and climbs into her bed, where Dr.
Tofu waits to take her back into his embrace.
Dr. Tofu: "What was all the fuss about?"
Kasumi: (cuddling up) "Father and Mr. Saotome wanted to break
in on Akane and Ranma. Mrs. Saotome stopped them."
Dr. Tofu: "How do you think your father will react to my courting
you?"
Kasumi: "You did more than that last night."
Dr. Tofu: (blushing) "Do you think they suspect?"
Kasumi: "No. I think they were too distracted by Akane. Nabiki
might know, however. We might have made too much
noise last night."
Dr. Tofu: (gets up and starts putting on his clothes) "I'd better get
back to the guest room and make sure of my alibi."
Kasumi: (kissing him) "I'll see you downstairs."
Dr. Tofu: "Love you."
Kasumi takes a quick peek outside to make sure the hallway's clear.
Dr. Tofu quickly exits and moves toward the guest room. Kasumi
sighs as she watches Dr. Tofu walk down the hall, then turns to get
dressed. She might never have known how he felt about her if it
wasn't for the mind link they shared while healing Ranma. And she
was surprised to find that she had felt the same way about him and
even more surprised when she found herself asking him to spend the
night. He was an older man, too (after all, younger men bored her).
Kasumi opens her underwear drawer as she hears a quiet knock at
the door.
Nabiki: (whispering) "Kasumi, it's me. Are you OK in there?"
Kasumi: "Come in, Nabiki."
Kasumi has put on a pair of panties and starts to put on a bra as
Nabiki enters the room. Nabiki goes to sit on the bed, then blushes
as she realizes why its so warm. She quickly moves to a chair as
Kasumi looks at herself in the mirror.
Nabiki: "You're lucky that daddy started drinking with Mr.
Saotome after they explained what happened with Ranma
and his fianc�s. You've got to be more careful, Kasumi."
Kasumi: "Were we too loud, Nabiki?"
Nabiki: "Well, not loud, but I could tell what was happening. I
don't think anyone else noticed because they were
celebrating Akane and Ranma's being together.
Kasumi: (continuing to look at herself in the mirror) "I feel so
different today."
Nabiki: (gets up and picks out a dress) "So... how was it?"
Kasumi: (smiling as she puts on the dress) "I don't think I can
describe it."
Nabiki: "You better wipe that smile off your face or Auntie Nodoka
will know what happened."
Kasumi: "She won't tell. And the men won't notice."
Nabiki: "I suppose. Though if you plan any more of these trysts,
you better do it down at the clinic."
Kasumi: (blushing) "Nabiki!"
The two of them laugh softly and hug each other. Dr. Tofu and J.D.
have already cleaned up and headed downstairs, so the two of them
knock on Akane's door and collect Akane and Ranma. Soun and
Genma sit at the table, eagerly awaiting breakfast as the smells from
the kitchen are mouthwatering. Dr. Tofu and J.D. sit at the table,
when Dr. Tofu suddenly turns and bows to Soun.
Dr. Tofu: "Mr. Tendo, I would ask something of you, if I may."
Soun: "Go ahead, Dr. Tofu."
Dr. Tofu: "I wish your permission to marry your daughter,
Kasumi."
Soun: (crying) "Oh, my children are growing up and soon they'll
all be gone..."
Genma has left and returns with two buckets, which he uses to
collect his friend's tears to prevent water damage to the floor.
Genma: "He agrees."
Nodoka enters with the food with the three girls, placing it on the
table. Kasumi, Nabiki, Akane, and Ranma come down the stairs
and notice the rapidly filling buckets.
Akane: "What's going on here, daddy?"
Soun: "Kasumi. This is such a happy day. Dr. Tofu has asked for
your hand in marriage."
Everyone looks shocked at the announcement.
Kasumi: "But... you never said anything about marriage."
Dr. Tofu: (gets up and holding Kasumi's hands) "Please, Kasumi.
Become my wife."
Kasumi: "This is so sudden... I don't know what to do." (looks into
Dr. Tofu's face) "Yes... yes, I will."
Akane: (hugging Kasumi) "I'm so happy for you."
Nabiki: "What a catch, sis."
Meanwhile, Soun's eyes have become dry and he's fainted from
dehydration. Nodoka arranges the food and everyone starts in on
breakfast. Nodoka looks at everyone, seems to make up her mind,
then makes an announcement.
Nodoka: "Well, it seems that today is the day for happy
announcements."
Ranma: "What do you mean, mom?"
Nodoka: "Your father and I discussed this last night, and we've
decided the Saotomes must move out."
Ranma and Akane: "What?" (they look at each other)
Nodoka: "Now Ranma, its not right that we freeload off the Tendos
like this..."
Ranma: "But mom..." (blushes) "I don't want to leave."
Nodoka: "We can't burden the Tendos any more. And now we have
three more mouths to feed. But don't worry, Ranma. We'll
sell the house I've been living in and buy a house here in
Nerima big enough for all of us."
Everyone starts talking about the new developments. Breakfast
finishes, then Kasumi and Nodoka start cleaning up. Ranma and
Akane walk onto the porch, out of sight of the living room, then sit
down, holding hands.
Akane: "I'll miss having you around."
Ranma: "I'll miss being around." (smiles) "But not being thrown
out of the window."
Akane blushes, then leans closer to Ranma, who slips his arm
around her waist. J.D. thanks everyone for their hospitality, then
makes ready to leave. Nabiki asks him about the explanation for
what happened the day before. J.D. scratches his one-day old beard
and sits back down. Ranma and Akane wander back into the living
room.
J.D.: "Well, first let me ask if Ranma's life seemed er... kind of
chaotic."
Ranma: "Umm... what do you mean?"
J.D.: "Well, its kind of hard to explain... did it seem that there were
a lot of widely different directions that your life could have
gone?"
Nabiki: "You could say that."
*****************************End Chapter 2, Part I