Subject: December's End (Ranma) - Ep5/Pt1
From: polaris@interpac.net (Jon K. Hayashi)
Date: 12/19/1995, 10:25 PM
To: fanfic@andrew.cais.com

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.  A 
'vortex' gained access to power and insights of lives that they might 
have led.  The fifth vortex, Ranma Saotome, differed in that he 
managed to draw three 'daughters' into his reality.  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, discovered 
their attraction for each other and have decided to be married on 
New Year's Day.  Ranma has asked Akane to marry him and she 
agreed.  Ryoga has been exposed as P-chan.  Keiko and Nabiki have 
decided to do a "Girls of Tendo Dojo" calendar and poster.  Mousse 
has asked Shampoo out on a date.  China has disintegrated into 
revolution.  And the teenagers are going to school...

It is December 28th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
*******************************************

Chapter 5:  Romantic Interludes - Part I

Ryoga looked around in confusion.  He was in some metropolitan 
area, but he wasn't sure which one (which wasn't exactly unusual, 
but still frustrating).  He had tried to get back to the Tendo dojo as 
soon as possible after being kicked by Akane to explain things to 
her, but he had gotten lost again.  A voice called his name from 
behind.

Ryoga:  (turning around)  "Kasumi!"
Kasumi:  "Hello, Ryoga.  Are you coming to our wedding?"  (hugs 
	Dr. Tofu's arm a little tighter)
Ryoga:  "I don't know if I should."
Kasumi:  "Oh, don't worry about Akane.  I'm sure she's forgiven 
	you."
Ryoga:  (hopeful)  "She has?"
Kasumi:  "Yes, though her opinion of you is probably ruined.  That 
	was pretty dishonorable of you."
Ryoga:  "Oh no!  What do I do?"
Kasumi:  (smiling)  "Congratulate her.  She and Ranma have gotten 
	engaged."
Ryoga:  (getting angry)  "Ranma.... ouch!"
Kasumi:  (to Dr. Tofu, kissing him)  "Good-bye, dear.  I'll see you 
	tomorrow.  I'll just walk back home with Ryoga so that he 
	doesn't get lost again.

Dr. Tofu nods, then walks away toward the clinic.  Ryoga has been 
standing there with shocked look on his face and a hand on his 
cheek.

Ryoga:  "Kasumi!  Why did you slap me?"
Kasumi:  (taking his arm and leading him away)  "Because you 
	needed it, that's why."
Ryoga:  "I don't think I needed that."
Kasumi:  "Of course you did.  You were about to attack Ranma 
	because you wanted to fight him for Akane, weren't you?"
Ryoga:  (embarrassed)  "Well..."
Kasumi:  "Ryoga, love isn't something that comes to you because 
	you can beat somebody up.  Grow up, would you?"
Ryoga:  (silence)
Kasumi:  "Look, I'm not going to play matchmaker for you.  There 
	are other women that could love you, but it's not going to be 
	Akane.  She loves Ranma."
Ryoga:  "Kasumi, you're ruining my life!"
Kasumi:  (coldly)  "So?  You took advantage of my sister's trust."

Ryoga hangs his head in shame at Kasumi's rebuke.  If it had been 
from anyone else he could have handled it, but Kasumi made it seem 
that he committed the sleaziest act in the world.  Kasumi suddenly 
smiles as they reach the dojo.

Kasumi:  "In any event, it would be best if you talked to her when 
	she returns from school.  Just to set things straight.  I'm 
	sure father won't mind if you wait in the house."

Kasumi leads him in, then starts to prepare lunch.

*********************

Genma and Nodoka walk into the house at about one-thirty in the 
afternoon.

Kasumi:  "Hi, Auntie.  Mr. Saotome.  How was your lunch?"
Nodoka:  "Oh, fine, Kasumi, fine.  We also went for a walk in the 
	park.  It's a beautiful day outside."
Kasumi:  "Isn't it?"

There's a knock at the door.

Ryoga:  "I'll get it.  Yes?"  (opens door to bathroom)

There is another knock at the door.  Ryoga runs down the stairs and 
through the house...

Ryoga:  "Yes?"  (opens door to dojo)
Kasumi:  (calling out)  "Don't worry, Ryoga, I'll get it."  (opens 
	door)  "May I help you?"

In the doorway is a man dressed in overalls, holding a clipboard.  He 
delivers a load of calendars and posters, storing them in the dojo 
except for a loose copy of each that he hands to Kasumi.  Nodoka 
'persuades' Genma to help the deliveryman.

Ryoga:  "Yes?"  (opens door to kitchen)
Kasumi:  "Oh, there you are, Ryoga."

Kasumi signs a release form and the man leaves.  Nodoka looks 
through the calendar and the poster.

Nodoka:  "Oh, here's you, Kasumi.  How cute."

Ryoga and Kasumi look at the opened calendar.  Inside is Kasumi, 
dressed in a white dojo outfit with a white bandanna on her 
forehead, carrying a staff that crosses behind her back.  They flip 
through the rest of the calendar and comment on the photographs 
that were used.  Kasumi hangs the poster on the side of the 
refrigerator.

*********************

Everyone returns from school with cries of  'let me see' once they 
notice the poster.  They quickly crowd around the calendar.  Ryoga 
waits in the living room as Akane and Ranma walk in.

Ryoga:  "Akane...  I'm... I'm sorry."
Akane:  "It's OK, Ryoga.  I forgive you."
Ryoga:  "You do?"
Akane:  "Sure."

Akane takes hold of Ryoga by the collar and slams him against the 
TV.

Akane:  (smiling)  "But if you even think about doing it again, I'll 
	kill you."

Akane takes hold of Ranma by the collar and slams him next to 
Ryoga.

Akane:  "And if you ever keep anything like this from me again, I'll 
	kill you, Ranma."

Akane fiercely kisses Ranma, who looks stunned.

Akane:  "I'm going to practice for awhile.  Are you coming, 
	Ranma?"

Ranma sits against the TV, staring off into space.  Akane giggles at 
the effect that she had on him, then leaves for the dojo.  About a 
half-hour later, Midori comes into the dojo.

Midori:  "Mums..."
Akane:  "Oh!  Hello, Midori, what is it?"
Midori:  "Nabiki wants to you to move daddy from the TV."
Akane:  "You can't move Ranma?"
Midori:  "Well, she scraped Ryoga off using her fan, but she says 
	Ranma must be used to getting hit."
Akane:  (blushing)  "OK, I'll come right over."

Akane and Midori start walking toward the living room.  Akane had 
talked to Midori, and Keiko and Ayuki over the past few days and 
was still figuring out how to react to them.  They had all accepted 
her engagement to Ranma pretty well; in fact better than the 
majority of her friends at school (who had expected them to start 
fighting and call it off).  Midori in particular had given her the 
'creeps' when she pulled out a picture of her 'family', complete with 
an older version of herself and Ranma, and their children.  On the 
whole, she decided that she rather liked Ranma's 'daughters', even if 
they did insist on teasing her about her relationship with Ranma.

The two of them entered the living room to everyone trying to move 
Ranma without damaging the TV set (without success).  Akane 
kneels down next to Ranma and shakes him, calling out his name; 
he responds by blinking, drawing her in close, then kissing her.  She 
melts into him and they roll on the floor.  Ranma breaks the kiss to 
tell her that he loves her.  Akane blushes as Midori, Keiko, and 
Ayuki make 'woo-woo' noises at them.  Ryoga looks miserable on 
the side.

*****************************End Chapter 5, Part I