Much as I enjoyed Nick Liefker's fic (and I want to point out I did, by the way.  I also missed the whole 'demonizing Shampoo' bit until it was pointed out to me - but then again, I'm *supposed to hate the little Chinese tramp), like most everyone else, I got pretty tired of the debate on it in a hurry.  But as I was busy transcribing my convention report, I was compelled to wait on any reply until such time as it had been completed and sent out.

Here then, is my reply: an antidote, if you will, to the whole thing, and a mention of the one thing about the fic that had *me* scratching my head - but only breifly.

==============

You all know the drill about disclaimers, right?  Any OOC-ness is not supposed to be an aspersion cast on Takahashi-megami-sensei, and all that.

==============

When they had finally been wed, so many years ago, she had included in her vows that she would follow him to the very ends of the earth.  To some people, that would have been more like a threat than a promise; the phrase carried connotations of stalkers like Shampoo, hunting their prey for either marriage or murder, it didn't really matter.

But to Ryoga, this was a godsend.  No matter where he went, he would have her by his side.  It had been the worst part about his curse; the lonliness of not only not knowing where you were, but not knowing anyone where you were.  Of dealing with no one but strangers all the time, because there were no friends in foreign lands.  Of not being about to read maps, of not knowing anyone's language, of not holding any currency to speak of - well, marriage wouldn't necessarily help with the last one.  But it would make it easier to live with.

For his part, he could give her the world, and by now had done so, many times over.  But the time had come for her to actually *take* one small corner of it, and actually call it home.

Akari was getting tired.  Tired of never knowing where they were going to be next, tired of waking up stiff-muscled from lying on the unyielding (and by morning, dew-soaked) ground, tired of walking miles through the middle of nowhere between civilizations, 
But most of all, she was just plain tired.  She was not of the hardy constitution that Ryoga was; nobody really was, aside from Ryoga.  He was accustomed to his own peregrinations; she was wearing out trying to keep up with him after only a few years.

Certainly, he was the man of the household, and Akari was nothing if not deferential to his position.  But Ryoga was no fool; he knew it would be selfish of him to subject her to his way of life for the rest of hers.

Besides, he'd gotten pretty sick of living this way, too.  Living in a house, with a real bed, and a lovely girl sleeping beside you (that thought still made his nose itch even now); ah, this way a life devoutly to be hoped for.  Hell, she could put a collar around his neck, and attach it to a leash if she had to; it would be worth it, if she would be happy and they have a place to finally call "home".

He made her the offer.  They had been everywhere, seen everything; all she had to do was decide where in the world to put down roots.  Maybe even set up a pig farm like back in Japan (though he wasn't making any promises on this just yet; pork still left a bad taste in his mouth).

And so she selected a place.  America.  A large house, immense by Japanese standards, in traditional Southern antebellum style, situated on the remains of an old plantation.  It was the best of both worlds; within the limits of a reasonably large city, but still rural enough to have the land to themselves.  "After all," she reasoned, "if we're going to do it blue-sky style like we used to, we can't have neighbors *too* nearby, ne?"

It was enough to make his nose itch again.  He sighed, shaking his head.  "But why on Earth did you have to pick Charlotte, North Carolina, of all places?"

Akari's face broke into a wicked grin; it was a look he had never seen on her until they had been married and they had both discovered the pleasures of the ultimate togetherness.  "Would you have preferred Azusa, California?"

"No!  Anything but that!"

"Well, then, Ryoga, dear... let's go inside, and take a look at our new home."  And she gently took his hand, and for once, *she* led *him* up thes stairs to the verandah, and through the door, and into their new life together.

===============

Not coming any time soon to the FFML:
OLD DOMINION

===============

There ya go; a tiny lick of Shampoo-bashing (well, whether yours had it or not, I figured *I*d better make it obvious here), liberal use of semi-colons, and a title that doesn't quite make sense - at least not at first blush.  Hope you're not offended, Nick, and maybe a little amused; that's all I ask.

Maybe y'all will start hearing a bit more from me, now.  And maybe Ryoga and Kiima *will* get together and have a daughter like that - wouldn't *that* piss Akari off...

Itsu mo,
Ucchan  ^_^


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