Magical Interludes:  December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi

Chapter 3:  Family Time - Part II
  
Later that afternoon Akane brings some iced tea out for everyone.  
Kasumi, Nabiki, and Nodoka are inside, looking for Mrs. Tendo's 
wedding kimono, leaving the three 'sisters' to watch TV.  After 
Ranma drinks his without ill effect, Soun and Genma both start 
drinking theirs.  Ranma soon wanders off, holding hands with 
Akane.  Soun and Genma are beside themselves, unsure of whether 
to be happy that their children are getting along so well or mad that 
Ranma left them with work to finish.
  
Akane:  "Oh!  I'd better give you the homework we got."
Ranma:  "Oh, yuck!"
Akane:  "Now Ranma, school is important, you know."
  
Ranma and Akane pass in front of the living room.  Ayuki, Keiko, 
and Midori look at them pass by and make smooching noises at 
them.  Ranma turns to face the three girls and they burst out 
laughing.  Akane drags him off.
  
Akane:  "Why don't you tell me about our marriage?"
Ranma:  (embarrassed)  "Actually, I don't remember that much.  I 
	seem to have forgotten most of it."
Akane:  "What do you remember?"
Ranma:  "Mainly techniques.  Special techniques.  And a few bits 
	about Ayuki, Keiko, or Midori growing up.  Not much 
	else."
Akane:  "Do you think... we'll go back to the way we were before 
	this all happened?"
Ranma:  "I hope not.  I like it this way."  (they reach Akane's door)
Akane:  "Ranma..."
Ranma:  "Hmm?"
Akane:  "I wanted you to know that I was so worried when you were 
	sick."
Ranma:  (looking at Akane)  "I think that you've changed too."
Akane:  "We all thought you were going to die."  (fighting tears as 
	she remembers the night before)
Ranma:  "Akane, its OK."
  
Ranma holds onto Akane and is about to kiss her.  Akane looks up 
and raises her lips to meet his.  More smooching sounds are 
suddenly heard from the stairs as Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori start 
laughing again.  Ranma and Akane's faces turn a bit red.  Nodoka 
comes out of Kasumi's room at the noise and notices both groups of 
young people.  She motions for both groups to come inside, where 
Kasumi is wearing her mother's wedding kimono and Nabiki adjusts 
the fitting.  Kasumi is standing with a slight smile on her face, 
looking pretty, though her hair is loose instead of tied up.  Ranma 
and Akane blush again when Nabiki comments that perhaps Akane 
should also try the kimono on. 
  
**********************
  
Mousse turned off the light to his room and made his way to the bed, 
his mind going over the kiss that Shampoo gave him that afternoon.  
He knew that Ayuki must have done something to Shampoo when 
they went to talk, but he really didn't care what.  Mousse sat down 
on his bed and removed his glasses.  The door to his room opened 
and he saw a silhouetted blur against the hallway.  He rushed to put 
his glasses on and his jaw dropped as he realized it was Shampoo, 
dressed in nothing but (a very sheer) negligee.  Shampoo quietly 
closed the door and quickly made her way to the bed.
  
Shampoo:  <Now we will finish what we started.  Mousse, make 
	love to me.>
  
Mousse's glasses steam up and he almost faints in delight.  Shampoo 
sits on his lap and removes his glasses, putting them on the 
sideboard.
  
Shampoo:  <You won't need these tonight.>
  
Shampoo reaches to her shoulders and starts to slip the negligee 
from her body.  Mousse finds that he has forgotten to breathe.  
Shampoo leans forward, pushing Mousse onto his back.  Mousse 
starts to kiss Shampoo and run his hands over her body.  The door 
suddenly bursts open and Shampoo is thrown across the room.
  
Cologne:  "I thought you might try something like this.  How could 
	you, when you're bound by law to marry Ranma?"
Shampoo:  "Ranma?  Who Ranma?"
Cologne:  (eyes narrowing)  "So that's what she did to you.  
	Shampoo, where's your supply of Formula 911?"
Shampoo:  "Formula 911?  What that?"
Cologne:  "Well, at least she did a thorough job."
  
Cologne pokes both Shampoo and Mousse in their shiatsu sleep 
spots.  She then carries the sleeping Shampoo back to her room, 
knowing that she'll be out for the rest of the night.  Cologne then 
goes through her scrolls to find the 911 Formula, but can't find it.  
She knows that she'll have to make a deal with Ayuki to return 
Shampoo to normal.
 
********************** 
  
Midori:  "Do you think its safe to go in yet?"
 
Keiko put her ear to the door and heard crying coming from inside.  
The two of them have been sitting outside the door to their room for 
the last half-hour.
 
Keiko:  "No.  Boy, that was quite a blowup, wasn't it?  Did you know 
	who that was?"
Midori:  "No.  Do you?"
Keiko:  "I think it was this guy named Ryoga... Hibiscus?  I think he 
	was one of mother's former suitors."
Midori:  "Do you really think Ayuki was serious?"
Keiko:  "Must be."  [Keiko looks down the hall at where Ranma is 
	sitting outside of Akane's door]  "Poor daddy."
Midori:  "What do you mean, 'poor daddy'?  I don't know if I would 
	forgive him knowing such a thing and not telling me."
Keiko:  "Did you think Akane would have listened?"
Midori:  [startled]  "I... don't know.  Mums sometimes wouldn't 
	believe anything daddy would say."
Keiko:  "Love is so inconvienent at times."
 
Keiko and Midori sit in silence for awhile, listening for a break in 
the crying.  It doesn't come.
 
Midori:  "Keiko..."
Keiko:  "What is it?"
Midori:  "Do you ever, you know, think about your old life..."
Keiko:  "I try not to."
 
Keiko brings her knees to her chin and stares off into space.  Midori 
just looks at her and nods to herself.
 
**********************
  
Akane wakes as she hears a tapping coming from her window.  She 
looks at her clock which tells her its six in the morning.  She looks 
out the window to find it still dark and Nabiki on the outside.  
Nabiki puts a finger to her mouth and motions for Akane to follow.  
Akane opens the window to find Nabiki walking on the eave, and is 
led to Kasumi's room, where Nabiki shuts the window behind them.  
Kasumi is deciding on which dress to wear to visit Dr. Tofu's 
mother.  Nabiki and Akane sit on the bed.
  
Akane:  "What is it, Nabiki?"
Nabiki:  "Have you forgiven Ranma yet?"
Akane:  (angry)  "I can't believe he knew and didn't tell me!"
Nabiki:  "He said he tried.  Is that true?"
Akane:  (thinks of all the times Ranma called Ryoga "P-chan" or 
	"pig")  "I... suppose he did."
Nabiki:  "Then you can't really blame him, can you?"
Akane:  "Why are you so suddenly taking his side, Nabiki?"
Nabiki:  "Well, he is the father of my child, in a way... and I guess I 
	do feel sorry for someone that looks that pathetic."
Akane:  "What are you talking about?"
  
Nabiki gestures and the three of them peek down the hallway.  
Nestled against Akane's door, Ranma sleeps covered by a small 
blanket.  Akane's eyes soften a bit.
  
Nabiki:  "Now, wouldn't you rather have him in your bed rather than 
	outside your door?"
Akane:  (blushes)  "Nabiki!"
Kasumi:  (giggling)  "Nabiki, you're terrible."
  
The three of them head back into Kasumi's room.  As she backs 
away from the door Akane notices Genma sleeping in the hallway 
outside the guest room door.
  
Akane:  "What's with Mr. Saotome?"
Kasumi:  (smiling)  "Auntie's torturing him."
Akane:  "What?"
Kasumi:  (giggling)  "She's going to make him court her again."
  
Nabiki and Akane also start giggling.  Kasumi takes a nice dress 
and coat out and puts them to one side.
  
Kasumi:  "So.  Have you forgiven Ranma?"
Akane:  "I don't know.  I suppose..."
Kasumi:  "Why don't you talk to him?"
  
Akane nods and follows Nabiki out of the room.  Akane waits until 
Nabiki has entered her room before she gently wakes Ranma up.  
She leads him into her room and shuts the door behind them.
  
Akane:  "Why didn't you just tell me?"
Ranma:  (sighs)  "You never believed me!  And... I made a promise 
	not to expose him."
Akane:  "Why?"
Ranma:  "I... because it was partially my fault he got cursed."
Akane:  "How was it your fault."
Ranma:  "He followed me to China.  I accidentally knocked him into 
	a cursed pool while I was chasing pops.  I didn't even know 
	about it until that night he attacked me."
Akane:  "But why didn't he tell me?  I thought he was my friend."
Ranma:  "Because he's a pervert!  And... because he was in love 
	with you."
Akane:  "Ryoga..."
Ranma:  "Don't even think about it.  You're mine now."
Akane:  "What do you mean?  You don't own me!"
Ranma:  "You said you loved me.  Was that a lie?  Do you love 
	Ryoga?"
Akane:  "No, but..."
Ranma:  "I love you, Akane Tendo.  And I'm not going to share you 
	with anyone, especially Ryoga."
Akane:  "Ranma... I feel the same way about you."  (hugs him)  "Do 
	you think Ryoga really was in love with me?"
Ranma:  (thinking)  "I don't think so.  I think he convinced himself 
	he was because you were nice to him.  He went after my 
	disguises so easily.  I think he's in love with you... as much 
	as Kuno is."
Akane:  (making a face)  "Something from your other memories?"
Ranma:  "No.  I don't remember them much anymore...  Except for 
	the special fighting techniques I can't access."  (looks at 
	Akane)  "You know something?  You're really cute in the 
	morning."
Akane:  (blushes happily)  "Now, get out of here so I can get dressed 
	for school."
Ranma:  (whispers in her ear)  "Why?  I'll see it all after we're 
	married."
Akane:  "Ranma..."
Ranma:  "Um... I'll let you watch me dress."
  
Akane pushes Ranma out of her room.  He stands outside of her 
door for a second or two to catch his breath, knowing that he didn't 
know what he would have done if she had agreed.  He then goes to 
the guest room that he's been staying in and quickly changes into 
schoolclothes (another chinese shirt and pants).  Ranma then goes to 
the room where his three 'daughters' are staying, knocks, then opens 
the door.  He is instantly hit by two pillows and a small table as the 
door just as instantaneously closes.

*****************************End Chapter 3, Part II