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

Chapter 5:  Negotiations - Part III

Kasumi:  "Oh my!"
Nabiki:  "Wow!"
Ranma:  (eyes wide)  "Mom?!"
Midori:  (jumping up and hugging Nodoka)  "You look great, 'ba-
	chan!"
Nodoka:  "Ranma, will you escort me to the front gate?"

Ranma and Nodoka leave arm-in-arm.  Nodoka decides to present 
herself to Ayuki before leaving, so they make a quick detour to the 
dojo.  Ayuki's eyes go wide at the sight of them approaching.

Ayuki:  "'Ba-chan, grampa won't be able to take his eyes off you all 
	night!"
Nodoka:  "I know dear.  That's why I did it.  Now, this is the young 
	man you had a crush on?"

Ayuki jumps a little and looks around, sees a unconscious Ryoga on 
the steps, and nods slowly.

Nodoka:  "And Ranma, he was your former rival for Akane?"
Ranma:  "Umm... well... I guess.  She never knew about it."
Nodoka:  (puts a hand to Ayuki's cheek)  "You're going to have to 
	decide on your own how to handle this situation, Ayuki.  
	But whatever you decide, your father and I will always be 
	here for you."
Ayuki:  "Ba-chan..."
Nodoka:  "Ranma, please escort me to the gate."

Ranma and Nodoka reach the outside of the gate and a sleek luxury 
car pulls up beside them.  Soun steps out of the car first, then 
Genma in a formal tuxedo.  Genma's eyes just about pop out of his 
head when he notices Nodoka; Soun is not far behind.  Nodoka 
smiles and waits for Genma to open the door for her; he does and 
soon they are driving away.  Soun and Ranma both re-enter the 
house.

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

Ranma wandered around to the front of the dojo.  He really didn't 
think about it as 'spying', but he was concerned about Ayuki.  She 
was the most skilled (martially) of his three 'daughters', but Keiko 
and Midori (as far as he could remember) had grown up in Japan 
and were used to interacting with people;  Ayuki had grown up in 
the Village of Amazons almost ostracized because of her mixed race 
(despite the law on outsiders).

Ayuki:  "Hello, father."

Ranma jumps up, hits his head on the roof, then falls to the ground 
in surprise after Ayuki sneaks up behind him and touches his 
shoulder.

Ranma:  (recovering)  "Ayuki!"
Ayuki:  "Were you trying to spy on us, daddy?"
Ranma:  (guilty)  "Well... I guess... I was just worried about you.  A 
	little..."
Ayuki:  "I know, daddy."  (hugs Ranma)
Ranma:  "Where is Ryoga, anyway?"
Ayuki:  (makes a face)  "Still unconscious."
Ranma:  (sighs)  "And you still want to start something with him?"  
	(as Ayuki starts to say something)  "I know, I know.  It's 
	none of my business."
Ayuki:  "Don't be silly, daddy.  Of course what you think means a lot 
	to me."
Ranma:  "Mom's right.  I should just leave it up to you."
Ayuki:  (kisses him on the cheek)  "Thank you, daddy."
Ranma:  (blushing)  "For what?"
Ayuki:  "For trusting me."

Ranma and Ayuki find Ryoga still unconscious on the stairs to the 
dojo, and drag him back to the living room.

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

Nodoka said she had to stop and give a message for everyone, so 
Genma stopped the car outside of Uc-chan's, then followed Nodoka 
into the half-full restaurant.  All the conversations stopped as 
Nodoka glided into the room.  She quickly sought out a stunned 
Keiko.

Nodoka:  "Keiko..."
Keiko:  "Wow, 'ba-chan!  I wish I was as beautiful as you!"
Nodoka:  "You are, Keiko.  But right now I need a favor from you.  
	Can you deliver a message for me?"
Keiko:  "Sure, ba-chan."
Nodoka:  "Can you tell everyone at the dojo not to wait up and worry 
	if we don't make it back tonight?"
Keiko:  (blushing)  "'Ba-chan!"
Nodoka:  "Maybe you'd better make that a couple of days."

Everyone within earshot blushes and stares at a suddenly nervous 
Genma.  Nodoka kisses Keiko.

Nodoka:  "I'll see you later, dear.  Take care of yourselves."

Nodoka grabs the visibly sweating Genma and leads him back 
outside to the car and they drive away.

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

Not long after the Saotomes leave Uc-chan's, Mousse leads Shampoo 
to a table.

Shampoo:  <Why did you bring me to this dump, Mousse?>
Mousse:  (unperturbed)  <If you want something fancier, persuade 
	the ghoul to give me a raise.>
Shampoo:  ...
Mousse:  <Besides, we've known each other too long for me to 
	impress you with some fancy restaurant.>

Keiko comes to the table with some menus.

Keiko:  (smiling)  "Why, hello Auntie Shampoo, Uncle Mousse."
Shampoo:  "Who you?"
Mousse:  (thinking a bit)  "You're one of Saotome's 'daughters', 
	aren't you?"
Keiko:  (a little embarrassed)  "Oh, that's right.  You don't know me 
	here.  I'm Keiko."  (another table waves for her)  "I'll be 
	right back."

Keiko leaves the menus on the table and goes off to service the other 
customers as they start to leave.  There are roughly two tables left 
occupied when Keiko returns.  She takes their order, then leaves to 
give it to Ukyou.  Shampoo refuses to look at Mousse, either looking 
around the restaurant or down at her hands clasped in her lap.

Mousse:  <Shampoo, when you forgot Ranma, you kissed and came 
	after me.  Was that a lie?  Have you no feelings toward 
	me?>
Shampoo:  <...> (silence)
Mousse:  <I love you, Shampoo.>
Shampoo:  (not looking up)  <Mousse...>
Mousse:  <I'm not telling you because I want to make you feel guilty.  
	I'm saying it because I want you to know.  I think you love 
	me, but never said anything because of Ranma and the 
	law.>

Keiko returned with their orders and smiled at them.  Except for 
Shampoo and Mousse the restaurant is empty.

Keiko:  "Is this really your first date?  How romantic!"
Mousse:  "Umm... Keiko?... What was our life like where you came 
	from?  Were we married?"
Keiko:  "Sure!  In fact..."  (Keiko looks stunned for a moment, then 
	starts to cry, wiping at her tears with her hands)  "I'm sorry, 
	I'm sorry..."

Keiko runs into the back of the restaurant, wiping the tears from her 
face.  An angry Ukyou comes up to the table.

Ukyou:  "What did you two say to her?"
Mousse:  (flabbergasted)  "Nothing!  Nothing!  I just asked her what 
	she remembered about us."
Ukyou:  (sighs)  "It was inevitable, I guess."

Keiko returns after awhile.  Though she has washed her face, her 
eyes are still red from the tears.

Keiko:  "I'm sorry.  I don't think it really hit me until just then."
Mousse:  "What was it?"
Keiko:  "Linlin and Ranran.  Your twin daughters.  We grew up 
	together.  I'll never see them again."

Shampoo and Mousse sit there, stunned.  Ukyou gently pulls Keiko 
to one side.

Ukyou:  (softly)  "Are you all right, Keiko?  Do you want to go 
	home?"
Keiko:  "I'd better stay.  A deal's a deal."
Ukyou:  "No, its okay.  There's only Shampoo and Mousse left, and I 
	can take care of them."
Keiko:  "Are you sure?"
Ukyou:  "Yes.  Can you make it home by yourself?"
Keiko:  (nods)  "Thank you, Uk-chan."

Keiko hugs Ukyou, then leaves.  Ukyou turns from the table and 
starts to clean up the restaurant.

Shampoo:  <It doesn't matter anyway... Great-grandmother will 
	never let us be married...>

*****************************End Chapter 5, Part III