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

Chapter 7:  Tests - Part III

The captain leads the inspector to his office, shutting the door 
behind them to insure that no one hears their conversation.  The 
captain sits down and motions for the inspector to take the opposing 
seat; he does.

Captain:  "Muramoto, you and I both know that the reason for your 
	rapid rise is your fighting ability.  For this reason I hesitate 
	assigning you to a partner; you will be the point man for 
	martial arts-related assaults and crimes and we have no 
	suitable prospect at this time.  However, there will be... 
	resentment by other inspectors at your success.  I do not 
	want that to divide my station."
Inspector:  "I understand, sir.  What do you recommend?"
Captain:  "I suggest that you take the time to get to know the other 
	inspectors personally, and to become part of the 
	community.  The other inspectors will know that I 
	suggested this."  [slight smile]  "They know me too well 
	after our years together, so they won't think you're just 
	another ass-kisser for trying to get to know them."
Inspector:  [gets up to leave]  "Thank you, Captain."

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

Various Students:  "Happy New Year!  What a test that was.  Only 
	one more semester, only one more semester...  I'm dead 
	meat.  I'm going to go home and sleep...  I'll meet you at 
	the festival tonight."

Ranma and Akane stop outside a small section of pathway cordoned 
off by warning signs.

Ranma:  [puzzled]  "'Slippery when wet?'  What do you think this 
	is?"
Akane:  "I don't know."

Keiko comes running up to them.

Keiko:  "Just stay there for a minute or so and you'll see.  Wait... 
	kiss each other."
Ranma:  [blushing]  "In public?  Well, I don't mind..."
Akane:  [blushing]  "Neither do I... I guess..."

As the two start to kiss, a shout comes from the school building.

Kuno:  "Ranma Saotome, prepare yourself!"

Kuno comes running into the school courtyard with his bokken held 
high.

Kuno:  "With the coming of the new year comes an end to your 
	villainy... finally I shall..."

Kuno is unable to complete his sentence as he suddenly runs onto 
the section of concrete made slick with the school nurse's entire 
supply of petroleum jelly.  He slides across the courtyard, unable to 
stop himself, until he impacts a tree and loses consciousness.  
Everyone starts laughing at him.  Akane retakes Ranma's hand as 
they leave Furinkan High School.

Akane:  "Some things never seem to change."

Ranma looks down at Akane's hand, lets go, and slips his arm 
around her waist.

Ranma:  "I'm glad some things do."

Akane slips her own arm around Ranma's waist as they continue to 
walk home.  Behind them, Keiko, Midori, and Ayuki work quickly 
to get rid of the evidence.

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

Akane dresses in her festival kimono, looking up at a knock at the 
door.

Midori:  "Akane?"
Akane:  "Come in, Midori."

Midori enters, also dressed in a kimono.

Midori:  "Akane, how do you feel about Uk...you?"

Akane fidgets, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is 
going.

Akane:  "Midori... you have to understand, its not that I dislike her, 
	but..."
Midori:  "But what?"
Akane:  "Before you three came, she kept trying to break up 
	Ranma's and my engagement..."
Midori:  "I understand, Akane.  But daddy chose you now.  Couldn't 
	you become friends like she and daddy are?"

Akane looks at Midori, a question in her eyes.

Midori:  "I think Uk-chan needs some close friends right now, and 
	the three of us will always be 'Ranma's daughters' to her.  
	Please, Akane.  Could you and daddy go to the festival with 
	her tonight?"

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

Soun:  "Is everyone ready?"
Kasumi:  "Yes, father."

Kasumi carries some sweet mochi rice in a bamboo steamer box.  
Everyone starts to walk toward the festival, and as they go through 
the front gate they pass the kadomatsu that Soun spent the day 
making.  Midori leads them towards Uc-chan's.

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

Midori, Keiko, and Ayuki shove Ukyou out from behind her 
okonomiyaki cart and take her place.

Ukyou:  "What's the big idea?"
Midori:  "We're taking over.  Go have fun."
Ukyou:  "Hey..."

Akane seems to make up her mind, then touches Ukyou lightly on 
the shoulder.

Akane:  "Please, Ukyou.  Ranma and I would be happy if you joined 
	us."

Ukyou looks at her, startled.  She then looks at Ranma (who seems a 
little surprised), then the three girls behind the cart (who look 
hopeful).

Ukyou:  "OK..."

*******************************************finis Chapter 7

[Author's note #0:  New Year's traditions in this fanfic are based on 
those presented in Spectrum Hawaii's "Japanese New Year" episode 
(KHET - Hawaii PBS).  This is not to say that all japanese families 
necessarily follow any or all of these traditions, but most do to some 
extent.  Since the Tendos are an established family in the area (and 
because martial arts are usually based on traditions), I would expect 
that the traditional practices would be observed.  Spellings are 
phonetic based on my interpretation, so may be different in common 
use.  I will attempt to use these traditions to portray a more realistic 
view of life at this (calendar) time, but I must warn the reader that I 
do not follow all these traditions, so I may get them wrong.  In this 
story, because of the school schedule, Soun, Genma, and Nodoka 
(and Kasumi when she's not with Dr. Tofu) have spent their spare 
time in cleaning the house during the week of the story.]

[Author's note #1:  The New Year is a time of special traditions in 
the japanese household.  Houses get cleaned up, top to bottom, of the 
year's accumulated dust (representative of the casting off of the 
evils/bad luck of the previous year and preparation for the new life 
that comes with spring).  Rafters are cleaned with bamboo "brooms" 
(bamboo retains its color in winter, symbolizing the perseverance of 
life).  Tatami (floor) mats and (paper) screens are also replaced at 
this time.  "Kadomatsu", or gate pine, is the New Year's 
arrangement of pine, bamboo, and plum set at the gateway to the 
house (as an invitation for spirits to rest in the branches).  It is 
burned after New Year's to receive the spirits' blessing.]

[Author's note #2:  "Mochi" is sweet rice that has been pounded 
until its no longer recognizable as such.  It is typically shaped into 
small, round cakes and sometimes filled with sweet bean paste.  
Mochi pounding for New Year's is typically done a couple of days in 
advance; in this story Dr. Tofu does it the day before New Year's at 
the festival (the first day he's "on-call") for the community (he 
doesn't do it all himself; he provides the mortar, mallets, and 
steamers while families provide the sweet mochi rice and the labor).  
"Kagame mochi" are the large mochi placed on a person's source of 
livelihood (such as the dojo, or a cash register, or a computer) as an 
offering to insure success, usually consisting of two (large) mochi 
and a tangerine set in a pyramid.  "Ozoni soup", or a mochi-
vegetable soup, is typically part of the New Year's breakfast (most of 
which has some deeper meaning).]

[Author's note #3:  I have no factual basis for the New Year's 
festival (though it might exist - I don't know, I don't live in Japan).  
However, since New Year's is a time of both contemplation and 
celebration, It is not inconceivable that a two or three-day festival 
occurs preceding New Year's (and probably continuing after it).  I 
have the (school) holiday occurring on (Saturday) December 31st 
because it allows the students and teachers to prepare for the new 
year.]

[Author's note #4:  Hanafuda fortune telling is (of course) another 
one of my blatant lies.  The deck is arranged into twelve "suits" or 
"months" based on what plant is depicted on them.  In Kasumi's 
case, the plum (ume) and cherry (sakura) suits have standard 
meanings behind them, with the bird (nature) and poem (mankind - 
business, etc.) being defining factors in the given interpretation.  
Since there are only forty-eight cards, there are the additional added 
variables of number of cards picked and placement (linear, crossing, 
etc.) in front of the fortune teller.  Whether or not it tells the future 
is up for grabs, of course (though that probably won't stop Kasumi 
from seeing that her fortune comes true).]


Next:  
Chapter 8:  Reflections

New Year's traditions!  The Inspector visits the Kunos!  Night Two 
of the Festival!  Genma returns exhausted (Nodoka refreshed)!