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

Chapter 9:  Reflections - Part II

Captain:  "Muramoto, they're releasing that boy you arrested.  
	Tatewaki Kuno."
Inspector:  "What about the girl?"
Captain:  "They've got special plans for her.  The Self Defense Force 
	has already contacted us about arranging a deal."
Inspector:  "Isn't that premature?  She hasn't been found guilty yet."
Captain:  "They're moving fast in regards to anyone with these 
	'special abilities'."
Inspector:  "That's a surprise... I wonder why they didn't take the 
	boy as well."
Captain:  "I guess they weren't too impressed with 'Rice-Face'."
Inspector:  [laughing]  "I guess not.  How is he?"
Captain:  "First degree burns over his face."
Inspector:  "Good."  [makes a face]  "That's pretty disgusting, isn't 
	it?  Finding satisfaction in another person's injury?  Maybe 
	spending the night in jail will teach him a lesson."

The family's servant leads a face-bandaged Kuno across the station 
to talk with the inspector.

Kuno:  "You may have gotten the better of me this time... but 
	Tatewaki Kuno shall yet know victory.  It is my destiny."
Inspector:  "Destiny walks with the winners, you weenie."  [to 
	Captain]  "I don't feel guilty anymore.  I want to hit him."

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

Ukyou:  "Thank you for breakfast, Akane."
Akane:  "No problem, Ukyou."
Ranma:  "Are you sure you can get home safely, Ukyou?"
Ukyou:  [smiling]  "I'm sure, Ran-chan.  You worry too much 
	sometimes.  I'll see the two of you tonight at the temple."

Ukyou leaves into the falling snow for Uc-chan's.  Ranma stares 
after her.

Ranma:  "Did she just call me..."
Akane:  [taking his hand]  "Mm-hmm.  What is it?"
Ranma:  "I just wish..."
Akane:  [after some silence]  "What?"
Ranma:  [sighing]  "I just wish I could make things right for Uk-
	chan."

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

Kasumi rests her head on Dr. Tofu's arm as they walk through the 
deserted park.  They wipe a bench of its sheen of melted snow and 
sit down, Kasumi pulling his arm around her.

Kasumi:  "See, isn't this nice?  Just the two of us watching the snow 
	fall..."
Dr. Tofu:  "It is nice... though I'm unsure why we couldn't watch it 
	from someplace warm."
Kasumi:  "The clinic has your mother, and the dojo has everyone.  
	Besides, I wanted to be alone with my fiance before we get 
	married."
Dr. Tofu:  [chuckling]  "Kasumi, you're so wicked sometimes."
Kasumi:  "Wicked, huh?"

Kasumi places her arms around Dr. Tofu's neck and sits on his lap, 
breaths filling the air between their faces.

Kasumi:  "And what's especially wicked about me?"
Dr. Tofu:  "I'm sure I'll find out... after we're married."
Kasumi:  [whispering]  "I thought you already knew."

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

Ranma and Akane sat at the table with their legs touching under the 
hanging cover.  From the dojo came the sounds of three girls 
throwing around a panda, while from the kitchen could be heard the 
sounds of Nodoka cleaning up.

Akane:  "Ranma, have you thought about maybe arranging a date 
	for Ukyou?"
Ranma:  "Right.  With who?  Kuno?  Ryoga?  That weirdo Tsubasa?  
	I'd rather break up with you first."

Ranma falls backward to lie on the blanket.  Akane gets mad at him.

Akane:  "Ranma!"

Ranma pulls Akane down onto his body and kisses her.  Her body is 
stiff at first but she melts into his embrace.

Ranma:  "I didn't mean it that way."

Akane lays next to Ranma on the blanket and both stare up at the 
ceiling.

Akane:  "Why does it have to be a martial artist?  What about one of 
	your friends from school?"
Ranma:  "If it was that simple they would have asked her already.  
	Sometimes I think we can only get involved with other 
	martial artists."

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

Ryoga was definitely lost.  After leaving the hotel he had wandered 
around the streets trying to find his way back to the dojo without 
success.  He had stopped to see if he could recognize any features, 
but it was useless.  Suddenly a dog starts barking at him and the 
door of the nearest house opens.

Woman's Voice:  "Ryoga, is that you?  Oh, my baby.  Its been so 
	long."
Ryoga:  "Mom?"

Ryoga is suddenly caught in a hug as his mother runs out from the 
house.  [His dog also runs out of the yard and sits on his foot.]

Ryoga's Mom:  "This must be some kind of miracle... your father's 
	here as well.  Our family is all together again."

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

Shampoo sits in the closed Cat Cafe looking over a bunch of 
ledgers.  Cologne and her father also sit at the table watching her.

Shampoo:  <This is ridiculous.>
Shampoo's Father:  <It is not that hard, Shampoo.  You can do it.>
Shampoo:  <Why do I have to do it?>
Cologne:  <It is the responsibility of the person in charge of the 
	dining area to balance the register.  Your father can not 
	cover for you forever, great-granddaughter.  And after 
	tomorrow I will be traveling the country and will not be 
	around to help.  Come now, once more.>

Shampoo struggles to make sense of the numbers in front of her, 
finally finishing to Cologne's satisfaction.  Shampoo sighs.

Cologne:  <Did you think that there was nothing else except martial 
	arts, Shampoo?>

Cologne and Shampoo's father take the ledgers upstairs.  Mousse 
enters the room.

Mousse:  <Shampoo, tomorrow is Kasumi's wedding.>
Shampoo:  <So?>
Mousse:  <I know you wish me to leave you alone for awhile, but if 
	you are going will you allow me to escort you?>
Shampoo:  [after hesitating]  <Very well.>
Mousse:  <Thank you, Shampoo.>

Cologne and Shampoo's father reenter the room.

Shampoo's Father:  <Hold it, young man.  If you insist on courting 
	Shampoo, you must prove to me that you will be able to 
	take care of her.>
Mousse:  <Yes, sir.>
Shampoo's Father:  <You must find yourself a job outside of this 
	restaurant and support yourself successfully.>
Mousse:  <I understand, sir.  I will do as you say.>
Cologne:  <He must first make his way back to Jokusetzuku and 
	inform them about moving here, since all communications 
	have been cut.>
Mousse:  <What?  But that'll mean I'll be away for...>
Cologne:  <Think of this as incentive... if the village elders do not 
	revoke the law in regards to outsiders, you can never 
	become Shampoo's husband.>

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

The snow flurries had stopped by the time everyone reaches the 
grave, and they quickly get to work clearing the headstone of its 
small layer of accumulated snow and placing the pots of flowers 
around the incense holder.  They light the incense and everyone 
takes their turn praying in front of the gray headstone.

First Soun, his tears somehow freezing before they reach the ground.  
Then Kasumi and Tofu, then Nabiki, then Akane pulling a surprised 
Ranma with her.  Next Genma and Nodoka, and finally the Ayuki, 
Keiko, and Midori.

The odor of the lit incense filled the air as they leave the grave to 
return home.

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

Akane walks hand-in-hand with Ranma to the dojo.  They pass the 
kagame mochi set at the top of the stairs and enter the room.  
Ranma can't help but think how quiet Akane (and everyone else) 
was on the way back.

Akane stops walking and Ranma looks back at her.  With tears in 
her eyes she suddenly hugs Ranma, who just holds her in his arms.

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

Ranma fidgets while Nodoka looks on with bemusement.

Nodoka:  "Really, Ranma.  Did you think you would inherit the dojo 
	without knowing this?"
Ranma:  "We never did any of this stuff while we were on the road."
Nodoka:  "Your father was delinquent, then."  [smiling]  "It 
	wouldn't be the first time.  In any event, if you feel lost, just 
	ask me or Akane.  We'll make sure you do fine."

Ranma still looks worried.

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

Akane had to poke Ranma in the ribs with her elbows several times 
to keep him awake during the service.  The buddhist monk 
completes his sermon and everyone stands up to ring the bells.  As 
they wait their turn in line they can hear the singular strikes on the 
temple bell of those before them.  When they reach the bell, they are 
confronted by a strange sight - there are two bells, one normal and 
another set above a small, tied figure.

*****************************finish Chapter 9, Part II