Season’s Cycle
By James S Bahng
University of Northern B.C.
bahnj000@ugrad.unbc.edu




Based on characters created by Rumiko Takahashi



A Warm Winter Night

	"Stupid Panda!!  Why did you have to soak me too?"  Ranma-chan grumbled to the sleeping mass next to her.  "You couldn’t just do it in the kitchen, you had to bring the bucket in here and soak us both!!!"
	It was late at night, and very cold in the room.  Obviously, Genma had chosen to sleep in panda form, but had unwittingly soaked Ranma as well.	
	"Baka!" she whispered, kicking the huge panda.  "You just *had* to soak me!"
	Ranma-chan grumbled all the way to the bathroom, as she dripped down the hall.  Once in the bathroom, she decided to have a bath before going to bed, as she was cold from the soaking.  Absently stripping, she dumped her clothes into the hamper and grabbing a towel, opened the door to the tub.   Right into Akane.
	"Ahh, Akane!!! What are you doing here?" Ranma-chan stammered, shocked and afraid for her life, as she backed out of the room.
	"What do you what, Ranma!!!  Go away, I don’t want to see you.  Leave me alone!"
	<Gee...Akane sounds kinda funny...wonder what’s up?>  Ranma thought to herself.  "I was gonna take a bath so I could change....what is the big dif?"
	"Get out!!!  I said get out!!"  Akane shouted.  "I want to be alone right now."
	Ranma paused.  Could Akane be crying right now?  She crept closer, and saw that Akane was indeed crying.  "What’s the matter, Akane?  Is something wrong?"
	With a sigh, Akane shook her head, and wiped the tears away.  Ranma stood there, waiting for Akane to answer her.  
	"I just miss Mother.  We used to just sit here when I was little, and watch the snow fall."  She stared out the window, where the first fat flakes of winter were falling.   "Sometimes, I can almost hear her voice singing to me, and tonight, it just really hurt.  I miss her so much!"
	"Yeah, I know what you mean.  I miss my Mom too.  If it weren’t for this stupid oath, I could....I could..." Ranma paused. "Who am I kidding.  I can’t go to mom...look at me!  I’m a girl!"
	Snifling, Akane motioned for Ranma to join her in the tub so she could change back.  Ranma eased himself into the hot water,  leaning on the other end of the tub.  The water was hot, and almost immediately, Ranma could feel the changes taking place; the spasmodic rippling of the muscles, and the odd pleasure of transformation bordering on pain, as she changed into a man.  
	Neither said much for the first bit, losing themselves in thought.  Ranma thought it strange that Akane didn’t yell for him to leave.  Out of the blue, Akane asked:
	"Do you regret your oath, Ranma?"
	"Yeah.  Sometimes.  Other times...well, I don’t regret it, only parts of it. Like the part about killing myself and Pop.  ‘Cause of that, I can’t see Mom. Sometimes when I turn around and almost expect Mom to be there."
	"I know what you mean.   I miss my Mom too.  I remember the time..." Akane rambled on, as Ranma sat quietly listening to her.  Akane seemed to remember every detail of her mother, from the fresh scent of food, to the way her hands would smooth the various injuries of a younger Akane.
	"Oh, Ranma, why did she have to die?  Why??"  Akane cried.  She tried to turn away from Ranma, to hide her tears, but Ranma simply reached over and gathered her into his arms, holding her, saying nothing, allowing Akane to cry herself out.  Akane for her part, only resisted at first, then leaned on his shoulder, taking comfort in his closeness.
	Sometime later, when the water had turned tepid and salty from Akane’s tears, Ranma began to feel uncomfortable.  He began to ease away, only to realize, that he didn’t want to.  Akane was dozing in his arms, and somehow, it felt....right.  He watched the snows outside falling, being whipped about the blustering winds, and felt warm.  
	He gazed down upon the sleeping Akane, and smoothed the tears from her cheeks, and felt a tender warmth for Akane stronger than ever.  Gently, he shook Akane awake, as the sun was beginning to rise, and the family was beginning to stir.
	"What, where am I?  RANMA!!  What are you....Oh."
	Akane moved away from Ranma, embarrassed by her nudity, and by the last night, when she realized the time.  She turned to Ranma with a look, and noted that he was in the same position as last night, when he had hugged her.
	Swallowing, she thanked him.  "Thanks Ranma...for listening, last night, for everything."
	"No charge Akane."
	They looked at each other, eyes locked until Akane looked away.  Ranma jumped out of the tub and dressed first, while Akane looked bemused.
	"I’ll see you later?"
	The question caught Akane by surprise, as did the tender tone to Ranma’s voice.
	"Yeah Ranma....later."