Here is Part four of Well, Well.  C & C are always welcome.


“Well, Well - Part 4”


Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
“Well, Well - Part 4”
by Suds-kun (suds1964@tir.com)

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Ranma 1/2 characters are created by and copyright Rumiko Takahashi.  
Published by Shogakukan Inc. and VIZ Comm. and are used without 
permission.  Intended for the sole non-profit use of R.T. fans.
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“Even Kasumi-san has changed.  I think it’s because she saw what happened 
with her sisters and their, uhm, love lives.  She’s started seeing 
Tofu-sensei on a regular basis.  Of course, Tofu-sensei is more dangerous 
now.”  Ryoga smiled.

Ranma looked up.  “I better get you back to Akari.”

===

Ryoga knocked on the door.

The door opened and Akari stood there with a contented smile on her face. 
“Ryoga!”  She yelled as she automatically grabbed Ryoga’s hand to guide 
him through the door.  “Your back!  Did you ..”  Akari stopped as she saw 
Ranma in the doorway.  “You did!  You did!  You did!”  She shouted, 
jumping up and down.  She then glommed onto Ryoga and laid her head on 
his chest.  “I knew you could do it, Ryoga!”

Ryoga smiled as he returned her hug.  “I missed you Akari-san.  It was so 
lonely without you by my side.”  Ryoga said as he stroked her hair.

Ranma blushed.  “Uhh ... I better get on over to my parents’ place.”  He 
slowly backed out and closed the door.

===

Ranma walked up to the door of his parents home and could hear shouting 
from inside.

“If you hadn’t taken him on that training trip, none of this would have 
happened!”

“Well, where do you think he got the idea for seppuku from!”

Ranma swallowed hard and knocked on the door.  The yelling quieted and 
the door opened.

“Konni ...”  Nodoka stopped short and stared at Ranma.

“Who is it?” asked Genma as he walked towards the door.  “Ranma!”  He 
shouted, when he saw his son.

This shocked Nodoka back to reality.  “Ranma!” she said as she grabbed 
him in a massive bear hug.  Genma then hugged both his wife and son.  All 
three just stood in a group hug, crying and sniffling.  When the crying 
subsided, Genma lead everyone inside and to the main table.

“Ukyo and Akari came and told us of Ryoga’s plan.”  Genma began.  “A 
couple of days ago, your mother and I were talking when we both felt 
this, uhmm, feeling.  All I can describe about this feeling, is that we 
both knew that you were alive.  We’ve been waiting for you to return ever 
since.”

Genma’s face became more serious.  “Your mother and I have discussed what 
we would say when you returned.  We are both VERY upset that you chose 
seppuku.  We also realize that nothing we could have done or said to you 
would have prevented your actions.  Just as you were unable to save 
Akane, we were unable to save you.”

“Do you know what happened as a result of your seppuku?  Nodoka asked 
Ranma.

Ranma nodded.  “Ryoga told me as we made our way back home.  Soun not 
crying all the time, Kasumi and Tofu-sensei.  ....  Nabiki and the Kunos. 
 Shampoo, Cologne and Mousse.  Ojiisan.  Ukyo and Konatsu.  Akari and 
himself.  He also said that you two were living together, but were 
fighting a lot.”  Ranma looked down at the table.

“Do you think it was worth it?”  asked Nodoka.

“Nani?” responded Ranma.

“Your seppuku, was it worth the consequences?”  Nodoka inquired.

Ranma’s mind started to race.  “Well, Ryoga and Akari are together.  Ukyo 
is starting to like Konatsu.  Shampoo is out of my hair.  But, Ojiisan is 
gone.  I don’t think Soun trusts me.  Nabiki hates me.  Kuno is like the 
living dead.  Kodachi is locked away in a sanitarium.  Mom and dad are 
...”

“No.” he replied.

Nodoka looked at her son.  “Good.  There is more to honor than just 
seppuku.  Friendship and love are a part of honor.  You pretty much 
destroyed a couple lives with your last, selfish act .”

Ranma looked at his mother in surprise.  “You had wanted dad and I to 
commit seppuku for all these years.  Why are you talking this way now?”

“For the past two days, your father and I have been discussing this.  
I’ve had to admit to him that I used that promise not only to ensure that 
you would be raised as a man, but to control your life as well.  I wanted 
you to marry Akane, take over the Tendo dojo, give me grandchildren ... I 
just wanted the best for you.  I didn’t realize what I had been doing 
until after you were gone.”

“I also had to admit to your mother,” added Genma, “that I used that 
promise for my own purposes.  I had enjoyed living the life of a martial 
artist on one big training trip.  It was easy to ignore my 
responsibilities to my family and friends.  But when you died, I ... I 
had to face a number of ugly things that I had become.  Right now your 
mother and I are relearning how to act as a married couple.  I’ve noticed 
that we act like you and Akane at times.”  Genma grinned at his wife.  
She blushed in response.

“We also agreed to help you as much as possible as you get back into the 
swing of things.  There are many trials that you must endure as a result 
of our actions and yours.  But as a family, I know that we can overcome 
any obstacle in our path.”  Genma looked at his son and then his wife.  
They meant the world to him and he wasn’t going to lose either of them 
ever again.

“I do have a question,” Ranma said as he looked at his father, “are you 
going to force Akane and I to get married?”

Genma looked at Nodoka, she nodded her head in response.  “Your mother 
and I have decided to not force the two of you into marriage.  You now 
have the right to choose your own iinazuke.”

Ranma stared at his parents.  “What about Soun?”

Genma hesitated and then spoke, “Soun and I are still friends, but there 
is a lot of tension.  He had handled the loss of Akane as well as could 
be expected.  But when you died he kind of went numb.  Basically, our 
promise to have our children marry, died with you. Nabiki’s hatred for 
you became almost tangible.  Soun could only contain her and he had to 
change himself to be able keep what was left of his family together.”

“I see,” Ranma breathed.  “Mom, dad, do you think I’ll be able to see 
Akane again?”

“I hope so, son.”  Nodoka said.  “Do you love her?”

“Hai.  I told her as soon as I could.  She said she loved me, also.”  
Ranma looked at each of his parents.  “Do you think the Tendos will let 
me see her or talk to her?”

“You will have to find the answer to that question on your own.  If you 
truly love her, could her family or yours prevent you from seeing her?”  
Genma replied.

“It’s getting late,” Nodoka interrupted, “we have a room prepared for 
you.  You should get some sleep, it’s been a long day and will probably 
be longer tomorrow.”

Ranma sighed and followed them to his room.


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In Part Five -

“Oh, sorry.  I’m glad you’re back, too, Akane.”


-- 
suds-kun (Shaun Schillinger)
suds1964@tir.com
"THIS time, we didn't forget the graaavy!" Cat & Mouse to Dog