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."