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


"Well, Well - Part 6"


Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
"Well, Well - Part 6"
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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Akari and Ryoga were just staring at each other and holding hands 
across the table.  "Do you think we could be as happy as they are?" 
Ranma asked quietly.

Akane looked at Ranma, grabbed his hands and nodded.  "With all 
my heart, yes."

===

Akane tossed in her bed.  "Things sure have changed," she thought.  
"Who could have imagined that Ukyo and Konatsu would become a 
couple?  Ryoga and Akari is kind of obvious.  Him being P-chan sure 
explains a lot.  P-chan disappearing for weeks at a time, Ranma picking 
on him, P-chan always turning his back when I got dressed.  But, I'm 
going to have to do something to him for tricking me like that."  Akane 
grinned wickedly.

"What's that?  It sounds like crying."  Akane sat up and listened closely.  
It was coming from Nabiki's room!  Akane slowly got up and walked to 
her sister's room.

Akane knocked on the door.  "Onnechan?  Are you all right?"

Akane heard a muffled "Go Away!"

"Can I come in?"  Akane said, as she slowly opened the door.

"Leave me alone!"  Nabiki was sitting in the middle of her bed, 
holding her pillow and sobbing.

Akane sat down next to her sister and put her arm around her.  Nabiki 
turned towards her and started crying into Akane's shoulder as her sister 
hugged her.  "He just sits there, staring and drooling,"  Nabiki sobbed.  
"Why did he have to be such a fool?"

"Shhhh."  Akane said, trying to comfort her sister.  The two sat there 
until they both fell asleep from exhaustion.

===

"Ranma, we need to talk."  Akane said as they sat under a tree in the park.

"O.K." Ranma replied.

"All of our pursuers have either left or given up on us.  Right?"  Akane asked.

"I guess so.  Shampoo, Cologne and Mousse have left.  Ryoga and Akari 
are a couple.  So is Ukyo and Konatsu.  Kon-chan, hmm.  Anyway, even 
the Kunos are out of the running."  Ranma looked at Akane.  She had a 
very serious look on her face.  "What's wrong, Akane?"

"You, uhm, we need to take care of something."  Akane looked at Ranma 
and held his hand.  "Kuno is in a nursing home and Nabiki visits him 
everyday.  Last night, she cried herself to sleep.  We need to help them, 
Ranma."  Akane pleaded.

Ranma looked confused.  "I thought that he was permanently paralyzed 
by one of Kodachi's poisons."

"Nabiki said that Tofu-sensei believes that the poison has worn off."  
Akane squeezed Ranma's hand.  "Nabiki talks to him everyday, trying 
to bring him back.  I think if you and I visit him, he might snap out of it."

"You're right,"  Ranma said flatly.  "We need to plan this out first."  
Ranma and Akane then discussed and planned, holding each other's 
hand the entire time.

===

"We're here to see Kuno Tatewaki."  Akane informed the nurse.

"Oh, Nabiki said her sister was going to stop by.  You must be her 
sister, I can tell by the hair.  It's the second room on the right."  The 
nurse watched the two go into the room.  "What nice girls."

===

Nabiki looked up and smiled as Akane walked in the room.  The smile 
instantly disappeared when Ranma entered.  Akane put her finger to 
her lips to tell Nabiki to be quiet.  Akane walked around Kuno and 
sat in a chair in front of him.

"Konnichiwa!  Kuno-sempei."  Akane said cheerfully.

===

Kuno wasn't really listening to Nabiki talk.  "Why must the Blue 
Thunder of Furinkan High be held captive here?  Only the fair Nabiki 
visits.  She must have something that the jailer does not want exposed, 
or else she would not be allowed into my presence.

What's this, Akane and Ranma alive?  This is a cruel joke on Nabiki's 
behalf.  A wishing well?  Ryoga?  Hmmff.  He couldn't find his way 
out the door, let alone his way to a magical well.  No, this is just another 
cruel joke on Kuno Tatewaki.  Saotome made a fool of me for a year, 
posing as my osage no onna.

What's this?  Tendo Akane?  This can't be!  She's dead!  But wait, 
Nabiki said something earlier about a wish.

===

Nabiki wiped some drool from Kuno's chin.   Akane was a little nervous.  
Kuno had been so strong and full of pride.  To see him like this is unnerving.

"Kuno-sempei," Akane began, "I'm here because you are in a hospital.  
You were attacked by your sister and paralyzed.  The doctors say that her 
paralysis potion has worn off now, and you can move again.  Could you 
move your hand for me?"

===

Akane!  How I've missed your beautiful face.  Oh to be graced with 
such beau ...  Nani?  Hospital?  But this is a prison!  I'm being held 
here for the murder of Saotome Ranma!  Don't you understand that 
I'm being punished?  Kodachi?  But, but I don't remember...  My hand?  
It doesn't want to move.  It's being punished, just like the rest of my 
body.  It more so, for it held the katana.

===

Akane noticed that Kuno's head moved.  He was looking at his hand!  
Akane looked up at Ranma and nodded her head.  Ranma slowly 
walked around Kuno and stood beside Akane.

===

It can't be!  My osage no onna!  I must show her my undying love!  
But, my body won't respond.

I am Kuno Tatewaki!  I will not let this keep me from my love!

===

Ranma stared at Kuno.  He slowly moved his hands.  His mouth was 
pursed into an "O".

"Osage no onna." rasped Kuno's long unused vocal cords.  He lurched 
forward from the wheel chair towards Ranma.  Ranma caught him before 
he fell.  Akane and Nabiki both winced.  "Ranma and Kuno are 
hugging!" they both thought.

"Yo, Kuno-sempei!"  Ranma said sarcastically.

"Ossage no ...  Ranma!" Kuno squeaked as he tried to disentangle 
himself from Ranma.  Akane and Nabiki helped Kuno back into the 
wheel chair.

"Welcome back, Kuno-chan!"  Nabiki said, as she kissed him on the 
cheek.  A tear started to run down her face.  She looked up to Akane 
and smiled.  "Arigotto, sister."

"We'll go tell the nurse." Akane said as she pulled Ranma out the door.

===

"Arigotto, Ranma."  Akane said, after her and Ranma finished kissing.  
"I feel so much better now.  Nabiki was smiling again and Kuno should 
be on his way to recovery."

Ranma looked at Akane and admired her beauty.  They had sneaked into 
the dojo while everyone else was finishing eating.  They were sitting in 
the middle of the dojo, quietly enjoying each other's company.  There 
was one last thing he had to do.

"Akane, do you know what today is?"

Akane turned to Ranma.  "Nani?  It's Friday, why are you asking such a 
stupid question?"

Ranma smiled.  "One year ago today, I beat you in a sparring match."

"Has it been a year already?"  Akane thought.

"Akane,"  Ranma took Akane's hand and held it softly.  "I don't want to 
be without you ever again.  When you died, my world came to an end.  
I've got a second chance now, and I'm not going mess it up."  Ranma 
rolled onto his knees and bowed to Akane.

"Tendo Akane, will you marry me?"

Akane sat bolt upright and stared at Ranma.  "Nani?"  she screamed in 
her mind.  "What does this baka think he's doing.  Everybody wants us 
to get married and he's asking ME?  But, daddy said that he wasn't going 
to make us get married and Ranma told me that his dad said the same thing."

Ranma noticed the shock on Akane's face.  "Akane, when our fathers 
agreed to have us get married.  They made the decision, not us.  I think 
that is one of the reasons we would fight so much.  With that gone now.  
We can make our own choices.  All of my iinazuke's are gone.  All of 
your pursuers are gone also.  This is OUR decision.  No one else's plans 
being forced on us.  Just you and me."

"Akane, will you be my wife?"

Akane's mind started to swirl.  "Wife?  But we're not out of high school 
yet!  But, he's right.  This will be our decision, not daddy's."

"Hai, Ranma.  I will be your wife."

Ranma hugged Akane and they both kissed long and lovingly, until...

"Finally!!!"

Akane and Ranma looked up in surprise.  Standing in the doorway was 
both of their families.  All of them crying, except Nabiki.  She was smiling 
a big smile and giving Akane the 'thumbs up.'  Ranma's parents were 
hugging.  Soun was dancing around AND crying.

Ranma and Akane blushed, then started kissing again.

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The End.
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Well it's done!  The Second started out as cathartic release of depression.  
Afterwards, I started to feel guilty.  Man, that was one deeeepressing 
story.  So, I thought up a story called, "The Phantom Prankster" in which 
the Tendo household would be the victim of a practical joke, one at a time.  
This was to be a more upbeat and funny story.  When I sat down at the 
keyboard,  Well, Well part 1 came out.  I have NO idea how that happened!  
It just seemed to grow and grow.  Originally, I planned on having Ranma 
and Akane get married at the end, but I decided to change it to a one year 
anniversary instead.

If I get around to writing "The Phantom Prankster" I promise I will TRY 
and not use the " or " 

^_^

Many thanks to the following who sent C & C and offered their insights.
Don Wang, Skywise, Slashtooth, and Kergma The Chaotic Trickster

Thanks again to Mi-chan (Michelle Mista).  Her story "Sabishisa" 
("Loneliness") is what got me to put finger to keyboard.
 
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"Don't try suicide!" - Queen