Hello all!

Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
"The High Cost of Loving - Chapter Two"
"The Money Pit - Part Five of Five"
by Suds-kun (suds1964@tir.com)

============================================
Ranma 1/2 characters are created by and copyright Rumiko Takahashi.
Published by Shogakukan Inc. and VIZ Comm.
Story copyright Shaun Schillinger.
Intended for the sole non-profit use of fans.
============================================

You live, you learn.
You love, you learn.
You cry, you learn.
You lose, you learn.
You bleed, you learn.
You scream, you learn.

- Alanis Morissette


===

Shampoo rolled over in her futon to look at the alarm clock, it read
5:00 a.m.  She sighed, sat up and stared at the door. Slowly she
crawled out of her bed and stood.  She stretched her arms in the air,
almost as if she was scratching an unseen tree. A smile came to her
face when the light from her dresser lamp shown on the door. Her hand
reached out to the picture on the door, caressing it. Her fingers
traced the well worn path over the face of Ranma. A small sob escaped
her lips as her fingers brushed over other faces and came to rest
upon the face of Mousse. In a hurried rush she returned to her futon
and wrapped her arms around her legs in a tight hug.  "Stupid
Mousse." She repeated over and over.

===

Ukyou sighed as she looked at the clock on the classroom wall. She
really didn't look forward to lunch time.  The last few days Ran-chan
had been eating lunch with Akane. "What a 'welcome back to school' to
that was." She thought as she followed the rest of her classmates
leaving for lunch.  As she made her way outside, she looked for a
place to set up her portable griddle.  She noticed Akane sitting by
herself. "That's three days in a row.  I hope nothing's happened to
Ran-chan." Ukyou hid her worry with a friendly smile as she walked
over to Akane.


"Konnichiwa, Akane."

"Konnichiwa, Ukyou." Replied a slightly depressed Akane.

Ukyou setup her griddle and watched Akane out of the corner of her
eyes as she made her lunch. "Is everything O.K.?"

"I guess so." Shrugged Akane.

Ukyou sat next to Akane, eating her okonomiyaki "Where's Ran-chan?"
She asked as she finished her lunch.

"I don't know." Akane frowned and looked at her half eaten lunch.

Ukyou looked at Akane with a little concern. "What happened?"

Akane sighed and turned to Ukyou.  "Did you know that Ranma was
living at the Kuno mansion?"

Ukyou shook her head in surprise.

"Well, Ranma made a deal with Kuno-sempai to let the pig tailed girl
stay at the mansion for a week.  If Kuno-sempai didn't toss the her
out before the week was up, then Ranma would release her.

Ukyou nodded her head in understanding, "So, that explains how the
Kuno mansion was destroyed. It was Ran-chan."

"Actually, it was Kodachi, Ryouga and Kuno-sempai attacking Ranma. I
haven't seen him since."

"You were there?" Ukyou said as she started to get nervous.
"Something's up." she thought.

"Yeah. Ranma asked me over for dinner and I saw the fight."

"He asked you out on a date?" Ukyou tensed a little at the thought of
Akane and Ranma dating again.

Akane looked at Ukyou and then bowed her head. "Ukyou, I've wanted to
tell you this for a while.  It was my idea to ask you and Konatsu out
on that double date."  Akane looked up at Ukyou, who now looked a
little shocked. "Gomen nasai, Ukyou. I didn't mean for Konatsu to die
or for you to be hurt."

"Akane," sighed Ukyou, "it's not your fault that Konatsu died. He
died saving those children."

"But,"

"No 'buts,' Akane. You didn't kill him. I lost a friend to some
copycat, sicko and I'm not going to spoil his memory by letting his
death ruin my life. You shouldn't either."

Akane took a deep breath and looked at Ukyou. "Ukyou, did you love
him?"

Ukyou bowed her head, her voice quiet. "He was a friend. He said that
he loved me when he died. But I didn't feel the same for him. Oh, the
date was fun and I did let him get a little close. I just thought of
him as a friend."

Akane sighed and looked at the school yard. "Ukyou, do you know why I
kicked Ranma out of the dojo?"

Ukyou stared at Akane in confusion at the way the conversation
changed subjects so drastically. "I thought you didn't want to marry
Ran-chan."

"It's not that. I," Akane took a breath, "I was afraid of going
through what you went through with Konatsu."

"Nani? What do you mean?" Ukyou's confusion increased.

Akane turned and faced Ukyou. "I didn't want to love someone and have
them die in my arms." There was a slight tremble in her voice.

The color in Ukyou's face disappeared as she started to remember
holding Konatsu's head in her lap, his dying confession of love and
then her scream.

Noticing this, Akane reached for Ukyou's arm in a show of support.
"Oh, I'm sorry Ukyou! I didn't mean for you to go through that
again!"

Ukyou waved her hand at Akane in a way that said "I'm all right."

Akane again looked down. "I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I
speak without thinking and hurt others. Gomen, Ukyou. I really wasn't
thinking."

"That's O.K., Akane." Ukyou replied, also looking down.

"No, it isn't." Akane turned and looked at Ukyou. "Before that
'date,' Ranma and I had told each other that we cared for one
another. We decided to start dating and made sure no one knew about
it. We had gone out only twice, before the double date." Akane looked
at her lap as she started fidgeting with her fingers. "After that, we
started back to arguing and fighting. I was even mean at times. And
then, daddy made that announcement. 'Get married or Ranma moves out.'
I kicked him out, literally. I was so mad, that I thought I'd be
happy with him gone."

Ukyou blinked as she listened and watched Akane ramble on. "Akane,
you don't need to be telling me all of these things.

Akane was too engrossed in her tale to hear Ukyou. "But, these past
few days of sharing lunch with him have been so wonderful. I forgot
all about the pain and loneliness. When we went to Kuno-sempai's, I
was really happy. He even asked me to bring P-chan along. But, when I
saw Kodachi grab him, I snapped. I kicked him, marched off without
P-chan and went home. While I was in the tub, trying to relax, he
stopped by and dropped off P-chan. He... he didn't pick on him, or
me, or anyone else. I didn't even get to see him and thank him. Now,
I don't know where he is and it hurts."

Akane looked up at Ukyou. Tears were running down her face as she
paused before continuing. "What's wrong with me, Ukyou? I.. I can't
seem to do anything right. He was so nice to me this week and it felt
so good when we were together. I even hated going home alone. And
when he was attacked by Kodachi, I immediately pounded him. I know it
was wrong now, I didn't even give him a chance to push her off of
him. I hope he's not mad at me. I.. I don't know what to do, Ukyou.
All I can think of is that Ranma is gone and I want him to come back.
What's wrong with me?" Akane's tear filled eyes pleaded for help from
Ukyou.

Ukyou was still in shock from the tirade that she had just witnessed.
Her mind slowly started to process the information as her thoughts
replayed Akane's words. "Nice.  Good. Together. Alone. Wrong." She
looked at Akane and saw the pleading in her eyes. The red, puffy eyes
that looked so alone and devastated. Ukyou's heart seemed to stop as
she realized what had happened. She looked down, trying to hide her
pain and sadness. Her hands started to involuntarily shake and she
clenched her fists in an effort to regain control of them. She slowly
stood, feeling Akane's eyes follow her.  Her arms were straight and
at her side, fists still clenched.

"Akane, you... you're," Ukyou paused as she took a deep breath,
"you're in love." Ukyou then ran away, not daring to look back. Her
own tears blurring the way.

Akane watched Ukyou run away. "But, I'm NOT in love with that
pervert!" Akane shouted as she shook her head. "I don't need him! I
can live without that loud mouth baka! He's an insensitive, selfish,
girl chasing, sex changing hentai! I DO NOT LOve ... him." Akane's
voice trailed off as she began to think about the possibility of
Ranma leaving her.  "But I ..." she whispered. She slowly shook her
head as she placed her face in her hands. She argued with herself as
she tried to deny her feelings. "Is it love? Do I really want to be
with him all of the time? Do I ..." Minutes passed as she rocked back
and forth with her hands holding her face. She slowed down to a stop
and sat for a while. Akane then sighed and wiped her tears away.
"Yes, I think I am in love with that fool." A small, hesitant smile
slowly crept onto her face.

Akane stood and looked around. The school yard was empty and she
realized she was late for class. "Well, I might as well head home. I
want to talk with Kasumi and see what she says about getting Ranma to
come back to the dojo." She picked up her school bag and slowly
walked home. Her steps were heavy at first, but picked up the pace. A
soft tune came for her lips as she started to hum.

===

"Just a minute!" shouted Nabiki as she made her way to the door. She
opened the door and looked at the visitor. "Oh, it's you."

"Konnichiwa, Nabiki. Can we come in?" asked Ranma.

"I guess so. Akane is out back with Kasumi." Nabiki's apathetic stare
turned to ice as she saw Genma. "Daddy's outside at the go board."
Nabiki then shut the door and headed to her room. Her heavy footsteps
echoed into the room.

"She's still mad." Stated Ranma as he headed toward the backyard.
Genma followed him and greeted Soun.

Ranma stared in surprise at the yard he no longer recognized. There
was a path from the pond to what looked like a paved area that
covered almost a quarter of the yard.  The corner of the yard, where
the walls met, seemed to be grow out with cement. The ground was
covered in intricate designs and a series of foot paths around the
designs. There even looked like furniture made out of cement. His
eyes came upon two figures on there knees, working with some flowers.
Kasumi wiped her hands on her apron as she leaned away from what
looked like flowers. Then he noticed Akane. She was carefully
removing a potted flower from it's confines. She looked at Kasumi and
laughed at what must have been a joke. Her smile and laughter was
care free as she planted the flower.

"Akane." Ranma's voice was low and quiet. He didn't even realize that
he had said anything. His heart was beating loudly and he wondered if
anyone could hear it.  Akane then noticed Ranma. Her smile grew even
larger as she stood and started toward Ranma.

"Ranma!" shouted Akane as she quickly followed the foot paths to the
young man standing in awe. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged
him. Slowly he came to his senses and returned the hug. "I missed
you." She whispered as she rested her head on his chest.

"You, you're not mad at me?"

Akane just hugged him closer in response. The two stood there,
holding each other.  No one spoke or moved, just the quiet rustling
of leaves from the breeze could be heard.

Kasumi cleared her throat and spoke. "Why don't you show Ranma your
rock garden, Akane?"

"It's 'our' rock garden, oneechan. You designed it." Replied Akane.

"But you built it." Kasumi said as she smiled to her little sister.

Ranma looked at Akane in shock. "Arguing with Kasumi? What's happened
here since I left?"

Akane giggled as she tugged on Ranma's arm, "Come on, let me show you
what we've done."

He followed her leading as she pointed out the different designs and
their meaning.  Ranma wasn't paying close attention to her
explanations, but was watching the way she smiled as she talked
excitedly.  They made their way to the center of the garden, and
kneeled at a large cement table.  Ranma ran his hands over the table,
noticing that the table was made up of varying sizes of broken cement
blocks.  The pieces fit together perfectly and seemed to be cut and
fitted into place.  "Did you hire a contractor to build this table
and the bench?"

Akane smiled mischievously.  "No, Kasumi designed and laid out every
thing and I put the pieces together."

"But some of these pieces are smooth on the sides."  He was now on
his hands and knees as he looked at the cement table and the cement
path.

Akane's smile grew broader with pride.  "Tofu-sensei showed me a new
technique on smoothing and cutting the cement after I went to him for
my bruised hands."

Ranma sat up and took one of her hands in his, looking it over.
"They're so small." He thought. Ranma looked around at the rock
garden and its many paths, flowers and then at the table. "Akane did
this." He thought, then looked at her questioningly.  "Where did you
get all of the cement to build this?" He asked as he waved his arm
toward the sight around them.

"Oh, I used the broken cement blocks left over from my afternoon
training sessions.  I didn't know what you did with them, so they
kind of piled up." She looked down in embarrassment at the thought of
why the pile grew so fast, but quickly recovered. "Oneechan came up
with the idea of this garden and the two of us then went to work.
While building the garden, I learned a lot about how to focus and
control my ki."

"Your ki?" Ranma said in surprise. "Akane had never shown any 'ki'
abilities." He thought.

"Like I said, Tofu-sensei showed me a couple new techniques. One was
to strengthen my hand and especially the fingers.  I didn't know it
at the time, but I was already using the technique when I was
training and breaking the blocks. The other technique was to focus,
uhm, 'heat' in my hands.  That's how I was able to smooth the broken
blocks.  Also, I used the technique to glue or fuse the blocks
together.

Akane watched Ranma look at her hands, then the cement table.  He
looked closely at the cement and ran his hands along the cracks.  She
smiled as he took her hand in his. "They're so large and gentle."
She thought.  She smiled as he again looked her hand over.

"I should show you how to do some of those 'ki' based attacks.  So
you can find one that works for you."  Ranma then looked up and
returned her smile.

Suddenly, his smile disappeared.  "Akane, the reason why I stopped by
was to tell you that pop and I are going on another training trip.
It seems that I have another curse.  Any place I stay at gets
destroyed."

Akane squeezed his hand as she looked in his eyes. "That's not true,
Ranma."

"But it is." He interrupted. "Yesterday, I really thought about what
has happened this past month.  Your dad couldn't afford me living
here. The hot spring we visited on that training trip was destroyed,
so was Ucchan's and the Neko Hanten. Then the Kuno mansion.  Now, you
have this garden that's so ... beautiful. I'm afraid that something
will happen to it, if I'm here."

Akane looked at Ranma's downcast face. "Why is he getting blurry?"
She thought. "Oh." she said as she let go of his hands and wiped her
eyes.

Ranma watched her trying to keep from crying. "Don't worry, Akane.  I
promise to return.  I just don't want anything to happen to you.
Right now, anything I get near is hurt, and I don't want you hurt.

Akane grabbed his hands. "I don't want you to leave, Ranma. Can't you
just stay here? No one will make you leave."

Ranma squeezed Akane's hands in return. He smiled and began to reply.

"Ranma!"

Akane gasped as she looked in the direction of the voice.

Ranma tensed and a big sweat drop appeared on his head. Slowly he
turned. "Mom?"

"My son!" Nodoka said as she made her way to the shocked couple.

Akane noticed Nabiki leaning against the outside wall and smiling.
Noticing Akane's stare, she smiled and then entered the house.

"Let me get a good look at you!" Nodoka exclaimed.

Ranma nervously bowed to his mother, as did Akane.

"Auntie Saotome, we weren't expecting you to drop by today." Stated
Akane.

"Oh? Nabiki called me earlier today and said that Ranma and dear
would be hear at this time." Nodoka turned and smiled at her son.
"Ranma!" She grabbed hold of her son and gave him a hug.

The shock slowly wore off and Ranma returned the hug. "Mom." He
whispered.

Akane turned towards the growing laughter and watched as her father
and Uncle Genma made their way toward the rock garden. Nodoka also
turned, let go of her hug and moved toward her husband.

"Dear!"

Genma froze at the sound of her voice, like a deer caught in a car's
headlights. A big sweat drop appeared on his head. Before he could
move she caught him in a hug. A bear hug, if you will. He struggled
to escape, but failed. "I'm so glad to see you, too, dear." Nodoka
said in response to his efforts to flee.

Nodoka released the hug and held Genma at arms length.  "Nabiki told
me all about Soun's ultimatum and I have a solution for you. Move
back home with me!"

Genma face faults, as does Ranma, Akane and Soun.

"Nodoka? Are you serious?" Asked Genma.

"Yes. You can tell me all about how manly Ranma is. He looks so manly
and I want to know for certain that he acts manly, too." Nodoka
looked at her son and beamed with pride.

"I have tea for everyone." Announced Kasumi, interrupting Genma's
attempt to escape.  She set the tray on the cement table and everyone
kneeled around it. Including Nabiki, who had followed after Kasumi.

Kasumi struck up a conversation with Nodoka about Genma and Ranma
moving back home.  Soun and Genma looked at each other nervously.
Akane and Ranma sat next to each other, never looking up or at each
other. Only looking down in sadness at the tea cups in front of them.

Nabiki noticed this and felt a twinge of guilt. "I'll get Ranma back
here, Akane, just you wait." Nabiki put on her fake smile as she
continued thinking. "It may hurt at first, but you'll be the only one
left."

"Oh, my!" Exclaimed Kasumi. "Ranma's birthday is only two weeks away?
Why, that mean's Akane is only a month younger than Ranma!"

Akane and Ranma both looked up in shock, and stared at Kasumi and
then Nodoka.

"That gives be an idea." Announced Nodoka. "I'll plan a little
birthday party for Ranma after they get settled at home. Everyone
here is invited."

The group seemed to relax and everyone joined in the conversation.
Soun commented about how Akane and Ranma can get married on Akane's
birthday. Genma just kept saying how manly Ranma was, no matter what
the topic of discussion. At the end, everyone congratulated Kasumi
and Akane on the rock garden as the Saotome's stood to leave.

"Dear, Ranma, it's time to go home. Kasumi, arigatoo for the tea."
Nodoka bowed to Kasumi and began to leave, Genma following behind
her.

Ranma turned to Akane. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, right?"

Akane nodded her head, "I'll bring an extra lunch for you, just like
before."

Ranma smiled and followed his parents out of the garden, into the
house and to the front door.

Soun followed them to the door, leaving his daughters in the garden.

Akane watched as they disappeared from view and then slowly slid to
her knees.  Kasumi and Nabiki kneeled beside their little sister as
she quietly began to cry.  "It's just not fair," she sobbed, "it's
just not fair."

Kasumi hugged Akane and gave a look at Nabiki. Nabiki returned a "I
know what I'm doing" look at her older sister and then joined the
hug.

===

Ranma jumped down from the fence and walked next to Akane. He took
her hand in his as they walked down the street. "I can't believe it's
been a week since I moved in with mom."

Akane nodded her head in agreement. "Does she suspect anything about
the curse?"

"I don't think so," replied Ranma, "but Pop and I have been telling
her about our training trips and we even described Jusenkyou and it's
curses to her. She has asked us why we always want a tea kettle of
water warming on the stove."

Akane giggled. "Has 'Ranko' visited, yet?"

Ranma gave her a scowl. "No and there won't be a 'yet.' I'm not going
to change into a girl in front of her as long as I can help it."

"I know you, Ranma." Laughed Akane. "You're a water magnet at times.
It's just hard to believe you haven't gotten splashed all week."

Ranma smiled in response. "It's been great this week. Mom, pop and I
acting as a, somewhat, normal family." Ranma squeezed Akane's hand.
"We've even been able to sneak out to see a couple movies together."
Ranma took a deep breath and looked at Akane. "Did you want to go see
the Jackie Chan movie tonight?"

Akane stopped walking and looked at the ground. Ranma walked in front
of her and took her other hand. "I.. I'm sorry, Akane. We can go see
another movie."

Akane shook her head. "No, let's go see it. Just the two of us,
o.k.?"

Ranma looked into her eyes and smiled. "Great! Let's stop at my
house, mom said she'd have some lemonade for us to drink. I'll walk
you home after that."

Akane returned the smile and pulled Ranma after her. "Let's go,
already."

The two continued talking as they made their way to the Saotome home.
As they neared, they heard yelling coming from the inside. They
quietly sneaked up to the front door to listen to the shouting.

"You two did WHAT?"

"We just wanted to eliminate all of the other fiancees. Now, put away
that sword!"

"Oh, my little girl was always hurt by those other girls chasing
him."

Ranma and Akane looked at each other questioningly. Ranma shrugged
and opened the door.

"If they should find out..." Nodoka stopped as Ranma and Akane
entered.

"If we should find out what?" Asked Ranma.

Nodoka looked at Genma.

"A.. About your birthday surprise!" Shouted Genma as he jumped up and
shoved his son to the table in the middle of the room. "Now that your
home, we won't talk anymore about it. Right, Nodoka?"

Nodoka sheathed her sword and nodded. "That is correct, dear."

"Akane, glad you could stop by. Did you want some lemonade?" Genma
looked nervously at his wife. Nodoka turned and headed to the
kitchen.  "I'd like to talk with the two of you as we have our
refreshments."

Akane kneeled at the table beside Ranma. Nodoka came out with a tray
of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade.  She set the tray down and
served a glass to each one at the table.

"Dear and Soun were explaining to me about the number of girls that
are interested in you, Ranma."

Ranma swallowed. "So, they told you about Ukyou, Shampoo and
Kodachi?"

Nodoka nodded and took a sip from her glass. "Have you taken
advantage of their advances toward you?"

Ranma started to sweat, big time, and looked nervously at Akane.

She returned the stare with a smile and a devious glint in her eyes.

"Well, as his fiancee, I must say that I have had to intervene more
than once. I've caught him in bed with Shampoo and once with Ukyou."

"Hey!" Interrupted Ranma. "She was sick!"

Ignoring the outburst, she continued. "I caught him in the bath with
Shampoo. Also, whenever we went to a public bathhouse or a hot
spring, he would always sneak over to the girls' side." Akane turned
and looked directly at Ranma. "I also caught you in bed with Kodachi
once, right after I found those pictures of the two of you kissing."

"I see." Stated Nodoka as she took another sip of lemonade.

Ranma looked at his mother and then Akane. A look of utter fear was
on his face as he waited for his mother's reaction.

"So, you _have_ taken advantage of them and even peeped on other
girls." Nodoka looked at Akane. "Has he done anything like this to
you?"

"Well, there was the time when he tricked me into thinking a girl was
in our bathroom taking a bath. I walked in, ready to take a bath, and
there he was, staring at me. Of course, I screamed and ran out the
door."

"Hey! You left and _then_ screamed!" Ranma stopped short  as he
realized what he said, then looked at his mother. "Uh, oh."

Nodoka stood up and took out her katana. She looked it over and then
looked at Genma and Ranma. Quietly she set the family sword on two
pegs on a wall.

"Dear, it appears that you have kept your agreement. Ranma is a manly
man. Peeping on the girls chasing him, and even on his fiancee,
Akane."

Genma and Ranma both face faulted.

Akane leaned over to Ranma and whispered in his ear. "Kasumi has been
talking with Auntie this past week and discovered that she thought
peeping was manly. Kasumi came up with my little speech and


===

The Ranma Revenge Squad crashes Ranma's B-Day party.

Akane has a birthday.

THE END

============================================

You've already won me over, in spite of me.
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet.
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are.
I couldn't help it, It's all your fault.
Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole.
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for.
That's not lip service.

- Alanis Morissette

===

--
suds-kun (Shaun Schillinger)
suds1964@tir.com
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/8222/
Reviews at http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/8222/reviews.html
"THIS time, we didn't forget the graaavy!" Cat & Mouse to Dog