And now, for a complete change of pace...

For those of you guys who think I'm stuck in the comedy rut, here's
something I beat out during one of my melancholy moods. It's a fanfic told
from the viewpoint who in my opinion is one of the noblest characters in
anime (although sometimes lacking in common sense)...



Closing the Chapter
(A Ranma 1/2 fanfic)



	It was a traditional Shinto wedding. Ranma looked almost regal, resplendent
in the formal kimono he and Akane chose for the occasion. He looked around
almost nervously, although Ryouga wasn't sure whether he was nervous because
of the wedding or that Ukyou, Shampoo, and Kodachi would go berzerk again
and wreck the ceremonies.
	He wondered why they weren't wrecking the place right now. But Kodachi and
Shampoo simply sat back sullenly, Shampoo bound by honor not to interfere
and Kodachi...well, Kodachi's expression was unreadable. Perhaps it was
madness...?
	Then he looked at Ukyou, and the sad smile on her face as she looked at
Ranma said it all to Ryouga. She understands, thought Ryouga to himself.
Ranma will never know how much she loves him, loves him so much that she
would step aside, just to make him happy... 
	Then, Akane arrived.
	She looked breathtaking in her wedding kimono, her hair arranged as such,
jewels sparkling.....She looked so...alive...that Ryouga felt happy and sad
at the same time.
	He watched the proceedings through a haze of detachement. He was aware of
everything, the shy smile on Akane's face as she looked at Ranma, the rustle
of cloth as Ranma shifted uncomfortably in his kimono, the bittersweet tears
welling up in Ukyou's eyes...
	He watched as the priest said the traditional prayers, he watched as Ranma
and Akane partook of the sake together (Ranma almost spilling it in his
nervousness), Akane pretending not to notice as she pointedly kept her eyes
on the floor (but smiling all the way).
	He absently drank the sake handed to him by the apprentices, the quality of
the rice wine on his tongue...
	And yet, in retrospect, he would not be able to recall a single detail of
what was transpiring, simply becaused he had detached himself emotionally,
in an effort to keep his sanity...

	The haze was shattered by a moment of intense clarity...Ranma was kissing
Akane. Ryouga shut his eyes and shoved his hands into his pocket and tightly
clasped the torn photo-wallet that contained Akari's photo...
	...His fingers traced the torn edge, and he was cruelly reminded of the
picture he lost in Jyusenkyo...the picture of Akane...


	The reception...Ryouga absently picked at his food. Soun was giving a
speech in honor of the newlyweds...or at least, he was trying to, but all he
could do was sob. Genma patted his friend on the back and was trying to help
him. Nodoka was beaming proudly at her son, and was wiping tears from the
corners of her eyes...But he did not pay much attention to these things...
	All his thoughts were on Akane and Akari. Akari...I'm...happy with her, he
thought. She's so nice to me, and we get along so well...It warms me inside
to think of her, and I think that, for once in my life, I am truly content.
True, there was no flash of lightning when I first met her, but at least
I've found someone who truly cares for me. At least...I'm happy...
	He looked up and saw Akane's smiling face, radiant as she gazed into her
husband's eyes...She looks so happy...
	Ryouga choked back the tears as he screamed inside himself...DAMN IT! I
love her! I'm supposed to be happy for her now that she's happy...so why
can't I find it? Why can't I make myself feel happy for her?
	He laughed bitterly to himself. Maybe I really am unworthy for her, after
all. I mean, I can't even be happy for her, so what's there that I have that
can possibly justify my love for her?
	"Hey."
	He turned to see Ukyou smiling at him, if a bit sadly. "Ukyou?"
	Ukyou said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "I need some
air...too much sake." To Ryouga she said, "You wanna come along? I need the
company."


	"Are you happy for Ranma?" Ryouga was pitching pebbles into the Tendo
garden pond.
	"Me?", asked Ukyou. "Well...Yes. I know it sounds like an oxymoron, but,
I'm happy for him and Akane...on an intellectual level. But...I'll have to
be honest with you, Ryouga, I don't want to let go of him. I know I'm
supposed to honor his wishes...that I'm supposed to step back and let him
marry akane and live happily ever after. I know that. I just wish the other
part of me would stop screaming inside of me."
	"I...know what you mean. It's nearly the same for me, except..." Ryouga was
finding it hard to admit it, but... "...except I can't feel happy for her at
all. Not intellectually. Not emotionally. Not at all."
	"But don't you have Akari?"
	"Yes, I do, and I'm glad for that. I have someone to turn to...but..."
	"But?"
	"...But...I'm so ashamed...I'm afraid that I'm simply substituting Akari
for Akane. God, even the NAMES sound alike."
	"Ryouga..."
	"Please. Let me finish. Once upon a time, I thought I had made my choice.
When I saved Akari's picture instead of Akane's...But THIS!" He pulls out
his photo-wallet and runs his index finger down the torn edge. "This cruel
reminder of my choice! I want to get rid of it, but then, I'm afraid that if
I let go, I let go a part of myself that I don't want to lose, that I let go
of a part of my life that I don't want to end..."
	"...But it has to end, Ryouga. I know it's hard...I had to face it, too.
But it has to end. It already has."
	"I'm afraid, Ukyou. I'm afraid that I won't love Akari as much as I should,
all because I can't let go..."
	"Then let go, Ryouga."
	"Excuse me," said Kasumi as she arrived from the dojo, "but they want you
to say a few words, Ryouga."
	"I'm coming." Ryouga looked at Ukyou, who smiled at him softly. "I guess
you're right. I have to let go."

	"Ranma," said Ryouga in a tone of voice Ranma had only heard once before,
the time he and Ranma saved Akane from the Yamato no Orochi, "we've known
each other for a long time, and although we may not have gotten along all of
the time, I'd like to wish both you and Akane a good life together."
	"Hear, hear," said Ukyou as she raised her masu in a toast. The others
followed suit, adding their own toasts.
	"And...Akane...", said Ryouga in a trembling voice, "...I..."
	For a moment, he shut his eyes. She shook his head, opened his eyes, looked
at Akane, and steeled himself to say the words that would end this chapter
of his life...
	"...I'm happy for you..."


	TimeRunner, January 20, 1997
"Kimi ni zutto soban ittehoshi!"
		-Morisato Keiichi