At 07:56 PM 15/04/97 -600, Sean Connor wrote:

At 09:24 PM 4/13/97 -0400, you wrote:

There've been a lot of fics lately where Nabiki realizes she loves
Ranma, in one way or another.  Hearts of Ice, No Title, Nekophobia.
Is this a rebellion against the Nabiki/Kuno fics, that depend on
a non-existent relationship?

And yes, I really hate Nabiki-Kuno stories.

I don't really know about the Nabiki/Kunou stories, but for myself I 
can say that I'm working on a Ranma/Ukyou story that was partially 
motivated by my dislike for all the Ryouga/Ukyou stories out there. 
(I suppose, though, that anyone who manages to come up with any 
reason at all to believe that a Ranma/Akane marriage would actually 
work might just be able to believe Ryouga/Ukyou as well. :)

(Pouts) Nothing wrong with an Ukyou/Ryouga match, as long as they're
not just thrown together with no real explanation. Not that I'm complaining
about your comments, mind you, if dislike of Ry/Uk matches is making you
write an Uk/Ra match, then more power to you. 

But then, I suppose I'm guilty of bringing a rather illogical 
relationship into this fic as well... Just who does Akane end up 
with?  Well, that would be telling, and besides, nobody would believe 
me anyways :) <Kodachi-esque laughter>

You're matching her with Sasuke!?!?!? (No? Linlin and Ranran? Gosunkugi?
Happosai? P-chan{not Ryouga}? I think I'll shut up now.)

Uhhh... don't take that the wrong way. It's _NOT_ Kodachi. :)

If someone could write a believable matchup for those two, then I'd be
applauding them for a long time...

 (Scene: The Kunou mansion. Akane stands nervously just inside the entrance
         to Kodachi's room. Kodachi is standing opposite her, one eyebrow
         raised at the tomboy. The door to the room is closed.

  Kodachi: What on Earth did you want to see me for? Don't think that you
           can get me to give up on Ranma-sama, it won't be happening little
           girl.

  Akane(looks like she doesn't know why she's here): No... no I... well, I...

  Kodachi: Spit it out, I haven't got all day to spend on the likes of you.

  Akane: I... I've been meaning to talk to you for a while. I've... well, 
         I've always wondered... when you came to my house, that first time,
         how long did you spy on me before you attacked?

  Kodachi(starting to look nervous herself): I... What do you mean!? I didn't
         spy on you, I was waiting to fight you fair before our match!

  Akane(her shoulders straighten, she seems resolved to continue:) It's
         just that on that night, when I was in the bath, I was getting 
         the funny feeling that I was being watched. It was you, wasn't
         it?

  (Kodachi nods reluctantly)         

  Akane: Kodachi, look into my eyes.

  Kodachi(indignent): I see no reason why I should! I think you should
         leave, Akane Tendo, or else you may regret it.

  (Akane walks over to Kodachi and cups Kodachi's chin with a hand. Kodachi's
   eyes flare, but she does nothing. Akane raises Kodachi's head so that they
   are looking eye to eye. After about a minute of staring into each other's
   eyes, Akane speaks.)

  Akane: It's true... I can see it in your eyes. All this time, I've had my
         suspicions, and now I know. You don't love Ranma, do you?

  Kodachi(angry): Of course I love Ranma-sama! How dare you...(trails off
         at the surprisingly calm look Akane is giving her. She deflates,
         before she quietly says) No. (sighs) No, I don't. How did you
         know?

  Akane: It's the way you threw yourself at Ranma. It wasn't as if you 
         were trying to make him love you, it was like you were putting
         on an act to try and make someone else jealous. And there's the
         way you encourage your brother to go after Ranma's girl side.
         Kodachi, I know you better than that. You're not that stupid,
         you know about Ranma's curse. If you really wanted Ranma, you
         would have tried other ways to get him and you wouldn't have
         encouraged your brother. No, I've been suspicious about your
         motives for a while, and now I think... I... I hope I'm right
         about you...

  (Kodachi's eyes widen as Akane, who still hasn't taken the hand off her
   cheek, leans in and kisses Kodachi on the lips. After Akane withdraws,
   Kodachi just stands there, her eyes wide.)

  Akane: Kodachi... do you... I mean... do you love me?

  Kodachi(opens and closes her mouth a few times, before she finally blushes):
         I... I always hoped you'd realise. Y...yes, I do. That doesn't
         disgust you?

  Akane(smiles): No. I like you. A lot. You've always excited me, the way
         you did anything you wanted looked so liberating. I wish I could
         get away with the things you do. I... well, I don't like boys, 
         if you know what I mean...

  Kodachi(For once, the mad gleam in her eyes is gone, the haughty posture is
          absent, and she just looks like a normal sixteen year old girl who
          had just been offered a life saving hope.): You mean... you'd
          like to... you want to...

 (Akane answers Kodachi's stammerings by kissing her again. This time, 
  Kodachi isn't shocked senseless and so she responds to the kiss. After
  they draw apart this time, Akane takes on a grave expression.)

  Akane: Kodachi... you know that honour dictates that I marry Ranma.

  Kodachi: Do you love him?

  Akane: Sometimes I think I do, but... but he just gets under my skin 
         too much, he's always insulting me, putting me down.   

  Kodachi: But so have I, and it looks like you knew that I was just trying
           to get you interested in me. Why is Ranma different? Even if you
           don't like boys, he's... well, he's only half a man.

  Akane: But your insults never got to me like his did. Look, I don't know
         if we can make something of ourselves. I really don't. We don't
         know each other as well as we should, to be getting into this sort
         of relationship. But I'm willing... I'd _like_ to at least try. If
         we don't work, at least we're not lying to each other anymore. At
         least we won't regret holding back. But you have to know that 
         unless Ranma married one of my sisters, I would have to marry him.

  Kodachi(nods): Alright. We'll try to make something of this. If I have to
         share you with Ranma because of family commitments, then so be it.
         (smiles) But remember, he only has to marry a Tendo, not you. I
         wonder if we could manipulate things so that Nabiki or Kasumi went
         through with the honours instead...

  Akane(her eyes light up): You... you think we could pull that off?

  Kodachi(nods): Nabiki always did have an exagerated opinion of herse...
         (stops talking when she hears shouting)

  Ranma(offscreen): Get out of my way Kunou! (sound of someone slamming
         into a wall)
   
  (Kodachi and Akane's eyes widen.)

  Akane: Ranma! He can't find me here like this, he'd get suspicious.

  Kodachi(smirks): Not to worry. The Black Rose is more than capable of
         dealing with this.

  (A few moments later, Ranma bursts into Kodachi's room, an angry 
   expression on his face. He sees Kodachi standing near an apparently
   unconscious Akane. Black roses are strewn near Akane's body.)

  Ranma: What did you do to her? If you hurt...

  Kodachi: Hurt her? Why would I bother, she's not worth the effort. She
          came here, accusing me of trying to poison that silly pet pig of
          hers and I shut her up. Since you're here, my darling, perhaps
          you could get rid of her so that we're alone? Hmm?

  Ranma(looks nervous): Uh... yeah. I'll just take her home then.

  Kodachi(as Ranma picks up Akane): Hurry back Ranma-sama, we can share
          a fine meal together. I'll even cook.

  Ranma(shudders): Um... maybe, ok? Later, huh...
  
  (Ranma walks out, carrying Akane. After Ranma is gone, Kodachi drops her
   haughty posture.)

  Kodachi: Later...(smiles) Akane-sama.

  )

Sorry, it's been about three months since I posted that Akane/dead parrot
thing. I was due for another fic like this. Excuse me while I run away.

[puns snipped to save my sanity.]

************  
Mark Doherty  -  mdoherty@mailbox.uq.edu.au
My fanfics are at http://www.uq.edu.au/~zzhdoher

"Kawaii must die."