Hello all,

Here's part 6 of Nekophobia.  To those of you who've been hanging out
for the new part, well, sorry but I've been incredibly busy.  Still,
it's finished at last and hopefully it's okay.

As usual, I need to thank my prereaders, Chris Jones and Bob Barnes.
This time, more so than most times since this part has given me so
much trouble.  To Chris, for his excellent commentary on an early
version of this part, which identified many weaknesses, and to Bob,
for an idea which led to Ranma and Akane's whispered conversation
at the end.  I hope you don't mind me using your idea, Bob.  Anyway,
their help has been invaluable.

Anyway, enough rambling... enjoy.

C&C is definitely wanted.  Please!


   ---------------------

Nekophobia Part 6:  A Night to Remember

by David Eddy <dje@progress.com>

Last modified:  Sunday, 11 May 1997


A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga
series, Ranma 1/2.

The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of
Takahashi Rumiko and her licensees.

     
     
     
     "What are we going to do with Shampoo?" asked
Akane, looking down at the unconscious girl lying on
the dojo floor.  "Take her back to the Nekohanten
again?"
     Ranma cocked an eye at doorway and by implication
at the falling rain outside.  "Can't we wait until
it's not raining?"
     "Put her in the guest room," said Nabiki.
     "What if she wakes up?" asked Akane.
     Ranma hoisted Shampoo over his shoulders.  "I'll
hit her sleep spot," he said.  "That'll keep her
quiet."
     
     *    *    *
     
     Ukyou hummed to herself as she put the finishing
touches to her hair.  The dinner invitation from
Ranma's mother had been completely unexpected, but
even though the notice was very short and she would
have to close her okonomiyaki-ya specially there was
no question of her not attending.
     The fact that the invitation had come from Nodoka
was significant, she thought.  It obviously would have
something to do with the resolution of the problem of
Ranma having multiple fiancees... and she wouldn't
miss that for the world.
     But she couldn't help but wonder whether she
would still be his fiancee at the end of the night.
She shook her head to put the thought out of her mind
and stepped back to look at herself in her mirror.
Yes, she would do.  The best defence is a good
offence.
     She grabbed her umbrella and a light wrap and
headed out into the warm, steady rain.
     
     *    *     *
     
     Ryouga watched from behind a lamp-post as Ukyou
locked the front door of her store and walked off down
the street.  On impulse he decided to follow her, and
he ran after her on little pig legs, cursing his short
stride in this form.  Maybe she would be going to the
dojo... why else close her store on a business night?.
     The dojo... and Akane.  Tonight he would pledge
his love to her and win her heart from that fiend
Ranma.  Tonight!
     Just as soon as he found some hot water.
     
     *    *    *
     
     The chauffer-driven black limousine drove
steadily through the streets of the greater Tokyo
metropolitan area.  Resting her chin in her palm,
Kunou Kodachi looked out the rain-streaked window next
to her at the shop-fronts and houses going by and
thought ahead.
     She did not understand what her father saw in
those wretched islands.  She and her brother had been
dragged over to Hawaii by their father as a "treat",
but after just one week she had been unable to stand
it any longer and had persuaded her father to allow
her to go home.
     "Just think, sister dearest, after an eternity
away we are at last returned to the land of our
ancestors.  My heart rejoices, for I shall date with
the beautiful Akane-san and the vital Osage-no-onna
tonight!"
     Kodachi spared a contemptuous glance at her elder
brother.  "I don't see what you see in that vile tart
you call Osage-no-onna, oniisama," she said.  "Now as
for my Ranma-sama... I haven't seen him in a long
week!  I burn to be near him!"  She looked back
outside.  "I think that tonight will be the night,"
she added to herself.  "My Ranma-sama will come to me
at last."
     'With a little encouragement from me,' she added
in her mind as the limousine at last turned into their
street.
     
     *    *    *
     
     Ranma knelt facing his parents in the formal
"receiving" area of the Tendou home, a small six-
tatami room near the front door.  The room was bare
save a vase holding a single flower and a few ink
drawings hung with simple elegance on the walls.  The
shoji facing the outside were open, as were the outer
doors, revealing a section of the garden not normally
seen.  Outside, the sky lightened somewhat, but still
the rain drummed on the roof... if not quite so
heavily as before.  The pleasant, clean smell of rain
and damp earth drifted in through the open doors.
     Cooking noises emanated from behind the closed
shoji in the general direction of the kitchen.  Nodoka
shifted her shoulders as she knelt next to Genma.
Ranma was nervously studying the tatami a foot in
front of his mother's knees, his senses extended to
enjoy the sounds and smells of the rainstorm, secretly
glad that he was inside and dry rather than outside
and wet... and female.  He said nothing, knowing that
one of his parents would begin the conversation.
     At length, Nodoka spoke.  "Ranma, we're here to
decide your future," she said formally.  "For once and
for all," she added after a brief pause.
     "Now, son, other than Ukyou-san and Akane-chan,
do you have any *other* fiancees?"
     Ranma shook his head and spoke quietly, looking
at his mother directly.  "None that I know of," he
said firmly with a brief flick of his eyes to his
father.  "I told Shampoo I'd never marry her no matter
what her clan law said."
     "When was this?"
     "A couple of days ago.  It was as a result of her
transferring her curse to Akane."
     "I see.  You were disgusted with her behaviour
and told her you would never marry her as a result,
yes?"  Ranma nodded.  Nodoka sighed deeply.  "I am
disappointed in you, son.  You did the right thing for
the wrong reasons!  You should have told her from the
start that the marriage was impossible."
     Ranma's hands balled into fists where they rested
on his thighs.  "I tried!  That old crone insisted,
and I only managed to really beat her for the first
time when this happened!"  He took a breath and let it
out slowly to calm down.  "She's been playing all
kinds of dirty tricks to try and get me to marry her
great-granddaughter, and she won't take no for an
answer.  Once, that wrinkled old bat trapped me in my
girl form and said she wouldn't let me out of it
unless I promised to marry Shampoo or I managed to
defeat her.  I eventually had to go cat to worry her,
and she gave up and gave me the cure before I actually
managed to lay a hand on her.  That's typical of the
kind of shabby tricks she plays.  This thing with
Akane, giving her Shampoo's Jusenkyou curse, is just
the latest one... the old monster!"
     "Anyway, Shampoo is no longer a problem, ne?"
     "I've still got to deal with that old ghoul...
she hasn't stopped trying."
     Nodoka sighed again.  "These Chinese, they have
no honour.  They're worse than burakumin, son."  She
shifted again on her knees.  "Again, that is not
relevant now.  So we have only to decide between
Tendou Akane, and Kuonji Ukyou, ne?"
     "But mother, Akane--"
     She cut her son off with an upraised hand.  "I
know your preference, son."  She to her husband, eyes
flashing.  "Genma, this whole situation is almost
entirely your fault!  How could you have possibly
engaged your son a *second* time when you *knew* of
your... the *family's* promise to the Tendo family is
completely beyond me!  Were you actually *trying* to
dishonour yourself?  Because you have certainly
succeeded!"
     "But Nodoka-chan, Ranma chose!"
     Ranma shifted, but he bit back the automatic
retort and waited, again studying the tatami in front
of his mother's knees.  Nodoka glared at her husband,
moving to face him a little, gesturing with the katana
she held by the sheath.
     "From what Akane tells me of the day Ranma
*discovered* that Kuonji Ukyou-san was a *girl*, he
did *not* choose to be engaged!  Don't *lie* to me,
you useless man!  *Particularly* in a family council,
don't you dare lie to *me*!!"  The blade slipped about
a half-centimetre out of the sheath as she
gesticulated angrily with the sword, the little catch
that should have kept it securely in place having long
since broken.
     She turned her head to Ranma.  In a much softer
tone of voice, she said, "And you, son, you are partly
at fault for the situation we now find ourselves in.
Only a little, but still somewhat responsible.  You
should have rejected Kuonji Ukyou-san at once when she
said that the engagement still stood, particularly
when before that she herself had been acting under the
assumption that it no longer stood."  She sighed.
"But you did not, and it is very easy to look back and
say, 'if only.'  And now, because of your weakness,
son, Kuonji-san must be hurt."
     Ranma looked up, his face shocked.  "Do you mean
that my engagement to Ucchan has never been valid?!"
     "It could have been, but Kuonji-san's own
rejection of the agreement means that her claim cannot
stand against that of the Tendou family.  Ranma my
son, there is no loss of the *family's* honour if we
reject Kuonji-san.  Your father's honour, yes, but it
does not affect the family as a whole.  Whereas if we
were to put aside the agreement with the Tendo family
in favour of Kuonji-san, the family's honour *would*
suffer."  She frowned a little in thought.  "You
should *know* this.  Your father should have
instructed you in the ways of honour."  She sighed.
"The same is true of that girl Shampoo's claim, which
was even weaker than that of Kuonji Ukyou-san."
     Ranma shook his head, eyes wide.  "How could I
know that dad's agreement was not made in the family's
name?"
     "I never agreed to it.  Besides... you could have
asked your father."
     Ranma snorted, again flicking contemptuous eyes
at his father.  "Why bother?  I haven't been able to
trust him since we came here.  Since Jusenkyou,
actually."  His voice was bitter.
     Genma's reaction was instant.  "What are you
talking about, boy?!  Respect your betters!!"
     Nodoka was shocked to hear Ranma so cavalierly
dismiss his father's probity, but at the same time her
own concerns rang an answering chord inside her, and
she could not escape the feeling that his opinion
might be justified.  But the sound of her husband's
angry voice reminded her that this meeting was not
about her husband... it was about her son.  Sternly
she put her concerns to one side for later discussion
with her husband... in private.
     She placed a hand on Genma's forearm and gave him
a hard look to quell him.  "Nevertheless, Kuonji-san's
own behaviour should have provided the necessary
clues.  When you first met her *this* time, she said
the engagement *had been* broken, did she not?  And
that this was the reason for her revenge?"
     "She did?...  Yeah, so she did!  Akane told you
this?  Man, she's got a good memory."
     Nodoka smiled warmly.  "She is most determined to
keep you, ever since you proposed to her.  She was
most helpful."
     "What?!  Ranma proposed to Akane?"  Genma broke
into a wide grin.  "Yatta!!" he exclaimed, raising his
arms into the air.  "The line will continue!  Soun!
Souuun!!"
     "You, be quiet!"  Nodoka gestured violently with
her katana in Genma's direction, and the blade flew
out of the scabbard and zipped past his head.  The
hilt banged into one of the thicker edge uprights of
the shoji to land untidily on floor behind him.
     A suddenly-pale Genma was instantly still.
     "Oops," said Nodoka embarrassedly.
     
     *    *    *
     
     Ryouga watched covertly as Ukyou hesitated at the
gate to the Tendou-ke.  She stood under the small roof
above the gate, seemingly unsure of herself.  Then she
shook herself and decisively opened the gate and
passed inside.
     And closed it behind herself.
     There was no way he could open that gate as a
pig.
     Fortunately, all was not lost.  From prior
experience, Ryouga knew there was a small hole in the
fence at ground level that would let him inside while
he was in his pig form.
     If he could only find it.
     
     *    *    *
     
     Ukyou nervously wiped her palms on the seat of
her dress as she followed Nabiki to the living room.
Although she had briefly seen Ranma's mother on other
occasions, this would be the first time they had been
introduced.  She knew that she had only this one
chance to make an impression good enough to overturn
Akane's claim, and she was determined not to make a
mistake.
     "Obasan, meet Kuonji Ukyou," said Nabiki.  "Ukyou-
san, meet Saotome Nodoka, Ranma's mother."
     
     *    *    *
     
     "Bukiii!"  'Aha!  Found it!' thought Ryouga as he
wriggled through a small hole in the fence around the
Tendou-ke.
     The kami were indeed smiling on him tonight.
     For tonight he would pledge his love to Akane,
and she would leave Ranma for him!
     Now, to find the bathroom!
     
     *    *    *
     
     For Akane, dinner was an odd mixture of nightmare
and satisfaction.  Ever since she had arrived, Ukyou
had been making a thorough pest of herself, leaning
against Ranma, chatting amiably with his mother, and
generally ingratiating herself.  The two were getting
on really well, like mother and long-lost daughter,
and Ranma was being nice to her as usual as well.
     Only the occasional -- well, more than occasional
-- squeeze of her hand by Ranma under the table had
allowed her to keep smiling through the meal, however
thin that smile might be.  Every time Ranma squeezed
her hand, she made herself a mental picture.  In that
picture, she stuck her tongue out at Ukyou, pulled
down an eyelid to give her the 'red eye', and said,
"Piiida!", just like a twelve-year-old would.  But it
was only in her head, unfortunately.  She very much
wanted to do those actions for real... but it was very
satisfying, knowing that the game was won and the
opponent did not even know she had lost.  She
contented herself with that knowledge and her spiteful
mental games.
     The rain had finally trailed to a halt a few
minutes ago, and now the cicadas were starting up
again.
     Akane tilted her head as the faint sound of a
pig's squeal drifted in from outside over the growing
noise of the cicadas.  Suddenly thoughts of Ukyou were
pushed from her head and she glared at the table as
the thought of Ryouga's hentai activities *in her bed*
got her steamed all over again.
     She smiled a savage smile as she recalled
Shampoo's first meal for Ranma served in the classroom
at Fuurinkan... Ryouga served with rice and
condiments.  She mentally winced as she realised how
unfair it must have seemed to Ranma when she had
sought to protect "her P-chan" from him.
     Ryouga owed her a lot.
     "Hey, Akane, are you okay?"  Ranma's voice
penetrated her visions of a beaten, folded, spindled,
and mutilated Ryouga and returned her attention to the
living room.  Everyone was looking at her.  "Akane?"
     She smiled a dazzling smile at her fiancee.
"Everything's fine, Ranma."  Because she had just
thought of the *perfect* revenge on Ryouga.  She found
herself hoping that he would somehow manage to find
his way into the bathroom.  She very much wanted to
see him again... soon.
     
     *    *    *
     
     With the dinner eaten and cleared away, and
Kasumi's amazing efforts profusely acknowledged, tea
had now been served and the mood changed.  Now it was
time to get down to business.
     Nodoka sipped her tea, her expression serious,
dreading what she was about to say to Ukyou.  She was
such a nice girl, and didn't deserve what was about to
happen... but that was her karma; Ukyou was not
destined to become Ranma's wife and that was that.
     Ranma watched his mother gather herself for what
had to be done.  Earlier in the family council, it had
been decided that Ukyou's claim must be put aside and
some agreement come to with her.  Normally his father
would make the announcement and conduct negotiations
with Ukyou, but he had run for the pond and started to
play with his favourite tyre when Nodoka had raised
this point to him earlier.  She had chased after
Genma, the naked katana in her hand, but she had given
up before even reaching him, and sadly announced to
Ranma that she would do it.
     He wondered now if his father had failed some
kind of test.
     A low splash from the bathroom attracted his
attention for a moment.  He glanced in that direction
briefly, then returned his attention to the table,
hoping both that Akane hadn't noticed and that Ryouga
would not be able to find his way to the living room.
     Huh, fat chance.  That guy was always turning up
where he wasn't wanted.
     Akane noticed Ranma suddenly glance at one of the
shoji, then quickly look down at the table.  She
frowned a little in confusion, wondering what it was
that had grabbed his attention for a moment.  It must
have been some sound or other from the...
     Bathroom.  Ryouga must be in the house.  She
smiled tightly to herself and briefly grabbed Ranma's
hand, her eyes glittering in anticipation.
     "Ukyou-san," began Nodoka, "I--"
     "Hohohohohohohoho!"  Kodachi appeared from
outside, dressed in her usual gymnastics leotard.
"Ranma-sama, it's so good to see you again!  Are you
ready to take me on our date tonight?"
     Nodoka looked at Kodachi in confusion.  "Excuse
me, but who are you?"
     Kodachi stood in the open doorway, one hand
resting on her hip, eyes wide, haughtily looking down
her nose at Nodoka.  "I am Kunou Kodachi, the Black
Rose, captain of the St. Hebereke High School Rhythmic
Gymnastics team... and Ranma-sama is my fiancee.  And
you are?"
     Nodoka smiled tightly.  "I am Saotome Nodoka...
Ranma's mother."
     Kodachi's face came alive as she flowed into the
room, holding out a bouquet of black roses.  "Oh!
Please accept--"
     Ukyou bounced up and in one motion whipped loose
her fighting spatula and splatted Kodachi back into
the yard.  She lay untidily, black rose petals
fluttering slowly to the ground around her.  "Got
her," said Ukyou in a satisfied voice.
     Nodoka stared in shock.  "Why... why did you do
that?  Ukyou-chan?"
     Kodachi stirred and appeared to try to sit up,
but a cloud of gas erupted from the flowers lying on
the ground next to her and in moments she was again
lying still.
     Ranma grunted.  "Paralysis gas again," he said
disinterestedly.
     "Maybe it's sleeping gas for a change," said
Nabiki brightly.
     Ukyou smiled as she sat down again, nodding to
the still-shocked Nodoka.  "Well, at least she won't
be bothering us for a little while."
     "Did she say... did she say she was *another*
fiancee, Ranma?" asked Nodoka at last.
     Ranma snorted.  "She's just a crazy with an
infatuation.  She's caused trouble before.  She keeps
trying to gas me and drag me off."
     Nodoka looked at Ranma disbelievingly, but both
Akane and Ukyou nodded.  "She's a real pest," said
Akane savagely.  'Just like a certain pig,' she added
to herself.
     "I see," said Nodoka, feeling somewhat
bewildered.  She groped for her centre, for the
difficult task that still lay ahead.
     "I'll take her upstairs," said Ranma.  "We can
take her home when we take Shampoo home later."
Suiting action to words, he got up and stepped outside
to pick up Kodachi.
     "Would anyone like some more tea?" asked Kasumi
brightly.
     
     
     By the time Ranma returned, Nodoka was feeling
calmer and again prepared to give Ukyou the news.  She
shifted her shoulders, settling more comfortably onto
her heels.  She took a deep breath to start her speech
again.
     "Ukyou-chan," she began, "I must confess that I
had an ulterior motive in inviting you here this
evening.  Please forgive me for not informing you
earlier."
     Ukyou smiled to cover her suddenly-returned
nervousness.  She felt quicksand under her mental
feet... Ranma had been very nice to her tonight,
almost *too* nice, and Akane hadn't hit him once.  Not
once.  If fact, she was smiling too, a smile that
would be more at home on a shark... or her sister
Nabiki.
     "That's quite all right, Nodoka-san," she said.
"I assume it's about my marriage to my darling Ran-
chan."  Might as well go on the offensive.
     Nodoka's expression was grave.  She was about to
speak when the shoji nearest the bathroom was ripped
open to reveal a freshly-bathed-looking Ryouga.
     "Waaalll, if it ain't the pig boy," drawled
Ranma.
     Ryouga flashed him a look but otherwise ignored
his enemy, concentrating instead on his darling Akane-
san.  He dropped to his knees next to her (and also
next to Ranma) and grabbed one of her hands in both of
his.  Grasping his courage firmly in both mental
hands, he looked her in the eyes and spoke.
     "A-Akane-san!  I... I..."
     "Leave her alone, pig-boy!" snarled Ranma.
     Akane swung her free fist into Ranma's shoulder.
"Let him speak!" she said.  "I want to know what
Ryouga-kun has to say."
     Ranma stared at Akane in amazement.  What had
happened to their declarations of love?  Could she
actually be serious?  Doubt filled him, but he decided
to trust her.  He had to, really... how else could she
trust him?  But, he pledged to himself, if Ryouga
actually managed to have his way with her then there
would be blood spilled.
     Noting that Ranma was apparently not going to
make an issue of it, Akane turned back to Ryouga.  She
smiled at Ryouga gently, not resisting his grip, and
tilted her head enquiringly.  "What is it, Ryouga-
kun?" she asked softly.
     Her smile, her musical voice made Ryouga feel
dizzy.  She was receptive to him!  Yes, he would
succeed!  Thus encouraged, he dove in.  "I... I l-love
you!  I've loved you for almost a year now, ever since
I first saw you, and I always will!  Do yourself a
favour and dissolve your engagement to this honourless
cur -- I'm sure Nabiki or Kasumi will satisfy the
family honour with Ranma!  I am yours, Akane!  Tell
me... tell me that you love me!"
     The silence at the table was absolute.  Nabiki
eyed Akane nervously, knowing how she had reacted
earlier that afternoon when she had first told her
about Ryouga's curse.  She was very disturbed to see
that Akane was... smiling at Ryouga sweetly.
     Ranma reacted predictably.  "Why you...!"
     "Shut up, Ranma!"  Akane looked him in the eye,
not taking her hand from Ryouga's.  He was surprised
to see a great anger in her eyes for a moment before
she returned a saccharine smile to her face.  He
frowned.  What was happening here?
     Ryouga didn't notice the quick play of
expressions across her face; his heart was thumping in
his chest and her face disappearing into a starry haze
as he waited for her reply.
     "Oh, Ryouga-kun," she trilled happily.  Ryouga
looked ecstatic, and Akane savoured her revenge.  This
was even better than she'd hoped for... to have him
step so willingly into her trap, it was as though it
had been fated to happen.  She leaned towards Ryouga
and put her head on his shoulder.  "Oh, Ryouga-kun.
I've been waiting for you so long to say that."
     Nodoka turned her gaze to Akane at her daughter-
in-law-to-be's apparent change of heart, her
expression neutral, evaluating.
     Ryouga's heart soared.  Yes!  He knew that Akane
would be his!  She loved him, not Ranma.  Tears of joy
started to leak from his eyes, and he revelled in the
feel of her delicate hand in his.  Visions of family
life rose in his head, lifting his heart in gladness
and triumph.
     "I-I've wanted so say it for so long," he said
again.  "P-please say you will m-marry me?"
     Akane looked at him in amazement, a pleased
expression on her face.  Ryouga, watching her face,
knew in his heart that she would say yes.  Take that,
Ranma!
     "Ryouga-kun... I had no idea that you felt that
way about me," she said happily.  "Do you really want
to marry me?"
     "With all my heart!"
     Akane squeezed briefly with her hand before
sitting up again and pulling it free from his grip.
She reached around Ryouga to grab Ranma's hand.  "But
Ryouga... I'm afraid I love Ranma, not you.  I *do*
hope you understand that I could never love, let alone
marry, a low-life, honourless, lying, sukebe pig such
as yourself."  Her voice dripped honey, all lovey-
dovey.  "Why don't you go and find a nice lady pig to
make some bacon with instead?"  She smiled sweetly at
him again and waited for her words to take effect.
     Kasumi gasped, shocked at her sister's language.
"Akane!!"  Nodoka's eyes grew wide, while Nabiki
smiled gently, shaking her head just a little in
bemusement.
     Ryouga continued to gaze star-struck at Akane for
a long moment, devotion shining from his face... until
her words struck home.  Like a sledgehammer, they
bashed at his fragile heart.  "What... what are you
talking about?  I'm not--"
     "I know that you're P-chan, Ryouga," snarled
Akane, her face suddenly ugly.  "You've been sleeping
in my *bed*, listening to my secrets, taking advantage
of me, pretending to be my pet!  You've even watched
me *change*!  Well this is the end of it!  I never
want to see you again!!  Ever!!!"
     Ryouga's mind went into free-fall as his heart
shattered like glass.  He felt hollow, helpless,
utterly depressed.  He squeezed his eyes shut as
Akane's bitter words echoed inside him.  He recalled
his early misgivings about sleeping with her as P-
chan, Ranma's accusations that his behaviour was
wrong.  'Why did I do it?  Was I mad?!  It's all my
fault, it's all my fault...'  But another part of his
mind sang to him, opening his eyes to gaze into
Ranma's surprised face.  Suddenly, conviction filled
him.
     "Raannnmaaa!" he growled, his fingers curling
into hooks, his forearms starting to glow with the
yellow energy of his ki.  "This is all your fault!!
You told her!"  He tensed to attack, even as Ranma
scrambled to defend himself and, automatically, to
esure no harm came to Akane.
     "Wait!"  Soun's voice cracked like a whip.
     His anger derailed, Ryouga stared at the
ineffectual head of the Tendou clan in amazement.  He
did not appear ineffectual now... oh, no, not at all.
Ryouga felt pinned by Soun's aura as he spoke with a
massive, passionate dignity.
     "Ryouga-kun... I have been waiting for some time
for my daughter to realise what was going on," Soun
said firmly.  "Further, I agree with everything she
has said.  By persisting in your deception so long,
young man, you have thoroughly dishonoured yourself.
You are not fit to associate with us."
     "But-but it's all Ranma's faul--"
     Soun held up a majestic hand, cutting Ryouga off
in mid-word.  "I disagree.  It is most certainly all
*your* fault.  Even your curse... and believe that
*you* are the one dishonoured by failing to appear at
the appointed time for your challenge with Ranma.  To
persist in attempting to get revenge on him for your
own failing is... unbelievable," he finished softly,
shaking his head.  "To attempt to blame others for
one's own faults is a dishonour.  To lie is a
dishonour.  To take advantage of my daughter in the
way you have..."  He raised an arm and pointed to the
door.  "Go.  I have tolerated you and your ways for so
long for Akane's sake.  Now that she has rejected
you...  You are no longer welcome in this house,
Hibiki Ryouga.  Never darken our door again."
     Ryouga turned to Akane, who was looking at him
like he was some kind of insect from the protection of
Ranma's arms.  Ranma's expression was unreadable...
pitying, he decided eventually.
     Suddenly the urge to fight left him and he hung
his head, arms dangling limply.  Slowly he got up and
without a word he walked out through the open door
into the garden.  Everyone watched him go.  At the
edge of the pool of light that was cast from the
living room, he turned, his body lit but his face in
shadow.  "Wakare, Akane-san.  S'... s'ki da."  And
then he was gone.
     There was a long silence.  Finally, Ranma spoke.
"I hope he's going to be okay," he said.
     Akane frowned at Ranma, anger at Ryouga's perfidy
still burning within her.
     "Who cares?" she asked, turning within his arms
to turn her face to him.
     "Aw, c'mon Akane, you don't really mean that do
you?"
     Akane glared at him, but she couldn't keep it up
and eventually let out her breath in a big sigh.  "No,
I guess not."
     Nodoka smiled at her son, pleased.  This last
act, after so many tonight, finally convinced her.
Her son was *so* manly, to him it came as naturally as
breathing... despite being raised by his father.
Despite his many flaws, her pride for him filled her
soul, even as she dreaded the coming negotiation with
Ukyou.  Watching the interplay between the three of
them tonight had been very illuminating, and all these
interruptions paradoxically had given her an
opportunity to think about what she had been seeing.
Ukyou obviously loved her son very deeply, and just as
obviously Ranma didn't return that love, although he
genuinely liked her and called her his best friend.
She felt a strong pity for the girl, even though she
knew that such a feeling would only make her task all
the harder.
     Ukyou was still looking out at the darkness
outside, her eyes concerned, but she said nothing.
She was thinking about Ryouga, and whether he would be
okay... and about what Akane had said, the way Ranma
was holding her comfortably, and how she was resting
in his arms as though it was the most natural thing in
the world with none of their usual embarrassment or
harsh words.
     Suddenly her suspicions about why she had been
called here crystallised, and her eyes closed against
the sudden prickling in the corners of her eyes.  It
was not to have the choice made... it had already been
made.  She was to be asked to give up the engagement
to her Ran-chan, be offered reparations, something...
anything but what she wanted the most, marriage to
Ranma.
     She had briefly thought that Ryouga had gotten
off lightly... but now she knew that the knife Akane
had used on him was far, far sharper than her mallet,
for a similar one was even now cutting her heart from
her chest.
     Poor Ryouga.  She hoped he wouldn't do anything
stupid.
     Somebody was crying, echoing her heart.  It
was... Soun?  Akane's father was crying gently, with
dignity, not wailing as he had so often done recently.
     Kasumi noticed too.  "What's wrong, otousan?"
     Soun looked at his eldest daughter and managed a
tremulous half-smile.  "Akane will marry Ranma-kun,
and the line -- and the Musabetsu Kakudou Ryuu -- will
continue.  Look at them, Kasumi, look at them!  I'm so
happy!"
     Ukyou felt her heart break, now utterly certain
of her fate.  A glance at Nodoka's pitying expression
confirmed it, but she had the self-control to play the
game to the end.
     "I see that you have guessed why I invited you
here, Ukyou-chan," Nodoka said.  She paused a moment
before continuing with a sympathetic but firm
expression.  "I am very sorry.  I had hoped to break
the news to you more gently, but I may as well be
blunt:  I'm afraid I cannot sanction your marriage to
Ranma, even though he was promised to you by my
husband.  I'm afraid the claim of the Tendou family
must take precedence.  To that end..."
     The gate crashed open, and the sound of running
feet was audible in the sudden cessation of the
cicadas' song.  Everyone turned their attention to the
garden.  There were rapid steps, and then Kunou
stormed onto the verandah skirting the living room
carrying two bunches of red roses.
     "Well hello, Kunou-chan," drawled Nabiki.  "What
can we do for *you*?"
     Kunou glared at his classmate.  "Be thou quiet,
Tendou Nabiki.  I didn't come here to speak with
*you*."
     "So what took you so long?  Kodachi was here a
*long* time ago.  Is she more dedicated than you in
her pursuit of her fantasies?"  Her voice was sharp,
now, baiting him.
     Kunou stood before Nabiki, his attention solely
on her.  "I prefer the dignified pace of the samurai,
not the frenetic, undignified roof-hopping of my
sister.  But enough!  I came to speak with your
sister, and the Osage-no-onna!"
     Brandishing the bouquets, he quickly scanned the
room, his gaze settling on his beloved Akane.
Impulsively, driven by the impact of seeing her after
a whole week's absence, he threw himself to his knees
before his goddess and thrust one of the bouquets at
her.
     "O beauteous Akane, thou who walks with a
tigress' grace and is possessed of the beauty of ages,
how mine heart doth ache to be with thee!  I can see
that thy wonderful face doth perfectly mirror thy
feelings for me.  Be not surprised that I returned
after terrible trials and an unendurable period of
solitude to be by thy side and to date thee; nor
should thou be angry that I have not returned before
this so that we could date, for I have fought against
a full legion of monsters from darkest nightmares to
be with thee tonight, for I know that your innermost
desire is to spend thy time in my exalted company.  I
would climb any mountain, swim any sea, defeat any foe
to--"
     "Can it, Kunou-*senpai*!" said Ranma as he moved
into a kneeling pose from which he could attack or
defend if he wished.  Akane sat up and leaned forward
in indignation.  Ukyou found herself becoming angry at
Kunou's presumption and watched him, eyes narrow,
seething.
     "Excuse me," said Nodoka, but she was ignored.
     Kunou levelled his boktou at Ranma.  "Be thou
quiet, foul sorcerer Ranma, and release the beauteous
Akane and the red-haired goddess Osage-no-onna from
the grip of your spell.  Let them be free, I say, even
as I have won my freedom from--!"
     In a blur of movement, Ranma knocked the end of
the boktou in such a way as to knock it from Kunou's
grasp.  It landed untidily on the tatami of the living
room, making a dull thudding noise.  Kunou stared at
him in shock, drawing in breath to begin a fresh
tirade.
     "Excuse me!" said Nodoka with a sharp voice.
"Who may you be, young man, and pray tell why you have
interrupted us so?"
     Kunou flicked his gaze to Nodoka, scooping up his
boktou again automatically.  "Who are you to ask me
such a question?  But no!  It is polite to give one's
own name first!  I am the rising star of Fuurinkan
High School Kendou Club, its captain, undefeated by
anybody in the school.  Descended from samurai stock,
counting my descent to both the Shogunate and the
Imperial Family, I am Kunou Tatewaki, the Blue
Thunder!"  He struck a heroic pose for a long moment,
then relaxed and began to speak normally.  "And I am
here to date Tendou Akane and Osage-no-onna, she who
sometimes calls herself Saotome Ranma.  I burn for
them both, and it my right to have them... mine and no
other's."
     Nodoka looked at Kunou like he was some kind of
lower form of life; Soun was livid.  Ukyou's anger at
Kunou burned within her.  How dare he!  If she
couldn't have her Ran-chan, how dare that worm dare to
presume that he might have not one, but *both* of
them?!
     "Don't you think they might be a bit much for you
to handle, Kunou-chan?" asked Nabiki tauntingly.
     Nodoka ignored Nabiki's interruption and frowned
sternly at Kunou.  "I am Saotome Nodoka, Ranma's
mother.  I am terribly sorry, Kunou-san, but both
Tendou Akane and Saotome Ranma are already engaged.
You may not date them."  Her tone was iron.
     Which shattered against the adamantine walls of
Kunou's preconceptions.  "That sham engagement to the
sorcerer Saotome Ranma is no engagement at all!  I
forbid it!  Only *I* have the right to date Tendou
Akane!"  Then he frowned.  "*Which* Saotome Ranma are
you mother to?"
     "Who died and appointed *you* god, Kunou?"
sneered Ranma.
     "Shut up, you wretch!  Have you no manners?!  I
am talking to this misguided woman!  I will allow you
to lose to my superior skills in the fighting arts
later."
     In spite of herself, Ukyou sniggered, shocked out
of her deep anger by the outrageous statement.  Kunou
was being even more obtuse than usual, and she was
looking forward to seeing either Ranma or Nodoka chew
him up and spit him out.
     "Superior to what?  A mouse?  A goose?  A horse?
A deer?  And how dare you refer to my mother as a
misguided woman, like she's some servant of yours?!"
Ranma stood and snorted angrily, his eyes
contemptuous.  "And I wouldn't have thought that even
you would stoop to lying about a matter of honour,
Kunou.  You know full well that I've defeated you at
least ten times in formal challenges despite your
*best* efforts.  All have been at your behest.  Do you
refuse to acknowledge the result of those challenges,
Kunou-*senpai*?"
     Akane glanced at Ranma, an inkling of his plan
coming to her.  He must have been inspired by his
mother, the thought... normally he would have long
since started pounding on Kunou.
     "I have never been honestly defeated," sneered
Kunou.  "Not by you or anyone else."
     Something snapped in Ukyou.  "You unbelievable
liar!" she yelled, surging to her feet, her fighting
spatula in her hands.  Every bit of her earlier anger
returned full-force.
     "Do you challenge me, then, Kuonji Ukyou?"
     "I do!  I challenge you, before witnesses!  If
you lose, you will forever forsake any claim or desire
to both Tendou Akane and the girl you call Osage-no-
onna."
     "And let's hope you follow the result of the
challenge more closely than your sister did," added
Nabiki with a sneer.  "You're pathetic, Kunou-chan."
     Kunou glared at Nabiki, then, enraged, spun to
face Ukyou.  "Very well!  It shall be as you say!
Now?"
     "In the dojo, please," said Nodoka.
     
     
     The entire family went over to the dojo, except
for Kasumi who stayed behind in the house to do some
cleaning up.  The two combatants faced off in the
middle of the dojo, taking stance against each other,
their weapons at the ready.  Kunou held his bokutou
loosely, his expression a confident sneer, whereas
Ukyou was vibratingly ready in every fibre of her
body, her anger at Kunou's unbelievable presumption
and hypocrisy lending her seemingly unlimited energy.
Adrenaline surged through her system, making time pass
more slowly.
     "The bout ends when one of you is rendered
unconscious or when one resigns," said Soun.  "Begin!"
     For a long moment nothing happened, then Kunou
struck with a quick straight blow to Ukyou's head.
She parried with her spatula's handle and sent a
viscious risposte using the side of the spatula
edgewise into his hips and thighs.  Kunou grunted, and
was amazed to find his weapon momentarily trapped in
the loop at the end of the spatula.  Quickly he jerked
it free, but now Ukyou had the initiative.  She
attacked him furiously, Kunou only just managing to
block her attacks.
     Finally the approaching wall interrupted Ukyou's
rhythm, and Kunou took advantage of the momentary
break in her offence... and slammed a blow into her
ribs.  He was not holding back anything, and three
ribs snapped under the power of the blow.
     But in going for the blow, which he hoped would
disable her and force her to resign, Kunou exposed his
head... and was promptly pounded to the floor by the
flat of the spatula blade.
     "That didn't hurt, you know," he mumbled before
going limp.
     The tableau held for a long moment before Soun
said firmly, "Wait!"  In a more normal voice, he
continued, "The bout is concluded.  I pronounce Kunoji
Ukyou the winner."
     Ukyou relaxed, her skin going gray with pain, but
relief was the dominant expression on her face.  Akane
and Ranma ran up to her.
     "Thank you, Ukyou," said Akane.
     "Yes, th--"
     "Violent-girl die!!"
     "Ohohohohoho!  Return my Ranma-sama, Tendou
Akane!!"
     Akane and Ranma traded a look, and Ranma leaped
forward to meet Shampoo.  Shampoo changed her attack
to become a glomp, but Ranma ducked under her
enclosing arms, gave her a push to spin her around,
and poked her sleep spot.
     He turned to see that Akane was holding her own
against Kodachi, with Ukyou struggling against the
pain of her ribs to lift her spatula.  He skipped
behind Akane and spoke into her ear.  "Can I help
you?" he asked her.
     Akane nodded briefly, and moments later Kodachi
was lying on the floor next to her elder brother.
     There was a long pause, while everybody except
Nodoka waited for somebody else to show up and add to
the mayhem.  Ukyou knelt on the dojo floor, her breath
coming in short gasps and her face now white as she
struggled against the pain of her smashed ribs.
Nodoka looked at the three unconscious teenagers lying
on the floor.
     "My, what interesting friends you two have," she
said at last.
     
     *    *    *
     
     The hospital waiting room was an awkward
combination of the sterile cleanliness of harsh light,
white paint and stainless steel, and the homely well-
used comfort of an old shoe.  The vinyl-covered chairs
had seen many people over the years, traffic which
showed in the worn corners of the cushions and arms
and in the soft spot in the middle of each chair's
seat, and in the welcoming tattiness of well-thumbed
magazines waiting in neat piles on side tables for yet
another reader to pick them up.
     The sole occupants, Ranma, Akane, and Nodoka sat
in one corner of the room, the two teenagers somewhat
apart from Ranma's mother.  Akane leaned against
Ranma, showing her affection without violating public
mores.  They were talking quietly.
     "Thank you for letting me help you with Kodachi,"
he said.
     "I could have taken her," she replied a little
defensively.
     Ranma nodded.  "I agree."
     Akane looked at Ranma in surprise.  "You agree?"
     "Sure, you could have taken her, easily I think.
It's just that I was free and I didn't want to risk
you needlessly getting hurt," he said to her with a
smile.
     She smiled back at him and put her head on his
chest.  "That's nice."  She curled a hand around his
arm, hugging it to her.  "I'm glad Ukyou's going to be
okay," said Akane.
     Ranma nodded, frowning a little in concern.  "So
am I," he said.  "She's lucky, I think."
     "So are we, Ranma.  She's a good person."  She
snuggled for a bit, then added, "Ukyou took the news
well, don't you think?"
     Ranma's expression of concern deepened.  "I...
I'm not so sure.  I don't know how she'll react,
Akane."
     She sighed.  "I know how you feel about her,
baka.  I know you'd like to keep her as a friend,
and... I guess I'd like to have her as a friend, too.
Do you think that's going to be possible?"
     Ranma shrugged gently so as not to disturb Akane.
"Dunno," he said.  After a long pause, he added, "God
knows what we can give her as reparation.  According
to mother, this business of her pretending to be a
boy, rejecting her womanhood because she wanted to
take revenge on me is purely her own business.  But
for the original breaking of my father's promise, for
the theft of the yatai, for me not firmly dissuading
her this time around, even for her help tonight... we
owe her, Akane.  We owe her big, and I don't know how
-- or with what -- we're going to pay that debt."
     Nodoka looked up from the magazine she'd been
trying to read.  "You don't need to concern yourself
with that, Ranma-chan," she said with a pained smile.
"It's my duty to arrange that."
     "It's actually oyaji's duty, but I don't see him
here."
     "Nevertheless, I shall do it."
     Ranma looked at his mother, not sure what to make
of her stance.  "Don't you think that since it affects
me and Akane, that we should be involved?"
     Nodoka turned her gaze to Akane.  "What do you
think, Akane-chan?"
     Akane nodded.  "I'd like to be involved, please.
I think I have a stake."  She squeezed Ranma's arm for
emphasis.
     Nodoka turned her gaze from her her prospective
daughter-in-law to her son and back again, oddly
pleased at their attitude despite the fact that they
were being rebellious.  At length she nodded.  "Very
well.  I would appreciate your input when the time
comes.  But we must not get ahead of ourselves.  We do
not even yet know if she will cooperate."
     Ranma and Akane both nodded, and Nodoka opened
the magazine again.
     The waiting room fell quiet as the two of them
sat thinking about the day's events.  After a time of
snuggling with Ranma, Akane said, "Poor Ryouga.  He's
such a fool."
     Ranma grunted.  "I know I wouldn't like to be on
the receiving end of what you did to him."
     "He deserved it!"
     "I agree.  I just hope *I* never do anything to
deserve that kind of treatment."  He gave a mock
shudder.
     There was silence again for a time, then Akane
spoke again.
     "It's been a big day, hasn't it?"
     Ranma nodded and grunted affirmatively.  "I hope
we can get things settled soon," he added.  "I want to
spend some time getting to know my fiancee."
     "Oh, Ranma!" she said as she squeezed his ribs
gently.  "I'd like that."
     He remembered something that had happened
earlier.  "When you came into the dojo this afternoon,
I was going to ask you if you wanted to go on a
training trip.  Just you and me, no distractions; we
can train with nobody to disturb us.  We'll leave mom
and dad at home; maybe they can get to know each other
again themselves."  He frowned, looking worried, and
spoke directly into her ear in a low murmur.  "I... I
wonder if they'll stay together, Akane.  Mother
doesn't seem to... doesn't seem to like dad very much
any more."  He leaned forward and hugged his knees to
his chest, looking off into the middle distance.
     Akane watched Ranma for a long moment.  He seemed
to be worried and sad.  Why, she wondered?  He
certainly didn't seem to like his father very much,
and why should their breakup worry him?  Suddenly a
lightbulb went on in her mind, and she leaned against
his nearest shoulder, her arm going around his back in
a reassuring hug.
     "Don't worry, Ranma," she replied, murmuring into
his ear in reply.  "I'd like to think we can be better
to our children than your -- our -- parents have
been."
     Ranma turned his head to her, his eyes wide.  She
had speared his concern exactly, and in the same
sentence made it recede into nothingness.  His
surprise settled into a loving feeling, and he let go
his knees and slipped his arms about Akane, letting
the motion push her arms about his neck.  "Thank you,"
he said before kissing her.
     Nodoka watched the pair out of the corner of her
eyes as they briefly kissed and then went back to
their previous pose lest anyone come in and catch them
in an embarrassing position.
     Seeing that they were not likely to repeat the
move for the moment at least, she turned her attention
back to the magazine, seeing it without reading it.
She was unable to read the characters; they kept
blurring as silent tears filled her eyes.  Her hearing
was very good, and she had heard what the two had said
in the near-total silence of the waiting room this
late at night.
     Ranma's comment, and Akane's reply, had both cut
like a tanto at her heart.  She wondered how her
family had come to this pass.  Years ago, she had
loved Genma dearly, but she had stupidly allowed him
to take her son -- and himself -- away from her.  Why?
Why had he felt it necessary to do that?  And how had
she been stupid enough to *let* him?
     And now, Genma had done things for which it would
be difficult indeed to forgive him.  He had made it
all but impossible for Ranma to live out his dream by
almost sacrificing his son's and the family's honour
through his stupidity.  How could she not have seen
this all those years ago?
     She wondered as the tears fell, whether it would
be necessary to have Genma commit seppuku, and why it
was that despite all he had done, despite all his
demonstrated faults, the thought made her heart ache.
     
     
     
Glossary:

Burakumin:  The under-class of Japanese society.  They
     used to be called "eta".
Hentai:  Perverted.
Hebereke:  Falling-down drunk.  "St. Bacchus Girls
     School" actually isn't a bad translation of the
     name of Kunou Kodachi's school.
Musabetsu Kakudou Ryuu:  The actual name of the
     variety of kenpo (karate) practised by the Tendos
     and the Saotomes.  It doesn't translate very
     well... "Anything-Goes Martial Arts" is as good
     as any except that "kakudou" specifically implies
     open-handedness (i.e. no weapons).
Red eye:  The practice of pulling down the lower
     eyelid to show the capillaries on its inside
     surface, thus the name.  An insult.
Wakare:  Farewell.

--
David Eddy -- dje@progress.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/8341/