Eric: thats it, I'm blowing up Lucas Arts and destroying Jedi Knight.

Sarah: Look theres that vein on your forehead everyone likes to mention.

Dim: its a depressing vein.

Eric: grrrrr... No wonder i'm going insane; a game I cant beat, having to
move and various annoying people hanging around me.  I need to relax and
read fanfic.

Sarah: you need to submit some of your own works soon.

Eric: what?  Their originals, and they also star you.

Sarah: thank you very much.

Eric: anyways here's a fanfic that looks interesting.

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Lawson <sterman@sprynet.com>
To: Fanfic Mailing List <fanfic@fanfic.com>
Date: Sunday, January 04, 1998 5:37 AM
Subject: [FFML] [Ranma] The Thought That Counts


Eric: a splendid ditty in which Ranma and Akane celebrate christmas and give
each other pretend gifts.

Sarah: humm maybe not... lets read on.

I was reading the first chapter of "Magic" when I got this idea.  I wrote

Eric: well i've never read Magic... oh wait.. DUH...

Sarah: yeah Duh its one of the first fanfics you ever read.

Dim: its depressing to see your mind going Eric.

it up tonight in the space of a couple of hours.  This is not a part of
any of my other Ranma series; it's a short, standalone story that takes
place sometime during the manga.

Comments of any kind, as always, appreciated.  I'm especially interested
in better titles.  :)

Eric: we'll try to think of one.

The Thought That Counts

by Richard Lawson


Akane looked around the table at table, wondering if anyone knew.

Eric: wow two tables present in the Tendo household.

Sarah: one of the most be very interesting to grab Akane's attention like
that.

Life

had gotten hectic during the past few months, she wouldn't be surprised if
they'd forgotten.

Eric: ooooo I hate it when they imply things like this and you have to read
on for half the fic to find out what it was.

Sarah: it'll keep you guessing.  you need to guess and have more fun.

Father was serenely reading a paper.  Nabiki was simply staring off into
space as she ate, as if the world in general bored her and was not worth
paying any attention to.  Genma and Ranma were fighting over the last of
the food on the table.  Kasumi began clearing a few dishes.  No one was
paying any attention to hear.

Eric: This might be a possible to typo.

Sarah: then again maybe everyone's supposed to be listening for something.

She began to grip her teacup tightly.  Idiots, all of them.  She downed

Sarah: thats the general attitude Eric here takes to anyone on the road with
him.

Eric: they're all idiots or morons.

the rest of her tea in one gulp, trying to suppress the urge to

Sarah: ahhh well next she'll do shots of tequilla.

Eric:  and whiskey... screw that sake stuff.

shout it

out loud.  The hot tea burned her throat, improving her humor not at all.

Eric: Akane has a sense of humor?

Sarah: sure she does... why do you think she likes to beat on Ranma so much.

Eric: ahhh I see the humor element invovled.

Kasumi paused as she was about to step out into the hallway.  "Akane-chan,
what would you like for dinner tonight?"

Relief percolated through Akane.  Of course Kasumi wouldn't forget.

Sarah: percolated?!?

Eric: percolated?!?

Sarah: great now i have coffee in my head.  *flares bright emerald* I hate
coffee.

Ranma, one hand on his father's gi and the other holding something between
his chopsticks,

Eric: daniel-san you must catch the fly between the chopsticks.

paused and looked up.  "Hey!  How come she gets to choose?
I never get to!"

Sarah: typical insensitive male.

Akane growled quietly.  Typical.  Ranma was forgetting that he was only a

Eric: is it really possible to growl quietly?

houseguest and acting like his needs were more important than anyone
else's.  He had to be the rudest guy she knew.

Sarah: and well worth the beating value.

Kasumi smiled sweetly at him.  "It is our tradition, Ranma-kun, that the
birthday girl gets to choose what we eat for dinner."

Eric: oooooooooooohhhhh... I hate birthdays

Sarah: humm well I betcha Ranma is just all shades of red now.

Ranma blinked.  "Birthday?"  While he was staring blankly at Akane, Genma
grabbed his chopsticks and swallowed the food whole.

"Yes," Akane said softly.  She looked over at him.  "I get to choose.  Is
there anything in particular you'd like to eat?"

Ranma was looking over at Genma, an annoyed look on his face.  He spoke in
a distracted tone of voice.  "I don't care, as long as you don't cook it
yourself."

Sarah: *flaring brightly* Well... he's a complete idiot.  I hope something
really bad happens to him.

The cup shattered in Akane's hand.  She swore profusely and sucked on her
fingertip.

Eric: Is her left eyebrow twitching?

Kasumi hastily put down the dishes she was holding.  "Are you all right?
Let me take a look at that."

"I'm fine."  Akane jumped to her feet and walked quickly out of the room.
Damn, the cut on her finger really hurt.  It had her on the verge of
tears.  She needed to be stronger than that.

Sarah: she's such an angry girl..

Eric: oh and your like one to talk.

Grabbing her bookbag, she ran out of the house.

---

Ranma stared at the shattered pieces of the teacup.  "What was that all
about?"

Sarah: *starting to gather energy about her* Hummm someone really beat that
boy.

"You don't know?"  Nabiki had her elbows on the table, her chin cupped in
her hands.  She was looking at him with a kind of detached interest.  "You
really can't figure it out?"

Eric: really how dense can you be.

Sarah: He must die... horribly.... no dying to good for him....

Ranma frowned at her.  For some strange reason, he felt guilty.  Why, he
didn't know.  And he didn't want to know.  "Uh, I should get her a present
I guess."

Eric: No you should try acting nice.

Sarah: which might be present enough.

"That would be nice."  Kasumi was picking up the pieces of the teacup.
"She is your fiancée after all."

Sarah: hah, even with that temper of hers she can do better.

"Yeah."  Although not by choice.  No one had ever asked him if he wanted
it.  She got angry all the time, and acted so unfeminine, and couldn't
cook worth a damn.  Certainly not the kind of girlfriend he'd ever
imagined ever having, let alone wife.  She was so uncute, too.

Most of

the time.  Sometimes.

Sarah: hah! the writer's tone changes slightly here.  But i still feel no
sympathy for Ranma.

His frowned deepened as he remembered his current financial situation.
Enough for a couple of after-school snacks, something he liked to do on
occasion with Daisuke and Hiroshi.  Certainly not enough for any kind of
decent present.  Not that Akane really deserved anything decent after the
way she'd stormed out on him just now.  But... well, maybe something nice
would make her be not so mad at him.

Eric: oh the sympathy votes... humm nope still dont like him yet.

Getting more money from Genma was out of the question; he'd have a better
chance of retrieving today's breakfast.  That left only one

Sarah: one good boot to the stomach oughta do it.  The whole Saotome male
side... world better off without them.

option.  He

glanced over at Nabiki, suddenly nervous.  "Say, uh, do y'think I could
borrow a little money from you?  So I could, er, buy Akane something?"

Eric: they never learn... its like dealing with the devil.

Nabiki continued to stare at him, her eyes half closed.  Finally, she
spoke languidly.  "Tell you what.  I'll take care of Akane's present.
It'll be from both of us."

Eric: uhhhh.... i smell disaster coming.

Sarah: well if Ranma has any sense of honor or something he'll say no.

"Really?"  Ranma relaxed.  "That's great.  Thanks, Nabiki."

Sarah: D'OH

She smiled.  "You're welcome."

Eric: what kind of evil smile?

He suddenly narrowed his own eyes.  "Uh, what's it gonna cost me?"

Her smile widened.  "Not one yen.  I'll cover it."

"Really?"

Sarah: really?

Eric: really?

"Would I lie to you?"

Sarah: The answer is : yes!

Ranma snorted.  "Without skipping a beat."

Eric: and yet he still trusts her with this.

Sarah: it just goes to show his insensitivity.

Nabiki chuckled.  "Smart boy.  Well, I'm not lying about this.  It's my
sister's birthday present we're talking about, after all."

Eric: and when did you EVER hold anything sacred.

Sarah: I'm thinking... well there was that time in the OAV where Kasumi got
possessed.

"Okay."  He stood up.  "Better try and catch up."

He ran out of the dining room, stealing a look at Nabiki and not at all
reassured by the way she was grinning.

Eric: and yet you continue to trust her.

---

Ranma put down his chopsticks and sighed in contentment.  Akane's favorite
dinner had turned out to be curry, which was one of his favorites, too.

Sarah: oh jeez... is he really that stupid?!

Eric: i dunno... its possible that it really is coincidence...

Sarah: I'm going to suggest it isnt.

Kasumi, of course, had turned out a perfect meal.

Sarah: The UMF strikes again.

Akane herself, while smiling at Kasumi and thanking her profusely, didn't
seem to be enjoying it at all.  She was even now poking at her rice.

Sarah:  *flicking a green fireball back and forth between her hands* This
story better have a happy ending for Akane Mr Lawson.

Ranma tsked silently; she'd been like this all day at school, irritable
and downright morose.  Ranma had tried a couple of times to shake her out
of it by pointing out who stupid she was being.  It hadn't worked

Eric: how stupid she was being...

Sarah: Really i find this version of Ranma... disturbing.

this

time.  Come to think, it hadn't ever worked before, either.  One day it
would, though.  He was certain of that.  Somewhat certain.  He had

Eric: uh huh... yes one day pigs might fly.

(Somewhere a bbq goes horribly wrong and pig passes by outside of Eric's
window.  Eric and Sarah stare eyes wide)

Eric: I still dont think it'll work.

trouble

thinking of a better way.  Other than doing something really icky, like
talking all mushy.

Sarah: oh heaven forbid..

Kasumi spoke brightly.  "Would you like to open your presents now?"

Sarah: and so the disaster is bred.

Akane shrugged and dropped her chopstick onto her plate.  "Sure."

Kasumi smiled and went out to get them.

Nabiki stood slowly.  "Halfta get mine.  Ranma-kun, can you help?"

Eric: *sigh* poor Akane.

Sarah: I actually never felt this sorry for her before.

"Sure."  He probably needed to sign a card or something.  He followed
Nabiki out of the room, something twisting his stomach slightly as he
passed Akane.  Dammit, why should he feel all bad because she was being
all moody?  It certainly wasn't his fault.

Sarah: I'm surprised he simply doesnt blame it on her period or something.

Almost certainly.

He ground his teeth as he walked up the stairs behind Nabiki.

The hallway was dark.  Nabiki flipped the light switch and tsked

Eric: thats two tsks now.

when

nothing happened.  She shrugged and continued on down to her room.  Ranma
frowned at the darkness; hadn't he helped Soun replace it just last week?
Stupid light bulb.

Sarah: stupid stupid light bulb, wish i was blind.

Nabiki opened the door to her room and walked in.  Ranma peered around as
he entered, trying to see what the present was in the dim room.  Nabiki
closed the door and flipped on the light.

Eric: well whatever horror Nabiki has unearthed Ranma deserves it.

Ranma tried to scream in a mouth gone dry.

Sarah: his own fault... no pity.

---

Akane stared into the box.  A blouse, how nice.  That was three of them
she had gotten now, along with a set of new lace underwear from an

Sarah: *sigh* i hate getting clothes for my birthday.

Eric: As do I and by the way... you dont have birthdays... your fictional.

Sarah: *bursts into tears and runs from the room*

Eric: Humm...

anonymous giver.  She was fairly certain she'd have them long enough to
wear once before Mr. Anonymous decided to reclaim them.

Cubicle: well... then why wear them at all?

She looked around at everyone and forced a smile.  "Thanks everyone.
They're all lovely."

Eric: Ahh the forced smile... its always there on birthdays.

Sarah: *walks back into the room and casually powerblasts Eric out the
window*  Jerk.

The all smiled back at her.  Genma looked at Kasumi.  "Is there cake?"

Cubicle: it really makes you wonder how Soun can commit her daughter to
these two idiots so callously.

Sarah: why Cubicle... you old softie.

Staple Plus: he's mine!

"Of course."  Kasumi tilted her head.  "Would you like it now, Akane?"

Sarah: oh no wait for the real present to arrive...

Eric: *crawling back in* it'll taste so much better that way.

Akane couldn't stop the grimace.  "Not just now, thanks."

More crashing sounds came from upstairs.  Soun frowned at the ceiling.
"What are they doing?"

Sarah: do we really want to know.

"I'm certain something really stupid and thoughtless."  She shot to her
feet before someone - Kasumi, probably - could point out how unfair that
accusation was.  "Excuse me."

Sarah: but probably true.  All men are insensitive idiots.

Eric: hey i resent that!

She walked out onto the porch and sat on the edge.  She should just get
over this bad mood, she knew.  It was her birthday; it should be a happy
day.  Everyone was being nice and giving her presents and trying to

Eric: a happy day?  Happy day?

Sarah: its never happy on your birthday.

make

her happy.

Everyone but one person.

"Idiot."  Ranma was an idiot.  "Idiot."  And rude.  "Idiot."  And a jerk.
"Idiot."  And she was an even bigger idiot for getting this worked up over
him.  Better that she just stop caring about what he said or did.  It'd
certainly cause her less pain.

Sarah: intelligent words to follow eh Eric?>

Eric: Quiet You!

She sighed unhappily.  It was her birthday.  Why couldn't she get what she
wanted?

Sarah: i betcha Eric here wonders the same thing.

Eric: Humph you never get what you want when they give gifts away.

Multiple footsteps came up behind her.  Nabiki and Ranma, she was certain.
Time to smile vacantly over their present.  She looked over her shoulder.
"Put it on the table, I'll be right-"

She broke off.  Ranma was on his haunches, batting at a pinwheel Nabiki
was waving.  Akane turned halfway around, still sitting on the porch.

Sarah: if they burst into song....

Nabiki was smiling somewhat wickedly as Ranma stared at the pinwheel in
fascination.

Akane finally found her voice.  "What... why... how?"  Almost all her
voice.

Eric: hehehhehehe...

Sarah: hummmm... You know i could like this present.

Nabiki chuckled once.  "No questions.  Just call him."

Eric: on the other hand....

Akane blinked.  "What?"

Sarah: it remains to be seen if Akane accepts it.

"No questions, I said."  Nabiki spoke slowly and firmly.  "Call him."

Eric: hummm...

Sarah: *letting a green glow trickle around her body*

Akane looked uncertainly at the hunched-over figure.  "Ran- Ranma?"

"Not like that, stupid."  Nabiki tossed the pinwheel next to Akane.  Ranma
leapt after it, batting it with his hand.

Sarah: humm... catfist thing?

Eric: I say just magic.  I betcha even if Akane releases him he'll still be
a jerk.

Akane swallowed.  "Here, kitty kitty kitty."

Ranma looked up at her.  He smiled, meowed, and jumped onto her lap.  He
rubbed his nose against her cheek before settling down on his haunches,
still smiling.

Eric: humm... i think i get it...

Sarah: still... either way....

Akane bit her lip, then reached out and began to stroke his hair.  Ranma
snuggled and purred.

Akane let out a long, slow breath and rested her head on top of his,
reaching around scratch Ranma under his chin.  Ranma interrupted his
purring briefly to give her hand a quick kiss.  Akane felt her chest
tighten in response.

Sarah: still... i dunno this is kinda wrong you know.

Nabiki called out from the porch doorway.  "Happy Birthday, Akane.  From
me and Ranma both."

Akane's voice was only a little shaky.  "Thank you."

Eric: *ponder*

Sarah: *sigh*  I'm slightly dissappointed in how this is turning out.

"Gotta go get rid of some pests in my room.  Come in whenever you want
some cake."  Nabiki slid the door closed.

Akane turned her head slightly so that she was speaking into Ranma's hair.
"Thank you, Ranma.  I know you didn't do this voluntarily, but I know
that... that when you're like this you're... I mean, emotions and stuff...
you don't hide what- what you..."  She closed her eyes.  "Anyway, thank
you."

Eric: but even so... that doesnt make it genuine.

Sarah: on the otherhand you have to take what you can get.

Ranma meowed once in a contented sort of way before purring some more.

~*~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I don't know if this fic has been done before.  It sure *seems* like an
idea someone should have thought of already, but I haven't seen it.  Let
me know if this is something that somebody else has already written.

Eric: *dead silence*

Sarah: *dead silence*

Eric: well... a couple of things here.  Like most of your fics there is
something strangely unsettling about them.  Not thats bad its just that they
make me think.

Sarah: first of all, you have an excellent blend here.  A touch of insight
about how Akane and Ranma think, which are always pleasurable to read, the
story is almost secondary to the interaction of the characters and their
thoughts.

Eric: But still the ending is disturbing.  To deprive Ranma of his will is
not necessarily a good thing and it makes Akane's feelings towards him seem
questionable.  Almost false.

Sarah: and yet its poignant and towards the end you feel very sorry for
Akane and she has never been one of my favorite characters.

Eric: its a nifty story rife with potential for exploration into the
characters, taking some of whats in this story and the ideas you created you
could almost write a much larger fanfic than this.

Sarah: I really enjoyed it myself and really i cant think of a better title
it implies a lot.

Eric: thanks.. .and later!

------------
Power doesn't corrupt anymore then guns kill people,
both are merely tools.  If you let something as simplistic
as power corrupt you, then you weren't much of a
person in the first place.
--Laura, Lost Dreams