<As usual, all Takahashi Character's are her's, all original Characters
are mine.>
<Comments and Criticism welcome and appreciated.>
After helping Kasumi with breakfast, Ranma retired out to the
yard to await school. She was unaware of Genma watching her from the
second floor.
Ranma jumped onto the wall that surrounded the Tendo Residence,
her blue eyes looking far out to the horizon..... where the sun was just
now lumbering into the world.
Ranma's eyes met it for a long moment.... something she had done
frequently as of late, then closed her eyes. She raised her arms out
beside her, and began a Kata on the wall with her eyes closed.....
She could feel the wind blowing through her long hair.... and the
soft caress seemed to drive her, move her with it.... in fluid motion.
She could feel the heat of the sun rising to warm her skin, at the same
time the stirring of the leaves reached her ears.... the world was on
fire with life, and her senses seemed to burn with every sensation but
sight. The smell of the morning seemed to permeate the air.
*Things seem so much clearer, when you close your eyes....* Hiroshi had
told her on one of his many philosophical mood-swings. *Close your eyes,
Ranma..... feel the thrum of Life coursing through you, let it flow
within you, and run rampant through your blood.... take in the smells,
the sounds, the feeling....... and laugh....*
Ranma finished the kata, and opened her eyes slowly. She felt
her mouth upturning in a smile, and she opened her mouth and began to
laugh.... not from a joke, or insanity, or to relieve stress.... no, she
laughed to enjoy life, and to meet the morning sun with a laugh on her
lips.
Genma watched, entranced, as his daughter moved with fluid grace.
He watched as Ranma had closed her eyes. He sat, confused, as Ranma
began laughing at the rising sun. *What is the boy doing? Has he lost
his marbles?* Genma wondered. It was something he had wondered quite
often as of late.
Ranma, to Genma's surprise... turned and looked up at Genma, and
smiled. Genma blinked at the serene look on Ranma's face, one of utter
contentment and happiness. Something he had never truly seen on his
boy's face.... It had somehow replaced the constant internal war that
was Ranma.
Ranma then jumped off the wall, flipping in midair and landing
softly on the ground in front of the house. She slowly padded inside and
took a seat opposite her Mother. "Good morning, Mom!" She said in a very
cheerful tone.
Nodoka blinked a moment, and then stared at Ranma with a critical
eye. "Good Morning, Ranma.... why are you so happy all of a sudden?" She
asked, smirking slightly as she poured herself some tea.
Ranma sighed, a light flickering in her blue eyes. "Because I
feel so alive, and happy... for once, everything in my life seems to be
goin' okay. It's all cause of Hiroshi...." Ranma smiled and poured
herself some tea as well, getting a distant, thoughtful look in her eyes
that Nodoka usually marked as Hiroshi's dreamy gaze.
Nodoka frowned suddenly as she thought. Why is it whenever Ranma
mentioned Hiroshi, or someone else mentioned Hiroshi that Ranma got a
dreamy, distant look in her eyes and a soft, happy smile on her lips?
*Hmmm.... something odd is going on here. Maybe I should look
into this.....* Nodoka slowly lifted the cup to her lips, taking a small
sip, then lowering it. She looked at her daughter for a long moment as
Ranma sipped her own tea with that lost look on her face, and a air of
utter contentment.
Nodoka, despite her suspicions, had to smile. Never had she seen
Ranko, or Ranma for that matter, so happy and full of life. *Surely it
can wait, though. Whatever could make my Ranma happy couldn't be so bad
as I fear.*
"So, you've decided to wear your hair down, Ranma?" Nodoka asked,
noting the beautiful mane of hair that framed Ranma's face and cascaded
down to her mid chest and back. It was very good looking, but Nodoka
wondered WHY Ranma had decided upon the style.
Ranma blinked at the question, then shrugged. "I dunno..... I
felt kinda bored having the same style all the time, so I decided to try
somethin' different." Ranma ran a hand through her hair, marvelling at
how smooth and healthy her hair was.
Nodoka sipped her tea softly again, then looked carefully at
Ranma. "Now what have I told you about your language?"
Ranma turned slightly red at always being chastised about her bad
verbal skills. "Sorry Mother, I will try to do the best I can at
correcting my speech." She said carefully, making sure she didn't make
any mistakes with her grammar and pronunciation.
Nodoka smiled, and nodded her head. "Much Better, Ranma. Maybe
there is hope for you yet."
Ryouga wandered into the room, a dazed look on his face.... one
of surprise and shock. His eye twitched and his body was tense.
Ranma and Nodoka both looked at Ryouga, Ranma glared at Ryouga
through narrowed eyes. "Whadja do this time, Mr. P?"
"I.... I..... I...." Ryouga mumbled, then lifted the letter up to
his face and read it again. His eyes seemed like they were going to
bulge out of his head.
Ranma frowned, wondering why Ryouga hadn't responded to her
obvious taunt. Ranma's Mother frowned from Ranma's inability to speak
like an intelligent person for more than 5 minutes.
Ranma jumped up, snatching the paper from Ryouga's hands.
"What's got you so worked up?" Ranma asked as Ryouga fell out of his
mental coma and began to get angry.
"It's none of your business Ranma!!! Gimme it back, before I
pound your skull in!" Ryouga yelled, his hands twitching in a clawlike
position.
Ranma looked at the note. "Hmm. Dear Ryouga, I was wondering if
you would like to be my partner for the Martial Arts Ballroom Dance at
the Prom.... Sincerely your Friend, Akane Tendo," Ranma shoved the paper
back at Ryouga, who's face was quite red by now and a look of murder was
in his eyes.
"Now what is so..... ?!? eep?" Ranma read the message over again.
"Akane!?!? AKAAAAAAAAAAANE!!!!" Ranma yelled at the Top of her lungs,
just as Ryouga ground her Skull into the ground with his elbow.
"Damn you, Ranma!!! Can you never leave me in peace and leave
what is mine alone??! Must you always corrupt and defile everything in
your presence, even the love letter dear Akane has sent me?!?! Are you so
jealous, Ranma?!"
Akane ran downstairs at the obviously pained yell from Ranma.
"Ranma?! What is it?" She asked, then looked at Ryouga and how he was
grounding Ranma's head into the floor.
"Ranma!!! You called me down here to tell me Ryouga was here?!
How thoughtful of you!" Akane smiled at Ranma, who was in very much pain.
Suddenly Ryouga left Ranma on the ground and approached Akane, a
flower in his hand. "Did you mean it, Akane? Do you really want to go
with me?" Ryouga asked, a
hopeful tone in his voice.
Ranma picked herself off the ground with a growl, glaring at
Ryouga and Akane. "....Ryouuuuga....." She snarled low in her throat.
"Well, I guess. I mean, I need a partner if I'm going to
challenge Ranma, right?" Akane said with an oblivious look in her eyes as
she gazed at Ryouga.
Ryouga was at the brink of tears. "Oh Akane, I would be your
date anytime!" He said as his heart soared, threatening to pull him into
the clouds. "Here, this is for you!" He offered her the flower he had,
and Akane took it.
"Thank you, Ryouga! You're such a sweet friend...." Akane beamed,
and then looked at Ranma, who was standing by Ryouga with a very angry
expression.
"So, Akane, you wanna go with Ryouga, do you? Fine by me. Just
peachy," Ranma's voice dripped with Sarcasm, which caused her Mother to
frown in dissatisfaction at her.
Akane looked at Ranma with a slightly angry look on her face.
"Don't tell me you actually thought I would go with you? That's just
stupid, Ranma.... how could I go WITH you when I have to CHALLENGE you??"
Everything froze in Ranma's head at those words, a blank look
coming over her face. How could she be so stupid? Assuming Akane would
go with her to a dance where they would have to challenge eachother.
That meant Ranma didn't have a date!!! Where would she find one
so soon??? How could she have overlooked such an obvious necessity! A
Partner for the battle!
"Geeze, Ranma, and I thought you were dense before...." Ryouga
mumbled, then twitched as Ranma's fist smashed into his face.
"Shaddup, P-chan...." She growled angrily.
"Ranma, stop picking on Ryouga!!! Seriously, what is it with you
two?" Akane asked, and promptly sat at her spot around the table.
Ranma snapped her fingers at a sudden inspiration. Ukyou!
Shampoo! They would help him out!
Ranma sat to eat her breakfast, eager to get through the day at
school so he could go seek his partner. "You just wait, Akane.... I'm
gonna win that contest fair and square."
"If you do, Ranma, I'll concede... but until then, you just keep
on wishing," Akane smiled with a smug expression on her face.
Ranma frowned at Akane's reaction. *I'll show you, Akane....
just as soon as I talk to Ucchan.....*
"Ranma, Ryouga, Sit down please... Breakfast will be out in a few
minutes." Nodoka looked at both of them with a stern glare, especially
Ryouga... who looked as if he was ready to rip Ranma's head off.
Ranma quickly sat down from the warning glare, but it took Ryouga
several moments to comply.
It was going to be a very long day.....
* * * * *
"I'm sorry, Ranchan.... I can't," Ukyou silently flipped her
Okonomiyaki, a sad andupset look on her face.
Ranma had come to ask her to the Prom, to be his partner for the
Martial Arts Ballroom Battle held annually. She had been on cloud nine
for the whole of one minute before realizing she couldn't go.
Ranma stared abashed at Ukyou. "Why?? Did I do something wrong?
Please, Ucchan, I really need a partner!"
Ukyou flipped the Okonomiyaki again, then sighed deeply, she
turned around to look at Ranma, and stared once more at her hair. It had
been bugging her the entire day, seeing Ranma's hair unbound. The length
of it completely destroyed the image of a man she had seen whenever Ranma
turned female.
"It's not you're fault, Ranchan... don't you ever think that!! I
care about you a lot, and would help you out in any way that I could....
but.... I have to go to Kyoto and see my Mother. I have to talk to her,
before she makes me come back to live in Kyoto," Ukyou leaned against the
counter.
She had felt so weary lately, since she had realized that Ranma
would never be hers she had lost some of the usual vigor and cheeriness
that her business was known for. She'd also lost several customers, even
WITH Shampoo suggesting her Restaurant to the customers that didn't
prefer the chinese food.
Ranma sighed. "I'd forgotten about that..... sorry, Ucchan.....
I guess I'll hafta find a partner elsewhere. I hope everything goes well
with you and your Mother... cause I would be very sad if you had to leave
Nerima....," Ranma smiled supportively to Ukyou.
Ukyou nodded, looking up at Ranma with a weary gaze. "I know,
Ranchan. I wouldn't be too well if I moved back to Kyoto either. All of
my friends are here, and you're here. I would feel terribly guilty for
leaving my best friend behind," Ukyou winked halfheartedly, and Ranma
smiled.
"Thanks, Ucchan, for being such a great friend. I really had
wished you would go with me, but I guess I'll keep searching," Ranma
took Ukyou's hand for a moment, and with a slight squeeze stood and left
the restaurant.
Ukyou stared after the girl for several moments, a sad look
coming across her face. Akane had taught Ukyou much when they had been
teamed up against Ranma.... and many things she did not want to hear or
learn. Like Ranma didn't love her, but saw her as a friend and possibly
a sister.
It still hurt, Ukyou mused, even after a week of acting as if
nothing had happened. She still hurt for Ranma, longed for his love....
but it was not to be. She had realized this, first, when Nodoka had
broken off all engagements. She had realized that she had lost the
battle.... that Ranma's heart belonged to Akane.
Many people had tried to tell her, Hiroshi, Ranma, Shampoo
even.... that Ranma saw her as just a friend. Nothing more, and nothing
less could come of that relationship. She had, for so very long,
disbelieved it. She couldn't accept it as what it was.....
Finally, when she did, she saw the pointless futility of the
battle. There had never truly been any choice. Ranma Loved Akane.
Akane Loved Ranma. In the end, they would be together no matter what.
When Kirin had kidnapped Akane, Ranma had followed to get her
back from the prince.....
When Toma had taken them all prisoner, it was not Ukyou that
Ranma saved, no, it was Akane. Akane Tendo..... whose kind soul and
generous spirit had braved death itself to thwart Saffron's attack upon
Ranma.
She had heard of the grief on Ranma's face, heard of the pain
and suffering in his soul when he had believed Akane dead. She should
have known then that she had lost him. She should have known then that
she had never really had him.
"Mistress.... are you all right?" Konatsu asked, a touch of worry
on his feminine face. Ukyou looked at him for a long moment before the
words seemed to register.
Ukyou nodded very slowly. "Yes, Konatsu.... just reminiscing on
sour grapes. Excuse me, but I think I have to go pack.... can you run
for the last two hours and lock up for me?"
Konatsu beamed happily. "Anything for you, Ukyou."
Ukyou nodded sadly. She didn't love Konatsu, but he cared so
much for her.... she knew what it was like to have the one you love
reject you.... and she felt as if she was hurting Konatsu more by letting
him stay.
She would tell him, soon, how she felt. She wouldn't let him
delude himself any longer. As soon as she returned, she would tell him,
and set him free.
With that thought, Ukyou walked upstairs to pack her things.
* * * * *
Ranma's jaw hung open for a long moment as she stared at Shampoo.
"You've got to be kidding...."
Shampoo fixed Ranma with a stern glare as she mixed the boiling
water and ramen noodles. "Do these eye lie? You close mouth now, Ranma,
it make you look like codfish," Shampoo stopped mixing, and turned to
look at Ranma.
"Is there a problem, Shampoo?" Mousse poked his head in, looking
between Shampoo and Ranma. "Oh, Hi Saotome. Long time no see," Shampoo
continued glaring at Ranma.
"Is already decided, yes? Shampoo go to Prom with Mousse. Nabiki
already buy pass for us. I sorry, Ranma....." Shampoo looked at the
obviously abashed Ranma.
"That's great... Just great.... Ukyou has to leave and you're
already going with someone else....," Ranma murmured in a dejected tone.
"Hey! For your information, Ranma, I'm going with my wife.....
and this was decided at least two weeks ago. Sorry, Saotome," Mousse
left the room, going back out to serve customers and take orders.
Shampoo brought several orders out to the counter, where Mousse
would find them, laying the receipts by the dinners. Ranma followed in
stride.
"Geeze, what the heck am I supposed to do now, Shampoo? I don't
got a date, and I don't got a partner for the contest that Akane
challenged me to!" Ranma stood in mute shock, a panicked look on her
face. She had never walked away from a challenge, Ryouga's excepted...
though that was understandable.
What was she going to do?? Where could she find a partner a
single day before the Dance? Most people would already have dates, and
most people didn't have any martial arts skills.
"Maybe you go with Kodachi?" Shampoo offered absently. Ranma
shuddered, then sneered at Shampoo, who was grinning like a cat.
"Not funny, Shampoo. I don't need a date THAT bad, and I need
Kodachi's
company like I need a bullet in the head. I'm serious, what am I gonna
do?" Ranma sat roughly down onto a chair, holding her head in her hands.
"Maybe you ask Hiroshi what you do?" Shampoo offered, pouring
Ranma some tea. "Here, you drink. You have long day, it look like,"
Shampoo watched Ranma for another long moment, and then went back to her
cooking.
"I dunno..... I don't think Hiroshi would have any ideas that I
haven't tried. I could ask him, but he's been avoiding me recently....,"
Ranma suddenly felt the bitter pangs of sadness as she recalled how
apprehensive and unsure Hiroshi had looked that morning in Hinako's
class. In fact, for the entire day.
Daisuke had joined Ranma for lunch, spouting the usual quipps to
the disgrace of Kuno and some of the other unlikeables of the student
body.
"Why sappy-boy avoid Ranma? He usually very ready to help....,"
Shampoo turned and looked at Ranma's sad attitude, and frowned. "You
upset with Shampoo, that she mention boy?"
Ranma shook her head, and looked up from her tea. "No, It's not
that... it's just.... well, Hiroshi's possibly my best friend... and it
hurts that he would just avoid me like I was the plague er' somethin',"
Ranma shrugged, and finished the tea slowly.
"Ah.... maybe you should go talk to sappy-boy, if it bother you
so," Shampoo
couldn't see the uncertain look on Ranma's face with her back turned to
the red-head.
"Yeah.... maybe I should....," Perhaps it was time to pay Hiroshi
another visit... Ranma had been wondering lately about her friend, and
she certainly missed Kaehmi and Memeko. "I think I will.... thanks
anyways, Shampoo..."
"Is no problem, I help when can... I sorry cannot go with you to
dance, but promised Mousse would take him," Shampoo smiled softly for a
moment. If someone had told her but a month before that she would be
married to Mousse, she would have blown her top and attacked them in an
instant.
Yet, the more and more she spent in her husband's company, the
more and more she decided that Mousse was the happiest thing to ever
happen to her. She shuddered to think what her life would have been like
without the resolute pining that Mousse always provided.... Mousse,
before she realized her own love for him, had always made her feel
important... that she was the most important thing in the world.
Perhaps that is why she was so stubborn with Ranma.... perhaps
she could not understand why Ranma didn't fall at her feet and proclaim
his undying love to her, as Mousse did. Perhaps she wanted to feel
important, to feel like she was the world to someone. It was surprising,
to herself and her friends, that Mousse turned out to be that Someone.
* * * * *
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