The latest chapters for you
Will be vacationing for a couple of weeks - I don't know
when more is coming, and this leaves you hanging.....



"A Change of Scene"
1998, June "KaraOhki" Geraci

Part 8 - chapters 39-43

More chapters can be found at
http:www/fortunecity.com/victorian/rothko/228
comments to karaohki@snet.net

The characters from Ranma 1/2 in this fiction are the
creations of Rumiko Takahashi, and borrowed without
her permission.
This story was written for non-commercial purposes only.



                            Chapter 39

Shampoo sat at her dressing table, brushing her hair.  There was a knock
on her door, and she
turned around.

"Yes?"

"It's Mousse, may I come in?"

Mousse entered before Shampoo could reply, which drew a frown from her.
He ignored it, and
leaned over to kiss her cheek.  Shampoo ducked, and got up quickly.

"What you want, Mousse?"

"Cologne said you were going into the city.  Why?"

Shampoo shrugged.

"Is day off.  Going shopping."

Shampoo picked up her purse, walked past Mousse, and went downstairs.
Mousse looked less
than pleased.  Shampoo's behavior was much too independent.  When she
became his wife, that
would be the first thing to change.

*****

It was nearly 10:00, and Shampoo sighed.  She'd been sitting on a bench
in the lobby of the
aquarium for quite some time, and had concluded that Shiro was not
coming.  She was on her
way to the ticket line when he ran inside, somewhat out of breath.

"Shampoo!"

Shampoo smiled, and held out both hands for Shiro's.  He squeezed them,
and then continued to
hold one as they got into line with the rest of the crowd.

Shampoo and Shiro spoke on neutral subjects as they toured the aquarium,
but finally Shampoo's
curiosity got the better of her.

"Your letter say Ranma getting married, Shiro.  When?"

Shiro looked down at Shampoo.  She was waiting anxiously for his answer,
twisting her hands
together.

"Next Saturday."

"Shampoo must go to wedding."

"Why?  Are you going to cause trouble?"

Shampoo shook her head violently.

"No, Shiro.  Shampoo must...must see for herself that Ranma is happy."

Shiro took Shampoo's arm and continued walking.  Shampoo gazed blankly
at the tanks as she
passed them, too preoccupied to notice what was in them.  Shiro guided
her to a bench, and they
sat down.

"Shampoo, you can come as my guest if you want to, but won't it hurt you
too much?

Shampoo smiled weakly as she replied.

"Not if you hold my hand."

*****

Shiro was not the only one to leave the dormitory early Saturday
morning.  Ranma met Akane at
the soccer field again, and there was another flash and another
explosion, a slightly louder one.

Ranma smiled proudly at Akane, and started walking her toward the
cafeteria.

"No doubt about it, Akane.  You've got it."

Akane smiled back, and then looked rather solemn.

"I hope it's never necessary to use it."

*****

Ranma and Akane spent the morning at the apartment, where they finished
the last of the
painting, and then Ranma accompanied Akane to the theater for rehearsal.

Ranma was watching from the wings when he overheard a conversation
between two of the set
painters, who were spending more time watching the rehearsal than
painting.

"You really think Anne is pretty?  I suppose she's all right, but
blondes just don't interest me.
Give me dark hair and brown eyes any time."

"You prefer dark-haired girls?  In that case, the prettiest would be
Akane and Mishi - who do you
like better?"

"They're so different, it's hard to say.  Mishi has those fantastic long
legs, but Akane is so cute,
with those big brown eyes."

The painters reluctantly tore their eyes away from the girls and went
back to work while Ranma
laughed silently.  Since the day he'd met Akane, she'd always had more
admirers than he could
count.  He wondered if she knew she'd picked up another one.

*****

Shiro and Shampoo had lunch together, and a small argument when Shiro
insisted on paying for
the check.

"Amazon woman does not need man to pay for her!  Can take care of
herself."

When Shiro heard that, he half expected Shampoo to hit him, but he stood
his ground.

"When I go on a date, I pick up the tab!"

"This no date! This . . ."

"Well, Shampoo.  What is it?"

Shampoo was still trying to formulate an answer when Shiro snatched the
check and paid the
waiter.

Afterwards, they idly strolled the streets, looking through shop
windows.

"Are you shopping for something special, Shampoo?"

Shampoo laughed.

"No.  Shampoo tell Mousse she going shopping, so must come home with
something."

"In that case, let's try this store."

Shampoo opened the door of the department store they were passing, and
waved Shampoo
inside.  She wondered what he had in mind, and was surprised when he
took her to the ladies'
department and began to look at sweaters.

"I think you should try this one on, Shampoo.  The color suits you."

Shampoo couldn't help but agree.  If she'd been alone, she would have
gone to that very sweater.

Shampoo entered the dressing room and sat down to think.  She didn't
know Shiro very well, and
he was showing her a side of himself that he hadn't before.  She'd
thought he was just a nice guy,
sweet, but not very assertive.  It seemed to her that Shiro was becoming
very possessive about
her, and she wondered why she liked it.  When Mousse was possessive, it
bothered her.

Five minutes later, Shampoo came out, modeling the sweater.

"It's perfect, Shampoo.  You look great!"

Shampoo smiled, and went back to change.  When she saw the price tag on
the sweater, she
folded it carefully, ready to put it back on the shelf.  It was much too
expensive.  When Shiro
took it from her hands and paid for it, she made a weak sound of
protest, and Shiro narrowed his
eyes.

"Don't even try to argue with me.  I'm not listening."

Shampoo didn't argue, and soon was back out on the sidewalk with Shiro,
one hand holding his,
and the other holding the package.



                            Chapter 40

Mishi unfolded Akane's kimono and held it up.  It was silk, in a soft
yellow shade.  Mishi had
hand painted it with cranes and flowers, and then added embroidery and
beadwork.

Akane took the kimono from her friend's hands, and caught her breath.
Something this lovely
would have been expensive beyond belief if she'd going shopping for it.

"What did your professor say, Mishi?"

Mishi's smile grew wider.

"She loved it, Akane.  There's going to be an exhibition in Tokyo after
the holidays, and she
wants me to display it.  I told her I'd have to check with you."

Akane put the kimono down and hugged Mishi.

"I'll bring it to you when we get back from our honeymoon, Mishi.  Is it
going to be an
exhibition only, or a competition?"

"Both, I think, but I won't win anything."

"Yes you will."

Akane tried the kimono on, and turned in front of the mirror, looking at
herself from all angles.
It was a perfect fit, and needed no adjustments.

"Mishi, I can't thank you enough.  Won't you reconsider, and come to the
wedding?  There's
plenty of room in the house for you."

Akane knew before Mishi replied that she hadn't changed her mind.

"I don't go to weddings, Akane."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm never going to get married.  I plan to have a career, and a
husband would be in the
way."

Akane didn't respond immediately, and looked thoughtful as she took of
the kimono, and
dressed.

"Mishi, not all men would mind a woman having a career.  I don't
understand."

"Akane, when I'm inspired I don't eat, I don't sleep, and sometimes I
don't even get out of my
pajamas.  I just draw.  What would a husband say?  I know how my fianc�
felt about it, and that's
why we broke up."

"Your fianc�?"

"Yes.  He thought my plans to be a designer were foolish, and he wanted
me to marry him and
stay home.  He didn't even want me to go to college.  If that's what a
husband would be like I'll
stay single, thank you."

Akane thought to herself that Mishi's fianc� had been hopelessly behind
the times, but she didn't
say so aloud

*****

Ranma followed Shiro's instructions very carefully as he applied the
stain to the chair.  Shiro
worked away at another chair, and Ranma was going to ask his friend why
he was being so quiet
when there was a knock on the door.  Ranma got up and let Mrs. Takai in.

"Good morning.  I wanted to see what you were doing with the furniture."

Mrs. Takai looked at the pieces that were already stained, and beamed.

"That's lovely.  These things are so old I didn't think anything could
help them."

Mrs. Takai brought her hands from behind he back, revealing a plate of
cookies.

"I thought the two of you might need a snack."

*****

"I wonder if Akane could learn how to make these?"

Ranma took another bite of the cookie, and laughed.

"Yeah, right.  I must be dreaming."

Shiro didn't respond, and Ranma realized that his friend wasn't
listening.

"Shiro, is something on your mind, or are you just tired?  You got in
kinda late last night."

Shiro didn't look at his friend when he replied.

"I met Shampoo in Tokyo yesterday, Ranma.  She wants to come to the
wedding."

Ranma turned white.

"No, not again!"

"Just listen, Ranma.  I remember what you told me about what she did,
but I think this is
different.  Shampoo said she needs to see that you're happy.  Maybe this
will help her let go."

Ranma looked closely at Shiro, and realized that his friend wasn't
telling him everything.

"You already told her she could come, didn't you?"

"Um, yes, I did.  I'm sorry."

"That's all right, Shiro.  Shampoo can come as far as I'm concerned, but
you have to help me
explain why to Akane.  I don't think she's going to be too thrilled."

Ranma had been right.  When Akane came with their lunch and Shiro
apologetically told her
what he'd promised Shampoo, she looked very annoyed.  To Ranma's
surprise, though, she
didn't protest.

Later, they left Shiro still working on the last chair so that Akane
could go to the final rehearsal
before the holiday break.  Once they'd left the apartment, Ranma was
able to ask Akane about
Shampoo's request to come to their wedding.

"Akane, are you sure you feel all right about having her there?  We can
always tell Shiro we
changed our minds."

Akane stopped walking, and glared at Ranma.

"I can't believe you're being so nice to her!  How can you, Ranma?
She's been nothing but
trouble since we first met her.  How many times has she tried to kill
me?  Does that Kiss of
Death still count?  Am I going to have to worry about her for the rest
of my life?  I wish she
would just go away and leave us alone!"

Ranma put his arms around Akane, and held her close to him.  Akane
rested her cheek on his
chest, and he kissed the top of her head.

"I don't think you're in any danger from her, Akane, not that you
couldn't defend yourself.
Shampoo is changing.  Yeah, she's still an Amazon, but I think living
here so long is beginning
to rub off on her.  Cologne won't like that.  I'm not trying to be nice
to her by letting her come to
the wedding, Akane.  I'm doing it for Shiro.  Don't be jealous."

Ranma nearly lost his balance from the force of Akane's shove.

"You think I'm jealous?  BAKA!"

Ranma grinned.

"That's better.  I've got my violent, uncute, tomboy fiancee back.  I
was wondering where you'd
gone, Akane.  You've been too meek and quiet."

Akane's eyes widened in surprise.

"I have?"

"Yeah, you have.  Now should we let Shampoo come, or not?"

Ranma picked himself off the sidewalk, rubbing the back of his head.
Akane hadn't malleted
him in a long time.  She grinned wickedly, and helped him up.

"She can come, Ranma.  Shiro already said yes to her, and I'm sure that
she'd show up even if
we said no.  At least we know she's coming, so if she's going to cause
trouble we'll be prepared
for it."

*****

Rehearsal was over, and Ranma noticed that all the stage hands and the
set builders were
gathered in the wings, as if waiting for something.  Then he realized
that Akane and the other
cast members had disappeared, and approached Yoshimi.

"Where did everyone go, Yoshimi?"

"Hadn't you heard?  The Sailor Scout uniforms are ready, and the girls
are trying them on."

A few minutes later, the girls left the dressing rooms and gathered on
the stage.  There was a
burst of applause from everyone assembled, and quite a few whistles.
Then Ranma overhead the
student who'd been painting the sets talking to his friend.

"I've made up my mind.  I like Akane best, and I'm going to ask her out
right now."

Ranma started toward him, but the young man had already dashed onto the
stage and up to
Akane.  Ranma saw him droop, turn around, and walk back to his friend.

"She's getting married in a few days!"

Ranma looked back toward his fiancee, and realized that she was smiling
at him.  He had to
admit that Akane looked adorable in the Sailor Mercury costume, but he
still thought the skirt
was too short.

*****

Students were beginning to pack up and leave their dorms for the
holidays.  Shiro had lent
Ranma his car, and he ran up and down the stairs, loading it with boxes.
A couple of students
watched him for a while before stopping him.

"Saotome, are you and Hayasuka moving out of the dorm?"

"No, just me.  Akane and I are getting married."

"What, are you crazy?"

Ranma was taken aback, and it showed.  When he didn't speak, his friend
continued.

"How old are the both of you?"

"I just turned nineteen, and Akane will be nineteen in a couple of
months.  Why?"

"You're too young to tie yourselves down like that.  Don't you want to
have some excitement
first?  You should take time to travel, to see things, to do things."

Ranma thought back over the past two years, and tried not to laugh, but
how could they know?
His friends would never believe him if he told them about his trips to
China, or of the dragon he
and Akane had faced, or any of the other adventures they'd had.  He just
grinned at them before
grabbing a few more boxes.

"Believe me, I haven't missed out on anything."

When Ranma finished transporting his boxes, he drove to Akane's
dormitory for hers.  She
helped him carry them downstairs, and then went back up for a large box
containing several gift-
wrapped packages.  He looked at it curiously as he placed it in the car.

"What's this, Akane?"

"Some of the girls threw a little surprise party for me last night.
They made me promise not to
open the boxes until we were together."

*****

The kitchen furniture was not completely dry when they arrived at the
apartment, so Ranma and
Akane
piled the counter and floor with boxes and spent the next couple of
hours putting everything in its
place.  They were hungry when they were finished, but decided to open
the box of gifts before
they went out.  They put the box between them on the futon, and began
removing gifts from it.

The girls had given them practical, pretty things for their home,
accompanied by little notes
wishing them happiness.  Ranma picked up one of the boxes, started to
pull at the bow, and then
noticed a note on it - "please open last".  He put it down and opened
something else, but kept
finding his eyes drawn back to the note.

"Who gave us that one, Akane?"

"It was from the whole group, Ranma.  It's really light - I wonder
what's inside."

When the mysterious box was the only one unopened, Ranma eagerly pulled
off the ribbon and
paper, and lifted the lid.  He started to remove the tissue paper,
stopped, and handed the box to
Akane.

"This is definitely for you, Akane.  Take a look."

Akane looked into the blush and blushed.  She lifted the nightgown out
of the box and unfolded
it.  It was midnight blue, trimmed with ribbons and lace.

"Hold it up so I can see it better, Akane."

Akane grinned mischievously at Ranma, re-folded the nightgown, and
returned it to the box.

"Nope.  You can see it Saturday night."

Ranma looked disappointed for a second, and then his grin matched
Akane's.  He got up, held
out his hand for hers, and they walked through their two little rooms,
looking at the results of all
their hard work.

"What do you think, Akane?"

"I think it looks like home."



                            Chapter 41

After their families stopped hugging them, Ranma was able to introduce
Shiro to everyone, and
they all sat down to dinner.  Akane expected the wedding to be the main
topic of conversation,
but Genma and Soun had other ideas.

"Akane, it will be so good to have you home again.  I've missed my
little girl so much."

"Daddy?"

"Son, I've written up some ad copy to put in the paper.  I want you to
look at it."

"Ad copy, Pop?"

"For your classes, Ranma.  We've got to start getting students in."

It took a few seconds for what their parents were saying to register,
and the couple looked at each
other in shock.

"What makes you think we're staying home to teach, Pop?"

The stuttering coming from Genma told Ranma that his father didn't
really have an answer.
Akane could see her father looking just as embarrassed, and took
advantage of the silence to
speak.

"Daddy, we're not going to quit school just because we're getting
married.  Taking over the dojo
can wait."

Soun didn't respond, but Ranma's sharp ears caught what he muttered to
Genma.

"I told you that wouldn't work, Saotome."

Akane caught the words too, and felt it necessary to change the subject.

"How many people are coming tomorrow, Daddy?"

Soun got up and took a guest list from a nearby table, handing it to
Akane.  She and Ranma read
it together, and Akane's surprise showed.  Very few people had been
added to the list she and
Ranma had originally written.

"Daddy!  Thank you!  I'm so glad you listened to us, and kept things
small."

Soun walked out of the room, muttering to himself.  All Akane could
catch were the words
"damn cowards".  She started to speak, but Kasumi caught her eye, and
frowned.  Then Nodoka
held her finger to her lips.  Genma soon followed Soun, and Kasumi
waited until she could no
longer hear his footsteps before she spoke.

"That's not what they wanted, Akane.  Father invited nearly everyone he
did last time - except
Kodachi, Kuno and Shampoo, of course - but almost everyone refused to
come."

"Why?"

Nodoka responded.

"What do you think, dear?  They remember what happened last year.  Some
of your friends'
parents even said they would be risking the safety of their children if
they allowed them to come.
If I were you, I wouldn't mention it again."

Ranma nodded at his mother, and reviewed the list again.

"We got what we wanted, Akane, but it's too bad that it upset your
father.  I wonder what Pop
said."

Kasumi flushed.

"I can't even repeat it Ranma."

Nabiki laughed, and winked at him.

"I can.  Do you want me to?"

"No thanks."

Nodoka looked at Nabiki, shocked.

"Nabiki!  A young lady shouldn't use such language."

Nabiki just laughed, and rolled her eyes.

*****

Kasumi had been quietly observing Shiro, who hadn't spoken much.  He
seemed overwhelmed
by the conversation in the room.  Ranma had warned him that it might be
odd, but this was more
than he expected.  She could see that he was uncomfortable, and gently
drew him into
conversation.  Kasumi was curious to see what kind of man had the
ability to attract Shampoo
away from Ranma, and found that she liked him.

After a while, everyone started to drift upstairs to bed.  When Ranma
stood up, Kasumi saw him
smile at Akane, and make a familiar gesture.  She frowned, and reached
up to take his hand.

"No rooftop tonight, Ranma."

"What?"

"I said, no rooftop tonight.  We had some snow a few days ago, and I'm
sure it's slippery up
there.  Besides, it's too cold out."

Ranma looked at Akane's surprised expression, which mirrored his own,
and started laughing.

"How long have you known about this, Kasumi?"

"From the beginning, Ranma."

"Kasumi, is there anything that goes on in this house that you don't
know about?"

"Not much."

Ranma laughed all the way up the stairs as he walked Akane to her room.

"Your sister had me fooled, Akane.  There's more going on behind that
quiet front she puts on
than we know."

"She surprised me too, Ranma."

Akane put her arms around her fianc�, and leaned into his embrace.

"I wish it was tomorrow night, Ranma."

"Are you nervous about tomorrow, Akane?"

"Just a little."

"Don't worry.  We won't let anything go wrong."

Akane nodded, entered her room, and closed the door.  Ranma stood there
for a few seconds, and
entered his own room.  He reached into his pocket, pulled out a letter,
and sat down on the futon.
For what felt like the hundredth time, Ranma re-read the letter.

          "You will not find the happiness you seek with Akane.  I
           will not permit you to marry her."

The letter was unsigned, but the postmark read "Morioka".  Ranma
re-folded the letter, and
placed it in his bureau.  What did Kuno have in mind?

Akane sat in bed, reading the letter she'd received from Kuno again.
She started to get up so that
she could show it to Ranma, but forced herself to stay where she was.
At least one of them
should be able to sleep tonight.  Akane turned off the lamp and settled
down, but Kuno's words
kept coming back to her.

          "I will not allow you to ruin your life by marrying that man."




                            Chapter 42

Ranma finished dressing, and left his room.  He walked toward Akane's
room to see if she was
up, but Kasumi appeared in front of him, carrying a covered tray.

"Breakfast is waiting for you downstairs, Ranma."

"Great.  I'll get Akane."

Kasumi stood in front of Akane's closed door.

"No, Ranma.  Akane is getting breakfast in bed, and you can't see her."

"Why not?"

"Because you can't see your bride before the wedding, it's bad luck."

Ranma laughed, and reached for the doorknob, but Kasumi slapped his
hand, and nearly lost
control of the tray she was holding.  Ranma steadied it for her, but she
wouldn't get out of the
way.

"Kasumi, you know Akane and I don't believe in that nonsense!  Now let
me past."

"No, Ranma.  Maybe if you hadn't barged into Akane's room last year
you'd be married by now.
Now go downstairs."

Ranma opened his mouth to argue with Kasumi, and Akane's voice came from
behind the closed
door.

"Don't bother arguing, Ranma.  Kasumi won't let me out, and she won't
let you in.  I told her it
was silly too, but she's not listening."

Ranma sighed, and gave up.

"Okay love, let's humor her."

Peals of laughter came from the other side of the door, and Ranma
grinned, turned, and walked
down the stairs.  Kasumi watched him go, and went into Akane's room.
Akane took the
tray, sipped her tea, and picked at her breakfast.

"You're hardly eating a thing, Akane.  Aren't you hungry?

"No, Sis."

Kasumi sat down on the bed, and looked at her sister closely.

"You're nervous, aren't you?"

"Ranma asked me the same question last night.  Yes, I am.  I suppose
that's normal."

Akane looked indignant, and continued.

"I don't think Ranma is nervous at all.  That's not fair!"

"You wouldn't think Ranma wasn't nervous if you'd just seen him, Akane."

Akane made a face at her sister before replying.

"Yes, but you won't let me."

"Eat your breakfast, Akane."

*****

Shampoo rose early and dressed quietly.  She carried her shoes down to
the kitchen, took out
something to eat, and left the house.  Cologne would not approve of her
attending Ranma's
wedding, and Shampoo wasn't about to allow herself to be stopped.

Shampoo entered the dojo with the caterers, and sat in a corner,
watching them set up.  She had a
rather long wait ahead of her, but she doubted if Cologne would think to
look for her here.

Cologne was annoyed when she found Shampoo missing.  Her
great-granddaughter was probably
off somewhere mourning the loss of Ranma.

For her part, she was angry at the entire situation.  Shampoo had failed
to gain Ranma as a
husband, and would probably be considered outcast when she returned
home.

Cologne had planned to avenge the insult to Shampoo's honor by attacking
Ranma's bride, but
now that would not be possible.  She clutched the court order in her
hand, cursing Nabiki Tendo.
If she even set food on the Tendo property, she, Mousse and Shampoo
would end up in prison,
and Cologne didn't want to spend any more time in Japan than was
necessary.  She had been here
long enough.

*****

When Ranma went upstairs to change clothes, he found Kasumi making up
the futon.  When he
looked again, he realized that it wasn't the one he'd slept in, but a
larger one.

"What's this, Kasumi?"

"It's your bed, Ranma.  I moved the old one out."

"But we won't be staying tonight, Kasumi."

Kasumi looked momentarily confused, and then nodded.

"I didn't think you would, Ranma, but Father has the idea that you and
Akane will be spending
your honeymoon here, celebrating the holidays with us.  Where are you
going?"

"If I didn't tell Akane where, Kasumi, I'm not telling you.  The only
thing she knows is that it's
somewhere in the mountains."

"I guess Father has been assuming too much, Ranma."

Kasumi kissed Ranma's cheek, causing him to turn bright red.

"You two can take very good care of yourselves, I'm sure.  Now it's time
for me to help Akane
get dressed."

*****

Kasumi and Nabiki couldn't stop admiring Akane's kimono.  They were
disappointed that Mishi
hadn't come so they could tell her how lovely it was.  There was a knock
on the door, and Nabiki
opened it to find Shiro there.  He was already dressed in his kimono,
and was carrying a large
box.

"Akane's flowers were just delivered, Nabiki.  May I come in?"

Shiro opened the box, and handed Akane a bouquet of yellow roses and
baby's breath tied up
with yellow ribbons.  Shiro didn't say anything at all, but just stood
there admiring Akane, and
then he turned and crossed the hall to Ranma's room.  Ranma was
dressing, and Shiro began to
help him with his kimono.

"I just brought Akane her flowers, Ranma.  Wait 'til you see her - she's
going to stun you."

"That uncute girl?  You must be kidding."

Shiro's eyes opened wide, and then Ranma grinned at him.

"Just joking, Shiro.  'Uncute' was my word for describing Akane for a
long time."

"If you say so, Ranma.  I would have taken you for an eye examination.
Let's go downstairs."



                            Chapter 43

The Saotomes arrived at the house, and Ranma encountered his mother as
she was coming up the
stairs.  She took both of his hands and looked at him, beaming, and then
kissed him.

"You look so manly, Ranma!  How is Akane?"

"I don't know, Mom.  Kasumi won't let me near her.  Why don't you go in
and find out for me."

Ranma continued downstairs to join his father, and Nodoka entered
Akane's room.  Akane was
sitting on the bed with her sisters, and she jumped up to hug Nodoka.

"Mother Saotome!"

Nodoka stopped short momentarily.  This was the first time Akane had
called her "Mother",
rather than "Auntie".  Then she smiled, and kissed Akane.

"How lovely you look, dear.  Are you ready to go downstairs?"

"I think so."

"Then I'll go get your father."

*****

Ranma entered the dojo with Shiro and his father.  All of the guests had
arrived, and he moved
among them, talking and shaking hands.  Shampoo watched from her chair
in a corner of the
room, and made no attempt to speak to him.  Then Nodoka came in, and
sent Soun upstairs for
his daughter.  Soun entered Akane's bedroom, and immediately burst into
tears.

"You look so much like your mother, Akane."

"Thank you, Daddy.  Please don't cry."

Soun calmed himself, tucked Akane's hand into his arm, and with her
sisters walking ahead of
her, went toward the dojo.

The uninvited guest found the gates locked, and scaled them.  He took
out his sword and
positioned himself in the hallway, waiting for Akane.

*****

Ranma took his place by the table where the priest was seated, waiting
for Akane's arrival. He
had been a little nervous when he got downstairs, but the longer he
waited, the worse it became.
Ranma wondered what was keeping Akane, and then he heard raised voices
and started for the
door at a run.

Soun: "Get out of our way, Kuno!  You have no business here."

Akane: "Please, Kuno.  Don't do this."

Kasumi and Nabiki ran into the dojo, and nearly crashed into Ranma and
Genma who were
running toward them.  Nabiki caught her breath, and grabbed Ranma's arm.

"Kuno is blocking the doorway, Ranma.  He won't let Daddy bring Akane
in."

Ranma started toward the door, but Genma restrained him.

"Let me, son.  It's time I taught that young man a lesson."

Genma let go of Ranma and put his hand on the door, but a flash of blue
passed him and got
through first.  Genma and Ranma ran after it, and stopped dead when they
entered the hallway.

Shampoo stood before Kuno, ready for battle.  Kuno had his wooden sword
raised above his
head.

"What do you want with me, Amazon girl?"

"Kuno no interfere!  Let Ranma marry Akane."

"This is none of your affair.  Ranma will never marry Akane, not while I
have breath in my body!
I will not allow it!"

Kuno suddenly dropped his sword, whirled, and faster than anyone could
have anticipated,
shoved Soun aside and tried to embrace Akane.

"Forget that monster, Akane.  Marry me instead.  I have always loved
you."

Akane twisted out of Kuno's grasp, just as Shampoo grabbed him and
tossed him down the
hallway.

"Ranma!  Take Akane and go.  Shampoo will handle this."

Ranma and Soun quickly took Akane by the arms and pulled her into the
dojo, Genma following.
Akane looked back over her shoulder as the dojo doors slid shut to the
sight of Shampoo and
Kuno locked in battle.

Ranma let go of Akane's arm, and she quickly straightened her kimono,
and brushed her hair out
of her eyes.  She was shaking with rage, and tried to calm herself as
her father led her to the table
at the end of the dojo, where she and Ranma seated themselves.  Soun
kissed his daughter's
cheek, and sat down.

The priest looked at Ranma and Akane, who both seemed rather breathless.
He had been present
at the carnage the previous year, and had experienced some indecision as
to whether or not he
was willing to try to marry this particular couple.  The priest shrugged
his shoulders, and was
about to start the wedding ceremony when the dojo doors fell in.
Shampoo and Kuno rolled
through the opening, clawing at one another.  Wedding guests ran in all
directions trying to avoid
the fight, while Shiro jumped into the center of it, trying to assist
Shampoo.

Ranma was about to lend a hand when the priest suddenly stood up.

"Evidently we're not going to have a wedding here today.  Again.  If you
plan to try this a third
time, don't bother calling me.  I won't come."

The priest walked around the debris and out of the dojo.  Ranma
hesitated momentarily, and ran
after him.

Akane watched in shock as Ranma ran out of the dojo, got up, and started
to follow him.  She
had to stop to avoid Shiro's flying body as Kuno threw him aside, and
then was bumped from
behind.  She heard a familiar voice, and froze.

"Brother dear, it's time to go home."

Kuno was distracted long enough for Shampoo to kick him, and he flew
against the dojo wall.
Kodachi walked out from behind Akane, and picked her brother up.

"I told you, dear brother.  Let them marry.  Let them marry, and let
them be miserable!  Come,
I'll take you home."

Akane watched numbly as Kodachi carried her brother from the room.  It
was too late.  Once
more, her wedding was in ruins.  Then she heard he father's voice.

"I'm sorry, Akane.  It would seem that this marriage was not meant to
be.  Perhaps Saotome and I
were wrong to arrange your engagement.  You told me from the start that
you didn't want to
marry Ranma."

Akane could not believe her ears.

"But Daddy . ."

"No, Akane.  Don't say anything.  I realize you were trying to please me
by marrying Ranma, but
it isn't necessary."

To Soun's surprise, Akane burst into tears and ran out of the dojo.

*****

"Wait, please!"

The priest was walking toward the front door when Ranma ran up to him,
breathing hard.

"What do you want, Ranma?"

"Please come back.  We want to have this wedding."

"We?"

"Me and Akane."

The priest raised his eyebrows, and laughed.

"Don't be ridiculous.  Everyone in Nerima knows how little the two of
you wish to marry one
another."

"Maybe that was true at one time, but it isn't now."

The priest looked at Ranma's pleading face, and relented.

"All right."

Ranma heard running footsteps, and a moment later Akane had thrown
herself into his arms,
weeping.

"I'm sorry, Ranma.  I should have shown you the letter.  It's all my
fault."

"Letter, Akane?  Did Kuno write to you?"

Akane's lifted her tearstained face from Ranma's chest."

"How did you know?

"He wrote to me, too.  I told your father, and we locked the house up
once everyone had arrived,
but he got in anyway.  It's not your fault, sweetheart.  It's Kuno's."

Ranma hesitated, and continued.

"But we should have told one another.  I guess it wasn't too smart of us
to keep secrets like that."

Akane nodded.

"You're right Ranma."

The unmistakable sounds of utter pandemonium still echoed from the dojo,
and Ranma made a
quick decision.

"Please, come with me."

Ranma led Akane and the priest upstairs, and opened his bedroom door.

"Wait for me here, please.  I'll be right back."

Akane and the priest sat down, Akane looking more than a little
confused.

"What is Ranma doing?"

Ranma returned to the dojo, which was a little quieter than it had been
when he went upstairs.
Some of the guests had gone home, Kasumi was trying to find a way to
clean up the mess, and
Genma and Soun were in the corner, arguing fiercely.  Ranma retrieved
the box containing the
wedding rings as he listened to the argument.

"How could you think of breaking the engagement, Tendo?  We made an
agreement, and it
should be honored!"

"Face it, Saotome.  Our children don't love each other.  Why should we
sentence them to a
lifetime of misery?"

Ranma left the dojo and met Shiro in the hallway.

"Where are you going, Ranma?"

"Upstairs.  To get married."

Shiro nodded.

"Good move, Ranma.  There are people in there saying that you shouldn't
marry Akane.  Did you
hear the arguments?"

"Not really.  I was too busy listening to the one Pop was having with
Akane's father."

Ranma looked troubled.

"After all they went through to plan this, I wish there was a way to get
them upstairs."

Shiro grinned.

"I'll do it, Ranma.  Besides, you forgot something."

"I did?"

"You'll see."




to be continued

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read earlier chapters at http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/rothko/228