mabli@idirect.com

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By Mark Ferrer

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine.

Author's intro: This fic was inspired by the previous fic "Just a Little
Patience..." (Is that the correct title? My memory sucks.)

     The sun is shining bright as a group dressed in black watches a
coffin being lowered into the ground. It's a rather large group. Most in
the neighbourhood had come to pay respects to their friend. Her closest
friends had told old stories to the group previous to the burial so not
all the faces looked sad. One face looked as if it was made of stone.
His wrinkled face could have intimidated anyone. His hair, streaked with
silver, shone in the sunlight. His gaze looked as if he was trying to
see through the thick wood coffin. He stood there impassively as the
rest left to go to the reception.

     It was fast approaching sunset when...

     "Ranchan?" said a quiet voice.

     He didn't move.

     The woman touched his shoulder and shook him gently. He turned his
head to look at her.

     "Sorry, how long have I been like this?" he asked meekly.

     The woman looked down at the fresh grave and said, "A couple
hours."

     The man nodded slightly and said, "I've always tried putting if
off. I never wanted to hurt any one of you... But now..."

     "...now I'm the only one left." she finished for him.

     They stood looking at the grave, silent.

     "Remember Shampoo's funeral?" he asked suddenly.

     She smiled and said, "How could I forget?" She looked at the orange
sky. "Everyone looked so happy. I could have sworn she was with us at
the reception, smiling and laughing with us all."

     Ranma got down on his knees in front of the grave. "I never meant
for this to happen. I would have chosen one of you... but..."

     Ukyo looked down at her fiancee. She was happy that she was the
last one left but...

     "...I can't believe I kept putting it off for so long. I always
thought, I'll think about it tomorrow... But the days turned to weeks,
months and years... Now here I am." he said on the verge of tears.

     Ukyo knelt down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. She
didn't know what to say. She was surprised when Ranma turn to her and
gave her a bear hug.

     "Ucchan... No more... I don't want this to happen again." He paused
to look at her eyes. They looked at him with only love. "Ucchan, will
you marry me?"

Author's notes: I'm still askin' myself where the heck did this come
from. I know this is taking things to the extreme but stranger things
have happened in fics.
To Pierre, sorry but this is the type of story that can't be rewritten.
It just has to be posted asap.