TotH webpage (all parts): http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/seifertv/toth/
The Taming of the Horse
a Ranma 1/2 fanfiction by Vince Seifert (seifertv@csus.edu)
Ranma 1/2 characters and situations are copyright 1987, 1998
by Takahashi Rumiko. Publishing rights (Japan) by Shogakukan
Inc. Publishing rights (North America) by Viz Inc. This work
is not intended to infringe those rights.
~~~~~ Chapter 8: Wedding ~~~~~
"Saotome!" Genma told Soun firmly.
"Tendo!" Soun told Genma firmly.
Nodoka sighed and turned away from the two men, who
appeared to have reached an impasse in the battle of wills
over whether Tendo Akane would become Saotome Akane or
Saotome Ranma would become Tendo Ranma. She looked at Ranma
and Akane, who were kneeling in the corner holding hands,
looking at each other sidelong, and blushing faintly. She
made a "scoot" gesture at them. Ranma picked it up in his
peripheral vision and looked at her. Akane looked where he
was looking. Nodoka repeated the gesture and smiled. They
nodded in unison, got up quietly, and sneaked out.
Nodoka turned her attention back to the two fathers,
who appeared to be holding a staring contest. She coughed
politely. "To summarize the last, rather tedious, hour of
discussion," she said, "Genma wishes Ranma to continue to
hold the Saotome name, as he is the eldest son-- in fact,
the only Saotome child-- and there are still two Tendo
daughters to carry on the Tendo name. Soun wishes the Tendo
Dojo to remain the Tendo Dojo, and feels that this requires
Ranma to take the Tendo name when he is married to Akane."
Genma and Soun stared at Nodoka. "Well, that's a gross
oversimplification--" Genma began.
Soun jumped in. "Definitely! Why, the matter of--"
Nodoka coughed again, less politely. "Since you are
unable to settle this amongst yourselves, it is clearly my
duty to resolve this situation." Soun looked crestfallen.
Genma looked like he would have raised his crest if he'd had
one. Nodoka acquired a slightly exasperated expression.
"Don't jump to conclusions, dear," she said to Genma. "I
haven't decided yet. I shall consider the matter. Alone,"
she added when the two men opened their mouths. She rose
gracefully to her feet and walked out of the Tendo main
room, carrying her wrapped katana.
Soun looked at Genma. Genma looked at Soun. "Well...
I suppose we can discuss the ceremony," Genma suggested. "I
think we should try the Shinto rite this time."
"There are many reasons to prefer the Western
ceremony," Soun countered.
~~~~~
Akane led Ranma up to her room, closed the door, and
sat on her bed. Ranma stayed standing and looked out her
window at the night. "Whatta waste of time," he groused.
"Well, I can think of something better to do," Akane
said. Ranma looked at her. She smiled and patted the bed
beside her.
Ranma looked apprehensive. "Uh... what if someone--"
"Don't you remember what your mother said?" Akane's
voice changed to a fair imitation of Nodoka's. "'Engaged
couples can do this! Engaged couples can do that! Engaged
couples can do whatever they like!' Right now, this half of
this engaged couple would like you to sit down here and
snuggle a little."
Ranma rolled his eyes, but he smiled shyly, sat next to
her, and put his arm around her. "That's not what ya said
then."
"Then was different," Akane said firmly. "Now we're
really engaged."
Ranma looked at his feet. "But I didn't give ya a ring
or nothin'--" Suddenly he found himself sprawled on the
floor. "Hey!"
Akane was standing over him with a look of mingled hurt
and fury. "You asked me to marry you! Now you're trying to
wiggle out of it! I should have KNOWN something like this
would happen--"
Ranma had sprung to his feet and faced her, noses six
inches apart. "Dammit, that's not what I meant! I wanna
marry you! I just wanted to give you an engagement ring
first!"
Akane opened her mouth to retort, and then his words
registered. Her eyes went wide and she threw her arms
around his neck. "Ranma, really?! I'm sorry! I thought
you meant..."
"I know what ya thought I meant," Ranma grumbled. "I
wish you'd just gimme a chance ta explain sometimes."
"I said I was sorry," Akane said. She let go and
pulled Ranma back down to sit on the bed again. "It's
just... after everything that's happened... sometimes it's
hard to believe you really..."
"Yeah, me too," Ranma said. He resumed staring at his
toes. "It's just... it bugs me that there's no way I can
afford ta give ya a ring nice enough. The closest thing to
a job I've had is waitress at the Nekohanten. I couldn't
take money from Momma or Pops for somethin' like this, even
if they had any. Hell, you got the dojo for your dowry,
and... I got nothin' ta bring ya."
Akane stared at him. *That's a lot of words out of
Ranma for one go...* "This isn't something you just thought
of, is it?" Ranma shook his head. "You do, too, have
something to bring me, Ranma. You." She squeezed his arm.
Ranma didn't look at her. "Well, maybe... but you
bring you, so that's a wash. I still feel like I'm short-
changin' ya. I remember how happy ya were about that stupid
pill-box when ya thought it was a ring."
"Well, it wasn't because I wanted a ring, you baka."
Akane's affectionate tone finally made Ranma look at her. "I
was happy because I thought it meant you really wanted to
marry me." Her gaze was very serious. "Ranma... a ring
doesn't matter. Your promise to marry me, because you want
to... that's what matters." She drew him in for a kiss.
Knock, knock.
"Who is it!" Akane called, still sitting on the bed but
suddenly four feet from Ranma.
"Nodoka," a voice said from beyond the door. There was
a pause. "I can come back later if you're, um, busy..."
Akane blushed. "No, that's all right, come in," she
said in a rush.
Nodoka opened the door and came into the room. She
took in Ranma and Akane, sitting stiffly on opposite ends of
the bed, and smiled indulgently. "Well, if you're sure I'm
not interrupting anything..." she said. Akane and Ranma
shook their heads in unison. "Well, then. I just came to
see how you two felt about this little name problem your
fathers seem to be stuck on. Ranma?"
Ranma shrugged. "Seems ta me that it's clan business,"
he said. "It matters to you guys more than it does ta me.
I'm not gonna get bent outa shape about it either way." He
looked at Akane and smirked. "Of course, Saotome's a better
name than Tendo..."
Akane started a quick boil. "Ranma--"
"Hey, it's got more characters, don't it?" Ranma
grinned.
Akane deflated a little, but stuck her tongue out at
him on principle. "Ba-a-ka."
"It's a pleasure to see you two get along so well,"
Nodoka said, smiling. "How about you, Akane-chan?"
"Hm? Oh, I feel about the same way Ranma does," Akane
said. "The families will decide."
Nodoka's smile faded. "And, since your fathers can't
agree, that leaves it up to me," she said with a sigh.
"Well, as long as you're happy either way..." She turned to
go.
Akane was struck by a sudden thought. "If you have a
moment, Oba-sama?" she said. Nodoka stopped and looked at
her questioningly. "I, um, there are some things I'd like
to talk to you about... since my mother's not..." She
stopped and looked down.
Nodoka nodded understandingly. "Of course. Ranma, be
a dear and run along, would you? Girl talk," she added when
Ranma looked rebellious at the dismissal.
Ranma's expression changed quickly. He left almost as
quickly. Nodoka closed the door and came to sit on the bed
by Akane. "Oba-sama," Akane began before Nodoka could start
telling her about the facts of life, "I might have something
to say about the names after all."
Nodoka looked at her, surprised. "Go on, dear."
Akane dithered. *How do I say this tactfully?* "Ranma
said... well... he said he was unhappy because he wanted to
give me an engagement ring, but couldn't afford one." She
held up a hand to forestall Nodoka's response and plunged
ahead. "He's also unhappy because I'm bringing the dojo to
the marriage and he, well, he thinks he's bringing nothing.
I tried to tell him that wasn't so, and even if it was, it
didn't matter, but..." She took a breath. "Maybe he'd feel
better if he brought his name to the marriage?" She
twiddled her fingers, unwilling to look up.
The silence stretched. "You are very wise, Akane-
chan," Nodoka said finally. "And very generous. My son is
fortunate to have you." Akane blushed. "I'll go tell them
we've made up our minds," Nodoka said, rising. "You will be
transferred to the Saotome family register. However, I see
no reason why the dojo should not remain the Tendo Dojo.
That should be an adequate compromise."
"Oba-sama... you're pretty wise yourself."
Nodoka looked back at Akane and smiled. "Thank you,
Akane-chan."
~~~~~
"Are you ready for tomorrow, Ranma?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess. You?"
"I think so. I hope so. Speaking of ready, there's
something I need to talk to you about, and since there's
this silly tradition about the groom not seeing the bride
before the ceremony that Kasumi is convinced is why the last
wedding was such a fiasco--"
"Get to the point, willya?"
"What if our 'friends' show up to wreck the wedding
again?"
"They get clobbered. Once was more'n enough. Besides,
this time it's just family."
"I like that answer, but there's one thing... if any of
your other girls show up, I want to be the one to clobber
them."
"But--"
"I mean it, Ranma. It's a matter of honor."
"Dammit, Akane, I don't want you gettin' hurt! Not
anytime, but especially not tomorrow! And they ain't MY
other girls!"
"I knew you'd say that... well, the first part, anyway.
Sensei, do you fear that you have not taught your student
well enough?"
"Uh... dammit. Quit twistin' what I say."
"Then stop twisting what you think! I can beat them!
I have to beat them! If I can't..."
"What?"
"...Never mind. I want your promise, your word of
honor, that if Ukyo or Kodachi attack me tomorrow, you'll
let me fight them."
"Damn. Akane--"
"Promise me!"
"If I do... If I do, will you promise me that you'll
let me help if you think you're gonna get hurt?"
"If I think that? I... I guess that's fine. In fact,
that's smart."
"Crap. That's not what I meant to say."
"Ranma! Promise me!"
"...All right. But you better--"
"I promise too. What you said."
"Crap." Sigh. "You didn't mention Shampoo. If
Shampoo shows up..."
"I doubt she will, after what happened. But if she
does, I want you with me, because if she does, I think I'm
going to get hurt even if I win."
"Well, you're still sane, anyway. I was beginnin' ta
wonder."
"You're one to talk, baka. Well, I have to go in now;
my sisters and Nodoka-sama have an evening of girl-talk
scheduled."
"You're lucky. Pops an' Tendo-san are waitin' for me
at our place. With bottles."
"Be strong, my hero." Giggle.
"Gaah. See ya, uh, tomorrow..."
"Come back here. I want a kiss before you go home. A
good one. For luck."
~~~~~
There was a quick knock on Akane's door, but before
Kasumi or Akane could answer, it opened and Nabiki slipped
in. She closed the door behind her. "They're just about
ready down there," she told them. "How's it going in here?"
"Almost done," Kasumi said as she worked on Akane's
hair. "My, she almost didn't fit into the gown any more,
she's grown that much since the last wedding."
"Just don't tell Ranma that," Akane grumbled. "The
jerk would say I grew sideways." She looked down at
herself, then at Nabiki. "So how do I look?"
Nabiki shrugged. "About the same as last time. Ranma
won't know what hit him."
"Oh, yes, he will," Akane said absently. "Um, I mean,
that is... oh, never mind." She blushed a bit and tried to
ignore her sisters' laughter. "So, do you think it'll go
all right this time?"
"I'm sure everything will be fine," Kasumi said. She
sighed wistfully. "What a pity it's such a small wedding,
though."
"Well, if you want a big wedding, you can have one
yourself," Akane said. "If you invite three hundred people
to your wedding, it'll be a festival of joy. If we'd
invited three hundred people, a hundred of them would be
attacking Ranma, a hundred would be attacking me, and the
rest would be attacking the other guests." She grimaced.
"I've had enough of weddings. I want to be married."
Nabiki grinned. "You want to get laid."
"Nabiki!" Kasumi said, scandalized.
"I DO NOT!" Akane yelled, blushing furiously.
Nabiki, unruffled, examined the ceiling. "Hey, I saw
you hanging on Nodoka's every word last night while she
lectured you on... how did she put it? 'The duties and
pleasures of marriage.' Don't worry. Unless more's wrong
with Ranma than we thought, you're going to get laid."
Akane took a step forward, fists clenched. Nabiki held
her hands up in mock defense. "Hey, I don't blame you.
Ranma's a hunk. With any luck, he'll turn out to be a stud,
too." She watched Akane suddenly glance at Kasumi, and was
surprised when Kasumi put a hand to her mouth and giggled.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing," Kasumi said airily.
Nabiki eyed them with suspicion. "Right. Sure." She
looked at Akane. "So, have you thought about family
planning?"
"Well, I talked to my doctor about it," Akane said
slowly. "I'm not, um, fertile for the next few days anyway,
so--"
"You know the technical term for girls who rely on the
rhythm method, don't you?" Nabiki interrupted.
Akane frowned. "Of course. That's not the point."
She got a dreamy look on her face. "Part of me wants to
have Ranma's baby right away, and part of me wants to wait a
while. I couldn't decide, so I didn't. If it happens, it
happens. If it doesn't, I'll think about it again after the
honeymoon."
Nabiki shook her head. "I think you're nuts, but
that's no surprise..."
"Well, I think it's sweet," Kasumi put in, "but have
you talked to Ranma-kun about this?"
Akane gave Kasumi a sharp look. "If he wants to
control his, um, fertility, he can darn well do something
about it himself. If he wants to have a say in mine, he can
come talk to me about it."
"This IS Ranma we're talking about, here," Nabiki
pointed out. The sisters exchanged a look and laughed
together.
"Seriously," Kasumi said, "I doubt Ranma-kun
understands the, ah, biological details." She looked
uncertainly at Akane. "Um... if you like, I have books..."
Akane waved her hand and sighed. "I don't think they'd
help. Ranma wouldn't be interested in the biology ones, and
the only way he'd study a sex manual is if it was three
hundred years old and written in Chinese."
Kasumi nodded. "Yes, he does seem to have avoided that
area of knowledge quite carefully."
"Well, he's about to get run over by it," Nabiki said.
Akane joined in the laughter, but her thoughts were
troubled.
~~~~~
Nodoka followed the sound of shouting to the Tendo main
room. Genma came out as she approached. He shot her an
unreadable look and went past. Nodoka went into the room
and saw Ranma pacing back and forth in his white suit. The
signs of the previous fiasco were faintly visible on it
despite the cleaners' best efforts.
"Nervous, Ranma?"
"NO!" He subsided a little. "Well... maybe. Mad, more
like. Stupid ol' man..."
Nodoka sighed. "What is the matter now?"
"Nothin'. I say one little thing and I get a lecture
on duty an' honor an' promises... like he knows anythin'
about any of that stuff," Ranma said grumpily.
"If you'd prefer, I can give you that lecture," Nodoka
said.
Ranma looked up and cringed a bit at the note of steel
in her voice. "No, Momma, that's all right."
"You do want to marry Akane-chan, don't you?"
Ranma looked down again. "Yeah. I guess. It was
just... easier last time. They knocked me out and stuffed
me inta this monkey suit, and as soon as I woke up stuff was
happenin'..."
"...so you didn't have time to worry about it," Nodoka
completed.
"I guess. This time, there's all this fuss, and forms,
and that lame 'bachelor party' they threw last night-- Didja
hear what happened? Happosai shows up, and halfway through
the third bottle he yells something about 'exotic dancer'
and the next thing I know, I'm wearin' a bucket of water and
Happosai's--" He stopped short. "I got him good, though."
He smirked. "I knew better'n ta drink that stuff, it messes
up your reflexes, and it sure messed up his." Ranma
sobered. "Jeez, I just wish I knew if I was doin' the right
thing. Everyone says so, but..."
"Akane-chan would be terribly hurt if you left her at
the altar," Nodoka pointed out. "It's one of the worst
things that can happen to a woman."
Ranma paled. "Yeah. She'd just kill me." He still
looked troubled.
"Ranma, leaving aside your fathers' agreement, you
asked her to marry you, and she accepted. It's too late for
second thoughts."
Ranma half-smiled. "Easy for you to say." He lost the
smile. "She says she's OK with marryin' a half-man, half-
woman freak, but--"
"You're not a freak, Ranma," Nodoka interrupted. "And
your manliness is adequate, and your curse is not your
fault."
Ranma looked away. "If you say so--"
"Well, what do you want to do about it? Run away and
never come back?" Nodoka's voice was angry.
Ranma looked his mother in the eye. "If I thought
Akane'd be better off if I did that, I'd do that. I'm still
thinkin'."
"That is NOT an option," Nodoka said firmly.
Ranma said nothing, but she could read his thought
easily: *The hell it's not.*
Nodoka eyed Ranma and sighed. "I'd hoped not to have
to tell you this," she said, "but you're actually married
already."
Ranma goggled at her. "What?!"
"As far as the government is concerned, you've been
married since you signed those papers at town hall."
Ranma's jaw dropped. "But... it... they... she...
Well, I don't FEEL married!" he said after he'd hauled it up
again.
Nodoka smiled sentimentally. "That's what the
ceremony's for, dear. After the ceremony, I assure you
you'll feel married."
~~~~~
"The minister certainly looks... durable," Nodoka
whispered to Genma. She was wearing a fine kimono, and
looked somewhat out of place next to Genma's claw-hammer
coat and loudly striped trousers.
"I believe Soun said the man was a student of his some
years ago," Genma whispered back. "It seemed like a wise
precaution for the minister to know kempo..."
"Shh, we're starting," Nodoka hissed.
Nabiki pressed the Play button on her boom box. Da da
da-daaaaa... da DA da-daaaa...
Ranma turned in time to see Akane come into the dojo,
escorted by Soun, who had refused to let Nodoka talk him out
of wearing a gi for the occasion. Akane joined Ranma in
front of the minister, giving him an impish smile when she
noticed that he had a total of four sets of fingers crossed.
"You better uncross those before the vows," she whispered.
The minister cleared his throat loudly, and they
quieted. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today--"
Splash!
"Wa-ha-ha-ha! Now there are TWO brides for this old
man to kiss!" Happosai exulted, dropping the bucket and
leaping for Ranma's chest.
Ranma did not waste time protesting. "HAMMER!" she
shrieked, flipping.
"ANVIL!" Akane yelled at the same moment, pivoting.
WHAM!
"...ouch..." Happosai mumbled before falling senseless.
Akane picked him up tenderly. "Oh, you poor dear," she
crooned. She took three steps out of the dojo and drop-
kicked the old man into the morning sky. "One down... or
up."
"I see what you mean," the minister observed to Soun.
Soun nodded ruefully.
Ranma plucked ineffectually at her soggy white suit as
Akane came back inside. Kasumi was already bringing a
kettle from the row she had placed at the back of the dojo.
"...to unite this man, er..." The minister eyed Ranma
and stopped. Ranma gave him a long-suffering glance and
shrugged.
There was a sudden tattoo of feet on the veranda and
Kuno Tatewaki skidded into view just outside the dojo doors,
carrying a katana in its scabbard. "Tendo Akane!" he
began. His slightly mad eyes tracked to Ranma. "Pig-tailed
girl! Refrain from..." He stopped. "Oh, rejoice, for the
sorcerer Saotome who holds you in thrall is gone! Doubtless
he heard of my coming and fled in fear of my puissance! Now
you are free to wed me!" He took a step forward and looked
at Akane again. "But... alas! I still cannot decide
between you!"
"That's not a problem, Kuno-sempai," Akane said
sweetly.
"No problem at all," Ranma agreed, cracking her
knuckles.
"We'll BOTH hurt you." To the small audience, it
appeared that two white blurs spun around Kuno for a couple
of moments before resolving into Ranma and Akane, both
facing outward from Kuno on opposite sides of him. Kuno
toppled forward, eyes still open. Thud! Clatter!
Ranma picked up the katana and tossed it to Genma.
"Trophy," she said casually. Akane and Ranma picked Kuno
up, carried him out into the garden, and kicked him over the
dojo.
"Nice form," the minister said approvingly as Ranma and
Akane came back to stand before him. They blushed. Kasumi
poured hot water over Ranma. "Now, where was I... oh, yes,
to unite this man and this woman in the bonds of
matrimony..."
~~~~~
Ranma cringed. *He's coming to the bad part.*
"... should anyone have a reason why this couple should
not be wed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."
The congregation held their breaths. Soun motioned
frantically for the minister to continue.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"
Ranma sighed and looked at Akane. Akane's fierce gaze
met his. "Mine."
Ranma nodded. "Yours."
They turned and watched Kodachi's entrance. "Ranma-
sama shall not wed this trollop!" Kodachi proclaimed. "I
forbid it! I shall wed him, in a far finer ceremony than
this!"
Akane kicked off her slippers and moved out in front of
Ranma. "You can't have him," she said grimly. "He's mine."
A smile spread over Kodachi's face. "So, will you
fight for him, then?"
"You bet your blossoms I will," Akane told her. Ranma
smiled a little and watched Akane's open, no-stance stance
shift slightly as Kodachi's ribbon twirled. It flicked--
but Akane wasn't there. She went low and slipped past the
gymnast, lashing out with an open hand in passing. Kodachi
evaded the strike, but now Akane was between her and the
open ground. Ranma motioned the others inside the dojo to
move back against the walls.
Kodachi's ribbon struck again, but this time Akane
seized it easily, yanked it out of her hand, and discarded
it. Akane leapt, and Kodachi's dodge took her into the
dojo. Akane glided through the doorway as Kodachi produced
a pair of clubs and attacked. Akane blocked hard and
countered; the clubs spun away, but Kodachi had evaded her.
Kodachi looked around wildly.
"Out of weapons?" Akane taunted. "Well, I'm not--"
Kodachi sprang, arcing to pass over Akane and reach the
open. Akane leapt on an opposed arc. They met just below
the dojo ceiling. Ranma winced and shook his head in
sympathy. Kodachi landed badly and rolled to her feet,
holding her side. Akane landed lightly and slithered right
in without pausing. Kodachi tried to back out of the trap
of the doorway into the garden, but Akane was faster. They
met. The spectators clearly heard five strikes hit home in
under two seconds. Kodachi collapsed.
"Idiot," Akane muttered to her unconscious opponent.
"I wasn't using gymnastics rules." She picked up the ribbon
and Kodachi, then carried Kodachi over to one of the dojo
posts and used the ribbon to bind her there. She
straightened and smiled at Ranma. "Trophy. Or maybe
trollop."
"Say, what's a trollop, anyway?" Ranma asked as she
rejoined him, brushing at her gown.
"Let's just say that I'm not one and she might be."
~~~~~
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss her, Ranma-
san, you've both earned it."
Ranma stared down into Akane's eyes. His lips moved.
She read them easily: *Finally!* They kissed. Akane
realized that Ranma meant this public kiss to be short and
dry, but she wasn't about to put up with that. *I want
fireworks, baka!* He responded, reluctantly at first. The
families cheered.
Ranma became aware that someone was pounding him on the
shoulder. "That's enough, boy, there'll be plenty of time
for that later. Come open the sake so we can drink your
health."
Ranma blinked. "Sake? You mean drink your ill-health,
Pops." He let go of Akane and followed her to the cask of
sake with the hammer on top.
"Hold it," Nabiki said. "Let me get a picture first."
She waited for them to pose behind the cask. The flash
flashed.
"Too bad it's not Nannichuan water," Ranma muttered.
"Bite your tongue. We had enough trouble," Akane
muttered back. She smiled for the families and picked up
the hammer. Ranma took it away from her and tossed it over
his shoulder. "What--?"
"We don't need that," Ranma said, smiling. "New
tradition: at martial arts weddings, we open the cask like
this." He raised his fist over the cask. She got the idea
and matched him.
"TE-!" Crack!
Ranma ignored the beginnings of the celebratory
drinking as Kasumi brought out snacks and put them on the
table. He noticed something else. "What's this stuff,
Kasumi?"
"Another part of the Western tradition... onii-san,"
she said. "Gifts. The guest-money didn't work out too well
for anyone--" her eyes slid to Nabiki-- "last time, so I
convinced everyone to do this instead."
Ranma was still boggling a bit over Kasumi calling him
"brother". "So now what?"
"Well, you open them, or Akane opens them, or you both
open them," she said, gesturing vaguely. "They're all for
both of you, but some of them will be more for you, and some
of them will be more for Akane, I suppose. This one's from
Happosai."
Ranma accepted the flat cardboard box gingerly and
opened it. "A... transparent... cloth... thing."
"I think it's a negligee," Akane said, blushing.
Ranma sniffed. "Whatever it is, it's a used one.
Yuck." He closed the box and put it under the table. "I
wonder if he meant it for me or for you," he said to Akane.
"You're welcome to it."
"This one's from me," Kasumi said, handing Akane a flat
package.
Akane stripped the paper off. "Oh. Um..." She looked
down at "The Taming of the Horse: An Equestrian's Guide" and
resisted the urge to brain her eldest sister with it.
"I knew you'd like your own copy of this book," Kasumi
said, smiling mischievously. "It's been out of print for a
long time, but I managed to find one."
"Thanks, Kasumi," Akane said with great restraint.
*Someday I'll get you for this,* her look promised. She
sneaked a peek at Ranma. *He's clueless. Good.*
"This one's from me," Nabiki said, giving Ranma a
manila envelope.
Ranma opened it and peered inside at a stack of paper.
"Thanks. I guess. Uh, what is it?"
"It's a business plan for the dojo," Nabiki said
impatiently. "Class schedules, tax forms, permit
applications, bookkeeping, advertising, everything."
"Thanks, Nabiki," Akane said, touched. "I'm sure this
will help a lot."
"Are you sure it'll work?" Ranma asked.
"Well, it got a A when I turned it in as an extra-
credit project," Nabiki said proudly.
"This one's from Father," Kasumi said, holding out an
envelope. Akane opened it and pulled out some papers.
"It's a honeymoon," Soun said. "There wasn't much
money, but Nabiki stretched it into 3 nights at an onsen in
the mountains, train fare, bus fare, and a little left over
for meals and things..."
"Thank you, Father!" Akane sang, hugging him. Her eyes
met Ranma's. *Anywhere but here...*
"Such a deal I got," Nabiki boasted. "You'll be amazed
when you get there."
"And your parents gave you the wedding rings, of
course. Oh, I almost forgot," Kasumi said. "Cologne gave
me this before they left and asked me to give it to you
after you were married. I guess that's now..."
Ranma carefully accepted a cylinder wrapped in heavy
paper with something written on it. He turned it around.
"'Do not open until after consummation.' Huh. What's
'consummation'?" He looked around at a ring of red faces.
"What?!"
"I'll explain later, Ranma," Akane said faintly.
"I'll just bet you will," Nabiki cracked. "Ouch!"
Akane looked closely at the tickets. "Eek! The train
leaves in an hour and a half! Ranma! Change! Pack! Now!"
She picked up her skirts and fled.
Ranma watched her go, shook his head, and sighed. "I
gotta teach her the secrets of Unrestricted Training Trip
Packing." He picked up a handful of sushi and followed her
without haste.
~~~~~
"I hope I got everything," Akane said to Ranma, putting
down her pack and sinking onto the train-station bench with
a sigh. She looked down at herself. "I don't look much
like a bride, do I?"
Ranma inspected her jeans, turtleneck shirt, and vest.
"I guess not. Ya look cute, though."
Akane looked up with a quick smile. "Really?" She saw
Ranma's faintly embarrassed look. *Really.*
Splash! ting ting ting... "Oops! Sorry about that!"
"Why me?" Ranma moaned, turning to give the careless
flower-waterer a dirty look. She suddenly looked panicked.
"That sound-- My ring!" She dropped to her knees and
scrabbled under the bench, emerging a moment later with a
sigh of relief. She wiped the gold circle off on her shirt
and put it back on her finger easily. Much too easily.
She looked at Akane. Akane looked at her. They both
looked at the ring. "Jeez, why didn't anyone think of
this?" Ranma lamented. "Of course this isn't gonna work--
I'll lose my wedding ring every time I change!"
"I have an idea," Akane said slowly. "Here, I'll keep
it safe for you. You go find some hot water, and when you
come back I'll put it on you again, and this time it'll stay
on." She smiled at Ranma's puzzled look. "Just trust me.
Go on!" Ranma went on, not without a backward look.
When he came back, Akane had gotten a comb out of her
pack. "Sit down," she said. "Face the other way." Ranma
obeyed. Akane untied the cord that held his pigtail. "Hold
still," she said gently when Ranma stirred. She unbraided
his hair, enjoying the feel of it on her fingers. Akane
combed Ranma's long hair, then carefully divided it in
three. She slipped the wedding ring over the middle lock
and pushed it up to nestle against his neck. She rebraided
his pigtail slowly, lovingly, ceremonially, and tied it off.
Ranma reached up and felt his ring, secured at the base
of his pigtail by the hands of his wife. He turned and
looked at her. "It's good," he said.
~~~~~ end of Wedding ~~~~~
Next: "'It's not exactly what I imagined for our honeymoon,' Akane said
softly."
in Chapter 9: Honeymoon
to be posted tomorrow, since it's the longest (and last) chapter.
Vince Seifert Network Analyst seifertv@csus.edu
http://webpages.csus.edu/~seifertv/ updated 1998Jun04
CSUS hired me to build their network, not to speak for the university.