Well, this concluds "A Little Earlier" which is really the set up of the
story. I'll be posting the first part of "Letters From Ranma" shortly, Y2K
premiting. Currently my website is unaccessable due to a RAID problem at
crosswinds (I would have an account name beginning with the one letter that
is effected.) But soon as it's fixed, you should be able to see the
earlier parts at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~stephenratliff/works/Ranma/
To check to see if they've fixed it, go to:
http://home.crosswinds.net/updates.html
After I get comments on this part I intend to revise the whole thing and
post it for a final once over here before submitting it to raac.
Stephen.
Part 14: Departure
What has gone before:
Part 1: Akane meets Ranma at age 12. They spar. Akane walks in on Ranma
Part 2: Ryoga first appears. Ranma shows off in Gym class. Ranma is
challenged to teach the class gymnastics. Ranma walks in on Akane.
Part 3: Akane teaches the uneven bars. Sensei Ogawa has an agenda.
Nabiki takes a picture. Ranma walks in on Akane.
Part 4: Akane finds the picture. Akane and Ranma eat away from Nabiki
Ranma and Akane pull a joke on Nabiki that gets Akane a kiss. Ranma and
Akane talk in the bath.
Part 5: Ranma and Akane finish teaching gymnastics. The betrothal document
is found. Kasumi walks in on Ranma and Akane. Kasumi talks to Akane.
Part 6: Genma learns of Akane. Soun cries. Akane and Ranma walk on
fences. Nodoka appears.
Part 7: Nodoka plays sword master. Nabiki finds out what is planned for
her. Nabiki and Akane spar. Nodoka waits for Genma.
Part 8: Ranma has breakfast with his mother. Akane and Ranma talk about
his parents. Nabiki is teased during a lunch interrupted by Ryoga.
Ranma's move to the Tendos announced. Ranma finds out that Akane is ticklish.
Part 9: Ranma moves in. Kasumi talks with Nodoka. Soun evaluates Ranma.
Akane and Ranma fall asleep watching TV.
Part 10: Soun stops Genma from waking Ranma and Akane up. Ranma and Akane
engage in pillow fight. Ranma and Genma spar over pond. Soun decides to
reopen the Dojo. Nodoka talks Akane about sex.
Part 11: Akane and Ranma are interrupted by Kasumi. Kasumi chastises
Akane. Ranma asks Nodoka if she'll help him buy a ring for Akane. Ranma
and Akane do it. Nabiki talks to Akane about what she just did.
Part 12: Ranma and Akane wake up together. Ranma proposes. Soun starts
to teach again. Akane informs her father, and a good look at the family
photo album is given.
Part 13: Akane learns about the cat fist training. Akane prepares for the
wedding. Ranma and Akane get married. Genma tries to depart with Ranma
right after the ceremony.
Akane was holding on to Ranma's hand tightly, as she waited for her oldest
sister to put breakfast on the table. It had been two weeks since she had
married Ranma, and today he was leaving. Akane could find no way to get
him to stay, she was fortunate that Ranma's mom had gotten Genma to delay
it that much. She remembered how furious she'd been when she heard that he
had been plaining to take Ranma away before their wedding night.
"Akane, ease up a little," Ranma said. Her grip was very strong.
"Sorry," Akane said. She pulled her hand away, and stared down at her
lap. Soon she'd be all alone again. She would sleep alone, go to school
alone, and train alone. Tears began to flow down her face.
"Don't cry Akane," Ranma said, moving to hug her. "I don't leave for
another couple hours."
"I don't want you to go," Akane sobbed, as Kasumi brought in the food.
"I don't want to go," Ranma said, looking at the food. "I have no choice."
The couple just picked at their breakfast. Kasumi was worried. She'd
gotten up an hour early just to make Ranma's favorite breakfast. She knew
it wasn't because of the taste or looks. It was perfect as usual. No she
knew why they weren't eating, and she had no idea how to fix it. This
disturbed Kasumi. Her sister was hurting because her husband was going
away for a three year trip and she had no way to stop it. Ranma was, in
Kasumi's opinion, not that anyone would ask her, the best thing that had
happened to her baby sister. In Ranma, Akane had found a confidant, a
sparring partner, a friend, and (Kasumi blushed at the thought) a lover.
She hoped that Ranma's absence wouldn't cause Akane to go back to the
tearful, angry, emotional girl she had become after their mother's death.
Well, it was Kasumi's job to make sure that didn't happen.
"Eat, Ranma, you've got a long journey ahead of you today," Kasumi said.
Ranma began to eat faster, but didn't seem to enjoy the food. As soon as
he finished, he stood. "Come on, Akane. We need to spar a little."
"Okay," Akane said, unenthusiastically, before following him.
It was time to go. Ranma could put it off no longer. The Tendo house had
become a home to him. It was there he had found first a friend, then a
lover, and finally a wife. He had learnt how to teach, and what it meant
to have family.
"Good bye Ranma," Nabiki said. "Come back soon."
"I will," Ranma said, then with a devilish smile, he continued. "I
haven't challenged this dojo's senior student."
"Hopefully Dad will change that soon," Nabiki muttered under her breath.
"Be sure you get plenty to eat, Ranma," Kasumi said, hugging Ranma.
"We'll miss you."
"I'll miss your cherry pie," Ranma said. "Thanks for all the good meals."
"It was my pleasure, Ranma."
Ranma turned next to Sensei Ogawa, who had accompanied his mother to the
send off. "Mr. Saotome, you've been a real pleasure to teach," she said.
"I hope you won't forget anything or get behind on that study plan I gave
you."
"I won't."
"Just remember to listen and learn before you jump into anything, and
you'll do fine," Ogawa concluded.
"I'll remember."
Next was Soun Tendo. For perhaps the first time since Ranma met his
father-in-law, he wasn't in tears. Actually, Soun hadn't been crying as
much since Ranma and Akane had gotten married. Soun was trying to portray
the serious Master of the Art. "Ranma, promise you'll come back to my
daughter."
"I will, Mr. Tendo," Ranma said. "I promise I'll return within three
years to my wife."
"Then train, my son, and come back to lead the Dojo with honor," Soun
replied.
His mother was beside the gate, opposite Akane. The sheaved family sword
was strapped to her back, and she had a serious expression on her face.
"Take care, my son," she said. "Remember your honor and be careful during
your training."
"I will."
"And remember what we talked about concerning your father's training
methods."
"Ask if he read the whole book, read it yourself, and make sure it makes
sense before you let him try it," Ranma recited.
"Good. I don't want a repeat of the Cat Fist," Nodoka favored Genma with
a cold glare as Ranma shuddered. "And don't forget to write."
"I promised to write Akane weekly," Ranma said, before turning to the last
person he was leaving behind.
Akane threw herself into Ranma's arms. "Don't go, Ranma. I don't want
you to leave."
"I have to go," Ranma said, looking into Akane's eyes. "It's only three
years. I'll be back before you know it."
"Three years is a long time, Ranma," Akane said, sobbing. "What if
something happens to you."
"Nothing is going to happen to me," Ranma replied. "I'll write you ever
week. I'll tell you everything that happens. It will almost be like
you're there with me."
"I wish I could go with you," Akane said, straightening up a little.
Ranma pulled her back close to him, and favored her with a deep and long
kiss. Then he pulled away and said with some difficulty, "Good bye Akane.
I love you."
As Ranma hefted on his backpack, and began to follow his father out of the
Tendo compound, Akane stood looking at him, tears streaming do her face.
The two walked out, and down the street. Before they disappeared in the
distance, Ranma turned and waved. Finally, they were lost in the teaming
foot traffic on the Nerima streets. Akane turned and buried her face in
her father's gi, as tears streamed from her eyes.
Here Ends "A Little Earlier"
Stay tuned for "Letters from Ranma"