Authors Notes:

This is my first attempt at a fanfic.  I hope I can make it original
enough there has been so many Ranma fanfic it is hard get an original
idea.   C&C welcomed

Warning this is a rough draft of the story I have yet to do a clean
up.  I want to get a feel on how to progress before I get to far into
the stoy.


Sorry I have no pre-readers to catch some basic errors




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This takes place after manga vol 38 may contain some spoilers

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Disclaimer:
Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are
used without permission.




Another Chance.

Volume 0

---Chapter 1  The Aftermath---

The night's crisp air made his nerves more on edge than normal.
<The wedding's failed... maybe this will help set things right,>
Ranma thought as he removed the kozuka from the dresser.  His fingers
slowly traced the cold metal of the short blade.  <Why couldn't I say
those three little words.  This may not have happened.  I should have
said it, I should have said it long ago.>  Ranma gently placed the
kozuka on the top of the dresser he moved the clothes back to reveal
a well worn journal.  Removing the journal from its hiding place he
slowly paced the floor before turning to the window and climbing to
the roof.  The cold of the tiles shot through his body as he sat down
and turned the flashlight on.  Ranma gazed at the night sky for a few
minutes allowing a long sigh to be released before opening the
journal and laying pen to the paper.

Journal Entry.
Feb 25 1996

The only nice thing to happen all day happened over two hours ago.
It was a simple thing, a soak in the furo.

The soak gave me time to sort out some of my feelings.  I don't know
if I am ready for marriage yet.  I wonder, are we to young?   But
most of all I don't know if she loves me, we always fight.  I denied
that 'I love her', but I do.  I am scared to admit it, what if she
can't say the same thing.  I guess need to face the fact that I am
scared, scared she may reject me.  I have never heard her say those
words and mean it.  When I see signs that she may like me I get
hopeful, but there is always a new misunderstanding and we are pushed
further apart.

If I had to marry anyone I would choose Akane.  The hole I felt in
my heart when I thought I lost her tore at me I lost my will to live.
I know I don't have those feelings for Ukyo or Shampoo.  I have
always seen Ukyo as my best friend and Shampoo as an occasional ally
but nothing more.

This day started off well, until Mr. Tendo and my parents knocked me
out.  When I came to I was dressed in a tux, and I was shocked when
they told me the wedding was on.  Well I could not believe it, I
barged into her room to talk to her.  When I saw Akane the only thing
I could think is kawaii, no that is not right, she is not cute, that
word degrades her she is more than that to me.

As usual we got in a fight she asked me if I love her.  I wanted to
say yes, but I put my foot in my mouth.  She was right she I wanted
to say it.  I got defensive and denied it.  Usually if I show any
kindness to her, she things I am sick on I have other motives, she
attacks me.

Well when I denied that I loved her she said that she made a
*mistake* when she *pushed* herself to go through with the wedding.
She gave me a cold look and said that if I called it off I would
*regret* it.  Those words mistake and pushed, but worst of all was
that look.  I have never felt any thing that cold in my life.

The wedding was a disaster.  Mr. Tendo had a barrel of Nanniichuan
for me as a wedding present.  I now know why I would regret not
marring her.  Well Ukyo was throwing gunpowder okonomiyaki at me,
Pop, Ryoga, and Mousse were fighting over the Nanniichuan.  Happosai
then drank the water we tried to get it out but we could not.  In the
end the dojo was nearly destroyed and we were not married.  I do
regret not marring her not for the water, but because I love her.

When I finished my soak I wanted to talk to Akane, but before I
could knock on the door she called me baka.   I left fast and did not
catch what else she mumbled but I'm guessing it was "go and die".  I
don't know maybe that will be the only way to make her happy.  It
would also give Ukyo an honorable way out.

-----

Ranma rose from the tiled roof and slipped inside.  Carefully the
dresser was reopened and the journal was placed back in it's hiding
spot.  He then slipped outside to his meditation rock by the koi
pond.  <I need more time to think this out.>


Akane's Diary entry
Dear Diary: Feb 1996

That jerk just passed me in the hall and didn't say anything to me
at all.  I know something is wrong, he forced his smile.  If we could
just talk, I think we could work it out.  I know he loves me why
can't he just say it?  I want to tell him I feel the same way, but I
need to hear him say it first.

I can thank Nabiki for ruining the wedding.  We tried to have a
small wedding but Nabiki printed up hundreds of invitations and sold
them to his fiancées, rivals, well about everyone in school.  His
fiancées tried to stop the wedding and when Genma and Mousse heard
about the Nanniichuan a big fight broke out.  I never knew that Ryoga
and Ranma were that close, the way Ryoga was trying to protect the
Nanniichuan for Ranma, it made me proud we were friends.  To bad
Happosai drank the water.  Well the wedding is postponed until Ranma
can settle his relationships with his other fiancées.  I can wait.

I heard Nabiki made a good profit, until dad forced her to pay for
the dojo repairs.  She tried to pawn it of as Ranma's fault but it
did not work.

I am still drawn to that smile of his.  I know question was it
forced or was it a smile of relief the wedding failed.  This
afternoon he looked upset when he was told we were to be married.  I
need to talk to him to try to set things right.

-----
Akane paused as she heard the door to the furo open.  "Ranma you
baka please talk to me." she whispered after a few seconds pause.
Akane's heart sunk as the door to Ranma's room slid shut.  <Ranma I
know you love me.  I know you wanted to say it after you saved me
from Saffron.  Why don't you admit it?>

Akane closed and hid her diary.  <Tomorrow after I deal with Nabiki,
I... I will talk to you.>  Akane thought as she walked down stairs to
grab a bit to eat she stopped short when she saw Ranma meditating.
<He looks so hurt, I should to talk to him> but fear got the best of
her and she headed back up stairs and went to bed.

<How am I going to deal with Ukyo?  I don't want to hurt her, but I
see her as a friend, nothing more.  Mr. Tendo was right I just can't
marry Akane with out dissolving the engagement I have with Ukyo, to
do so would tarnish both our honors and who would take lessons from
the dishonored.>

The sun was just starting to break the morning sky when Kasumi
awoke.  She made her way to her window opening it, and was startled
to see she was not the first one up, Ranma was still meditating by
the koi pond.  <Oh my...> she thought as she turned from the window
and headed down the steps and to the kitchen.

An hour later Akane groggily turned over and turned off her buzzing
alarm.

Within a few seconds Akane heard Kasumi's familiar voice "Time for
breakfast everyone!"  Akane made her way down stairs and was
horrified when she saw onna-Ranma still meditating by the pond a
sheen of frost covering her body.

"Ran... Ranma are you ok?"  concern permeated Akane's voice.  Onna-
Ranma cocked her head and locked eyes, Akane was able to look right
into his soul.  The pain She saw tore at her soul, she had to break
contact.  Ranma rose from the rock and made his way to the table.

"Oh my..." shock filled Kasumi's voice.  It had been a long time
since a human Genma ate breakfast with them.  Kasumi quickly removed
the plate of bamboo and handed Genma a bowl of miso soup.

"Thank you Kasumi dear"  Genma replied.

"Ranma, I want you to take care of Akane for me." Soun said as he
grabbed his bowl of miso soup.

"Wha..."

"I'm taking these two on a training mission." Happosai replied.

"Don't you mean a panty raid?"  onna-Ranma asked.

"You better take a hot bath Ranma, unless you want to go school as a
girl"  Kasumi said as she removed Onna-Ranma's empty bowl.

Onna-Ranma slowly walked upstairs and took a quick soak in the furo.
Minutes passed and Ranma was dressed and walking out the door with
Akane on their way to school.  <That smile on her face, can she be
that happy the wedding failed?>  Ranma thought as he paused turning
around when he heard Nabiki call his name

"Yes," anger filled his voice "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you... in private."  Ranma caught something
unusual in Nabiki's eyes.

"Go ahead Akane, I will catch up with you later."  Akane started to
protest but backed down when she saw the hurt in his eyes.  Ranma
waited until Akane was out of sight before he turned to face Nabiki.
"Now what do you want?" anger still filled his voice.

"Did you like my present?"

"What present?"

"The failed wedding of course.  You two are *not* ready." Nabiki
gloated.

"And that's for you to decide!?"  Ranma fumed as his battle aura
flared.

"Ranma, Akane is my little sister, and *I will* do what I can to
make sure she doesn't make a big mistake."

"And that mistake would be?"

"You." Nabiki replied with an icy voice.

Ranma spun around and wrapped his now white knuckles around the neck
of her shirt lifting her off the ground.  He held her still as he
looked straight into her eyes.  "Look at me, I *love* Akane.  If you
get between me and her, I swear sister or not I will *kill* you."

"Yeah right, you kill me she will hate you.  Oh poor, poor Ranma can
you live with being hated by the one you love?  Even grabbing me like
this I could make her despise you with all her heart."  Rage gripped
Ranma as he let go of Nabiki.  "Wa... Wait what did you just say?"

"I said that I would kill you."

"Be... before that."

Ranma's mind reeled when he realized what he said.  Sighing deeply
Ranma dropped his head  "I said I lo... love her, I love her."
Nabiki looked at Ranma and saw him collapse into the fence.  His head
slowly turned to look at Nabiki.  She was shocked to see the same
thing Akane saw, Ranma was bearing his soul in his gaze.

For the first time since her mother died Nabiki could feel the armor
around her heart break apart.   "Why didn't you say it before?"
Concern entered her voice "Akane deserves to know how you feel."

Ranma collapsed the rest of the way to the sidewalk turning into a
ball.  "I know... I know but I... I am scared.  I love her Nabiki,
but... but she may not love me."

Nabiki reached out and grabbed Ranma's hand.  Feeling the trembling
she knelt down cupped Ranma's cheek in her other hand raising his
head.  "Ranma your right, she may not love you, but no matter how she
feels about you need to tell her.  Ranma if you are right and she
does not love you at least you will know.  I think you will be
surprised at her response."

"I... I will tell her soon."  Ranma rose from the sidewalk grabbing
her hand.  "Why?" confusion entered his voice.

"Why What?"

"Why... why are you being so nice to me?"

"I don't know?  You've changed Ranma, I don't know what it is but
you *have* changed.  I like it.  Ranma I am not going to say I am
sorry for stopping the wedding.  I now know you love her, but until I
know she loves you I *will* stop any other attempt.  I am sorry for
saying you are a mistake.  If this is the new you, and if Akane
agrees, I would be honored to call you *little brother*."

"Honored... maybe but maybe not for long," Ranma breathed a heavy
sigh "What am I going to do if P-chan comes back.  When ever I start
to get close to Akane he interferes and we are pushed further
apart..."

"What is it you hate about P-chan?"  Nabiki interupted

"You don't know?"  A shocked Ranma asked "You the brains of the
family, with all the clues I dropped *you* do not know?"

"No, I don't know why you hate P-chan.  You hate him more than
Ryo..."  Ranma could see the proverbial light turn on.  "Ryoga is P-
chan!!  How, how could you.  How could not tell her.  Do you *like*
having *him* sleep with her Akane was right you are perverted."
Nabiki could see the hurt look in his eyes.  "I... I am sorry Ranma,
but how can you let him sleep with her.

"Do you think I like It?  I gave my honor I would not tell anyone
his secret.  It was after I gave my word when he started to use P-
chan to drive us apart.  I couldn't say it outright so I gave clues.
Even that night I sneaked in to her room with hot water to expose P-
chan and she would not let me explain.  It hurt that she was getting
mad at me, and made me so angry that all the time Ryoga smiled and
buried his head in her ch... chest.  She never lets me explain."

"That's why you sneaked into her room."

Ranma nodded in agreement.  "How fast can you raise money for me?"

"What?"  Nabiki asked look crossed he face "You need money from me?"

"You are the only one I know that can get a lot of money fast.  I
don't know how much I will need, but I do know I wont get that much
money on my own.  I was meditating all night, I was able to sort some
things out.  I realized that I like Ukyo, but only as a friend.  Why
did pops have to engage me to her, he knew I was engaged."

"Your dad will do anything for free food Ranma.  Let me guess you
will need the money to pay back Ukyo's family, to dissolve the
engagement, am I right?"  Nabiki asked as she tugged Ranma's hand and
started walking to school.

"You're right, but when can I talk to her.  I want to do it as fast
as possible, I want to clear things up so I can ask Akane to marry
me."

"You're going to ask Akane to marry you?"

"Yes, thanks to our little talk I know how much she means to me.  I
will not risk losing her again."

"Ranma I have a few test before lunch, but nothing important after
that.  Shall we talk to her then."

Ranma nodded unable to speak.  "What took you guys so long?" Akane
asked as she saw the pair enter the school grounds.

"Not much it was just business." Nabiki responded "We better get
going or we will be late for class."


Akane and Ranma were ambushed with questions surrounding the failed
wedding.  The questioning immediately ceased as Hinako-sensei pulled
out a 50 yen piece.  After that class was uneventful.  "Ranma, would
you like to eat lunch with me?" Akane asked after the lunch bell
rang.

"I'm sorry Akane, I can't." <Why Ranma, is there something wrong
with me?> Akane questioned herself.

"Hey..." Ranma replied as Nabiki walked up to him.  "Mind if I run
an errand before we meet Ukyo?"

"Depends, what is it?"

"I would like to buy a rose for Akane, let... let her know how I
feel, before I go see Ukyo.

"OK, I think Akane will Like that."  Nabiki replied as they made
there way to the flower shop.

"May I help you?" the florist asked as the duo entered his shop.

"I need a single long stem rose for my fiancée"

"You have a pretty cute fiancée there." The shop owner replied as he
looked at
Nabiki.

"What?  NO, no you got the wrong idea this is my fiancée's sister."

"Oh, sorry, how much do you want to spend?"

"What is your most expensive?"

"1,600 yen."

"I'll take it."

As the left the shop Nabiki looked at Ranma.  "When did you realize
that you loved her?"

"Nabiki, I fell in love with your sister a long time ago.  I first
realized I had feelings for Akane when Ryoga used his curse to get
close to Akane.  I never been that jealous when I saw her kiss him
and cuddle him to her chest, I... I wanted to explode.  My feelings
for her deepened when Ryoga was training me to fight Kodachi, he
heard that Kodachi put me up as the prize.  He told me that he would
make sure I lost so I would have to date Kodachi and my relationship
with Akane would be over.  It was at the skating match when I
realized that I loved her.  When we were in the good by whorl, even
though she wanted me to let go I could not.  When we were released
all I could think about was taking the blow to protect her.  I call
Akane dumb as a brick but looking back I was even dumber than that,
if I only told her how I felt.  I... I know we were willing to die
for each other, but we were not willing to say I love you."

When they re-entered the school grounds Ranma and Nabiki looked
around and spotted Akane eating with Yuka and Sayuri under a tree.
They slowly approached the trio and hid behind the tree.

"Akane what's wrong?" Yuka asked as she turned and looked at Akane.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, you look depressed.  Is it because the wedding failed?"
Sayuri asked.

"No, are you crazy!"

"Do you love him?"  Yuka asked.

"Me, love that perverted baka.  No way, I am glad Nabiki ruined the
wedding.
Why would I want to be married to him.  The world would be better
off if Ranma mom said he was not a man.  <Ranma you jerk, why did you
abandon me.  There is no way I will admit I love you.>

Nabiki paled when she saw Ranma's face she knew that hurt look on
his face.  "Ranma." Nabiki whispered

Ranma snapped the rose and let it drop to the ground before he
turned to Nabiki.  "Lets go deal with Ukyo."

"Lunch is to short."  Sayuri replied as the lunch bell announced the
end of lunch.  The trio got up from the tree and started to walk back
to the school.

"Look a rose, I wonder who dropped it?" Yuka asked.

<Where is Ranma?> Akane thought as she looked at Ranma's empty seat.
Anger started to build in Akane when she saw Ukyo was now gone too.
<That jerk, one day after the wedding fails what does he do.  He runs
off with that... that bimbo.>

-----

"Ukyo, thanks for meeting me."  Ranma replied as they entered the
restaurant.

"Ran-chan you said it was very important we talk, what is it?"

"Why did you ruin the wedding?"

"Because, I love you Ranma, I love you more than her sister ever
will..."

"But I love her," Ranma interrupted "Ukyo I love you too, but not in
the same way.  I see you as a good friend or a sister but nothing
more.  I don't know if I could ever love you the way I love Akane."

"You could learn Ra... Ran-chan.  I love you more than she ever
will.  I am your cute fiancee right?"  tears started to run down her
face.

"I... I am sorry I called you that, I was only trying to make you
feel better.  I am sorry our fathers made that that agreement he had
no right,  I was promised to the Tendos.  I am sorry *I* tarnished
your honor by stringing you along like this.  I had no right to do
it.  Moisture started to form in his eyes as he took a deep bow. "I
am sorry, very sorry, I am ready to pay your family back, restore
your honor, and release you from this engagement.  Nabiki will help
determine how much I will owe you from the time pops took the cart to
now.  This is the way is has to be I am sorry."

-----

The rest of the day passed slowly for Akane her anger prevented her
from learning any thing.   Akane let out a sigh of relief as the last
bell sounded.  Akane hurried home she needed to work out her anger on
her practice dummy.

"Kasumi, is Ranma home yet?"  Akane asked as she entered the house.

"No I have not seen him yet."
    
Akane made her way upstairs.  "What are you doing in here?" Akane
asked as she walked into her room.

"We need to talk, Akane."  Nabiki replied in a business tone."

"What is it?"

"First, do you love Ranma?"

"I... I... don... I don't know." Akane stuttered.

Kasumi turned to look at the door "Ranma, your home."  Ranma did not
answer but went up the stairs.  Ranma arrived at Akane's door and
readied himself to enter.  <I need to find out why she said that to
Yuka and Sayuri.  I want to let you know that I love you, that I have
reached an agreement with Ukyo.>

"Akane, yes or no, not I do not know, do you love Ranma or not?"
Nabiki asked.

"Me love that perverted baka, I would rather marry Kuno." <It's my
sister why
can't I admit I love him.>

A soft knock came from the door and Ranma peaked his head in.  "Can
I talk?"

"You have a fun afternoon with your cute fiancée.  I saw how you two
skipped school, have you slept with her yet?  What am I asking you
are a pervert I should be asking is she pregnant yet!" Akane screamed
as she tried to close the door.

Ranma blocked the door "You never trust me, you never give me a
chance to explain.  Akane I have never *slept* with anyone.  I came
here to tell you something"  Ranma sighed "Akane I... I love you,"

The anger left and Akane's heart started to do flips as tears came
to her eyes.  <He told me, he finally told me.>  "Ran..." she was cut
off by Ranma's raised hand.

"I wanted to tell you at lunch.  I... It hurt so bad when I you told
your friends it would be better if I was dead.  I... I was hoping to
ask you tonight to marry me, I can see you don't want that."

Akane's tears of joy were replaced with tears of sadness as his
words sunk in.  "Ra..." she was silenced by a raised hand again.

"Akanaaah!" Ranma screamed as he looked down to see P-chan biting
his ankle.  Ranma snapped his foot back hooking his toes below P-
chan's belly.  The leg snapped forward hurling P-chan headfirst into
the wall.

Akane jolted from the bed with her mallet in hand.  Her forearms
tensed as she swung the mallet breaking the handle as it impacted
flush onto Ranma's jaw.   She rushed to pickup P-chan and held him
close to her chest.  Ranma's anger grew as he saw P-chan smile and
borough his snout deeper in her chest.  Ranma rubbed his jaw.  "Akane
I still love you but I wish you would have treated me at least a
hundredth as nice as P-chan.  If you had just trusted me allowed me
to explain things I could have said it before.  You deserve to be
happy who knows maybe with Ryoga..."

"I would prefer Ryoga, what has he done to make you hate him so much"

"I can't tell you."  Ranma replied as he eyed Nabiki.

"Best of all unlike you Ryoga is not a pervert!"

"Nabiki... find out how much money I owe your family.  Bye Akane,
just remember I will always love you."

Ranma left and closed the door seconds later they could feel the
front door shake as it was slammed shut.

"That jerk how dare he lie to me like that!"  Akane screemed.

<I am going to kill that pig.  Ranma is right every time they start
to get close he shows up pushes them further apart.  I will make him
wish he was eaten when Shampoo served him up to Ranma.  Ranma gave me
the sign she was here, so no time like the present>  Nabiki thought
as she fumbled with her high speed Nikon with one hand and grabbed
her cup of hot tea with the other.  "Akane do you think Ryoga is that
honorable?"

"Yes, yes he is see even P-chan agrees.  Ryoga is very ho..."
Akane's words were cut short as hot tea hit her chest.  She looked
down in horror to see a naked Ryoga with his head buried in her chest.

Nabiki rapidly snapped photos as she screamed. "Akari, now!"

Akari burst through the door "Ryoga!  How dare you!" she screamed as
she grabbed the top of his scalp ripped Ryoga to the floor.  "I
trusted you... you two timing ..."  she spat in his face as rage
prevented the sentence from being completed.

"Let me explain..."

"Oh do explain Ryoga.  I had a nice heart to heart chat with Ranma
today.  Guess what I found out you were P-chan today.

"That dishonorable daken told you!"

"Well if anyone should know about dishonor it would be you.  To
answer your question, *no* he bib not tell me I guessed and he
confirmed it.  I know the whole story let me see if I got this right.
You challenged Ranma to a fight."

"He ran away, he dishonored himself!"

"No!  He was more than honorable.  He stayed two extra days before
his dad took him on a training mission.  You dishonored yourself by
not showing up on time and you further dishonor yourself by blaming
others.  I am sickened by you for the way you hurt Ranma and Akane.
When Ranma found out he caused you curse by accidentally knocking you
into Heituenniichuan-- which would not have happened if you were
honorable enough to accept your loss-- You make him give you his
*honor* that he will tell no one.  Then you uses is honor against him
by getting close to Akane."  Nabiki paused and turned to a now
weeping Akane.  "Akane I seen it a number of times, I know there must
be a number more that I missed.  How many times did you and Ranma
start to get close and this *pig* interfered making you think that
Ranma was a jerk.  Do you have any idea how hurt he was to be pushed
away and to see you hug this swine to your chest.  And do you know
what this swine did after he stuck his head in your chest he would
turn and smile at Ranma.  A little while ago when he knew you were
vulnerable he attacked Ranma you acted just like he thought you
would.  Akane do you know how much you hurt him, not because you hit
him so hard in the face that your mallet broke, but the hurt because
you would not trust him.  He could have blocked that swing, but he
didn't, he just took his punishment.  What did he say when he left
'remember I will always love you.'  Akane if you treated me like you
treated Ranma, even though we are sisters, I would not be able to say
the same thing.  You don't know how lucky you were to have someone
like that."

"Ak... Akari I am sorry."  Ryoga sobbed.

"I thought you were a fine man Ryoga, I was wrong.  I fell in love
with you, I did not care that you turned into a pig.  Now I care not
because you have a curse but a pig is an honorable beast and you
diminish it honor every time you become P-chan." Akari shook her head
as she left Akane's room. "I never want to see your face again."

"It was his fault I did this!" spewed Ryoga as he interrupted.

"Ryoga," Akane replied choking back the tears. "It wasn't Ranma's
fault it was yours.  I should have seen it sooner but I could not.  I
would never think that anyone would stoop so low, dishonor himself so
thoroughly as you did.  You used Ranma's honor against him, to make
me hate him.  You slept in my bed, you watched me change, I told you
my most intimate secrets.  Some of those were about Ranma, I look
back and I can see how you used those secrets to make me hate him."

"I did it for you... you deserve to be with me." Ryoga cried.

"Get out, get out of this house right now!"  Akane screamed.

"But I love you, only you, Akari meant nothing to me."

Nabiki watched as her sister pulled out a mallet and started to
swing it like an Olympian in the hammer throw.  The battle aura grew
around Akane, in seconds the aura was sucked into Akane's shoulder
her muscles convulsed as it traveled through the forearms.  Nabiki
smiled as she watched the aura shoot through the mallet and connect
with Ryoga's chest milliseconds after the mallet connected. Ryoga was
sent through the window finally crashing in the water aqueduct.

"Nabiki what have I done?"  Akane cried.

"You messed up, you would not control your anger and listen.  You
were right Ranma was with Ukyo this afternoon, I was with him.  He
dissolved his engagement with Ukyo this afternoon.  He signed the
papers it is going to cost him eleven million yen in retribution.
Did he argue... no, he did this after you wished that he was dead."

"How is he going to pay her back?   He does not have that money."

"I already talked to a few photographers I know,  we will put
together a few photo books.  Don't worry it's not hetai."

"Will he be back?"  Akane choked back the tears.

"I hope so.  I really do hope."

-----
Soun and Genma returned later that night and were briefed by Nabiki
on what had happened this afternoon.  The Tendo household was getting
worried there had been no sign of Ranma since he left.

"I will get the door."  Kasumi replied in response to the knock.
"May I help you?"

"I am Officer Ukime, is Genma Saotome here."

"Yes... I will get him."

Seeing Mr. Saotome the officer began.  "As I said my name is Officer
Ukime, I am sorry your son Ranma was involved in a bad accident."

"Is... is he ok." Genma interrupted.

"What's going on here?" Akane's voice came from behind Ukime.  She
stared at the office as she rounded him only to be stopped by Nabiki
who hugged her.

"It's Ranma he... he has been in an accident."  Nabiki said as tears
ran down her face.

"He will be fine, Ranma can't be hurt."  Tears stung Akane's eyes.

"I am sorry, but there is nothing more the doctors can do.  They
don't expect him to live more than a few days.  I was asked to take
you all to the hospital."  Ukime replied.

-----
"Ranma... I am sorry I did not know for... forgive me."  Akane cried
as she rubbed his cheek.

"A... Akane, I forgive you.  I love you to much not to."  Ranma
whispered.

"How can you love me, after what I did."

"Akane you did not know the whole story, you got upset, I learned to
live with it.  I really do love you and I wanted to marry you too."

"I felt the same way, I love you, I wanted to marry you too.  But
you had to be a," tears streamed down her face "A baka and die."

"Is that how you feel.  Akane I know I may sound selfish but will
you marry me?"

"What?  You still want me?"

"Yes, well... will you marry me?"

"Yes, Yes I will."

Nabiki found a priest to perform the marriage.

"I wish I could give you a better honeymoon," Ranma replied as he
looked into his wife's eyes.  "But I want you to read this.  It is my
journal, I had Nabiki get it for me.  I want you to know how I felt
about you."

Akane grabbed the journal and walked back to her chair.  She opened
the bookbag and grabbed her diary out.  "I want you to learn about me
too, we have no time for secrets."  She leaned and kissed Ranma on
the head.  Akane opened Ranma's journal to see the inside cover had
the wedding picture taped inside.  <Some wedding photo my husband is
all wired up.>  A tear dropped to the photo.

Hours latter both finished the journals.  Ranma reached to hand
Akane her journal back but she stopped him.  "Keep it with you, I
want you to remember me in the next life Ranma.  I added *our* entry
to your journal."  Akane slipped the both journals under his arm and
held his hand.  "I'm sorry Ranma, I wanted more time with you.  I
love you so much."

"I know Akane, I wish I could start over.  I would have said I love
you a lot sooner.  I wouldn't have been scared to say I lo..."

Ranma was shocked as he looked down over his body, seeing Akane cry
"Ra... Ranma,  no it's to soon to soon, I loved you, I loved you
along time ago you baka I loved y..." Akane's voice disappeared.

All was black as he heard a rumbling voice "We have taken pity you
will be granted another chance."  Ranma looked down and he was
shocked to see his birth and his first training missions.  Time
slowed further as he saw him self get cursed, his first meeting with
Akane, and the time Ryoga was getting ready to throw is belt and cut
Akane's hair.  "Get her down" he screamed and to his amazement he saw
his past tackle Akane and the belt missed her.

Ranma had to hide his eyes as he sensed a bright light as he
descended.  His vision cleared in time to P-chan on her bed as an
Akane with long hair booted him out of her room.

Onna-Ranma picked herself out of the aqueduct and walked back to the
Tendo residence.  Onna-Ranma was surprised to find something pressing
against her breast.  Looking down she saw both her journal and
Akane's diary.  Smiling inwardly she thought <With both sides of the
story I will make this work.>  Now I wonder when in the past I am.

Onna-Ranma arrived back in her room.  She hid the future journals
and pulled out her present journal.  <Today is the day Akane First
meet P-chan.  Which means I already gave my honor not to tell.  I
think I will need to drop Nabiki a lot of hints this time around.
This Akane is a lot colder the only difference I see is she has long
hair know.  Maybe Akane's diary will tell me.>  Onna-Ranma rmoved
Akane's diary and read some more  <I would have never though such a
small incident could impact so many things.  But looking at the diary
it allowed her to get over Dr. Tofu and she was happy to her me say
she was cute.  Well I already messed up with the hair.  I guess I
have a lot of work ahead of me.  Akane I love you and I will marry
you, we got our wish.  We have another chance.>




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