A Change of Scene, Chapters 94-96
by June "KaraOhki" Geraci (karaohki@snet.net)

July 10, 2002

Ranma 1/2 and its characters were borrowed from
Rumiko Takahashi.  This story was written for
noncommercial purposes only.

It's been a long time since my last post on this,
and newer members of FFML might not know 
the story.  Earlier chapters are on RAAC, and at
http://karaohki.anifics.com

-------

Chapter 94

Nabiki left Ranma and Akane's bedroom and quietly
closed the door.  Her husband looked up from the
book he was reading.

"Are they still sleeping?"

"Yes, and I think the fever is gone.  Ranma stopped
thrashing around."  Nabiki laughed.  "It's a wonder
he hasn't given Akane a black eye with all the
tossing and turning."

The telephone interrupted them.  Nabiki grabbed it
before the ringing could wake up her sister or her
husband.

*****

Genma put his hand on the light switch and looked
over his shoulder at the restaurant.  The grill
gleamed, there wasn't a speck of dust on the floor,
and everything was in its place.  He switched off
the lights and walked over to the telephone.  The
restaurant was bathed in eerie orange lights that
came in from the street, making the room seem even
quieter as he dialed.  Someone picked up rather
quickly, and Genma was surprised to hear the voice
on the other end.

"Hello, Saotome residence."

"Nabiki?"

"Uncle Saotome?  Yes, it's me."

"May I speak to Ranma, please?"

"He's sleeping.  He's got the flu, and so does
Akane.  Are you at home?  I can ask him to call you
back when he wakes up."

"No, I'm here in Ube.  I'm staying at Ukyo's.  Are
you taking care of them?"

"Yes.  They were pretty sick, but they're getting
better."

"Konatsu's got it.  He was so sick Ukyo had to close
the restaurant until I got here."

"But why are you--"

"When Ranma's better, I'll explain it to him and his
wife.  Call me when they're up to company."  Genma
could hear Nabiki begin to protest, but he hung up
the phone anyway and sat down at the counter.
Evidently he would have to wait before he could talk
to his son.  The realization that he had been
granted a reprieve gave Genma a short-lived sense of
relief.  Then he firmly suppressed it.  He had come
to Ube to tell Ranma the truth, and to bear any
embarrassment that came with it.

*****

Nabiki found herself talking to dead air.  She
replaced the receiver in its cradle and sat down
next to her husband.  "I think Ranma and his father
have some kind of a problem with each other."

"Really?  What makes you say that?"

"The way he spoke to me just now.  You know how
Uncle Saotome is--always loud and forceful.  Tonight
he sounded almost meek."

"That does not sound like Mr. Saotome at all.  I
cannot think of him and meek in the same sentence.
It does not fit."

Nabiki grinned wickedly.  "Sort of like meek and
Tatewaki Kuno?"

"I thought you said I had improved."  The statement
was accompanied by such a hurt look that Nabiki
immediately repented.

"I'm sorry!  It was just a joke!"  Nabiki started to
rise from her chair but her husband reached out and
grabbed her.  As he did, the expression on his face
changed from hurt to gleeful.

"Got you!"

*****

"Did you hear something?"

Ranma opened one eye.  "What?"

"I thought I heard something.  I think it was the
phone."  Akane got up on one elbow and started to
push the blanket aside.  Ranma's hand grabbed the
blanket and held it in place.

"Don't go out there."

"Why not?"

"Listen!"

Akane listened.  Then she blushed.  "I think I'll
stay here."

Ranma gathered her into his arms.  "Good.  That's
where I want you."

"I'm not arguing."  Akane snuggled closer.  "This
feels too good."

A soft chuckle was Ranma's only response as he went
back to sleep.

*****

"I do hope you enjoy this soup.  It was Ranma's
favorite when he was a little boy."

Kasumi smiled at Nodoka, and quietly poked her
father's knee under the table.  He was too absorbed
in his paper to notice.  She poked him again, and he
lowered the paper to look at her curiously.

"Did you want something, Kasumi?"

"Nothing, Father!"  Kasumi's words contradicted her
actions.  She glanced at the soup, and then looked
back up at her father. Kasumi shook her head
slightly and resumed her conversation with Nodoka.

"Really?  I'll have to learn to make it for the next
time he and Akane visit."

Soun put down the paper.  "Excuse me.  I forgot
there was somewhere I needed to go."

"But Father, what about dinner?"

Soun picked up a piece of fruit.  "This will do for
now."  As he withdrew his hand from the fruit bowl
he knocked over Kasumi's soup, which landed in her
lap.  "Oh!  Did I burn you?"

Kasumi was already dabbing at herself with a napkin.
"No, no, it's mostly on my apron.  Excuse me, I need
to change."  She was out of her seat and upstairs
before Nodoka could blink.  When she looked again,
Soun was gone.

Nodoka sighed, and picked up her spoon.  "I guess
I'm eating alone again."  One sip later, a woman
with a rather green complexion was pouring all of
the soup out.

Upstairs, Kasumi finished changing into a clean
dress.  "I do wish Auntie wouldn't try to cook while
she's so upset," she murmured.  "Her dishes are
coming out as badly as Akane's once did."

*****

By Friday morning Ranma was feeling well enough to
get out of bed, and immediately got into a friendly
argument with Nabiki about sending her and her
husband home.

"You're sure it's okay?"

Ranma laughed.  "Nabiki, how many times are you
going to ask?  I'm a lot better, so you don't need
to stay."

"But what about Akane?"

"I can handle it!  Aren't you missing a lot of
classes?"

"Ranma is right.  It is time for us to return home."

Nabiki groaned and went into the bedroom.  "Sis,
those two are ganging up on me!"

"I heard.  Does that mean you're leaving?"

"I guess."  Nabiki knelt down next to the futon.
"Are you sure you'll be all right?"

"Ranma will take good care of me.  Don't worry."

"That's why I'm worrying!  Ow!  Don't hit!"

Akane grinned.  "I'm too weak to hurt you!"  Then
she pulled her sister into a hug.  "Thank you for
taking care of us.  We really needed you."

"Just hurry up and get better.  I want you to come
to Nerima when we break the news to Daddy."

"Deal."

*****

"The following announcement is for all students of
Ube College.  Classes will resume Monday morning.  I
repeat: Ube College will resume its normal
schedule...."

Ranma's attention was drawn from the radio to the
telephone when it began to ring.

"Hello?  Nabiki?  Did you forget something?"

"Yes!  Your father called last night.  He wanted you
to call when you were feeling better."

"Thanks.  I'll call home."

"He's not there.  He's at Ukyo's place.  Look, I've
got to go, our train's here.  Take good care of my
little sister."

Ranma hung up the phone and turned off the radio.
"Wonder what Pop's doing in town," he muttered as he
walked into the bedroom.  He needed to tell Akane
about it.

*****

"Husband, school will start on Monday.  Do you think
you will be able to go?"

Shiro sat up and rubbed his eyes.  "I think so.  At
least I'll have the weekend to get myself back on my
feet."  With those words, he pushed the blankets
aside and got up.  "I'm going to take a shower.
Would you like to take a walk after?  I need some
fresh air."  Shiro's back was to Shampoo, so he
didn't notice the hesitant look on her face before
she responded.

"Yes, I would love to take a walk."

*****

"Who was on the phone, Ranma?"

"Nabiki.  She forgot to tell me Pop was in town.
He's staying with Ukyo."

That remark was enough to make Akane sit up.  "Why?"

"I don't know.  He wants to talk to me."  Ranma
squatted down next to the futon.  "I thought I'd let
you sleep and go over to see him."

Akane pushed back the blankets.  "I'm coming with
you."

"Why?

"Because I want to know what's going on, too.  Your
father went back to Nerima, and now that your mother
is there he's come back here?  Something weird is
going on."

Ranma looked annoyed "Don't you think I know that?"

His wife grinned impishly.  "Sometimes I wonder."

"Hey!"

*****

"How's he doing?"

Genma stepped out into the hallway to talk to Ukyo.
"He slept well.  I was going downstairs to get him
some breakfast."

Ukyo smiled.  "You mean he's hungry?"

"Very.  Go sit with him.  I'll bring you both
breakfast."

He turned toward the stairs but didn't get more than
a step before Ukyo spoke.

"Thank you."

He turned around to see Ukyo standing with her hands
clasped together, looking at the floor.  She
fidgeted a moment before looking up.  "I wasn't glad
to see you when you showed up the other day, but I
don't know what I would have done if you weren't
here.  I'm sorry."

"You had every right to feel the way you did."
Genma took a step closer, and held out one hand.
"Truce?"

Ukyo hesitated a moment before taking Genma's hand.
"Yeah, I think so.  It's about time."

*****

"Are you sure you're well enough to come with me?"

Akane suppressed the urge to get violent.  "I'm
fine!  Don't baby me!"

Ranma threw up his hands.  "Okay, okay!  Just don't
blame ME if your fever comes back!"

"I won't."  Akane paused, and smiled at her husband.
The aftereffects of the flu were making the both of
them very short-tempered.  "Let's go."

*****

"Ukyo-sama, I really must get up and go back to
work."

The young man had been sitting up but the next
second he was flat on his back.  Ukyo had pushed him
over with very little effort.

"Really?  You think you could handle it?  I don't."

"But--"

"But nothing!  You're going to stay right here until
I say otherwise."

Konatsu beamed at her.  "Thank you for caring."  He
reached out and stroked Ukyo's hand before wrapping
his fingers around hers.

Ukyo looked down at the linked hands, and then into
Konatsu's eyes.  "Of course I care!"

When Genma came in with their breakfast, he found
the two holding hands and smiling shyly at each
other.  He put the tray down, left the room quickly,
and shut the door behind him.  Perhaps this would be
the beginning of happier times for Ukyo.  The
thought left him rather quickly when he returned
downstairs and found his son at the door.

*****

"Where do you want to go?"

Shiro shrugged, and picked a direction at random.
"I don't know.  I just needed to get out."

"You were tired of being in bed."  Shampoo smiled
and squeezed her husband's hand.  "Are you sure you
are all right?"

"I'm fine.  As long as we're out, do you want to do
any shopping?"  Shiro gestured down the next street,
where there were several small shops.  The fish
market there was one of Shampoo's favorite
destinations.

Just thinking about the smell of fish made Shampoo
feel ill.  "No thank you.  We have plenty of food in
the refrigerator."

Shiro looked worried.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm just tired."  To Shampoo's surprise, Shiro took
her by the arm and reversed direction.

"You wore yourself out taking care of me.  Let's go
home."

*****

Genma unlocked the door and let Ranma in.  Akane was
right behind him, and Genma used the few seconds it
took for him to re-lock the door to regain his
emotional balance.  He had not counted on his
daughter-in-law's presence.  Then he shrugged, and
headed behind the counter to make a pot of tea.
Akane would learn the truth sooner or later, so
sooner would have to do.

"Sit down.   Are you sure you should be out?  The
both of you are very pale."

Ranma brushed the remark aside.  "We're fine, Pop.
Nothing gets us down for long.  Nabiki said you were
looking for me."

Genma nodded and poured the tea.  "It's about your
mother."

"What's with her, Pop?  She didn't have any business
treating Akane the way she did, and putting ideas in
Ukyo's head like that!  Ukyo had enough problems
before Mom came along, and she got her even worse!"

"I know, Son."  Genma sipped his tea.  "Your mother
had a reason for what she did, and it was valid
enough for her."

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother was in a hurry to have grandchildren,
because it doesn't look like it will be possible for
her and I to have any more children."


------------------------------------------

A Change of Scene

Chapter 95



Ranma flinched.  His parents were trying to have
another child?  For a moment all he could picture
was what it would be necessary for them to do in
order to have one, and that concept kept him from
speaking.  That was all the opportunity his father
needed to keep talking without interruption.

"Your mother has been wanting another child for a
long time.  She's always wanted a daughter.  But,
well, nothing happened."

Genma paused.  He was looking at his lap, his hands
clenched together.  He glanced up.  Akane nodded,
and Ranma looked a little dazed.  Genma punched his
son in the arm to get his attention, and continued.

"Your mother went to see a doctor.  She didn't tell
me about it until afterwards, when she dragged me to
see him, and he said--" Genma stopped short and
turned extremely red.  That gave Ranma a chance to
return the punch.

"C'mon, Pop.  Tell me."

"It's not your mother.  It's me.  I have no sperm
count."

"You mean a low one?"

Genma shook his head.  "No.  I mean none."  He
glanced at Akane, who had turned bright red with
embarrassment.  "I didn't mean for Ranma to bring
you along, daughter.  I wanted to tell him, and let
him tell you."

Akane reached across the counter and patted her
father-in-law's hand.  "It's my fault.  I wanted to
come.  Would you like me to go home?"

"No.  The next part involves you.  You see, No-chan
got it into her head that Ranma HAD to father a
child while he was still young.  When the two of you
said you wanted to wait, she chose to believe that
you, Akane, didn't want children."

"But that's not true!"

"I know, but No-chan just wouldn't listen."

Ranma grimaced.  "So that's why she was pushing Ukyo
at me.  Poor Mom was pretty messed up, wasn't she?"

"She still is, Son.  She believes you hate her."

"Hate her?"

Genma looked at his son for a long moment before
responding.  "Did you give her any reason to think
otherwise?  What happened the last time you saw
her?"

Ranma thought back, and winced.  "I threw her out."
He felt Akane squeeze his hand, and clasped hers
gratefully.  "You know I don't hate her, Pop.  I was-
-I was just--"

"Furious?"

"Yeah."

"I DID tell her that would happen."  Genma got up
and paced around.  "She just wouldn't listen.  Your
mother can be like that, you know."

Ranma looked even more upset.  "No.  I don't know."

"Ranma, what are you talking about!"

It was Ranma's turn to get up.  He pulled his hand
out of Akane's and turned his back on his father for
a minute.  Then he turned back and looked his father
in the eye.  "I don't remember her from before our
trip.  You know that.  Then I got stuck pretending I
was a girl, so that's how she treated me!  It was
kinda nice when we all lived together at the Tendos'
house, but after Jusendo you two moved out and I
stayed there.  I really wanted a chance to get to
know Mom, but I never got it!  I don't even know how
to talk to her!"

As Ranma spoke he became more and more agitated, and
his voice got louder and louder.  Akane started to
get up, but a gesture from Genma kept her at the
counter.  Instead, Ranma's father came around to his
son, grasped his shoulders, and gave him a rough
shake.

"Then learn!  There isn't a thing that MY son can't
learn!"

Ranma's expression grew determined.  "Damn right
there isn't!  C'mon, Akane, let's go home.  I've got
a phone call to make."

"She's staying at the Tendos."

"Thanks, Pop."  Ranma dragged Akane out of Ucchan's,
barely allowing her time to say goodbye to his
father.  As the door closed behind them, Genma
smiled.

"I guess I pushed the right button."

*****

Akane watched her husband's face as they walked.  He
still looked determined, and also a little nervous.
She didn't blame him.  Nodoka Saotome was a proud,
determined woman, and not always easy to get along
with.

That wasn't what was foremost in Akane's mind.
Something Ranma said to his father was bothering
her, and she had couldn't rest before asking him
about it.  It was a sensitive subject, and she felt
hesitant about discussing it in public, so she
forced herself to keep her mouth shut, and she
welcomed the appearance of Shiro and Shampoo as a
distraction from her thoughts.

"So you're out of bed too," Shiro said by way of
greeting.  "I really needed some fresh air."

Akane nodded.  "I was so tired of being inside.  It
feels good to be out in the sun."

"Yeah, but I've got to get Shampoo home.  She's
tired from taking care of me."  As he spoke, Shiro
took Shampoo's arm.

"I am fine, really."

Akane took a good look at her friend.  Shampoo was
pale.  "I agree with Shiro.  You look like you need
some sleep."

"Two against one!  I'm taking you home."  Shiro
dragged Shampoo off, but stopped after a few steps
and turned around.  "I'll call you later."

They were gone so quickly that the Saotomes barely
had time to say goodbye.

*****

Ranma was in such a hurry to call his mother that he
missed the hook in the closet when he put away his
jacket, and it fell onto the floor.  Akane retrieved
it and put it back where it belonged before
retreating into the bedroom.  Ranma deserved to have
some privacy while he spoke to Nodoka.  She turned
on the radio and got out a book, hoping to keep
herself distracted, but neither tactic worked.

Then the bedroom door opened, and Ranma beckoned her
into the kitchen.  Ranma was listening intently to
his mother, and the look he gave Akane told her that
he was getting irritated at his mother.


"Mom, I understand how you feel, but there's
something you've got to hear.  You stuck me in the
middle, between you and Akane.  I know you're my Mom
and all, but if you make me choose, Akane's always
going to win."

Evidently Nodoka took exception to Ranma's
statement, because he had to hold the phone several
inches away from his ear.

"Mom!  We're supposed to be making up, not fighting!
I didn't say I don't love you, and I'm not saying I
don't respect you, but Akane's always going to come
first, and that's all there is to it!  Yeah, I know
it's not traditional--"

Akane tried to keep a neutral expression as Ranma
listened to his mother again.  She could hear Nodoka
crying.  Then Ranma put his hand over the phone's
mouthpiece.

"You talk to her.  She's got it in her head that you
hate her.  It took me all this time to convince her
that I don't."  Ranma put the phone back to his ear.
"Mom?  Akane wants to talk to you."

Akane took the phone, but had no idea how to start.
"Hello?" she said hesitantly.

"Akane?"

"Yes, it's me.  Are you all right?"

Akane heard some sniffling before Nodoka spoke
again.  "I've driven you away, haven't I?  You hate
me, don't you?"

"No, of course not!  I was angry at you, but not
now."

"Can you forgive me?"

Akane thought for a moment.  What she said now would
affect her relationship with her mother-in-law for
the rest of their lives.  "I can, but there's
something I need from you first."

"Yes?"

"Trust.  I want you to trust Ranma, and trust me.
If we make a decision, support us instead of getting
in between us.  Can you do that?"

"I can try, daughter."

*****

Akane hung up the phone and just stared at it.  Then
she looked up at her husband, who seemed rather
anxious.  When she started to giggle, his expression
changed from apprehension to confusion.

"What's so funny?"

"I thought moving to the other end of Japan was
going to make our lives easier.  Guess I was wrong."

Ranma began to chuckle.  "With OUR families?  I
think if we went into outer space they'd track us
down."

"And make us get into fights."  Akane had the brief
mental image of a panda in a space suit, but quickly
suppressed it.

"Yeah."  Ranma's expression grew serious again.  "We
don't fight a lot.  Not the way we used to.  Except
when Mom interferes with us."  He sighed.  "I wish
she'd stop.  She said she would, but sooner or later
she's gonna forget and start again."

Akane walked around the table and sat down in her
husband's lap.  "Have a little more faith in her.
She said she would try."

Whatever Ranma was going to say was interrupted by
the telephone.  He lifted Akane off his lap and set
her on her feet.  "That's probably Shiro."

*****

Nabiki smiled happily as she followed her husband
into their bedroom, where he put their suitcases on
the bed and opened them.  The two of them began to
unpack.

"I missed this bed."

"You did not like sleeping on the floor?"

"Not really."  Nabiki opened the hamper and began
tossing dirty clothing into it.  "I've always
preferred a bed, ever since Mom got me one when I
was little.  That's probably one of the reasons I
don't like camping.  I like to be comfortable, and
sleeping on the ground is something I've never
gotten used to."

Tatewaki nodded.  "That should not be difficult.  If
it is your desire to be comfortable, then I will
make it my business to assure that you are."  He
finished unpacking as he spoke, and put his suitcase
away in the closet.  As he returned for Nabiki's
suitcase, Tatewaki glanced at his bedside table.
The light on the answering machine was on, and he
pushed the play button.

"Brother?  Brother, pick up the phone!  I must talk
to you!"

Nabiki winced at the sound of the phone being
slammed down.  Then the next message began to play.

"I do not see how avoiding me is going to solve this
family crisis, Brother!  This so-called marriage of
yours is simply not acceptable, and I demand that
you rectify the situation immediately!"

Tatewaki looked from the machine to his wife.  She
was pale, and he couldn't tell if it was anger or if
she was upset by his sister's words.  He quickly
fast-forwarded the tape for a few seconds, and
listened again.  More of the same.  It took him only
a couple of minutes for him to ascertain that the
balance of the tape was his sister's second message.
She had gone into a rant, her words becoming more
and more abusive and irrational.  He erased the
tape, walked around the bed, and gathered his
trembling wife into his arms.

"Don't let her upset you.  There is absolutely
nothing my sister can do or say that will change my
mind about you.  Her opinion means nothing to me."

"I'm not upset, or at least not the way you think."
Nabiki swallowed hard.  "How dare she tell you what
to do?  You are the head of the Kuno clan, not
Kodachi!  She should be listening to you!"

Tatewaki chuckled and sat down on the bed, pulling
his wife down beside him.  "Technically, my father
still holds that title, but--" he lifted a hand to
stop the objection Nabiki was already starting to
make--"he did give up any rights to the position
when he ran back to Hawaii.  It is now my
responsibility to take care of my sister, and that
is a very delicate situation.  I will have to give a
great deal of thought to the matter."

*****

Ranma shook his head when he heard Shiro's
suggestion, even though his friend obviously
couldn't see it.  "Tomorrow morning?  No, that won't
work.  We've got to head over to the gym tomorrow
and see if we have any students show up."

"You're still teaching those martial arts students?"

"Yeah.  That and some basic self-defense for an
American girl who's over here teaching.  We're
trading--Allison's helping me with English, and I'm
paying her by teaching the self-defense."

Shiro chuckled.  "Trading goods and services.
Sounds good to me!  But don't change the subject.
You want to go tomorrow afternoon instead?"

"Sure, sounds great.  We'll meet you there around
one.  Are you sure Shampoo's up to it?"

"She's taking a nap.  I think she wore herself out
taking care of me, and just needs some rest."

"Okay.  See you tomorrow then.  We'll meet you
there."

Ranma hung up the phone and turned around.  Akane
was standing there.

"Where are we going tomorrow?"

"Swimming."



------------------------------------------


A Change of Scene

Chapter 96

Ranma sat watching his sleeping wife, debating
whether or not to join her.  After he'd told her
about Shiro's invitation to join him and Shampoo on
campus at the indoor pool, they'd had a minor
argument.  It seemed to Ranma that Akane was making
excuses to avoid going to the pool, and he wasn't
about to let her get away with it.

"You taught me to skate.  I teach you to swim.  We
had a deal, remember?"

"Yes, but--"

"No buts!  A deal's a deal."

"All right, but you have to promise something."

"Yeah?"

Akane blushed.  "No teasing.  No 'hammer girl'
cracks.  If you're not going to be serious about
teaching me, then don't bother."

"Deal."

Once that was settled, Akane had decided to take a
nap.  Ranma wanted to tease her about how he'd told
her not to come out with him because it would tire
her out, but thought better of it.  Nabiki had been
quite right when she said that Akane was difficult
to get along with when she wasn't feeling well.  He
had the feeling that something was bothering her
besides weariness, and wondered what it could be.


The more Ranma watched Akane sleep, the more tempted
he was to join her.  Perhaps a nap was a good idea,
after all.

*****

Ukyo had her back to the door of the shop when it
opened, and quickly whirled to give her standard
welcome.  Her smile became brighter and the welcome
warmer when she saw that her visitor was Shiro.

"Nice to see you, too, Ukyo."  Then Shiro noticed
someone unexpected behind the counter, busily
chopping vegetables.  "Mr. Saotome!  I didn't expect
to see you here."

"Ranma's father has been helping me out for a few
days," Ukyo responded before Genma could.  "It's a
good thing, because Konatsu had a bad case of the
flu.  He's still in bed."

"Him too?  I just got up today."

"I see."  Ukyo gestured at the grill.  "Is that why
you're here?  Is Shampoo too sick to cook?"

Shiro laughed.  "No, she's worn out from taking care
of me.  Plus she insisted on making a huge pot of
soup and bringing it up to Ranma and Akane.  They
had it bad.  She came back with the weirdest news,
though."

"Oh?"

"I figured she'd end up taking care of all of us,
but Akane's sister Nabiki was there with her
husband, and they had everything under control."

"HUSBAND?"  All eyes turned to Genma, who had
dropped his knife on the floor, barely missing his
toes.  "WHAT husband?"

"Oops!" said Shiro.

*****

"Ranma?"

"Mmm?"

"Ranma?"

Akane giggled as Ranma opened one eye and peered at
her.  "Huh?"

"You hungry?"

Both eyes opened.  "Yeah.  Want to go out?"

"I already cooked."  Akane leaned down and kissed
Ranma.  "Besides, I can't talk to you if we're in a
restaurant.  Not the way I want to."

Ranma sat up and backed away.  "What did I do now?"

"You didn't do anything.  I'm just curious about
something you said to your father today."  Ranma
opened his mouth, but Akane put a finger to his
lips.  "Go wash up.  I'll set the table."

*****

"What's this about Nabiki having a husband?"  Genma
looked more than a little stunned as he asked the
question.

"If you don't know about it, then I guess it was
supposed to be a secret."

"Then Tendo doesn't know yet.  Who is it?"

"That Kuno guy.  The one who tried to break up Ranma
and Akane's wedding."  Shiro would have continued,
but when Ukyo broke up into hysterical laughter he
stopped talking and stared.  It took a few minutes
for Ukyo to come to herself.

"Let me get this straight.  Nabiki Tendo is married
to Tatewaki Kuno and nobody knew about it?  She
married one of the richest guys we know and didn't
have a huge, fancy wedding?"  Ukyo paused for a
moment, deep in thought.  Then her eyes widened and
she snapped her fingers.  "I've got it!  She's HAS
to be pregnant!"

*****

"Akane?  I thought you wanted to talk to me."

"I'm not sure where to start."

"How about at the beginning?"

"Okay."  Akane sat for a few seconds, and then put
down her chopsticks and looked directly at Ranma.
"After our first wedding got wrecked, your parents
decided to move back to their house.  Remember what
Daddy did?"

Ranma chuckled.  "Yeah, he told Pop I couldn't go
with him.  Something about him thinking Pop would
find me another fiancee if I wasn't with you.  Like
I didn't have enough!  But why are you asking me?"

"I need to know something."  Akane hesitated, and
looked away.

"What is it?  Why are you afraid to ask me?"

"You told your father that you missed out on getting
to know your mother because you had to stay behind.
Were you angry?  Did you want to go?"

"No."

"No?"

Ranma reached across the table and took Akane's
hand.  "No way was I going to leave you.  I nearly
lost you at Jusendo, and you could have been killed
at the wedding!  I wasn't letting you out of my
sight."

"I had no idea.  You didn't show it."

"Yeah.  I was afraid to.  But I kept having those
nightmares, and I kept sneaking into your room to
make sure you were okay.  I spent a lot of nights
watching you."

Akane stared.  "You did?"

"Yeah."  Ranma looked sheepish.  "I felt better if I
could see you."

"I was so worried!  I thought you resented it
because you didn't go with your parents.  That's the
way it sounded to me when you were talking to your
father today."

That was too much for Ranma.  He got up from the
table, went around to Akane, and pulled her out of
her chair and into his arms.  "Never.  I would never
regret staying with you."

Akane pulled back enough to look up into Ranma's
eyes.  "You're sure?  Even though you missed out on
being with your mother?"

"I'm sure."  Ranma took Akane's chair, and scooped
her into his lap.  He picked up her chopsticks and
grabbed some noodles.  "Eat."

*****

"I think I made a really big mistake," said Shiro as
he walked in with dinner.

"Oh?  Did you get the wrong order?"  Shampoo reached
for the boxes as she spoke, and Shiro handed them to
her.

"I wish it was that simple.  I happened to mention
that Nabiki and her husband had been visiting here,
and it seems nobody knew that they were married.
Now Ukyo's convinced that Nabiki is pregnant."

Shampoo was utterly confused.  "Why?"

Shiro shrugged.  "She said Nabiki would have to be
pregnant if she skipped a big fancy wedding, or
something like that.  It didn't make any sense to
me."

"That makes sense to me.  Perhaps Ukyo is right."

"I wish I understood how women think!"

Shampoo just laughed.

*****

To Ranma's surprise, there was only one person
waiting at the gym the following morning.  Allison
was there, and she wasn't dressed for practice.  She
was also rather pale, and looked tired.

"You had it too, didn't you?" asked Akane.

"So did most of my students, and a lot of the
teachers," Allison replied.  She gestured at the
empty gym.  "I guess your students are taking the
weekend off."

Ranma shrugged.  "That'll give me and Akane the
place to ourselves.  We can get in a real workout.
What about you?"

Allison blushed.  "Actually, I came to say goodbye.
I'm going home."

"Home?  To California?"

"That's right.  I'm so sorry about your tutoring.
If you like, I could arrange for somebody else to
take over, except I don't think anybody else would
be willing to take martial arts lessons in
exchange."

"Nah, I can manage on my own now.  You helped a lot.
But how come you're heading home so suddenly? I
thought--OW!!"  Akane had elbowed Ranma in the ribs.

"Mind your business!" she hissed.

"No, no that's okay!"  Allison laughed at Ranma's
embarrassed look.  I'm going home to get married."

That got Akane's full attention.  "Really?  What's
he like?"

"Now who's being nosy?" demanded Ranma, but Allison
wasn't listening.  She was too busy digging in her
purse.

"Here's a picture of the two of us," she said, and
handed a photograph to Akane.

"Oh, the two of you are CUTE!"

Ranma looked over Akane's shoulder.  "Yup.  You make
a nice looking couple.  Almost the nicest I've ever
seen."

Allison grinned.  "And I suppose the nicest are?"

"Me and Akane, of course."

"I would have been disappointed if you didn't say
that."

*****

Akane emerged from the locker room after showering,
and found Ranma waiting for her.  He looked a little
impatient.

"I've gotta get to the store."

"What for?"

Ranma turned a little bit red.  "I can't believe I
forgot that I don't have a guy's bathing suit!"

"It didn't even occur to me!"  Akane paused for a
second, and then gave Ranma an evil look.  "Does
that mean I can have your old ones?"

"Yeah, but they looked better on me."

Akane socked her husband.

*****

Shiro and Shampoo were already in the pool by the
time Ranma and Akane got there.  Ranma immediately
ran down to the deep end and plunged in, absolutely
delighted to be able to swim without turning into a
girl.  He watched as Akane cautiously walked down
the steps into the shallow end.  She took several
deep breaths, and walked forward until she was waist
high in the water.  Then she nodded at him.  "I'm
ready."

Ranma swam up to Akane, stood, and took her by the
arms.  They felt like stone.  "This isn't gonna work
if you don't relax."  He brought one hand down to
the small of her back and pushed gently, bringing
Akane's feet off the bottom of the pool.  She gasped
and he had to catch her to keep her from going
under.

"What are you doing?"

"Just loosen up!  We're going to start with
floating."  Ranma adjusted his grip so that one arm
was beneath Akane's back, and the other beneath her
legs.  "Pretend you're lying down on a bed.  I'll be
right here."

Akane nodded, closed her eyes, and Ranma felt her
begin to loosen up.  A few seconds later, he could
feel that she was no longer being held up by him,
but floating.  Ranma let his hands drift slightly
downward, so that they were not touching Akane but
hovering just a bit below her.  Her eyes flew open,
she panicked, and she sank.

Shiro winced.  "They're not doing very well, are
they?"

"Akane very bad swimmer.  Very bad."

"Maybe we shouldn't stare.  You want to get a soda?"

"I would like that."

*****

Akane felt Ranma patting her back as she clung to
him, choking.  He was murmuring something that
sounded encouraging, so she suppressed the desire to
hit him.  That didn't mean she wasn't going to tell
him what she thought of his behavior.  "Why did you
let go?  Are you CRAZY?"

"You were floating on your own.  My hands were right
under you in case you needed me."

"I was?"  Akane lifted her face from Ranma's chest
and stared at him.  He didn't look like he was
joking.  "You're sure?"

"Positive.  You wanna try again?"

"Yes."

When the Hayasukas returned to the pool fifteen
minutes later, they found the Saotomes floating in
the shallow end of the pool, hand in hand.
Unfortunately, their spontaneous applause caused
Akane to pick up her head, and she sank.

"Sorry!  I didn't mean to distract you!"  Shiro put
the sodas down on a nearby table and jumped into the
pool to assist Akane.  "I think you need to learn
NOT to breathe underwater."

"I've been telling her that for years," muttered
Ranma.  "Ow!  Why'd you hit me?"

"You promised not to tease!"

Ranma grabbed Akane and forced her to look at him.
"I wasn't teasing.  I was serious.  Every time your
face is in the water, you forget to hold your
breath.  So we're gonna stop floating now, and do
something else."

Akane looked at Ranma suspiciously.  "What?"

"Wait a sec."  Ranma left the pool, rummaged around
in his bag, and came up with a koosh ball.  "How
about a game of catch?"  He looked at Shiro and
Shampoo, who were seated at one of the tables with
their sodas.  "You two want to join us?"

"In a minute or two."  Shiro gestured to the table.
"I got sodas for the two of you, if you want them."

*****

Twenty minutes later a very exhausted Akane
stretched out on one of the lounges and watched
Ranma and Shiro roughhousing in the deep end.
Shampoo was beside her on another lounge, half
asleep.  Akane was still a little angry at Ranma,
but she was beginning to cool down.  After all, he
had meant well, even if his methods were not exactly
nice.

The four-way game of catch started out nicely, with
the koosh going back and forth in perfect arcs.
Then Ranma's toss to Akane was slightly short, and
she lunged for it.  She nearly lost her balance,
caught the ball, and tossed it to Shampoo.

A few throws later, Ranma was once again short, but
even more so than the first time.  Akane lunged
again, and fell face-first into the water.  She came
up choking to find him beside her, not touching her,
but close enough to help if she needed it.

"You okay?" he'd asked, and her nod made him return
to his own position.

After this happened twice more, Akane remembered to
hold her breath, but she also became very
suspicious.  It wasn't like Ranma to miss a throw,
and the only ones he was missing were to her.  He
was making her fall into the water on purpose, and
she was going to get him back.

"Hey, Tomboy!  Heads up!"  Once more the koosh was
coming in short.  This time Akane held her breath,
and jumped in after it.

As he had every other time, Ranma hurried to Akane
in case she needed help.  For some reason, she
hadn't surfaced.  Then he felt a small hand grasp
his ankle and pull.  This time he was the one who
came up spluttering.  "What was that about?" he
demanded.

"Look who's talking!  YOU'RE the one who's been
making me fall in!"

Ranma's angry looked softened.  "Yeah.  It was the
only way I could think of to make you used to
getting your face in the water.  It's working, isn't
it?"

"You could have warned me first!"  Akane turned her
back on Ranma and walked out of the pool.  Her
husband had apologized, and she had accepted the
apology, but that was the end of going into the pool
for the day.  She had had enough.

Akane forced her thoughts away from her irritation
at Ranma, and she glanced over at Shampoo.  The girl
was definitely sound asleep.  That was unusual.
Shampoo normally had the most energy of most of the
people Akane knew, but today she had tired out very
quickly.

Her attention was drawn next to the men in the pool.
Ranma and Shiro were still fooling around in the
deep end, throwing the koosh back and forth and
jumping on each other.  The two of them were having
a wonderful time.

Akane watched Shiro, who was obviously outclassed by
Ranma.  He was by no means out of shape, or fat, but
he simply wasn't a martial artist.  That wasn't
preventing Shiro from trying to outdo Ranma, though,
and Akane admired his determination.

Then she found herself wondering what it was about
Shiro that had attracted Shampoo to him.  He was
handsome enough, but Akane felt no pull toward him
at all.  She thought about it some more, and
concluded that Shiro's looks probably weren't the
answer.  There was something about the man that made
him easy to like.  Then she realized what it was.
Kindness.  Shiro was the kindest person she'd ever
met, and he had shown that part of himself to
Shampoo the morning they met, when he handed her his
orange juice.  No wonder Shampoo had fallen for him.
She'd received little enough kindness from anyone
since her arrival in Japan.

Satisfied that the mystery was solved, Akane closed
her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*****

"Do the two of you have any plans for break?"  Shiro
looked at Ranma in the rear view mirror.  "Please
say no."

"Um, no?" replied Ranma.

"Good!  Don't make any.  We want you to come to the
beach house with us."

"We would have a good time," added Shampoo.  "Please
come."

Akane smiled.  "I love the beach!"

Ranma squeezed her hand.  "Yeah, and I bet you could
learn to swim easier there."

"Why?"

"Salt water makes you more buoyant, so that'll give
you an advantage."

"I need all the advantages I can get," replied his
wife.




-------------------

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     You could turn this way,
I'm also lonely
     this autumn evening

Basho



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