[FFML] (Fanfic)(R1/2)(Alt.U)Summoner's song 1b Eye of the Storm

Akane awoke to the familiar sounds of battle outside her bedroom window. She languidly stretched as she yawned, inwardly musing that her agent had spoiled her too much. She got up from her bed and stood in front of a full-sized mirror she had acquired some time ago. Her body had changed; her legs were definitely longer now, finely toned with the right amounts of muscle and fat to send anyone drooling. Her hips were narrower than when she was a teenager, the product of meticulous dieting brought about by the need to get that plum part in her previous movie. Her breasts were fuller, and still as firm as when she was in high school. "Ranma will never know what hit him," she said to herself as she prepared herself for the day ahead.

***

'It's not fair,' Ranma thought to himself as he lazily avoided his father's uppercut. Ever since getting zapped by whatever Yume-chan hit him with, his speed, strength and agility had improved by leaps and bounds. He noted with a sideways glance that the old panda was sweating and panting already. 'Any minute now and he'll start using special attacks,' he mused as he danced away from a very deadly punch/kick combo his dad unleashed. The old man had overextended his kick and was promptly sent to the koi pond for this error. Ranma smiled as he sauntered to one of the stones that formed the rim of the pond and peered at the waterlogged panda. The pigtailed martial artist laughed over how silly his cursed father looked and was in turn pushed into the pond by a giggling six-year-old. Ranma emerged, wet and indignant, and proceeded to drag the squealing tot into the pond with her, and the former early morning sparring became an impromptu water fight with Soun Tendo and the old panda looking on mournfully.

***

Jiro Maeda presents:
A Ranma Nibunnoichi fan fiction
Summoner's Song
Part 1b: Eye of the Storm

Disclaimer: Ranma � and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video.

***

Akane descended to the Tendo living room and soon found a scene of the typically unmatched lunacy that had been absent for the last eight years. The Saotome father and son were battling it out with chopsticks that were flying to and from bowls; food disappeared at inhuman speeds, only to appear at one or the other's bowls. What was surprising -- at least to Akane -- was that a third person was involved in the food war. The little urchin known as Yumeko was giving as good as she got. Genma was not getting nearly as much as eight years ago, but there was a smile on his face that hadn't been present since Ranma left. Obviously the old panda had missed his son too, Akane mused as she seated herself at her customary place by Ranma's side, sandwiching the child between them.

Soun coughed audibly to claim the attention of the people sitting around his table. He turned his attention to Ranma and the child sitting between him and his fianc�e. "Son, you still haven't introduced your little companion," he remarked.

The pigtailed martial artist temporarily ceased inhaling his fifth bowl of oden to answer his future father in law's question. "This is Yumeko Saotome, six years old, future heir to the combined Anything Goes School and my adopted daughter." He said, pride clearly showing in his face. His little ward smiled right back and fiercely hugged him.

"D-d-daughter?" The other occupants of the table except Akane exclaimed.

Nabiki noticed Akane's lack of reaction. "Aren't you going to say anything about this?" she asked her sister, who was at the moment busy doling out additional servings to her recently-returned fianc� and the girl he claimed as a daughter.

"Do I have any reason to? Ranma's still my fianc�, with or without a daughter. Besides, I think she's cute." Akane absently answered as she wiped the little girl's face.

The rest of the family goggled at Akane's declaration. The Saotomes -- save the matriarch, who was obviously ecstatic about being a grandmother -- were too busy eating to care.

"Akane, that's not like you..." remarked Nabiki

"Why? Everyone needs to grow up sometime, right?"

"How very true. Well done, Akane. Oh, I'm so proud of my baby girl!" bawled Soun, who started shedding fountain-like tears of joy.

"Mother would be so proud, Akane-chan." Kasumi gushed smilingly.

The rest of the meal went on in silence after that.

***

At the studio-type dwelling above Ucchan's Okonomiyaki emporium, the Hibikis were fighting. More specifically, Ukyo Hibiki was fighting, flinging things-that-go-smash to at her husband Ryouga, who was busy dodging the many things-that-go-smash that his wife was throwing at him. Ryou was fast asleep; unmindful that his mother was trying to kill his father.

"At least tell me why you're so upset... Yipe!" Ryouga yelped as he dodged the 18th century vase he had brought home from his sojourn in Italy. He dodged behind the sofa just in time to narrowly avoid a plate caroming off his larynx. He peeked out, trying to see if the barrage was over, only to find himself staring at his own reflection as his wife threw their antique looking-glass. He "oomphed" in pain as he slid across the floor so that he could cushion the expensive piece of furniture with a pillow salvaged from the sofa.

"Aho! Jerk! Pig! Insensitive prick! Thick-skulled, mule-headed moron!" Ukyo screamed, tossing one fragile piece of furniture after another towards her desperately dodging husband. The okonomiyaki chef was red in the face with rage as she threw vases and other ceramics, 'How dare he think that way? The nerve of him!' she thought angrily as hot tears coursed down her face.
"Honey, please, tell me what made you upset," Ryouga pleaded from his cowering position behind the fallen sofa. He slowly got up, his palms raised in a gesture of surrender as he emerged from where he was hiding. He gingerly stepped closer to where his wife stood, noting her trembling hands and tear-streaked face.

"Does my love count so little, Ryouga?" Ukyo whispered.

"Why do you say that? Your love is what makes me live each day, Hon. You know that." Ryouga softly whispered as he unclenched his wife's trembling hands, engulfing them with his own.

"Then why did you say those things? Why did you blindly assume that I'll leave you for Ranma?" she asked as she hugged her husband tightly. Her hot tears soaking his shirt as her husband ineffectively tried to calm her.

"I'm sorry, it was callous of me. I meant it as a joke... a very bad one, now that I think about it." Ryouga apologized as he stroked his wife's soft chestnut hair. He could still hear her sniffles.

Ukyou doesn't have black hair. It's light brown, IIRC.

"Liar! You meant every word of it. You want to abandon me now that Ranma's here, is that it?" Ukyo sobbed, futilely trying to disengage herself from her husband's firm embrace. The grip of his arms only tightened as she struggled some more.

"I'll never abandon you, Ukyo. You and Ryou are what keep me going each day. You're all I think about whenever I'm out in the world. To me, home is where you are. I just wasn't sure if you should settle for second-best now that Ranma's back. He's your first love, and I want you to be happy. I want you to have no regrets about anything." Ryouga answered. Deep inside, he felt undeserving of someone like his wife. He had experienced love from different women in different degrees, from the gentle caring for a pet from Akane to the absolute devotion given by Akari. "You made me live again, dearest. For that and for the love you have given me, you deserve the best." He was surprised when, moments later, she was hugging him for all he was worth.

"Stupid truffle-brained idiot, I already have the best. I'm not settling for a consolation prize here. I already have my man, and if you think I'm letting you go, I'll just brain you with my spatula till you decide otherwise." Ukyo murmured in Ryouga's shirt. She looked up and stared into her husband's eyes and saw the love he had for her. She closed her eyes, leaned forward and kissed him, it was soft and gentle at first but the emotions they unleashed that afternoon fed fuel to the fire, soon enough the okonomiyaki-wiz was kissing her directionally-challenged husband with all she had. Her husband, of course, returned the favor, and soon they were rolling on the floor... but this time they were not fighting.

***

Yumeko watched as Ranma and Akane sparred in the dojo. She had heard of this place ever since she began traveling with her guardian, and was quite surprised to find out that it was everything she imagined it would be, and more. "A home, finally," she whispered, hugging herself to make certain she wasn't dreaming. Her musings were cut when melodic laughter floated over to her. She saw the delicate dance her guardian and his fianc�e were performing. His movements were like swift torrents, wild yet powerful. Hers was similar to that of a raging fire, constant, vibrant, and filled to the brim with life. The harmony was broken when they began to argue, their voices raised in counterpoint to each other "They're good for one another, so why do they fight?" the little girl asked herself, very much puzzled at this turn.

"Don't mind them, they're always like that. It's their nature to sizzle and spark at each other." Yume jumped, startled upon hearing the voice. She turned and found Kasumi standing at the dojo entrance, a tray of snacks balanced on her left hand as she closed the shoji.

"But they love each other, oneechan. Aren't people in love more... peaceful-acting than that?" Yume asked, scurrying to help Kasumi carry the snacks to the obliviously arguing couple.

Kasumi giggled at the little tyke's serious expression. "It's just their way, Yume-chan. They express their love by arguing," she explained, carefully placing the snacks and tea implements by the side where they wouldn't be disturbed.

"It's just wrong, Kasumi-neechan. We don't have a lot of time. Oniichan should be cherishing this moment with Akane-neechan, not arguing with her!" Yumeko exclaimed, clearly frustrated by events. Her words were emphasized by the gestures she made with her hands and arms. Kasumi just smiled and nodded as they shared that somewhat peaceful moment.

***
Somewhere south of Tokyo, in an old condemned temple, shadows began to stir. The broken shoji and wooden walls began to move by themselves. A vortex of power grew and focused on the abandoned shrine as black lightning began to crackle around the lacquer box and the wards that held it sealed. Finally, the wards burst into flames and the altar exploded outward, filling the old temple with shadow.

***
Yumeko suddenly stiffened and dropped the glass she held. She screamed soundlessly as her guardian held her, the heat from her skin not unlike that of a burning furnace as her body stiffened. Suddenly she got up, and with a savage yell she screamed, "He comes!"

TBC

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