Travels, Training and Trials

A Ranma 1/2 fanfic by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
karaohki@snet.net

July 14, 2003

Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi, and its characters belong to
her.  I'm merely borrowing them.  The story below is for entertainment
purposes only, and may not be used commercially.

Chapter 10

Warm.  He was warm.  After so many years on the road, Ranma always knew
before he opened his eyes whether he was in his tent or indoors, but this
warmth was different.  His eyes shot open as he realized that he was warm
because someone was lying beside him.  He was in Akane's room and she was
next to him, sound asleep.  Ranma rubbed his eyes, convinced that this was
some sort of illusion, but nothing changed.  No matter how hard he tried,
he could not remember getting into bed with Akane.  Ranma lay back, closed
his eyes, and concentrated.

They'd come home from work, had dinner, and--

Cat!  There had been a cat.  No wonder he had a gap in his memory.  Ranma
flew into a sitting position and checked out what he could see of Akane
that wasn't covered.  He sighed with relief when he saw no injuries.
Every time he'd awakened after exposure to a cat, his father had been
covered with scratches and bruises.

"Thank goodness I didn't hurt you," he whispered, as he pushed the quilt
back so he could get up.  He really needed to get to the toilet.  Ranma
turned the doorknob, which flew open under the combined weight of Genma
and Soun.  He ended up squashed beneath them.

*****

The crash awakened Akane, and she opened her eyes.  The first thing that
met them was the sight of Ranma crawling out from beneath both of their
fathers.  She retreated beneath the covers, leaving only her face exposed.
"What is going on here?" she demanded.

A sleepy voice from the hallway answered her.  "They've been out in the
hallway all night, with their ears on your door."  Nabiki poked her head
into Akane's room.  "It's bad enough they won't let you have any privacy,
but they kept me up all night with their noise!"

Kasumi appeared beside Nabiki.  "I didn't sleep much, either."  She glared
at both fathers, who were picking themselves off the floor.  "You'd think
they'd have better sense!"

Ranma snorted.  "Well I don't know much about your father, but mine
doesn't have any.  Would you get lost, Pop?"

"Son, you wound me!  Here Tendo and I lost our much-needed sleep, hoping
that you were doing right by your wife--"

"POP!!"

Akane sat up holding the quilt to her chest. She watched while Ranma
grabbed his father and dragged him out of the room.  The next thing she
heard was the sound of a heavy object bouncing down the stairs, then Ranma
reappeared in the room. He glared at her father before asking "you want
the same treatment?"

Soun fled.

*****

Ranma stepped back out into the hallway, where both his sisters-in-law
stood.  "Excuse me," he said as he stepped past them.  Ranma could feel
their eyes boring into his back as he headed for the toilet.  When he came
out, Akane was waiting outside, but her sisters were nowhere in sight.
Ranma returned to the bedroom, sat down on the futon, and waited.  A short
time later, Akane came into the room.  She hesitated for a moment before
sitting beside Ranma.

"I can't believe them."

"Yeah.  Neither can I.  Stupid old man."  Ranma hesitated, and gestured at
the futon.  "How'd I end up in here?  The last thing I remember is the
c-cat."

"Your father shoved it in your face, and you--it was just like you said.
You acted just like a cat."

Ranma nodded.  "Then what?  I usually attack Pop, but he didn't look
scratched up."

"I tried to talk to you, but you wouldn't listen.  You pushed me over."

"I did?  Did I hurt you?"

Akane giggled.  "No, but then you sat in my lap and purred."

"No way!"

"You did!  And then you kissed me!"  Akane blushed.  "Then you fell asleep
in my lap, so I put you to bed."

Ranma couldn't help himself.  He began laughing.  Akane stared at him for
a moment before joining him.  She started to choke, so he put his arms
around her and patted her on the back.  Akane eventually caught her
breath, looked up at him, and smiled.  Ranma answered the smile with a
kiss, which turned into a series of kisses.  He pulled Akane into his lap,
and continued to kiss her.

Then the alarm clock rang.  They both jumped, and Akane scrambled off
Ranma's lap.  Ranma couldn't quite read the look in her eyes.  "Are you
okay, Akane?"

"I'm fine!"

"But--"

"We've got to get ready for school!"  Akane pulled a uniform out of the
closet, rummaged through her bureau for clothing, and ran out of the room.

"Sure you're fine," muttered Ranma.

*****

Sayuri stood by the gates of the school with Ryoga, waiting for Akane.
While she waited, she watched Kuno pace back and forth.

"That's the guy you were telling me about?" asked Ryoga.

"Yes.  I'll bet he's waiting to bother Akane again."

Kuno eventually noticed Sayuri's presence and approached her.  This was a
surprise to Sayuri, since the older boy had never before acknowledged her
existence, but also because she expected him to pull out a pad to write a
note.  Evidently, he had overcome the handicap of speaking with a
wired-shut jaw.  What a shame, she thought.

"You are Akane's friend?"

"Yes."

"Tell me, do you know why my goddess was not at her studies yesterday?  Is
that monster Saotome keeping her from me?"

Ryoga bristled.  "Ranma's no monster!"

Kuno looked down his nose at Ryoga.  "I was not speaking to you."

"You are now!"

Kuno slowly nodded before pulling his bokken out of nowhere.  "Is that a
challenge?" he asked.

Ryoga cracked his knuckles, a huge grin on his face.  "You could say
that."

*****

"Hey, lovebirds!"

Nabiki's words were enough to stop Ranma and Akane in their tracks.

"Don't call us that!" Akane said indignantly.

"Why not?  It fits."  Nabiki pointed at the couple's linked hands.  "Bet
you didn't even realize you were holding hands, did you?  You're going to
get a lot of questions about being out yesterday, and I'm going to get a
lot of questions for running out in the middle of the day.  Have you
thought about how you're going to handle it?"

"It's nobody's business!" exclaimed Ranma.

"I agree, but unfortunately you've got to tell your teachers something.
What you tell them is up to you."  Nabiki paused.  "You can tell them the
truth right away, or you can delay for a few days.  If you want my advice,
you'll just tell them that urgent family business kept you home, and I'll
say the same thing made me leave.  Only a few people will be rude enough
to ask for details, and you can give them the cold shoulder."

"That sounds like a good idea.  What do you think, Ranma?"  Nabiki
couldn't help smiling at her sister's expression of concern when she
looked at her husband.  Forced marriage or no, she could see how much
Akane cared for Ranma.

"We can try.  I'm not a very good liar," was his reply.

"You won't BE lying.  If getting married isn't family business, what is?"

They resumed walking.  A city bus stopped just ahead of them, and a small
bag flew onto the sidewalk, followed by a teenaged girl.  The girl
retrieved her bag and attempted to re-enter the bus. The three young
people watched as she got into an argument with the driver.

"You have to let me back on!  I need to get to the city!"

"You paid as far as Nerima.  If you want to go any farther, you need to
pay another fare."

"But I don't have--" the doors closed in the girl's face, and the bus
moved on.

Ranma didn't hesitate.  He walked up to the girl and placed a hand on her
shoulder.  "Do you need help, miss?"

The girl turned around.  "Ranma?"

"Midori?"

*****

Sayuri inspected the crumpled form of Tatewaki Kuno.  She circled him
several times, and smiled.  "Nice job, but why didn't you hit him in the
jaw?"

"It's already broken!  He wouldn't be able to talk at all!"

"Exactly my point."

Ryoga couldn't think of an answer to that.  He glanced toward the gates.
"I wonder what's keeping them."

*****

"Midori?"

Nabiki saw her sister react, and realized that whoever this Midori was,
Akane knew about her.  Then both girls rushed forward as Midori toppled
over into Ranma's arms.  Ranma's book bag and Midori's bag landed on the
sidewalk at the same time as Ranma sank to his knees, cradling the girl
protectively.  Both girls knelt beside Ranma while Akane reached for
Midori's hand.

"Her hand is freezing!  She must be sick.  Let's get her back to the
house."

Ranma nodded, and got to his feet.  When he did, Akane got a good look at
Midori's midsection.  It was obvious that she was pregnant.

"I thought you said you only kissed her!" she wailed.

"That's all I did!"

Akane didn't answer, but turned around and fled.

"Akane, wait!"

Nabiki hesitated, wondering what to do.  She wanted to run after her
sister, but at the same time she wanted to get some information from her
brother-in-law.  She was retrieving Akane's book bag when Midori stirred.

"Kosuke," she murmured.  Then her eyelids fluttered, and she looked up at
Ranma.  "Help me, please help me find him."

"Find who?  Kosuke?"

Midori nodded weakly.

"Not until we get you to the house.  You're not going anywhere until we're
sure you're okay."  He started walking, and Nabiki scrambled to pick up
Ranma and Midori's things and follow him.  Ranma looked down at Midori.
"Are you talking about Kosuke from your Dad's dojo?  The one who trained
with us?"

Midori nodded again before she closed her eyes.  "My husband," she
whispered.

Nabiki breathed a sigh of relief.  If Midori, whoever she was, was
married, then her baby couldn't belong to Ranma.  Could it?  "Hey,
Saotome, slow down a little.  I feel like a beast of burden carrying all
this stuff!"

Ranma looked back at Nabiki, who was juggling three book bags and Midori's
things.  "I can't slow down.  I need to see Akane."

*****

Soun and Genma looked up from their game when Akane ran into the house,
but she ignored them and continued upstairs to her room.  Walking through
the door forcibly reminded her that it was no longer just her room, but
hers and Ranma's.  She sank down into her chair, staring at nothing.  A
few minutes later, the sound of a huge commotion downstairs sent her
running to find out what it was.

Akane found Ranma standing between his father and Midori.   Genma looked
positively furious, which was causing Midori to cringe away from him.
Nabiki stood beside Midori with an arm around the trembling girl.  Genma
lunged forward and stuck his finger in Midori's face.  The girl fell to
her knees.

"How many times did you sneak into my son's room before I caught you at
it, you tramp?  Tell me!"

Midori just whimpered.

Genma raised his hand, and Akane screamed.  "Don't!"  She cried.  "Leave
her alone!"

Genma turned around at the sound of her voice, while Soun grabbed his
shoulder.  "Saotome, what are you thinking?  That girl might be carrying
your grandchild!"

"Listen to me, old man," Ranma growled.  "I'm gonna tell you this once,
and that better be enough.  All I did was kiss her.  Period."  Ranma
picked Midori up and stalked out of the room.  The girls followed.  When
Ranma stopped in the hallway, evidently not knowing where to go next,
Akane pulled him into the guest room, locked the door, and pointed to her
old bed.

"Put her down here, Ranma."

Ranma deposited a shaken, weeping Midori on the bed.  She immediately
curled up into a ball.  "I'm sorry," she sobbed.  "I didn't mean to cause
all this trouble."

"It's not your fault my father's an idiot," responded Ranma.  He sat down
on the bed, and gestured for Akane to stand beside him.  "This is my
w-wife, Akane."  Ranma seemed impatient with himself for tripping over the
unfamiliar word.  "That's her sister, Nabiki."  Ranma took Akane's hand,
and squeezed it; then he looked her directly in the eye.  "Akane, this is
my friend, Midori.  I told you about her."

Akane nodded as she noted the emphasis Ranma put on the word "friend".
Not two minutes before they ran into Midori he had stated that he was a
lousy liar.  Relief flooded through her as she realized that Ranma was
telling her the truth when he said he'd done no more than kiss Midori.
She also owed him an apology for doubting him, but that would have to wait
until they were alone.  Akane pushed Ranma out of the way and sat beside
Midori.  "What are you doing here in Nerima?" she asked.  "What can we do
to help you?"

Midori tried to sit up.  "I'm sorry.  I'm a little dizzy," she said as she
put a hand to her forehead.

Ranma frowned.  "When's the last time you ate anything?"

"Yesterday morning."

Nabiki headed out of the room.  "I'll be right back."  She returned two
minutes later with a glass of juice.  "Sip this slowly," she instructed.
"I'll make you some breakfast."  She looked at each of the people in the
room, and nodded.  "That will give you time to talk."

*****

It took both Ranma and Akane's encouragement to make Midori tell her tale,
which was grim indeed.

Genma had been right.  Midori's father had forced her to try to seduce
Ranma.  In fact, it had taken a beating to make her do it.   What her
father had been unaware of was her attachment to Kosuke.

"Father caught Kosuke kissing me a few months ago, and threw him out.  I
tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't let me mention Kosuke's name, so I
couldn't tell him the truth."

"Which was?" asked Akane.

"That we were married.  We got married shortly after Ranma left."  Midori
sighed.  "We were keeping it a secret until Kosuke could find somewhere
else for us to live.  Father just threw Kosuke out without letting us tell
him we were married."

"Then what?" asked Ranma.

"I got a message from Kosuke.  He told me to stay put until he was
settled, and that he'd send for me.  He's been writing to me ever since.
His last letter said he found a job teaching in the city."  Midori put her
hand to her stomach, and smiled.  "I haven't told him about the baby.  I
was trying to keep it from Father, but that didn't work."

"It's rather hard to hide," remarked Akane.  "Not once you start to show."

"Father was furious at me.  He said I had destroyed the only thing I was
useful for--to attract an heir for the dojo.  Then he told me I had five
minutes to pack my things.  I was trying to get to Kosuke, but I didn't
have enough money to get there."

The door opened and Nabiki came in with a breakfast tray.  Akane took it
from her and set it in Midori's lap.

"Eat up.  We'll help you find him."

*****

Two hours later, Ranma, Akane, Nabiki and Midori stood in front of a dojo.
The sign read "Shimura's School of Martial Arts".

"Thank you for bringing me here," said Midori.

Ranma shook his head as he reached for the door.  "What, you don't think
we're going in with you?  I'm not leaving until I'm sure Kosuke's there!"

"That's right," agreed Akane.  "What if it's his day off?"

A slight look of fear crossed Midori's face.  "I-I never thought of that."

They entered the building and a young man sitting at a desk greeted them.
Midori asked for Kosuke, and the man came out from behind his desk and
gestured to her.

"He's teaching a class right now, but if you want to wait there are a
couple of chairs in the hallway."  He led them down a corridor, around a
corner, and pointed out a door.  "The class is nearly over, so you don't
have long to wait."

*****

Kosuke scanned the room, watching each student.  They were for the most
part showing great progress; however, he'd have to pay some special
attention to a few who were struggling to keep up.  He was also annoyed to
see that several students were looking at the window in the classroom
door, rather than paying attention.  He was about to scold them when he
caught sight of the person looking in, which caused him to lose the
ability to think rationally.

"Sensei?"  His students were looking at him oddly.

"Um, err--class dismissed!  We'll pick up where we left off next time!"
Without waiting for his students to bow to him, Kosuke flew out of the
room, and pulled his wife into his arms.  He was too absorbed in embracing
her to notice the odd looks everyone gave him as they left the school.

"Maybe we should give them some privacy," murmured Akane.  She pulled on
Ranma's arm, and they began moving away from the couple.

*****

"Nabiki!  Wait!"  Nabiki turned around, and Sayuri ran up to her.  She was
holding hands with a boy Nabiki had never seen before.  "I brought Akane
her assignments.  Is she sick?"  Sayuri didn't wait for an answer but
instead pulled a sheaf of papers from her bag and dumped it in Nabiki's
hands.  "Tell her to get better for me.  I'd stop and see her, but I
promised to get Ryoga home on time.  Bye!"

"She didn't even introduce me," murmured Nabiki, as the pair vanished
around the corner.  Actually, that was a bit of a relief.  Nabiki was very
tired.  All she could think about was getting home and relaxing.  The
sight of both fathers standing in the doorway made it plain that she
wouldn't be able to relax, at least not yet.

"Where are they?" demanded Soun.

"I don't know, Daddy."

"What do you mean, you don't know?  You left the house together!"

Nabiki ignored them long enough to change from street shoes into house
slippers.  "When I said I didn't know where Ranma and Akane were, I meant
I didn't know exactly where they were.  They decided to spend the rest of
the day in the city.  I'm sure they'll be home this evening."

"What about Midori?" demanded Genma.  "Is she with them?"

Nabiki's irritation finally reached the boiling point.  "Now you ask!"
She glared at Genma as she stalked past him into the kitchen, where she
began making a pot of tea.  "We delivered her to her husband, who was very
glad to see her.  If you'd allowed us to get a word in before we left this
morning you would have heard the truth.  Midori is married, and the child
is her husband's.  Instead, you had to jump to conclusions and upset
everyone!"

"Now, Nabiki," interjected Soun, "that's no way to talk to our guest."

"He's not a guest.  He's family now."

"Then you should show him some respect!"

Nabiki poured her tea, put it on a tray with some cookies, and left the
kitchen.  "He hasn't earned it yet," were her parting words.

*****

Akane looked out over the lake to the flowers beyond.  As long as her gaze
went no higher, it was almost possible to imagine that she and Ranma were
out in the country; however, if she looked beyond the treetops the
illusion vanished.  They were only in a small park. The view was pretty,
but the noise of Tokyo was just on the other side of the trees.

*****

After they had succeeded in reuniting Midori with her husband, everyone
had gone their separate ways.  Kosuke took Midori home, Nabiki returned to
Nerima, and Ranma and Akane spent the afternoon wandering around.  They
would have gone home with Nabiki, but she had other ideas.

"Wait a sec," Nabiki had said.  She opened her purse and began digging
around in it.  "Take this," she said, as she deposited a substantial sum
of money into her sister's hands.

"What's this for?"

"How long have you been married?"

Ranma answered for Akane.  "About twenty-four hours, but you already know
that.  Why ask?"

"How much of that time have you spent together, without the family around?
The time you were at work yesterday doesn't count."

Akane looked at Ranma.  Ranma looked at Akane.  "Well," Akane ventured,
"last ni--"

Nabiki cut her off.  "That doesn't count either.  You were asleep."  She
waved her hand at her sister before she could speak again.  "Just listen.
Take the money.  Spend the day together.  Go out to lunch, go shopping, do
whatever you want.  Just DON'T come home until dinner time."  Taking their
silence as agreement, Nabiki smiled and walked away.

They took her advice and spent the day together.  Hand in hand, they
wandered around looking in shop windows, had lunch at a little noodle
stand, and visited a museum.    Then Ranma discovered the little park they
were now in.

*****

"Ranma?"

"Hmmm?"  Ranma sat in the grass, leaning against a tree.  He opened one
eye and squinted at Akane.  "What?"

"I'm sorry."

Both eyes opened.  "Huh?  For what?"

Akane bit her lip, and looked down at her lap.  "Doubting you.  Running
away the way I did."  Two seconds later, Ranma was sitting beside her.

"Did you think I was mad at you?"

"I don't know.  Maybe."

Ranma put a finger under Akane's chin, and turned her so that she had to
look at him.  "Well, I'm not.  But when you ran off like that, I--"

"What?"

It was Ranma's turn to look down.  "I got scared," he said so softly that
Akane had to strain to hear him.  "I thought I was going to lose you."

*****

Kodachi tried to concentrate on her homework, but failed.  She threw down
her pen, crossed the hallway, and pounded on her brother's door.

"Would you stop that pacing!  Sit down, already!"

Tatewaki Kuno opened his door and glared at his sister.   "How can I
relax, when my beloved one is in the hands of a monster?  I must discover
Saotome's hold on the fair Akane so that I can rescue her!"

Kodachi's only response was to whack her brother over the head with a
large wooden mallet.  He made a most satisfying thump when he fell on the
floor.  She smiled in contentment and retreated to her own room.  It was
time for her to pay a visit to Furinkan High School, and see this Akane
Tendo for herself.  She must be very special to have caused her brother to
become so obsessed with her.  She did, however, have another motivation
for her visit.

"I must admit," she murmured, "to some curiosity about this Saotome."

*****

The old man winked at Ranma, making him blush.  Then the man's wife
elbowed him in the ribs.  "You're embarrassing him, dear!"

"Why?  The boy's got quite an armful, there.  I was merely congratulating
him."

"It's okay," replied Ranma.  "He's right."  He looked down at Akane, who
was sleeping with her head on his shoulder, and smiled.  He'd never admit
it to his father, but Ranma had to be grateful that Genma had broken in on
him and Midori.  If things had turned out otherwise, Ranma would now be
married to a girl who loved someone else.  What bothered him more than
anything else was that he'd been more than willing to make love to Midori
that night.  He wondered if Akane realized that, and hoped she would never
bring it up.  Some things were best left alone.  Ranma squeezed Akane's
hand gently.  "Wake up.  We're home."

*****

Nabiki was at the door when Ranma and Akane arrived home.  She was glad to
see that they seemed to be in good spirits.  "I've been waiting for you,"
she said.

Akane paled.  "Is something wrong?"

"No.  I just wanted to let you know that I think you'll have a break this
evening.  There's no one home but me and Kasumi."

Akane looked at Ranma.  Ranma looked at Akane.  "Why not?" asked Ranma.

Nabiki waved them into the house.  "They seem to think that you two
spending the day together is a good sign or something, so they went out to
celebrate."  She shrugged, and turned toward the kitchen.  "Kasumi!
They're home!"

"Dinner's nearly ready!" responded Kasumi.  "Can somebody set the table?"

"Would you mind, Ranma?  I'd like to have a minute or two with Akane."
Nabiki accompanied the question with a gentle shove, which propelled an
unresisting Ranma into the kitchen.  Then she took Akane by the arm and
led her to the table.  "I think I made a mistake this morning," she began.

As expected, Akane looked confused.  "About what?"

"When I told you to keep your marriage a secret for a few days.  I've been
thinking about it a lot, and I don't think it's a good idea."  Akane
opened her mouth to interrupt, but Nabiki waved her off.  Both girls
quieted as Ranma came in with his hands full.  They remained silent as he
set the table.  Ranma seemed to know that his presence was unwanted, so he
retreated to the kitchen.  "If you hide it, people are going to think
you're ashamed of being married, or embarrassed about it.  Your friends
like Ranma, don't they?"

"I think so.  They haven't had a chance to get to know him very well."
Akane smiled.  "I think it's mostly that they think he's cute."

"Yeah.  He is.  But the point I'm trying to make is that they're likely to
react pretty positively to the news, right?  The way I figure it, a few of
the guys who were chasing you around might take it badly, but not enough
to cause you trouble.  Your biggest problem is going to be Kuno."

Akane nodded in agreement, but said nothing.

"I just don't understand him," Nabiki continued.  "He's not stupid, you
know--he gets really good grades.  But common sense?  Not a drop of it,
and his obsession with you is scary.

"Maybe we'll get lucky.  Maybe once he finds out you're married, his sense
of honor will make him leave you alone.  I wouldn't count on it, though."

"So what are we supposed to do?"  Akane's smile was gone.  She began
twisting her hands in her lap.  "I'm tired of fighting with him."

"Let your husband do it.  In the meantime, I'll see what I can do with
school administration.  They've been letting this slide too long."

Akane nodded.  "Okay.  Except I hate letting someone else fight my
battles."

"You're missing something, little sister.  You and Ranma are supposed to
be a team now.  Work together."  Nabiki was pleased to see Akane's face
light up in understanding.  "You can come in now!" she called in to Kasumi
and Ranma.

*****

"I really hate catch up work," grumbled Akane.  She and Ranma had worked
their way through a good deal of what Sayuri had left with Nabiki, but it
was obvious they were going to be up rather late finishing.

Ranma looked up from his assignment and stretched.  "Yeah.  I hope we
don't miss any more school.  You want a break?  I'm hungry."

"Good idea."  Akane pushed her chair back.  "I think there are some
cinnamon cookies left.  Let's go see."

"Great!  I love your cinnamon cookies!"

A few minutes later, the young couple sat at the table downstairs with two
large glasses of milk and the last of the cookies.  They ate in silence
for a few minutes.  Then they both spoke at once.

"Ranma--"

"Akane, I--"

Both stopped. Ranma waved at Akane.  "You go first."

"I was thinking about tomorrow.  Nabiki said she thought we should just
tell the truth if anybody asks."

"She changed her mind?"

Akane nodded.  "She thinks most of my friends will accept that we're
married.  I think she's right.  We are married, and that's all there is to
it."

"Yeah, if anybody gives us a hard time, it'll be Kuno.  I wish he'd get a
clue, already!"

"What are we going to do about him?"

Ranma shrugged.  "Depends on what he does.  If he bothers you, I'll make
him stop."

"He's more likely to pick a fight with you."

"Let him try."

That remark made Akane smile.  "What did you want to tell me?  It's your
turn."

"It was something stupid.  Never mind."

"Are you sure?"

Ranma turned very red.  "Yeah.  I think I'm going to take a bath before I
finish my homework."  He ran upstairs and got his bath things before Akane
could ask him any more questions.  When he emerged from the bathing room
wearing the only pair of pajamas that he owned, Akane was waiting outside.
He went upstairs, hurried through the rest of his assignment, and was
scanning the manga on Akane's desk when she came back.

"Don't tell me you're done!"

"Okay, I won't!"  Ranma grinned at Akane, who started to laugh.  "Mind if
I look at one of these?"

"Go ahead."  Akane sat at her desk and started to towel dry her hair.
Ranma reached past her and chose something to read.  He sat on the floor,
his attention divided between watching Akane comb the tangles out of her
hair and the pages of his manga.  Watching Akane was more fun, but when
she settled down with her homework Ranma started reading.  A huge yawn
made him look up as Akane closed her book.

"Done!  Thank goodness."  Akane smiled at Ranma, reached for her
hairbrush, and began her nightly ritual of brushing out her hair.

Ranma was immediately reminded of the night he'd asked Akane to marry him.
He had been fascinated watching her brush her hair then, and he was just
as fascinated now.  Once again Akane had her eyes closed as she brushed
her hair.  Again, as he'd done that night, Ranma reached out to take the
brush from her.  The same as before, he stopped himself before he could
touch her.  This time, something different happened.  Akane sensed the
movement and opened her eyes.

"Ranma?  Did you want something?"

The words tumbled out before he could stop them.  "May I?"

"May you what?"

Before he could lose his nerve, Ranma scrambled to his feet and took the
brush out of Akane's hand.  The expression on her face was somewhere
between surprise and confusion, but before she could say anything Ranma
turned the chair so that her back was to him.  Then he raised his
trembling hand to the crown of her head.

The scent of Akane's shampoo wafted up to Ranma as he slowly brushed her
hair.  He was afraid of hurting her by brushing too hard or pulling, and
kept his motions slow and gentle.  Brushing someone's hair is quite easy,
requiring very little physical effort, yet Ranma found it increasingly
difficult to breathe, or to think clearly.  He put his hand on Akane's
shoulder.  She stiffened.  Then she slowly turned around to face him.

*****

When Ranma took the brush out of Akane's hands, she was too amazed to do
anything to stop him.  She was relieved when he turned the chair around so
that she was facing away from him, because the last thing she wanted him
to be able to see was her face.  The last person to brush Akane's hair for
her had been her mother, and this experience was nothing like it.

Having her mother brush her hair was comforting. It gave her a sense of
security.  Every night when Akane was getting ready for bed, her mother
would come in, brush her hair, and tuck her in.  The ritual relaxed her,
and helped her to sleep.

This was totally different.  Akane was acutely aware that a man's hands
were on her hair. Even though his touch was as gentle as her mother's had
been, she found herself feeling vaguely threatened.  Her breathing
quickened, and she was about to tell him to stop when he did so on his
own, then put his hand on her shoulder.  She stiffened, and hesitated
before slowly turning around.  This is your husband, she told herself.
You love him.  Why are you afraid?  Then Akane had no more time to tell
herself anything, because her hairbrush fell to the floor with a clatter
as Ranma sank to his knees and kissed her.  Her hands went to his
shoulders and held on as he pulled her out of the chair, down to the floor
with him.  Seconds later, a loud crash from the first floor made both of
them jump.

The newlyweds broke the kiss and opened their eyes.  "What was that?" they
asked simultaneously.  Their answer wasn't long in coming, as the sound of
drunken singing came floating up from the first floor.

"Pop," growled Ranma.

"Daddy," sighed Akane.  She started to get up, but Ranma stopped her.

"I'll go," he said, as he left the room. Akane heard him talking to Kasumi
in the hallway, and went out to join them.  The singing continued from
downstairs, which caused Nabiki to come out of her room.

"I'm trying to study!" she yelled downstairs.  "Could you be quiet?"

The two downstairs evidently didn't hear her, or didn't care, because they
got even louder.  Ranma ran downstairs, followed by all three girls.

The young people found Soun and Genma sitting in the middle of the
entryway, singing happily.  It took all three of Soun's daughters to get
him into his room.  They were not accustomed to seeing him in that sort of
condition, and had no idea what to do next.  None of them felt inclined to
help him undress, so they convinced him to lie down, covered him up, and
turned out the light.  There was no sign of Genma or Ranma when they came
out, so they went back upstairs.

Akane's bedroom door was open as she'd left it, but when she went inside
Ranma wasn't there.  "Ranma?"  She wandered back out into the hallway and
looked curiously at the guestroom door, which was closed.

Nabiki poked her head out of her room.  "Did you misplace your husband?"

Akane pointed at the guestroom door.  "I think he's in there."

"Let's find out."  Nabiki knocked on the doorframe.  "Ranma?  You in
there?"

"Just a second!"  After a short pause, Ranma slid the door open, and put a
finger to his lips.  "Shh!  He finally went to sleep."  Ranma stepped out
of the room and carefully shut the door behind him.  Kasumi chose that
moment to look out into the hallway.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Quiet, please!" said Ranma.  "I just got my father to sleep!"

Kasumi looked impatient as she waved everyone into her room.  "Then come
in here where we can talk!" she whispered.

*****

Ranma sat on the floor and the girls piled onto the bed.  "What did you
want to talk about?" he asked.

"I'm worried about Father," responded Kasumi.  "He's drinking too much."

"Oh?" said Ranma.  "He's not like this usually?"

Kasumi sighed.  "Not for a long, long time.  Right after Mother died,
Father drank all the time.  Thank goodness he stopped."

Nabiki interrupted.  "I don't remember that."

"You and Akane were too young, I think."

"Ranma," Akane began.  Then she hesitated.

"What?"

"Does your father drink like this all the time?"

Ranma scratched his head.  "It's kind of weird.  He likes his sake, that's
for sure, but he's had a lot more these past few weeks than I'm used to
seeing.  Pop always says that a martial artist has to know his limits when
it comes to alcohol."  Ranma paused.  "That's why I didn't like it when
Pop spent so much time with Midori's father.  All they did was drink, and
I don't like the way Pop acts when he's had too much."

"I wonder," said Kasumi, "if there's a reason why our fathers are acting
like this."

Nabiki's chuckle got everyone's attention.  "Look out, Kasumi's going to
remind everyone about the psychology course she's been taking.  Okay, tell
us!"

Kasumi made a face at her sister.  "What's the sense in taking a course if
you don't use it?  I think there IS a reason, and it's a good one."

"So, what is it?" asked Akane.

"Guilt."

"Guilt?" asked everyone.

"Sure," said Kasumi.  "I think that deep down our fathers feel guilty for
pushing you two to get married. I'm almost positive that's why they're
drinking so much."

"Nice theory," replied Ranma, "but you forgot something.  They started
this weeks ago."

"Good point," said Nabiki.  "Got any more theories, Sis?"

Kasumi shrugged.  "Perhaps they've been feeling guilty all along.  I can
only say that this isn't Father's usual behavior."

Akane yawned.  "Whatever.  I'm too tired to try to figure it out.  I'm
going to bed."  She got up and headed out of the room.

"Hey, Sis," drawled Nabiki.  "You forget something?"

Akane turned around.  "Huh?"

Nabiki pointed to Ranma.

*****

Five minutes later the futon was rolled out, the lights were out, and the
young couple were lying down, trying to find comfortable positions without
touching.

"Ranma?"

"Yes?"

"I'm worried about tomorrow."

There were a few moments of silence before Ranma's response.  "Me, too."
He reached over and felt for Akane's hand, and gave it a squeeze.  "It'll
be okay."

"Are you sure?"

More silence.  "Not really."

Akane sat up.  "Then why did you say so?"

"I figured it was what you wanted to hear."

"Oh."  Akane sat there for a moment more.  When she lay down again she
moved a little closer to Ranma. "Thank you for trying."

Ranma pulled Akane into his arms.  "I told you yesterday that we would
make this work. I promised I would take care of you, didn't I?"

Akane relaxed in the warmth of Ranma's embrace.  "Yes, you did."

"Then trust in me."

Akane lay there thinking for quite a while before she spoke again.
"Ranma?"

"I thought you were asleep."

"Not yet.  I need to ask you something."

"What?"

"You wanted to tell me something before, but you wiggled out of it.  What
was it?"

"I said it was stupid."

"Please tell me."  Akane felt Ranma's chest rise with the huge breath that
he took before answering her.

"I was going to ask you if you wanted me to sleep in the guest room."

"The guest room?  Why?"

"I thought maybe you'd be uncomfortable."

Akane just snuggled closer.  "I'm very comfortable."

They fell asleep a few minutes later.

*****

"You're here!"  Sayuri ran forward and hugged Akane.  "Do you feel
better?"

"Feel better?  What are you talking about?"

"You never stay home unless you're sick!  That's why I brought your
homework."  Sayuri stopped talking, and looked from Akane to Ranma.  Both
turned red.  "What's going on?"

Akane's answer caused her friend to squeak loudly enough for everyone in
the courtyard to gather around them.

*****

The commotion in the schoolyard didn't escape Tatewaki Kuno's notice.
That was impossible, because he was on the roof observing it.  Rather than
excite his curiosity, it irritated him.

"How can I watch my love if everyone surrounds her!" he grumbled.  "I MUST
discover Saotome's hold over her."  He continued peering through his
binoculars, hoping for a glimpse of Akane.  A few moments later his
efforts were rewarded when she emerged from the crowd and walked into the
school.  To his disgust, he noted that she was holding hands with Ranma.
Once she was out of sight, Kuno packed away his binoculars and left the
roof.  He simply could not figure out what was different about Akane's
appearance.  "Saotome is using something to control her," he murmured to
himself, "but I cannot think of what it could be."

Kuno was so preoccupied with the riddle that he was reprimanded several
times during the morning for inattention.  Between classes, as the
students waited for the next teacher's arrival, one of Nabiki's boyfriends
took an opportunity to needle him.

"What's the matter, Kuno?  Are you depressed because you have to start
over with another girl?"

Kuno blinked at Mazushi.  "I do not understand," he replied.

Nabiki gasped and tried desperately to get Mazushi's attention, but he was
enjoying himself too much.  "Come on, don't play dumb!  Now that your
darling Akane is married, you have to start over!"

The mathematics teacher opened the door just in time to see Kuno's desk
fly through the air and shatter the blackboard.  He backed out as fast as
he could and recruited the help of three other teachers.  They entered the
classroom to find the students cowering against the walls while Kuno
ranted in the center of the room.

"Mr. Kuno!"

"WHAT??"

The teacher gulped.  "I must insist that you go home until you learn to
control yourself."

"You do not understand!" Kuno growled through his wired-shut teeth.  "I
must rescue my love from the marriage that has been forced upon her!"

The mathematics teacher looked at his colleagues.  "Have any of you heard
that the marriage was unwanted on the young lady's part?"  He got nothing
but shrugs as responses, so he turned to Nabiki.  "Are Mr. Kuno's
allegations true?"

Nabiki winced.  She had no alternative but to answer the question.  "No,
they're not.  Akane wanted to marry Ranma."

Kuno completely lost whatever composure he had left.  He pushed past the
teachers into the hallway, and attempted to go in the direction of Akane's
classroom, but found that the hallway was blocked by nearly every other
teacher on the floor.  A voice from behind caused him to turn around,
where the mathematics teacher stood, arms folded.

"Go home and cool off.  When you have learned some self-control, you may
come back, but not before."

For a long moment, the teachers thought that Kuno was going to try to
force his way through their ranks, but he turned around and began walking
down the hallway in the opposite direction.  Several of them followed him
and watched him go down the stairs.  They stayed outside until he left the
school property.

*****

The commotion down the hall wasn't loud enough to reach the Saotomes'
classroom, and Ranma was unaware of the existence of any problem until
lunchtime.  He and Akane were about to leave the room with the rest of the
students when two teachers entered and spoke quietly to their teacher.  He
immediately walked over to them.  "Ranma, Akane, please stay for a
moment."

"Is something wrong?" asked Ranma.

The teacher gestured to the exiting students, some of whom were looking at
them curiously.  "Wait."  Once the room was clear he closed the door and
gestured for the young couple to sit down.  Then he sat down across from
Akane, and cleared his throat.  "I realize you have been having
difficulties with harassment from the male students, and in particular
with Tatewaki Kuno."

Akane nodded.  "Yes, I have."

"There was an, er, incident with Mr. Kuno this morning, when he learned of
your marriage."

Ranma stood up.  "If he's causing trouble--"

The teacher pointed at Ranma's chair.  "Sit down.  He's not here."  Ranma
sat, and he continued.  "My colleagues came to inform me that Mr. Kuno was
sent home today after he became violent, and that he was told to stay home
until he could control himself."  The man sighed, then rubbed his
forehead.  "I realize that's not very likely."

"Why don't you do something about it?" asked Ranma.

Another teacher came forward.  "I understand your frustration, Saotome.
Unfortunately, for reasons we can't disclose to you, there is very little
we can do to control Mr. Kuno's behavior.  That is why we're asking you to
use as much restraint as possible in dealing with him.  The less trouble
there is, the better off we all will be."

"I don't understand," ventured Akane.

"I'm sorry.  That's all we can say at this point.  All we ask is that you
be careful around him."  The teacher looked at the clock, and gestured to
the door.  "You should go to lunch while you still have time."

Ranma got up and took Akane's hand, but before he left the room he looked
at each teacher in turn before speaking.  "I understand what you're asking
of us, but I want you to know that if I am attacked, I will defend
myself."  He paused, and looked at Akane.  "And if Kuno lays a finger on
my wife, I WILL hurt him."

*****

Nabiki quietly ate her lunch, casting occasional worried glances at the
place under the tree where Akane normally sat.   When Akane and Ranma
finally exited the school she didn't have to ask them to join her because
they made a beeline for her and sat down.  "We just came from a meeting
with some of our teachers.  Tell us exactly what Kuno did this morning,
please," requested Akane as she unwrapped her bento.

Nabiki did so, leaving out no details.  When Kuno had left her classroom,
she had quietly gone to the classroom door to observe what was going on,
and it had frightened her more than she cared to admit.  "I'm going to
visit the office when the day is over. This has gone too far."

"I don't think they're going to help you," replied Ranma.  "The teachers
made it pretty obvious that they can't interfere with Kuno.  They wouldn't
explain why, but they sort of put the responsibility on us to stay out of
trouble."

"That's pretty stupid.  They should know Kuno will come looking for you.
Do they just want you to lay down and surrender?"

Akane shrugged.  "They said we should use 'restraint,' whatever they meant
by that.  I guess we'll have to play it by ear."

"Just be careful, please.  I don't want you to get hurt."  Nabiki
punctuated her statement with a hand on her sister's arm.  "Kuno is
dangerous."

Ranma put down his lunch and moved closer to Akane.  "He won't get near
her."

*****

Tatewaki Kuno wandered around his home, deep in thought.  His morning had
been spent in practice, and with every blow he saw the face of Ranma
Saotome.  He had to die.

"But," murmured Kuno, "before I do that, I must remove Akane from his
influence, and in order to do that I must discover how he is bending her
to his will."

The young man continued to pace, thinking hard about Akane.  He had
already determined that something was different about her appearance, but
he had yet to figure out exactly what it was.  An hour later, he had it.
He would wait until school was out, separate her from Saotome, and bring
her to a safe place.

*****

Ranma had a terrible time concentrating the rest of the day.  His thoughts
kept jumping around:  if he wasn't worrying about Kuno, or about his
mother's possible reaction to his curse, he kept reliving the sensation of
having Akane in his arms the entire night.  He had done no more than enjoy
the feel of her curves against him, and the scent of her, so rather than
pay attention to the lessons being given, Ranma sat wondering whether
Akane would allow him to do more than hold her.

"Mr. Saotome!  Mr. Saotome!"

It took a poke in the ribs from Akane to get Ranma's attention.  "What?"
he whipered.

"The teacher!" she hissed.

"Oh!  Yes, sir?"

"See me after class is over.  We need to discuss the importance of paying
attention."

*****

St. Hebereke's gym teacher walked up to Kodachi Kuno and put a hand on her
shoulder.  "Why haven't you put on your leotard, Miss Kuno?"

"I am leaving early."  Kodachi accompanied the statement with a casual
wave of her hand, which released a fine powder in the air near her
teacher's face.

"Of course," the teacher replied, as she started to sway.  "We will see
you tomorrow."  Then she sank to the floor.

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

As always, your comments are very welcome.

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

Thank you to everyone who preread for me, especially Fido.







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http://karaohki.anifics.com
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     You could turn this way,
I'm also lonely
     this autumn evening

Basho



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