FOREWORD: This is a bit of an experiment for me, less a story than a
reflection of story, or stories. I would be curious to know how readers
find it, if it works or not.
This fic taks place after "Finding", which gives more background on
Ryoga's nightmares.
Regarding the dates shown: the year was arbitrarily chosen among the
nineties, and the first letter is sent months after the events that end
the comic.
DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations mentioned in this piece
belong to Rumiko Takahashi, who created them for her comic "Ranma 1/2".
They are used here without permission and for non-profit entertainment
only. No disrespect is intended.
PROLOGUE
You�ve got to be kidding. First of all, they�ll never agree to showing
them to you.
Second, just asking will only stir up a lot of bad old feelings again.
We don�t need that, now that things are finally a little calmer around
here. And that hasn�t been easy to manage, believe me.
And anyway, what�s the point? People don�t put the really important
stuff they go through in letters. What they really do and say and feel
doesn�t wind up on paper. I thought everyone knew that.
-Ranma
PS: But if you go through with this anyway, I want first dibs on
reading them. I�ve earned it.
THE P-CHAN LETTERS
By Elin B
September 21, 1995
Dear Akane,
I suppose I am a coward. The other day I went to your house to talk to
you, but you were not at home yet. I sat and waited for a little while,
but then changed my mind and left.
I decided to go home instead, where I am now, writing this.
I think if I had stayed and tried to talk to you, we would probably
have been interrupted by somebody or something, and then I would have
lost my nerve. Or we would *not* have been interrupted and I would
still have lost my nerve. It�s hard enough writing this down. I think
if I were face to face with you I would not be able to stop thinking
about how you�d never smile at me or look at me friendly again. And
then I would back out, and you would let me. I am *such* a coward.
I'm planning to stay at my house for a week at least. (I have
supplies, and my dog will help me mail this letter.) If you want
restitution, this is where to look first. I will do anything you ask.
But you do deserve to know. And I can�t get rid of the nightmares. And
now I�ve told Akari, so I have to tell you.
There isn't a good way to say this, so I'll just say it: That little
pig you carry around sometimes isn't a real pig. It's just a Jusenkyo
curse. As a matter of fact, it�s me.
Also, I've been in love with you for a very long time. That's no excuse
for anything, but it's the other thing that has been going on that you
didn't know about. So you deserve to know about that too.
Believe it or not, but I really am sorry. I suppose you would have been
better off if you'd never met me.
Ryoga Hibiki
September 26, 1995
What do you mean, �restitution�?
I don�t want your money. In fact, I�m thinking of sending back all
those things you�ve given me.
Akane Tendo
October 28, 1995
Dear Akane,
By �restitution� I mean whatever you may think is right for me to make
amends. I don�t think I can put any conditions on it.
That is not for me to do.
Ryoga Hibiki
October 1, 1995
I see. I will think about it.
In the meanwhile, I�m sending back some of the gifts you�ve given me.
Not all: some I�ve thrown away or will give to charity. Some I have
decided to keep. Teach me to be less stupid.
It may interest you to learn that my fiance has spoken up a lot on your
behalf, by the way.
Akane Tendo
October 7, 1995
Dear Ryoga,
When we happened to meet the other day you asked me to do what I could
for you, if I would. I can now report that I have spoken up in your
defense to Akane on no less than three separate occasions. Included in
this envelope is a tape recording two of these occasions, for proof.
My fee for this service is 2300 yen, in which the cost for the tape and
its postage are included. If you value your future connections with our
family, I expect you to pay fully and promptly.
Should you wish for a continuation of my services on your behalf in
this household, please see the slip of the going rates for this kind of
public relations services. I have extended it to other parts of the
household: Kasumi, my father, and Mrs Saotome (who practically lives
her, by now). Oh, and me, of course. (I can be pretty hard to convince
at times.)
Cordially yours,
Nabiki Tendo
October 8, 1995
Ryoga,
I am writing to you as Mrs Saotome, Ranma�s mother, has asked me to
convey her wish to meet and talk to you, either at the Saotome house or
at your place. If you wish to comply with this, you can write her at
the address I give below.
Mrs Saotome � I don�t believe you have met her previously � is a very
pleasant, sweet and kind-hearted person, and we are all quite fond of
her. But she is also a woman of firm character with strong beliefs and
a rather traditional outlook. Perhaps you should keep in mind that she
does not necessarily speak for my little sister.
Sincerely,
Kasumi Tendo
October 11, 1995
Dear Akane,
I fear you will think I�m putting my nose into what isn't my business,
but I just wanted to ask of you not to be too hard on Ryoga dearest. He
values your opinion of him very highly, you know.
Yours sincerely,
Akari Unryu
October 15, 1995
Dear Akari,
That is really between me and him. But since you ask � well, I have the
choice of either being hard on him or not being anything at all, that
is to say, pretending he does not exist. What would you prefer?
Yours respectfully,
Akane
PS: Sorry if this sounds unfriendly, but I don't know how else to put
it. Does he know you wrote me?
October 18, 1995
Dear Akane,
No, I haven�t told Ryoga that I wrote to you.
Sorry for being obtrusive. I guess I might feel like you do, if I were
in your shoes. Especially if it was another boy I wasn�t in love with.
By the way, I understand that you and Ranma will also turn eighteen
this year. May I ask if you�re planning to get married?
Best wishes,
Akari Unryu
October 20, 1995
Dear Impostor,
Suit yourself. I suppose I�ll have no option but to keep holding you a
grudge for the way you�ve treated my little sister and deceived most of
us (except for certain rats who were in on the thing). Snakes reared in
the family bosom is the phrase that springs to mind.
Nevertheless, I appreciate that you paid the previous bill so quickly,
even though you didn�t keep the tape. Let me know if you change your
mind regarding business in the future.
Nabiki Tendo
October 22, 1995
Dear Akari,
I�m glad you don�t seem too upset for the way I wrote earlier. I hope
that you and I can still be friends, but I would strongly prefer it if
you could refrain from discussing your boyfriend.
About Ranma and me � we�ll see. There are other people to consider.
Also, I�m not sure that Ranma would really like teaching at a dojo for
living. Maybe I could do the teaching, but in that case I want to get
better first.
Yours truly,
Akane
October 22, 1995
Dearest Akari,
I�m sorry I just left so quickly last night. I guess I just couldn�t
find the right words to express what I felt, even though the matter is
important to me.
But I do need you to understand that I really do want to get rid of my
curse. Even if pigs are as wonderful as you think, they�re still just
animals. And it makes me feel as if I�m less than fully human, being
cursed to turn into one. That I�m less than other people.
But anyway, I�ve decided not to go looking for a cure until I�ve got
things squared with Akane.
It feels so strange me that I can actually write about things like this
to someone! I�ve also never really had *meaningful* letters from anyone
before... [remainder of letter snipped]
The best wishes
from your devoted Ryoga
October 25, 1995
My dearest Ryoga,
(...)...Actually, I think it makes you _more_ human than others.
Because your experience makes you more knowledgeable than most people �
very few know what it�s like to wear another creature�s form. (And the
form itself is so nice!) Both humans and animals are simply parts of
nature � and pigs have Buddha natures, too!
I'm very glad that you no longer have most of those terrible
nightmares. But I do wish you would keep in mind sometimes that Akane
Tendo is a regular person, not some kind of goddess. She can make
mistakes and be wrong like anyone else. If she feels like holding you a
grudge for a long time, why should you put you whole life on hold?
Give me love to Shirokuro.
Hugs and kisses,
your little Akari
November 14, 1995
Hiya,
Akane says to tell you she thought of something you could do. You can
meet us outside the old school next Saturday or later. Say around five
or so.
Cheers,
Ranma
PS: The puppy is doing fine, says Mom.
PS II: Five p.m, that is.
[No date written. Postage stamp is December 16, 1995]
Dear Akari,
I wonder if you wouldn�t be better off with somebody else.
Love,
Ryoga
December 17, 1995
You're scaring me. Don't scare me like that.
I'm going out to look for you now.
Love, Akari
January 14, 1996
Hello,
I�ve heard something of what�s been going on. Will you please stop
using that horrible technique? Cologne said it only makes people more
miserable. What�s more, someone could get seriously hurt, including you
even. I don�t think I would like that.
I think we need to meet and talk properly. I can understand if you
won�t want to come here, but you will not be turned away if you do.
At the very least, we could stop avoiding each other in the street.
Thanks for the help with Shampoo.
Yours sincerely,
Akane
PS: I'm making two copies of this letter. One I'll send to the P.O box
you use, the other I'm going to tie to your dog.
PS II: I don't think I would have been better off if I'd never met you.
H�strusk och gr� moln - k�p en resa till solen p� Yahoo! Resor p� adressen http://se.docs.yahoo.com/travel/index.html
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