On Sun, Jan 18, 2004 at 10:30:40AM +0100, Elin B wrote:

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. 

Oh, it's a story, all right. The fact that it's in letter form
isn't unique in fanfic -- there have been other such tales,
including at least one in emails between Nabiki and Tatewaki.

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.

It'd be interesting to see the above letter dated, to get some
sense of how long people have had to cool down. 

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.

'fiance' ...interesting backstory development there.

Akane Tendo

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.

Awww... <snicker> Easy to mollify, was she?

PS II: Five p.m, that is.

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.

Hmm, some more hinted business.

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.

Hey, don't stop now -- this is working! You can either keep the
whole tale as a short-novel-of-letters, or wind up with a
narrative endpiece in the same way that 'Finding' is the
frontispiece.

You'll probably want to get rid of that Microsoft punctuation,
of course, but there are filters around for that.

siaru (grabbing some more fanfic time) 



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