-1For all you guys that read the first chapter and reviewed it: I revised chapter one so hopefully it would be easier to read as well as filling in several holes that were plot and characters actions so hopefully you guys enjoy it )
Chapter 2: Wedded Misery
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½ ( Rumiko Takahashi Does I'm not worthy…
Ranma sat on her futon facing Ryoga her legs were crossed Indian style, her head hanging low her thick fiery red bangs all but covering her eyes. She growled a couple of times trying to clear the tightness in her throat. Finally she looked up, lightning flashed illuminating her deep blue eyes, and she finally spoke.
"It was a couple of months after you had "died" Ryoga, Ill never forget it." Ranma said in a solemn tone, It was obvious that the memory caused her pain. Ryoga could tell by the deep lonely blue that her iris's turned as he stole glances of them every so often whenever lightning would flash temporarily illuminating the small Spartan room.
right before Akane's Wedding, that's when I first realized that something was wrong, but things were so busy I didn't even realize it until it was all over" Ranma said as she began telling a well rehearsed and painful story one that made her feel like dying inside as she told her story it seemed almost as if she were reliving it.
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"Hey watcha doing ova there waool-flower" a somewhat Drunken Ukyo slurred at a pretty redheaded girl lonely sitting in the corner spilling some wine form her glass as she staggered slightly in her direction.
The redhead didn't respond she just sat there still like stone as if in some way trying to block out the events of the past month, Why she was still here she didn't even know herself, and dressed like this... "god if I had any sense I wouldn't have said yes when she asked me" She mumbled "I cant believe the nerve of that Akane, uncute, unsexy, built like a brick, strong as an ox..."
She tried to be mad to be strong to be anything just not like she was now, as a tear fell from a well guarded heart, like the first drops of rain at a funeral always cold never cleansing and coming from a deep emptiness left within. They came slowly at first then would have began to fall like a spring monsoon except for the incessant prying of one drunken Ukyo Kuonji.
"Common Ran-chan lets dance "she said putting her hand on Ranma's chin and lifting it up. Hoping to get a load of those unchanging gender bending transcending baby blues One thing Ukyo though was no matter how much Ranma changed those eyes did not, from the time they were 6 year old children fighting for free food in the street in front of her dad's Okonomiyaki cart, to the time when she had wanted desperately kill him and exact revenge for him running her life as a woman to the time when he had called her cute and she shouldered the mantel of Womanhood once more. And even when she found out that He changed into a She when he was splashed with cold water those eyes never once changed.
Ranma sniffled a little and looked away at first, Ashamed of her apparent weakness and how she lad lost the woman she loved. However she soon gave in to Her oldest friends wishes and returned her kind gaze." Its funny Ranma thought how she had always said it, in a (superficial kinda don't kill me i really like you as a person and a best friend sorta way) but never really realized it, mostly because she Had never paid that much attention before, such things were hard when just about every girl and a couple of the guys in town had the hotts for ya. but Ukyo Kuonji, his oldest no make that best friend was in a manner well, very cute, if not just a tad bit handsome. A tall girl about 3/4 drunk, her long chestnut hair tied back into a long ponytail.
To a passing onlooker it would have appeared as if one of the young bachelors Brokenhearted with Akane's marriage was trying to pickup one of the bridesmaids, for one of those after wedding "I don't wanna be alones" Kinda things.
That's right in that tux and the way she wore her hair, how she stood and how she was inviting him up on the dance floor, She almost looked like a guy. She was tall and well muscled for a Japanese girl especially, of course that came form years of practice and wielding a battle spatula that weighted more than most battle axes. Damn she's kinda Sexy whichever way she dresses Ranma thought as he took her hand and stepped up onto the dance floor.
It was nearing the last song of the night when the mismatched pair stumbled onto the makeshift dance floor made from the Tendo Dojo. Ranma being the more sober of the two (Though only slightly so) began to lead Ukyo around the dance floor in something of a slow drunken waltz. Ranma wanted anything to keep Her/him from thinking of Akane and... what had just happened all the things that they had been through together But it was all for naught as the mood of the songs slowly faded into a deep slow melancholy ballad of some sorts resembling an all to well done cover of Disturbed's "Mistress"
"Ranma continually cast a glance over at Akane and her new husband, they were dancing a ways off weaving in and out of the crowds of people as if no one else had even existed Ever they just , just seemed, so happy so together, in that so always meant to be together kind of way, the way couples no Husband and wife should be. But to Her, it just didn't seem right even after all the congratulations all the fare wishes and presents, not to mention all of the realities and collogues that poured in from all over the world for this exquisite event. In a way She should have been happy for Akane, but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't. It should of been her/His arms Akane was in dancing in some sweet ecstasy of in 5 minuets were outta here and on our way to our honeymoon and oh yea that whole wedded bliss thing or at lest, the first time I ever got up the nerve to get stupid drunk and stumble around on the dance floor with someone kind of felling. Ya know the special moments in life the things you always remember. Not stuck here a wall-flower in a pretty dress, just waiting to be embarrassed when some guy hit on her and made some all too blunt drunken advances. But of course that was bound to happen.
"Sigh" "At least it was Ukyo" Ranma sighed "Ranma was even kinda happy in a way that his old friend looked like guy, at least for now anyway. That was about the last thing Ranma wanted to be right now a guy, a guy couldn't show this kind of weakness especially in public, especially a martial artist of the Saotome school of anything goes martial arts." She knew just how much her father hated that kind of weakness and dishonor.
Part of her knew it was silly but None of this had even been real until a couple of hours ago, when Akane marched in in that Extravagant white gown looking like some kind of Japanese goddess. Her hair grown out and done up Impeccably in long curled ringlets hanging down on Akane's "For once" feminine back and shoulders. The way she walked as the music played the look she had in her eye as she marched towards the alter, the way her face lit up with girlish excitement when the gold band slid onto her finger and the way she had kissed HIM. It made Ranma sick to her stomach the way things had just happened and how quickly they did too and that was probably why it took till now to hit her, Akane was gone, really gone this time, not just kidnapped by some random prince or another, or being held hostage by some jealous fiancé in some far off impenetrable mountain fortress guarded by the demons of a thousand years of war, but MARRIED... that word hit him harder than even most Ryoga's desperate Shishi Hokodan.
There would be no more adventure no more yelling no more fighting, no more Extra dimensional mallet attacks from no where, no more daring rescues, no more close calls with P-chan, no more Akane to hide behind when his psychotic other Fiancés came knocking, NO more, no more, no more anything...
At first the thought was sorta kinda in a worse case scenario type way bearable, "I mean after all a man isn't measured by the woman he's with he told himself..." Imminently after he felt foolish for saying that, He wasn't in any condition to be calling himself a man in this state, it was then that all the pain all the feelings he had held back for so long finally hit her and she began to cry instinctively she leaned into Ukyo's shoulder trying to hide her shame and failure.
"It ok Ra-chan" Ukyo almost said as Ranma leaned into her shoulder and began to cry, of all the people in the world she hated most of all to see him like this, Down out and alone, there was a good reason he/she was felling that way, Ranma had lost everything in less than a month Ranma had went from being, A Man among men, Hero, Fiancé, Next in line to inherit both the Tendo and the Saotome schools of anything goes martial arts, to The drunken Maid of honor in his X's Wedding, worst of all Ranma really did have feelings for Akane.
However the real kicker was although Ukyo was unhappy with that she had pretty much accepted the fact that Ranma really did care about Akane and Maybe one day when their parents weren't pushing it so hard for it he might marry Akane for love and Not strictly out of a sense of duty, and had done her best to prepare for the worst. Then this What a chance to finally show Ra-chan she really cared and that she wouldn't go and fall in love without it being with him... that... that...
Ukyo staggered slightly trying to remember what grand plan she had been devising this last month to try and get Ran-chan for herself now that Akane was out of the picture, but somehow her mind fogged to the brim with Alcohol and just the Wedding reception atmosphere, wasn't able to conjure the memory of the speech she had planed for this evening, but all searches were for naught as Ukyo Kuonji eventually decided to give up on remembering the plot until she had sobered up and for the moment decided to be content in holding the "Love of her life" against her breast as they waltzed about the dance floor no matter what he looked like.
Hiroshi began to slow his singing The music ended and the final song of the night began to play, it was slow, sad and well just seemed to fit the current mood, droning on without words its Melancholy yet deep lovers tone. Driving in the Loneliness and agony of all those who were alone here while simultaneously Bring out the joy and possibly lust of all those who had someone they deeply loved or for that matter just found tonight in their arms. About this time Ranma stopped crying and looked up at Ukyo, he was able to hold back the tears but just barely and her deep blue eyes were begging for some kind of comfort something to get her out of this hell she had fallen into. However Ukyo's barbed words were not quite what the gorgeous redhead had in mind.
"Fo'get her Ra-chan" Ukyo responded to some unheard que "Its not like she ever appreciated your dedication or nothing, always rescuing her always, playing that helpless damsel in distress, your better off without her, That Ja'kass hussy, why if I was your girl..."
Fortune for Ucchan the music was loud enough that no one seemed to hear her except Ranma, though however true her words were they weren't the thing Ranma needed to hear at the time and as memories of all the times, she had saved Akane all the times she had risked it all for her, fought those demons stood in her place for all those stupid dangerous engagements, she goes and betrays her just like that, throws him away like an old used up dirty rag headed straight for the hell of burning trash. If Ranma Saotome ever did feel like a man, she certainly wasn't felling like one now that was for sure.
The rears returned once again and all the memories of failure, not just failure but failure as a man flooded her mind and Ranma pried herself loose form Ukyo's embrace and ran crying out of the building her bridesmaids dress flowing, sparkling in the cool Octobers air as she fled.
"Wa'it I didn't mean it like that Ran-chan, comeback." she spoke drunkenly realizing her slip up all to late as she staggered off after her recklessly not caring about those she bumped into and almost knocked over as she followed. Ran-chan had gotten away from her before but not this time, No She wasn't running off at this hour in this way just to vanish for another 10 years while Ukyo Contemplated the thoughts of marriage or Revenge.
"There Is no way in hell I'm letting him go again" she growled as she followed the faint sound of running footsteps in the cool night air.
Ukyo had traveled a block or two down a lonely street before she was able to catch up with the emotional maid of honor.
"Wait Ra-chan I didn't mean it like that, ya know that right?" she hoped he apology would be enough to make up for the damage and pain she had stirred back up with her all to honest country girl mouth.
The redheaded girl stopped for a moment and then slowly turned around. She stood there for a moment thoughtfully forcibly choking back the tears and then with out warning with much effort began to shout. "Forget it Ukyo you wouldn't understand" Ranma lurching foreword slightly eyes squinting drunkenly as she continued to yell.
"First it was this damned curse then, it was Akane and Dads stupid pact he made with Soun Tendo about me marrying Akane, then all you fiancé's "O' Ranma, you so strong" He mocked them acting like shampoo. "I was so busy trying to keep that army of psycho girls form getting a' hold of me that I never got the chance to tell her how I felt bout her, but now there aint no chance... ever. I lost my manhood when I lost her too, I failed as a man Uc-chan, I couldn't even keep her the one that was promised to me the one I thought loved me I couldn't even keep Akane Akane..." With that all of the redhead's violence evaporated like a puddle on a sunny day and she sank down to her knees and once again began to cry again.
It might have been the cold air, or that run or maybe it was just that southern Japanese girl or maybe even the 10 years Ukyo lived as a Guy but whatever it was something hit her and Ukyo was suddenly felling a lot more sober, as she found herself waling up to Ranma.
"I couldn't even keep Akane" he repeated I loved her I saved her I...I... I may as well go and find my mom and show her my curse and...
"SMACK"
Ukyo's hand met squarely with the side of Ranma's face and for a moment he was shocked back to reality. "And what!" Ukyo yelled "You think I don't know how that feels, You don't think I know what's its like to fail as what I'm "SOPOSED" to be, you think I don't know that hell... Ranma Hun your as bad as that jackass Ryoga Living like the moon and the stars revolve around Akane, this so called goddess of Nerima, there are other girls ya know, Other people care about you appreciate you for who you are not some Invincible martial artist or a meal-ticket, or a gender changing cursed "
Ukyo's face flushed slightly turning red she couldn't believe what she had just said, or could she, after all she was drunk and what she was saying was true...
Ukyo wanted to say something nice but nothing came Ranma would never get over Akane if someone was always coddling her/him, telling him/her everything was going to be all right that he deserved Akane and that one day she would wake up too see what she had lost, "No that was NOT the answer" Ukyo decided with an adamantly resolve. "Ggggrrrrrrr... Just forget it have your own way down there Jac'kass, sulk over Akane till your pushing up daises for all I care!" And with that she turned around angrily to walk back to her shop.
She hadn't gotten much further than a few steps when... "Ucchan I...I...I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."
She began to cry again only this time it was different maybe it was embarrassment for her prior foolishness, maybe it was shame for making this such a big deal, maybe it was... well whatever it was it was it was different than before.
Ukyo somehow knew this and held her tightly covering her naked shoulders with her tuxedo jacket and letting her cry until the alcohol finally took its effect on Ranma's weakened female form and she drifted off to a drunken sleep.
All the while all she could say was "I'm sorry Ucchan, I'm sorry ah she held her best friend hoping she would shield her from all that had happened..."
"You that is pretty pathetic Ranma sounds like you, you find out that you cant change back and the next week your the maid of honor at Akane's wedding. sounds like you just couldn't beat out old Shinnosuke so you decided to change and hide when things got tough always letting someone else fight your battles for ya. You should have been out looking for a cure and a way to win her back before the wedding not sitting around depressed about your condition trying on brides maids dresses." Ryoga stated clearly unimpressed.
"Now listen here Pig boy!" Ranma's already high voice went even higher and nearly cracked with her pitch. "I don't know How in the hell you got cured but I intend to find out even if it is the last thing I do, but still at least I wasn't always the one hiding behind Akane every time something or someone was after me hugh P-chan."
Ryoga growled and balled his fist around his blankets ready to fight. "Still always using your curse to get the upper hand even so you go and let Akane just drift off like that If you really cared about her you would have... Would have..."
"Would have what, think I didn't try everything n' the book, look Ryoga Trust me even after I changed I tried everything in the Saotome Scroll of anything goes dating techniques, and made up a few more of my own but, it turns out that Akane was already pregnant when she got married. Feh think that child was mine in my condition? think again. Soun wanted an heir to the Tendo legacy, not some son-in-law who turns into a daughter in law every time cold water comes into play and after the change well fat chance conceiving a heir from me because thee wasn't a way in hell that I was going to even thing about marrying that old man just to Fulfill an old promise he and the old man made years ago." Ranma shuttered at the thought almost screaming her three year old resolve as if it were a pressing issue the next day.
"Then of course it doesn't hurt to mention the fact she found out that Shinnosuke's grandfather was loaded. That was a real motivator for Soun too. Not only could he be dishonored by his 17 year old daughter being pregnant and unmarried but the 120million US dollars that is not yen that Gramps left his shin boy didn't hurt much either."
"You mean that old freak in the wedding dress he was loaded..." Ryoga asked a strange look on his face as he remembered that embarrassing moment and just couldn't picture that creepy old man having all of that money. As He shuttered from the memory.
"So you just up and let her go after that after all we..er you guys had been through?"
"Sigh" "How could I not Ryoga, Shinnosuke really aint a half bad guy once you get to know him and I guess he loves her better than I could ever do, especially like this." She stood up and held her hands out at her odiously female figure.
"Damnit I was right about you Saotome." Ryoga belted out. "Seems like she really was too good for you after all." A faint smile inched its way up onto his face with his vindication before he realized what he had just said.
"Apparently you to P-chan." Ranma snapped back easing underneath her covers and turning her back on Ryoga.
"I...I...I..."
"I won't let this travesty against Akane continue, right?" Ranma said interrupting one of Ryoga's rants. "Just can it for the night Ryoga alright, its too late to be talking bout this stuff anyway," Ranma said closeting her eyes focusing on the sound of the raindropplets hitting the window outside.
Although she sounded tough the memory's still stung her now like they did back then, course she couldn't show that in front of Ryoga, after all even if he was pulling an overnighter they were still rivals after all, and to tell the truth she had actually missed his emotionally driven irrational attempts on her life.
"Ranma take me through that whole story and don't even tell me what caused you to stay in your cursed form like that, but that is like you after all you always were good at leaving things undone. Ugh ill beat it out of her in the morning. "Yawn!" Ryoga muttered to himself as he rolled over to the side facing away from Ranma.
His mind still milling though the thoughts of what had happened on the last hours, back from the dead only to find out that both Akane and Akari were married and gone and even to hear the story of Akane's wedding first hand. He may have thought on it more had his body not been so exhausted, but when his head hit the pillow he was out like a light, and transported almost instantaneously to dreamland...
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So Akane's wedding I just couldn't resist working that into the story, at least now Ryoga knows why its such a hot button issue with Ranma still. Tough I guess you guys will all have to wait along with Ryoga's as to the secrete of Ranma's curses permanent, as well as what else is going on around Nerima, if anyone has any ideas as to anyone else in the Ranma verse or as to why Ranma might be stuck in his girl form I would be more than happy to hear them and consider putting them in the story somewhere. Anyhow thanks for the advice.
Chill
Icescythe
