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Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 2
The audience held their breath, and those nearest the center
aisle edged their seats farther away from the impending violence that
they were positive would soon ensue. Ryoga braced himself for action,
while Ukyo's hand crept back to the handle of her spatula.
Ranma broke out of his stunned state. "Don't do this, Kodachi,"
he warned her carefully, flashes of the last wedding attempt shooting
through his mind.
Kodachi's gaze turned to him, a strange emotion flickering in
her eyes. "I know you cannot want this!" she accused. "Why? Because you
being forced by petty promises!"
Ranma's face showed brief flicker of disbelief, then tightened
and became firm as a strange sense of confidence filled him. "No. I'm
doin' it because... I love Akane."
Kodachi's eyes reflected some of the great sadness she held
within, but she kept herself composed. She turned to the bride, holding
the ribbon up and running it through her fingers. "Why are you doing
this? You cannot possibly love him, you always denied it before!"
"I was... scared and confused before," Akane admitted softly. "I
barely knew my own feelings." Her head came up, fierce determination
written across her face. "But I know what I feel now. I know I love
him."
"You would fight for him?"
Ranma and Kodachi tensed as Akane took a step forward, and the
Kuno girl was struck by the fire burning in her eyes. "I would die for
him." Kodachi's eyes widened a bit, as the statement was delivered with
the supreme confidence that Akane HAD died for Ranma, or came very close
at any rate.
The nervous tension in the room shot up ten-fold, as it seemed
Kodachi was about to attack anyway. Inside, she was fighting with
indecision. Would she be willing to die for Ranma? She didn't know, but
she figured it might be a non-issue anyway. What were the chances her
death would save Ranma?
She discarded such thoughts for now and turned back to Ranma.
"Ranma-sama, the affection she might be able to offer, pales in
comparison to my boundless love. Please reconsider this course of
action! Give me a chance before you commit your life to this!"
Kodachi's words and actions had always been driven by the
intense need for someone to love her. Her mother left her, then her
father left her, and her brother was hardly very supportive of her.
Every other male had already heard of her reputation, so they feared to
approach her. When Ranma showed her kindness that first night she met
him, she thought she had found the perfect love she sought, and latched
onto him hard.
But she was losing him now.
Ranma reluctantly shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. Please don't
try ta stop us, `cause ya can't change my mind."
The glistening of liquid could be seen forming in Kodachi's
eyes as she glanced back and forth from Ranma to Akane. She had hoped
that it was just honor that was forcing them together; that, she could
deal with. She had known Ranma didn't love her, and she could deal with
that as well. It would just mean she had a chance and could work on him.
But to hear Ranma acknowledge love for Akane, when in the past
he had always denied his feelings... The love in his eyes shone only for
Akane. For Kodachi, they merely showed traces of fear and maybe a little
pity. Akane's eyes spoke volumes of the depths she had gone through, and
would go through, for Ranma. Kodachi suddenly realized that whatever
chance she might've had, was long gone.
"Come sister, `tis not our place," Tatewaki called softly from
the doorway. "Let us retire once more to our abode."
The distraught girl took one last look at the bride and groom.
She was on the verge of breakdown, and didn't want anybody to see her
cry. Otherwise, she might have attacked in a last ditch effort to win
Ranma. However, that thought was squashed by the knowledge that Ranma
would no longer be a prize that could be won. He had made a choice and
even she could see that he would stick to it.
"Yes," the Kuno girl replied slowly. "I see that now. I do not
have the right to be here. I shall not interfere." Kodachi Kuno turned
and strode softly from the dojo. Once she was outside, she leapt for the
rooftops and fled home as fast as possible.
"Please forgive my sister and I," The elder Kuno boy offered,
bowing low. "She is still... recovering. She received word of thy...
wedding," the word was extremely difficult for him to say, "and felt
driven to see with her own eyes."
"Kuno-sempai, will she be alright?" Akane asked with concern.
"In time," he replied, his face carefully guarding his emotion.
"Now, fair Tendo Akane, if you will pardon us, I must see Kodachi safely
home."
And then he was gone, before anyone else could say or do
anything. The breath the assembled Tendos, Saotomes, and assorted guests
had been holding was released in a large sigh of relief.
Ranma and Akane glanced at each other, their eyes echoing the
same thoughts. `That was close!'
Sensing no more action or protests would be forthcoming, the
priest continued. "Then because of your love for each other, I now
pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
With trembling hands, Ranma reached for Akane's veil, pulling
it up over her head. His breath caught in his throat as her pretty face
was revealed. He had been extremely nervous about kissing Akane in
public, especially in front of their families. But eyes her eyes came
into view, the outside world faded away and he tilted his head down.
Akane was just as nervous as Ranma, if not more so. Her heart
had been threatening to burst out of her chest since the ceremony began,
but she felt herself oddly becoming calm as Ranma's gaze found her own.
There was plenty of love in his deep blue eyes, and it had been one that
she had wanted to see from him for so long. She tilted her head up.
Their lips met and, for a few moments, nothing else in the
universe existed.
Then it was over, and the priest presented them to the
audience. "It is my pleasure to present, Mr. and Mrs. Saotome."
The cheer went up from the assembled family and guests.
The reception was also short, though not by design. There were
a few gifts, but only from the family. Since the money from the first
wedding wasn't returned, the guests didn't bring any this time around.
In fact, they were specifically asked not to. It was the only way Soun
could get any of them to attend.
Natsume stood off to the side of the dojo, trying to avoid any
attention. The dress she was wearing (borrowed from Nabiki, at
discounted price) was like nothing she had worn before, and she was
feeling decidedly uncomfortable in it. Oh, she had worn a skirt before,
but it simple, not as fancy as the frilly thing she had on. Too many
ribbons and bows in her opinion, and the make-up was doubly
uncomfortable.
She sighed, wishing she was anywhere other than here. It wasn't
that she wasn't excited for Ranma and Akane; indeed, she was very happy
that the two were married. They had been nicer to her than she probably
deserved, given how she had tried to take the dojo away from them last
time.
But looking at the pair as they danced, made Natsume think
momentarily of Ryu Kumon. She shook head to clear the thought of him
out. He was merely a challenger to the dojo, and Natsume had done her
job in defending it, nothing more. She couldn't afford to let a boy
distract her from her training. Maybe she should take Kurumi on a short
training trip to help clear their minds, Natsume decided.
The sound of her sister's whining drew Natsume's attention to
the buffet table. Apparently, it looked like Kurumi was trying to polish
off all the food by herself, but was being deflected from her goal by
the eldest Tendo daughter. It seemed that Kasumi had gracefully turned
Kurumi away and guided her to talk with a boy instead, one of Ranma's
school friends.
Natsume merely shook her head, then sipped her punch.
Ranma felt decidedly uncomfortable during the whole reception,
seeing that social gatherings weren't exactly his most favorite thing in
the first place. Coupled with the fact that he was part of the main
attraction and his new relationship with Akane was out in the open,
well, the phrase `fish out of water' didn't do justice to his
predicament.
Of course it didn't help that Hiroshi and Daisuke were teasing
him throughout the whole affair.
"So, Saotome, would you be a pal and tape the honeymoon for me?"
Daisuke asked.
"Dai, do you want to live?" Hiroshi asked, seeing the cup of
punch in Ranma's hand disintegrate in a blue flash.
The other boy shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying..."
"I just want to hear all the details afterward," Hiroshi
commented absently..
"If you two don't shut up now," Ranma told them through clenched
teeth, "the next time you wake up you'll be eatin' through straws!"
"I think we've overstayed our welcome, Dai."
"I believe you're right," his companion agreed. "But why don't
you give him our gift before we go?'
Ranma cocked his eye. "Gift? What gift?" Secretly, he was
dreading what his `friends' might give him.
Daisuke nodded and slipped something thin and papery into
Ranma's tuxedo coat. "From us, for tonight. If you find yourself
wondering what to do."
Ranma frowned at the cryptic comment while the two boys
wandered off. Curious, he opened his jacket and pulled out the
magazine...
...and put the hentai doujinshi right back, blushing furiously.
[Stupid Idiots.]
Then Soun was announcing the next dance as being for the bride
and groom, and Ranma was forced to ignore the magazine in his shirt as
all attention turned to Akane and him.
Ranma's breath caught in his throat once more, as he spied his
bride turn to face him from across the room, still resplendent in her
wedding gown. She had been chatting with her friends, but now gazing
shyly at him, her face tinged pink.
When it became clear that neither one was moving, Sayuri gave
Akane a slight push, while Tofu did the same for Ranma. Hesitantly, they
walked to the center of the dojo. As they grasped each other's hands and
gazed into each other's eyes, the outside world faded away once more.
And they began to dance.
Ryoga spent the whole ordeal with Akari clamped to his arm. He
got the impression that it was because she was afraid he'd wander off
and get lost. True, his direction sense wasn't as bad as it was before,
and she tended to let him roam around places he was familiar with (like
the Tendo dojo and the Unryu farm), but it still felt like he was on a
leash with her guiding him around. He wondered if that's what his
relationship was going to be like from now on.
How could she put up with a guy like him?
Akari sighed wistfully at his side as she glanced at the bride
and groom. "Wasn't the wedding so beautiful, Ryo-chan? And Akane's gown
is so lovely." Her face grew a fond smile as she glanced up at her
fiance.
Ryoga had to admit that Akane was quite beautiful. For a
moment, he almost wished it was him in Ranma's place, dancing with Akane
as a bride and groom. Then he shoved those thoughts out of his head.
Akane had made her choice, and Ryoga had conceded to that. He might
still care for her, but it wasn't fair to Akari for him to continually
pine after another woman, especially a married one. He had recognized
that his crush on Akane was just that: a crush.
He glanced down at his fiancee and beheld her pretty face
smiling up at him, prompting him to return a nervous smile of his own.
Perhaps, he decided, it would be a good idea to spend quite a bit of
time at the Unryu farm, after he completed his training under his
sensei. Akari gave him what he needed most: love and acceptance. He
cared for her very much, but after his experiences with Akane, he wanted
to make sure it was love.
"So, when do you think we should set our own wedding date for?"
Akari was asking him.
So caught up in his thoughts and in gazing in her lovely eyes,
he almost missed what she was saying. "W-wedding?" he squeaked.
Akari's smile dimmed somewhat. "You do want to marry me,
right?"
Ryoga swallowed nervously, and a part of his mind told the rest
of him that he had better answer this right. "Uh, it's not that. It's
just that this is, uh, all kinda new to me."
She smiled in understanding. "It's okay. I will wait until you
are ready." She gave him a peck on the cheek.
Ryoga smiled in relief, and once again wondered why she put up
with a guy like him. Whatever her reasons, he was extremely glad she
did.
The final song ended and the reception came to an end. The
bride and groom said their good-byes to all the guests, who wished Ranma
and Akane well in return. Soon, everyone had departed except for family.
Even the newlywed couple had left on their honeymoon after changing
clothes for travel, leaving the Tendo household in a state of peace and
quiet once more.
Wanting to get an early start, Kasumi had started cleaning up
the dojo. She had just started sweeping up the confetti when a hand on
the broom stopped her. She looked up in surprise, but smiled warmly when
she saw who it was.
"Now, now, Kasumi-chan," Tofu said with a wide grin. "There will
be time enough for this later. You should leave some for the rest of
us!"
Kasumi sighed and accepted Tofu's hug, then turned around so
that her back was to him, his arms encircling her waist. She leaned her
head back to rest on his shoulder as she gazed out the window dojo
window.
"It seems like I've been waiting for this moment for most of my
life," Kasumi mused. "My little baby sister is all grown up and married
at last. I must say, I did have some doubt when she turned into quite
the tomboy."
Tofu chuckled, remembering all the times little Akane had come
into his clinic to be treated for bruises and scrapes. "Yes, she was
quite the lively girl when she was younger, and nowhere near the
traditional girl she was supposed to be. I suppose it's just as well,
since Ranma does make a good match for her. I must confess that I was
worried about those two for awhile, as well. It's good to see them
together and having some happiness at last."
That thought about Akane brought something to Tofu's mind that
he had noticed earlier. Being the kind of healer he was, he had noticed
a distinct change in Akane's aura when he had examined her before. While
glowing with the familiar colors of love, it also seemed much weaker
than normal. Somehow it seemed weaker, subdued. Even given the
explanation of the Kami Heart Crystal, his own research suggested it
shouldn't have affected her that much.
From what he understood, the crystal merely amplified what was
already there. It should not have drained Akane this much, leading him
to believe something else was at work. That was as far as Tofu had
gotten, as he had pronounced her recovered enough to get married, which
was what she wanted. He had made a note to check up on her when she
returned, however.
"So," Kasumi was saying, "Akane will soon be mistress of the
house. With Nabiki graduating at the end of the month and moving off to
college in April, and Natsume and Kurumi taking over much of the chores,
I believe it will be time for me to move out as well."
Tofu's arms tightened and his head became momentarily dizzy, as
he realized the implications. "Really?"
They had developed an understanding between them. Dating and/or
the pursual of any relationship would have to wait, since Kasumi felt
her family needed her. So, an unspoken agreement to wait had come about,
to push aside any ideas of a relationship until such a time when Kasumi
felt she was free enough to pursue one.
Which she had just hinted at.
True, they had been dating a little since Kasumi was kidnapped
by the Mage Clans nearly eight months ago, but that was mainly due to
the fact that they couldn't hold back their feelings anymore, and it
seemed that Ranma and Akane were finally settling down into accepting
the engagement.
"I am nearly twenty-one," Kasumi said, a bit of a sad edge to
her voice. "And I do think it is nearly time to be married. What do you
think, Ono Tofu?"
The use of his full name was all the implication Tofu needed.
He turned her around his arms, then knelt down on one knee in front of
her, bring out a small box they he had carried for the longest time.
"Tendo Kasumi, I have watched and admired you for several years. I would
be honored if you would consider me for your hand." He open the small
velvet box.
Kasumi gasped at pretty gold band that was displayed within,
topped by a small sapphire gem. She smiled and nodded, giving the
gesture for Tofu to remove it from the box and slide it onto her finger.
"I would be honored to become your wife," Kasumi told him,
bringing Tofu to his feet with a tug on his hand, and then rising up
slightly to kiss him gently.
As the couple pulled away from each other, the sniffle from the
dojo entrance got their attention. The sniffle had come from Soun, but
also present were Genma, Nodoka, and Nabiki as well.
Kasumi blushed, while Tofu turned to address Soun. "That is, if
your father would agree to the marriage, of course."
Soun dried his eyes, then shook the doctor's hand while patting
him on the back. "Of course, of course! Welcome to the family!"
Nodoka gave Kasumi a teary-eyed hug. "Oh, Kasumi-chan,
congratulations!"
"Thank you, Oba-sama," the eldest Tendo daughter replied, still
blushing.
"Two of my daughters are all grown up," Soun wailed. "Now if
only-"
"Forget it, Father," Nabiki replied, cutting him off. "I'm not
getting married. I've got too many plans as it is, and none of them
revolve around a husband."
"Well, perhaps you just need to find the right young man,"
Nodoka offered
Nabiki merely rolled her eyes. [I like Ranma's mother, but she
does seem to think the world revolves around men.]
"Well, let's leave this mess for tomorrow, shall we?" Genma
suggested. "We've got much celebrating to do tonight!"
For once, everyone agreed with him.
"Hurry up, Akane!"
Akane growled. "I'm coming, Baka!" She adjusted her pack once
again, wondering for the one-millionth time where he was taking her. All
he would say was that it was a surprise and she would find out when they
got there. [It better be good, that's all I've got to say,] she thought.
She realized Ranma was getting ahead of her, so she picked up
the pace to keep up with her husband. Her pack was lighter then his by a
large margin, since her strength was still down. Before the Crystal Kami
Heart, that was her family's legacy, was removed from her body and
destroyed, her strength had been nearing Ranma's under his intense
training.
Now she was almost weaker then before Ranma showed up at her
house. It made her angry while shattering her self-confidence all over
again, bringing her insecurities back to the surface. Was it just that
crystal that gave her all that strength? Could she ever be as good as
she was before? Would Ranma still love her if she was stuck as a weak,
little girl?
Akane was deathly afraid of that last question. Even though he
had married her, would he leave her for someone else? She still loved
him with all her heart, though she also still harbored doubts and fears
about how good a wife she could be to him. What did she have to offer?
She absently touch her chest where the crystal had emerged, and
a tear a appeared in her eye. It was her mother's last gift to Akane,
entrusted for safekeeping, and she had lost it. With it, she could
easily fight beside Ranma as his partner. Where did that leave her
without it?
Akane shook her head to clear her dark thoughts. This was no
time to be brooding. This was supposed to be her honeymoon, and she was
determined to make sure they both enjoyed it.
As soon as she figured out exactly where Ranma was taking her.
Ranma's mood was more upbeat. Traveling through nature was
something he was used after ten years on the road and he believed he had
a good surprise in store for Akane.
Before the wedding, Nabiki had called him in to have a talk...
"Have you given any thought as to where you'll spend your
honeymoon?" she asked him as soon as he stepped inside, a sly smile on
her face.
"What?" Ranma blinked. "What's a honeymoon?"
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "You've got to be kidding' me. A
honeymoon is where a newlywed couple go to spend time together, alone."
"Like a training trip?" he suggested.
A funny smile broke out on Nabiki's face, and she seemed to be
fighting back a case of the giggles. "Right... Training trip...
Exactly." She took a deep breath. "The point is, wouldn't you like to
get away for a few days? I know Akane would love to go with you
somewhere."
That sounded reasonable to him. "Yeah, sure! That'd be great!"
"Now I have a few ideas that..."
"In fact, I know the perfect place!" Ranma continued, eager at
the sound of a few days alone with Akane. "I was up there a year ago,
and it'd be perfect!" He turned back to the middle Tendo. `Thanks
Nabiki... oneechan!" He grinned.
The change in address caught her off-guard. "Um, sure. But what
about-"
"I gotta go plan this out and pack for it!"
And with that, he rushed out of her room, completely missing
the frustrated face of the middle Tendo.
Ranma casually hopped to top of a nearby boulder and grinned.
They were headed in the right direction, and should reach it by early
tomorrow morning. This time, it wasn't as cold, seeing as how it was
late spring and there was no snow on the ground. He knew there would be
when they finally reached their destination, but it wouldn't matter
much.
He turned back to watch his wife coming up the trail behind him
and his face unconsciously grew a fond smile. He knew she was still a
bit weak, but she was bound and determined not to show it, doing her
best to keep up with him. That was something he always admired about
her. Even though he wanted to keep her out of danger and protect her, he
always secretly liked her `never-give-up' and `give-it-all-you've-got'
attitude.
He supposed she wouldn't be Akane if she didn't have that inner
fire, that determination that made her seek her own path, instead of
demurely conceding like a traditional girl.
She paused to see him smiling at her, and she blushed faintly.
Then she scowled at him, before continuing right on past his perch.
"Well, you coming or not?" She called over her shoulder.
Ranma chuckled, then leapt off the boulder after her.
Akane entered the tent, a pleasant smile on her face. Today had
been one interesting day, especially since Ranma had surprised her with
something she never would have thought possible of him.
They had finally arrived at their destination, at least that's
what Ranma had announced. All Akane could see was a small forest of
sparse trees, lightly dusted with snow. It was melting, because spring
was arriving and the temperature was raising, but it still was a little
chilly out.
Ranma spent several moments searching around, before finding
what he was looking for. He called Akane over and gestured to the trunk
of the large tree after dusting it off. She gasped when she read the
carvings, totally not expecting to see what she saw.
She murmured Ranma's name in awe, taken aback by what he had
shown her. He didn't seem to have a romantic bone in his body, and then
he goes and shows her the tree where his parents carved their names on
their honeymoon. He also revealed that he had enough money for a couple
nights at a hot spring resort nearby, that his parents stayed at on
their honeymoon.
Akane turned to see that Ranma had a small knife in his hand,
and with crystalline clarity she knew what he was about to do. Still,
the emotions flooding her body of seeing him engrave their own names
next to his parents were very powerful nonetheless, and she couldn't
resist giving him a big hug and a passionate kiss when he was finished.
The sight of their own names embedded in the thick bark,
somehow made their marriage and feelings all the more real, along with a
sense of permanence. That no matter what happened, the carvings would
stand as a reminder, to them and to the world, that their lives were now
deeply intertwined.
Back in the tent, Akane had finally finished the preparations
and her heart was now threatening to pound itself out of her chest. Some
part of her couldn't believe she was actually going to do this, and
another part wondered if she was going to chicken out or if Ranma would.
Gathering her courage, she called out to her husband.
"You can come in now."
Ranma had just finished putting out the fire and securing the
packs for the night when Akane called to him. There was something in her
voice that he couldn't identify, almost a mixture of apprehension and
excitement. Nervously, he zipped open the dome tent and slipped inside.
He hadn't really known what to expect, his knowledge of
honeymoons being very limited, and he was afraid of asking, since it
seemed it was something that everybody was supposed to know. All he knew
was that Nabiki had suggested the idea to him.
The sight that greeted him inside, however, was enough to
freeze all higher-level functions running through his brain.
Akane was kneeling on the opened sleeping bags and gazing shyly
up at him. Her face was tinged with a nice shade of pink and her hands
were folded in her lap. What locked Ranma's brain up was the that as far
as he could determine, the only thing she had on was one of his red
Mandarin shirts. The overall picture she was portraying, was affecting
him in ways that he couldn't describe.
Somehow he got the feeling that he was in for an interesting
night.**
It had happened a couple of days ago, that much he was sure
about. He knew if she left their little sanctum she would become
vulnerable. He also knew it was an opportunity the Rogues wouldn't dare
pass up.
He closed his eyes as he sagged in his chair, suddenly feeling
the weight of all ninety of his years hit him at once. [It's finally
done. She had to know what would happen if she left!] A long breath
escaped his lips as the elderly man leaned back in his comfy chair, the
only real amenity in the abode he shared with Lady Kuno.
He was the caretaker. There was a name before that, one he was
born to, but at the age of ten he was apprenticed to the previous
caretaker and his given name ceased to be spoken. He had long since
forgotten it as he learned the duties he would be performing from the
old man who taught him.
Quite simply, his duty was to assist the Lady. All he was told
at the time was that she was very old, though she still appeared to be
in her 30s. He was also to dust and clean, keep her sanctuary and
library in order, as well as read the mountain of knowledge that the
library contained. Later on, he also became her friend and companion, to
help ease her loneliness in her isolation.
But that was 80 years ago.
Normally, he would have sought out his own apprentice by now,
who would take over the post once he was gone. However, there was no
longer any need, for there was no longer a Lady for a Caretaker to take
care of.
For a sudden and brief moment, he felt her spirit passing by
him on her way to the afterlife, and she whispered a few words to him
before disappearing from the mortal plane. Normal men would have only
felt a slight breeze, but members of his line had a better sense of
supernatural, not to mention his long years by his Lady's side helped
attune his consciousness to hers.
He nodded once as the spirit departed. "I shall do as you ask,
Lady. I shall fulfill your last request."
He stood up slowly and walked to what appeared to be small
well, but water wasn't the only thing to be glimpsed inside. Reflected
in the still pool were the faces of several youths, some more prominent
then others: A boy with a pigtail, a girl with short hair and fiery
temperament, a half-cat humanoid, a near-sighted hidden weapons master,
a muscular boy with canine teeth, and a chef skilled in the culinary
arts.
The eyes of the caretaker were suddenly filled with incredible
sorrow. "I shall tell them everything."
-------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Bet you were expecting a fight during the wedding, ne? Most every
Ranma/Akane wedding I've read has had violence/fighting in it. The idea
that it could go off rather peacefully is, in my opinion, a rare
concept.
And I freely admit it, I'm a hopeless romantic. ^_^ There will be more
conflict later, naturally, but these two chapter were designed for humor
and WAFF.
**I've written a Lemon sidestory (my first in this series) to this,
entitled "Physical Bonding." It doesn't add much to the plot, so you can
skip it. If, however, you want to read it, e-mail me and I'll give you
the link to the file.
Also, before this Volume is over, much will be explained to both you and
the Ranma crew, as they learn what part they play in the ever-unfolding
events. Secrets and truths will be revealed, and it will affect the
characters in different ways, some you may or may not expect.
Find my stories at: www.geocities.com/kaiphantom2000
Ranma 1/2: New Challenges
Bonds and Connections
Chapter 2
The audience held their breath, and those nearest the center
aisle edged their seats farther away from the impending violence that
they were positive would soon ensue. Ryoga braced himself for action,
while Ukyo's hand crept back to the handle of her spatula.
Ranma broke out of his stunned state. "Don't do this, Kodachi,"
he warned her carefully, flashes of the last wedding attempt shooting
through his mind.
Kodachi's gaze turned to him, a strange emotion flickering in
her eyes. "I know you cannot want this!" she accused. "Why? Because you
being forced by petty promises!"
Ranma's face showed brief flicker of disbelief, then tightened
and became firm as a strange sense of confidence filled him. "No. I'm
doin' it because... I love Akane."
Kodachi's eyes reflected some of the great sadness she held
within, but she kept herself composed. She turned to the bride, holding
the ribbon up and running it through her fingers. "Why are you doing
this? You cannot possibly love him, you always denied it before!"
"I was... scared and confused before," Akane admitted softly. "I
barely knew my own feelings." Her head came up, fierce determination
written across her face. "But I know what I feel now. I know I love
him."
"You would fight for him?"
Ranma and Kodachi tensed as Akane took a step forward, and the
Kuno girl was struck by the fire burning in her eyes. "I would die for
him." Kodachi's eyes widened a bit, as the statement was delivered with
the supreme confidence that Akane HAD died for Ranma, or came very close
at any rate.
The nervous tension in the room shot up ten-fold, as it seemed
Kodachi was about to attack anyway. Inside, she was fighting with
indecision. Would she be willing to die for Ranma? She didn't know, but
she figured it might be a non-issue anyway. What were the chances her
death would save Ranma?
She discarded such thoughts for now and turned back to Ranma.
"Ranma-sama, the affection she might be able to offer, pales in
comparison to my boundless love. Please reconsider this course of
action! Give me a chance before you commit your life to this!"
Kodachi's words and actions had always been driven by the
intense need for someone to love her. Her mother left her, then her
father left her, and her brother was hardly very supportive of her.
Every other male had already heard of her reputation, so they feared to
approach her. When Ranma showed her kindness that first night she met
him, she thought she had found the perfect love she sought, and latched
onto him hard.
But she was losing him now.
Ranma reluctantly shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. Please don't
try ta stop us, `cause ya can't change my mind."
The glistening of liquid could be seen forming in Kodachi's
eyes as she glanced back and forth from Ranma to Akane. She had hoped
that it was just honor that was forcing them together; that, she could
deal with. She had known Ranma didn't love her, and she could deal with
that as well. It would just mean she had a chance and could work on him.
But to hear Ranma acknowledge love for Akane, when in the past
he had always denied his feelings... The love in his eyes shone only for
Akane. For Kodachi, they merely showed traces of fear and maybe a little
pity. Akane's eyes spoke volumes of the depths she had gone through, and
would go through, for Ranma. Kodachi suddenly realized that whatever
chance she might've had, was long gone.
"Come sister, `tis not our place," Tatewaki called softly from
the doorway. "Let us retire once more to our abode."
The distraught girl took one last look at the bride and groom.
She was on the verge of breakdown, and didn't want anybody to see her
cry. Otherwise, she might have attacked in a last ditch effort to win
Ranma. However, that thought was squashed by the knowledge that Ranma
would no longer be a prize that could be won. He had made a choice and
even she could see that he would stick to it.
"Yes," the Kuno girl replied slowly. "I see that now. I do not
have the right to be here. I shall not interfere." Kodachi Kuno turned
and strode softly from the dojo. Once she was outside, she leapt for the
rooftops and fled home as fast as possible.
"Please forgive my sister and I," The elder Kuno boy offered,
bowing low. "She is still... recovering. She received word of thy...
wedding," the word was extremely difficult for him to say, "and felt
driven to see with her own eyes."
"Kuno-sempai, will she be alright?" Akane asked with concern.
"In time," he replied, his face carefully guarding his emotion.
"Now, fair Tendo Akane, if you will pardon us, I must see Kodachi safely
home."
And then he was gone, before anyone else could say or do
anything. The breath the assembled Tendos, Saotomes, and assorted guests
had been holding was released in a large sigh of relief.
Ranma and Akane glanced at each other, their eyes echoing the
same thoughts. `That was close!'
Sensing no more action or protests would be forthcoming, the
priest continued. "Then because of your love for each other, I now
pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
With trembling hands, Ranma reached for Akane's veil, pulling
it up over her head. His breath caught in his throat as her pretty face
was revealed. He had been extremely nervous about kissing Akane in
public, especially in front of their families. But eyes her eyes came
into view, the outside world faded away and he tilted his head down.
Akane was just as nervous as Ranma, if not more so. Her heart
had been threatening to burst out of her chest since the ceremony began,
but she felt herself oddly becoming calm as Ranma's gaze found her own.
There was plenty of love in his deep blue eyes, and it had been one that
she had wanted to see from him for so long. She tilted her head up.
Their lips met and, for a few moments, nothing else in the
universe existed.
Then it was over, and the priest presented them to the
audience. "It is my pleasure to present, Mr. and Mrs. Saotome."
The cheer went up from the assembled family and guests.
The reception was also short, though not by design. There were
a few gifts, but only from the family. Since the money from the first
wedding wasn't returned, the guests didn't bring any this time around.
In fact, they were specifically asked not to. It was the only way Soun
could get any of them to attend.
Natsume stood off to the side of the dojo, trying to avoid any
attention. The dress she was wearing (borrowed from Nabiki, at
discounted price) was like nothing she had worn before, and she was
feeling decidedly uncomfortable in it. Oh, she had worn a skirt before,
but it simple, not as fancy as the frilly thing she had on. Too many
ribbons and bows in her opinion, and the make-up was doubly
uncomfortable.
She sighed, wishing she was anywhere other than here. It wasn't
that she wasn't excited for Ranma and Akane; indeed, she was very happy
that the two were married. They had been nicer to her than she probably
deserved, given how she had tried to take the dojo away from them last
time.
But looking at the pair as they danced, made Natsume think
momentarily of Ryu Kumon. She shook head to clear the thought of him
out. He was merely a challenger to the dojo, and Natsume had done her
job in defending it, nothing more. She couldn't afford to let a boy
distract her from her training. Maybe she should take Kurumi on a short
training trip to help clear their minds, Natsume decided.
The sound of her sister's whining drew Natsume's attention to
the buffet table. Apparently, it looked like Kurumi was trying to polish
off all the food by herself, but was being deflected from her goal by
the eldest Tendo daughter. It seemed that Kasumi had gracefully turned
Kurumi away and guided her to talk with a boy instead, one of Ranma's
school friends.
Natsume merely shook her head, then sipped her punch.
Ranma felt decidedly uncomfortable during the whole reception,
seeing that social gatherings weren't exactly his most favorite thing in
the first place. Coupled with the fact that he was part of the main
attraction and his new relationship with Akane was out in the open,
well, the phrase `fish out of water' didn't do justice to his
predicament.
Of course it didn't help that Hiroshi and Daisuke were teasing
him throughout the whole affair.
"So, Saotome, would you be a pal and tape the honeymoon for me?"
Daisuke asked.
"Dai, do you want to live?" Hiroshi asked, seeing the cup of
punch in Ranma's hand disintegrate in a blue flash.
The other boy shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying..."
"I just want to hear all the details afterward," Hiroshi
commented absently..
"If you two don't shut up now," Ranma told them through clenched
teeth, "the next time you wake up you'll be eatin' through straws!"
"I think we've overstayed our welcome, Dai."
"I believe you're right," his companion agreed. "But why don't
you give him our gift before we go?'
Ranma cocked his eye. "Gift? What gift?" Secretly, he was
dreading what his `friends' might give him.
Daisuke nodded and slipped something thin and papery into
Ranma's tuxedo coat. "From us, for tonight. If you find yourself
wondering what to do."
Ranma frowned at the cryptic comment while the two boys
wandered off. Curious, he opened his jacket and pulled out the
magazine...
...and put the hentai doujinshi right back, blushing furiously.
[Stupid Idiots.]
Then Soun was announcing the next dance as being for the bride
and groom, and Ranma was forced to ignore the magazine in his shirt as
all attention turned to Akane and him.
Ranma's breath caught in his throat once more, as he spied his
bride turn to face him from across the room, still resplendent in her
wedding gown. She had been chatting with her friends, but now gazing
shyly at him, her face tinged pink.
When it became clear that neither one was moving, Sayuri gave
Akane a slight push, while Tofu did the same for Ranma. Hesitantly, they
walked to the center of the dojo. As they grasped each other's hands and
gazed into each other's eyes, the outside world faded away once more.
And they began to dance.
Ryoga spent the whole ordeal with Akari clamped to his arm. He
got the impression that it was because she was afraid he'd wander off
and get lost. True, his direction sense wasn't as bad as it was before,
and she tended to let him roam around places he was familiar with (like
the Tendo dojo and the Unryu farm), but it still felt like he was on a
leash with her guiding him around. He wondered if that's what his
relationship was going to be like from now on.
How could she put up with a guy like him?
Akari sighed wistfully at his side as she glanced at the bride
and groom. "Wasn't the wedding so beautiful, Ryo-chan? And Akane's gown
is so lovely." Her face grew a fond smile as she glanced up at her
fiance.
Ryoga had to admit that Akane was quite beautiful. For a
moment, he almost wished it was him in Ranma's place, dancing with Akane
as a bride and groom. Then he shoved those thoughts out of his head.
Akane had made her choice, and Ryoga had conceded to that. He might
still care for her, but it wasn't fair to Akari for him to continually
pine after another woman, especially a married one. He had recognized
that his crush on Akane was just that: a crush.
He glanced down at his fiancee and beheld her pretty face
smiling up at him, prompting him to return a nervous smile of his own.
Perhaps, he decided, it would be a good idea to spend quite a bit of
time at the Unryu farm, after he completed his training under his
sensei. Akari gave him what he needed most: love and acceptance. He
cared for her very much, but after his experiences with Akane, he wanted
to make sure it was love.
"So, when do you think we should set our own wedding date for?"
Akari was asking him.
So caught up in his thoughts and in gazing in her lovely eyes,
he almost missed what she was saying. "W-wedding?" he squeaked.
Akari's smile dimmed somewhat. "You do want to marry me,
right?"
Ryoga swallowed nervously, and a part of his mind told the rest
of him that he had better answer this right. "Uh, it's not that. It's
just that this is, uh, all kinda new to me."
She smiled in understanding. "It's okay. I will wait until you
are ready." She gave him a peck on the cheek.
Ryoga smiled in relief, and once again wondered why she put up
with a guy like him. Whatever her reasons, he was extremely glad she
did.
The final song ended and the reception came to an end. The
bride and groom said their good-byes to all the guests, who wished Ranma
and Akane well in return. Soon, everyone had departed except for family.
Even the newlywed couple had left on their honeymoon after changing
clothes for travel, leaving the Tendo household in a state of peace and
quiet once more.
Wanting to get an early start, Kasumi had started cleaning up
the dojo. She had just started sweeping up the confetti when a hand on
the broom stopped her. She looked up in surprise, but smiled warmly when
she saw who it was.
"Now, now, Kasumi-chan," Tofu said with a wide grin. "There will
be time enough for this later. You should leave some for the rest of
us!"
Kasumi sighed and accepted Tofu's hug, then turned around so
that her back was to him, his arms encircling her waist. She leaned her
head back to rest on his shoulder as she gazed out the window dojo
window.
"It seems like I've been waiting for this moment for most of my
life," Kasumi mused. "My little baby sister is all grown up and married
at last. I must say, I did have some doubt when she turned into quite
the tomboy."
Tofu chuckled, remembering all the times little Akane had come
into his clinic to be treated for bruises and scrapes. "Yes, she was
quite the lively girl when she was younger, and nowhere near the
traditional girl she was supposed to be. I suppose it's just as well,
since Ranma does make a good match for her. I must confess that I was
worried about those two for awhile, as well. It's good to see them
together and having some happiness at last."
That thought about Akane brought something to Tofu's mind that
he had noticed earlier. Being the kind of healer he was, he had noticed
a distinct change in Akane's aura when he had examined her before. While
glowing with the familiar colors of love, it also seemed much weaker
than normal. Somehow it seemed weaker, subdued. Even given the
explanation of the Kami Heart Crystal, his own research suggested it
shouldn't have affected her that much.
From what he understood, the crystal merely amplified what was
already there. It should not have drained Akane this much, leading him
to believe something else was at work. That was as far as Tofu had
gotten, as he had pronounced her recovered enough to get married, which
was what she wanted. He had made a note to check up on her when she
returned, however.
"So," Kasumi was saying, "Akane will soon be mistress of the
house. With Nabiki graduating at the end of the month and moving off to
college in April, and Natsume and Kurumi taking over much of the chores,
I believe it will be time for me to move out as well."
Tofu's arms tightened and his head became momentarily dizzy, as
he realized the implications. "Really?"
They had developed an understanding between them. Dating and/or
the pursual of any relationship would have to wait, since Kasumi felt
her family needed her. So, an unspoken agreement to wait had come about,
to push aside any ideas of a relationship until such a time when Kasumi
felt she was free enough to pursue one.
Which she had just hinted at.
True, they had been dating a little since Kasumi was kidnapped
by the Mage Clans nearly eight months ago, but that was mainly due to
the fact that they couldn't hold back their feelings anymore, and it
seemed that Ranma and Akane were finally settling down into accepting
the engagement.
"I am nearly twenty-one," Kasumi said, a bit of a sad edge to
her voice. "And I do think it is nearly time to be married. What do you
think, Ono Tofu?"
The use of his full name was all the implication Tofu needed.
He turned her around his arms, then knelt down on one knee in front of
her, bring out a small box they he had carried for the longest time.
"Tendo Kasumi, I have watched and admired you for several years. I would
be honored if you would consider me for your hand." He open the small
velvet box.
Kasumi gasped at pretty gold band that was displayed within,
topped by a small sapphire gem. She smiled and nodded, giving the
gesture for Tofu to remove it from the box and slide it onto her finger.
"I would be honored to become your wife," Kasumi told him,
bringing Tofu to his feet with a tug on his hand, and then rising up
slightly to kiss him gently.
As the couple pulled away from each other, the sniffle from the
dojo entrance got their attention. The sniffle had come from Soun, but
also present were Genma, Nodoka, and Nabiki as well.
Kasumi blushed, while Tofu turned to address Soun. "That is, if
your father would agree to the marriage, of course."
Soun dried his eyes, then shook the doctor's hand while patting
him on the back. "Of course, of course! Welcome to the family!"
Nodoka gave Kasumi a teary-eyed hug. "Oh, Kasumi-chan,
congratulations!"
"Thank you, Oba-sama," the eldest Tendo daughter replied, still
blushing.
"Two of my daughters are all grown up," Soun wailed. "Now if
only-"
"Forget it, Father," Nabiki replied, cutting him off. "I'm not
getting married. I've got too many plans as it is, and none of them
revolve around a husband."
"Well, perhaps you just need to find the right young man,"
Nodoka offered
Nabiki merely rolled her eyes. [I like Ranma's mother, but she
does seem to think the world revolves around men.]
"Well, let's leave this mess for tomorrow, shall we?" Genma
suggested. "We've got much celebrating to do tonight!"
For once, everyone agreed with him.
"Hurry up, Akane!"
Akane growled. "I'm coming, Baka!" She adjusted her pack once
again, wondering for the one-millionth time where he was taking her. All
he would say was that it was a surprise and she would find out when they
got there. [It better be good, that's all I've got to say,] she thought.
She realized Ranma was getting ahead of her, so she picked up
the pace to keep up with her husband. Her pack was lighter then his by a
large margin, since her strength was still down. Before the Crystal Kami
Heart, that was her family's legacy, was removed from her body and
destroyed, her strength had been nearing Ranma's under his intense
training.
Now she was almost weaker then before Ranma showed up at her
house. It made her angry while shattering her self-confidence all over
again, bringing her insecurities back to the surface. Was it just that
crystal that gave her all that strength? Could she ever be as good as
she was before? Would Ranma still love her if she was stuck as a weak,
little girl?
Akane was deathly afraid of that last question. Even though he
had married her, would he leave her for someone else? She still loved
him with all her heart, though she also still harbored doubts and fears
about how good a wife she could be to him. What did she have to offer?
She absently touch her chest where the crystal had emerged, and
a tear a appeared in her eye. It was her mother's last gift to Akane,
entrusted for safekeeping, and she had lost it. With it, she could
easily fight beside Ranma as his partner. Where did that leave her
without it?
Akane shook her head to clear her dark thoughts. This was no
time to be brooding. This was supposed to be her honeymoon, and she was
determined to make sure they both enjoyed it.
As soon as she figured out exactly where Ranma was taking her.
Ranma's mood was more upbeat. Traveling through nature was
something he was used after ten years on the road and he believed he had
a good surprise in store for Akane.
Before the wedding, Nabiki had called him in to have a talk...
"Have you given any thought as to where you'll spend your
honeymoon?" she asked him as soon as he stepped inside, a sly smile on
her face.
"What?" Ranma blinked. "What's a honeymoon?"
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "You've got to be kidding' me. A
honeymoon is where a newlywed couple go to spend time together, alone."
"Like a training trip?" he suggested.
A funny smile broke out on Nabiki's face, and she seemed to be
fighting back a case of the giggles. "Right... Training trip...
Exactly." She took a deep breath. "The point is, wouldn't you like to
get away for a few days? I know Akane would love to go with you
somewhere."
That sounded reasonable to him. "Yeah, sure! That'd be great!"
"Now I have a few ideas that..."
"In fact, I know the perfect place!" Ranma continued, eager at
the sound of a few days alone with Akane. "I was up there a year ago,
and it'd be perfect!" He turned back to the middle Tendo. `Thanks
Nabiki... oneechan!" He grinned.
The change in address caught her off-guard. "Um, sure. But what
about-"
"I gotta go plan this out and pack for it!"
And with that, he rushed out of her room, completely missing
the frustrated face of the middle Tendo.
Ranma casually hopped to top of a nearby boulder and grinned.
They were headed in the right direction, and should reach it by early
tomorrow morning. This time, it wasn't as cold, seeing as how it was
late spring and there was no snow on the ground. He knew there would be
when they finally reached their destination, but it wouldn't matter
much.
He turned back to watch his wife coming up the trail behind him
and his face unconsciously grew a fond smile. He knew she was still a
bit weak, but she was bound and determined not to show it, doing her
best to keep up with him. That was something he always admired about
her. Even though he wanted to keep her out of danger and protect her, he
always secretly liked her `never-give-up' and `give-it-all-you've-got'
attitude.
He supposed she wouldn't be Akane if she didn't have that inner
fire, that determination that made her seek her own path, instead of
demurely conceding like a traditional girl.
She paused to see him smiling at her, and she blushed faintly.
Then she scowled at him, before continuing right on past his perch.
"Well, you coming or not?" She called over her shoulder.
Ranma chuckled, then leapt off the boulder after her.
Akane entered the tent, a pleasant smile on her face. Today had
been one interesting day, especially since Ranma had surprised her with
something she never would have thought possible of him.
They had finally arrived at their destination, at least that's
what Ranma had announced. All Akane could see was a small forest of
sparse trees, lightly dusted with snow. It was melting, because spring
was arriving and the temperature was raising, but it still was a little
chilly out.
Ranma spent several moments searching around, before finding
what he was looking for. He called Akane over and gestured to the trunk
of the large tree after dusting it off. She gasped when she read the
carvings, totally not expecting to see what she saw.
She murmured Ranma's name in awe, taken aback by what he had
shown her. He didn't seem to have a romantic bone in his body, and then
he goes and shows her the tree where his parents carved their names on
their honeymoon. He also revealed that he had enough money for a couple
nights at a hot spring resort nearby, that his parents stayed at on
their honeymoon.
Akane turned to see that Ranma had a small knife in his hand,
and with crystalline clarity she knew what he was about to do. Still,
the emotions flooding her body of seeing him engrave their own names
next to his parents were very powerful nonetheless, and she couldn't
resist giving him a big hug and a passionate kiss when he was finished.
The sight of their own names embedded in the thick bark,
somehow made their marriage and feelings all the more real, along with a
sense of permanence. That no matter what happened, the carvings would
stand as a reminder, to them and to the world, that their lives were now
deeply intertwined.
Back in the tent, Akane had finally finished the preparations
and her heart was now threatening to pound itself out of her chest. Some
part of her couldn't believe she was actually going to do this, and
another part wondered if she was going to chicken out or if Ranma would.
Gathering her courage, she called out to her husband.
"You can come in now."
Ranma had just finished putting out the fire and securing the
packs for the night when Akane called to him. There was something in her
voice that he couldn't identify, almost a mixture of apprehension and
excitement. Nervously, he zipped open the dome tent and slipped inside.
He hadn't really known what to expect, his knowledge of
honeymoons being very limited, and he was afraid of asking, since it
seemed it was something that everybody was supposed to know. All he knew
was that Nabiki had suggested the idea to him.
The sight that greeted him inside, however, was enough to
freeze all higher-level functions running through his brain.
Akane was kneeling on the opened sleeping bags and gazing shyly
up at him. Her face was tinged with a nice shade of pink and her hands
were folded in her lap. What locked Ranma's brain up was the that as far
as he could determine, the only thing she had on was one of his red
Mandarin shirts. The overall picture she was portraying, was affecting
him in ways that he couldn't describe.
Somehow he got the feeling that he was in for an interesting
night.**
It had happened a couple of days ago, that much he was sure
about. He knew if she left their little sanctum she would become
vulnerable. He also knew it was an opportunity the Rogues wouldn't dare
pass up.
He closed his eyes as he sagged in his chair, suddenly feeling
the weight of all ninety of his years hit him at once. [It's finally
done. She had to know what would happen if she left!] A long breath
escaped his lips as the elderly man leaned back in his comfy chair, the
only real amenity in the abode he shared with Lady Kuno.
He was the caretaker. There was a name before that, one he was
born to, but at the age of ten he was apprenticed to the previous
caretaker and his given name ceased to be spoken. He had long since
forgotten it as he learned the duties he would be performing from the
old man who taught him.
Quite simply, his duty was to assist the Lady. All he was told
at the time was that she was very old, though she still appeared to be
in her 30s. He was also to dust and clean, keep her sanctuary and
library in order, as well as read the mountain of knowledge that the
library contained. Later on, he also became her friend and companion, to
help ease her loneliness in her isolation.
But that was 80 years ago.
Normally, he would have sought out his own apprentice by now,
who would take over the post once he was gone. However, there was no
longer any need, for there was no longer a Lady for a Caretaker to take
care of.
For a sudden and brief moment, he felt her spirit passing by
him on her way to the afterlife, and she whispered a few words to him
before disappearing from the mortal plane. Normal men would have only
felt a slight breeze, but members of his line had a better sense of
supernatural, not to mention his long years by his Lady's side helped
attune his consciousness to hers.
He nodded once as the spirit departed. "I shall do as you ask,
Lady. I shall fulfill your last request."
He stood up slowly and walked to what appeared to be small
well, but water wasn't the only thing to be glimpsed inside. Reflected
in the still pool were the faces of several youths, some more prominent
then others: A boy with a pigtail, a girl with short hair and fiery
temperament, a half-cat humanoid, a near-sighted hidden weapons master,
a muscular boy with canine teeth, and a chef skilled in the culinary
arts.
The eyes of the caretaker were suddenly filled with incredible
sorrow. "I shall tell them everything."
-------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Bet you were expecting a fight during the wedding, ne? Most every
Ranma/Akane wedding I've read has had violence/fighting in it. The idea
that it could go off rather peacefully is, in my opinion, a rare
concept.
And I freely admit it, I'm a hopeless romantic. ^_^ There will be more
conflict later, naturally, but these two chapter were designed for humor
and WAFF.
**I've written a Lemon sidestory (my first in this series) to this,
entitled "Physical Bonding." It doesn't add much to the plot, so you can
skip it. If, however, you want to read it, e-mail me and I'll give you
the link to the file.
Also, before this Volume is over, much will be explained to both you and
the Ranma crew, as they learn what part they play in the ever-unfolding
events. Secrets and truths will be revealed, and it will affect the
characters in different ways, some you may or may not expect.