Chapter Eleven
By Special Guest Writer, KaraOhki!
Username on FanFiction dot Net : KaraOhki
Author's note: I have been friends with KaraOhki since the late 1990s. When I was initially working on Love Hurts around 1999-2000...I was drawing a blank on how to write a wedding...I was barely out of high school at the time so that shouldn't be all surprising. I don't remember if my dear KaraOhki-oneechan offered or had a glorious visit from her muse and surprised me, but this is chapter is all her. My only editing was to tweak some formatting.
As Akane woke, the first of her senses to tell her something was her hearing. There were birds singing—birds she did not normally hear at home. Next it was her nose, the fragrance of the trees telling her that she was deep in the forest. Lastly, she became aware that someone was holding her hand.
Akane opened her eyes, which met Ranma's. He smiled at her, and she smiled back as she realized she would be seeing those eyes every morning for the rest of her life. Her smile slowly faded when she thought of what was ahead, and that the rest of their lives might not be all that long. Her fiancé immediately picked up on her change of expression.
"Akane, you okay?"
Her response was to move closer to him.
"Just hold me."
Outside the tent, Ryoga was building a fire, while Allucia gathered the ingredients for breakfast. Ryoga looked toward Ranma and Akane's tent, and back to Allucia.
"Think we ought to wake them up?"
Allucia shook her head. "They're up. I heard Ranma talking."
Shortly afterward, Ranma emerged from the tent. "Akane's changing clothes." He frowned. "She's not too happy about getting married in blue jeans, but we couldn't risk shopping for anything new. Somebody would have told our families."
Allucia's eyes widened. "I can do something about that, Ranma. Give me a couple of minutes." She walked to the edge of the clearing, and sat down. Ryoga could hear her talking into her communicator, but he couldn't hear what was being said. A short time later, Allucia returned with a huge smile on her face. "I've got it covered, Ranma. You'll see."
A voice behind her made her jump.
"You'll see what?"
"Oh! Good morning, Akane! Let's just say I've arranged a little wedding present for you."
On Voyager, B'Elanna frowned as she peered at the computer screen. "I wish Lusha had given me more information. How am I supposed to do this?"
"Do what?" Tom sat beside B'Elanna, and looked at the screen. "Japanese clothing? What are you looking for?"
"Lusha's friends Ranma and Akane are eloping today. They're out in the woods somewhere with Lusha and Ryoga, and nothing nice to wear. Lusha wants me to replicate something and send it down."
"In that case, you're looking in the wrong place. Computer, show 20th century wedding clothes, Earth."
"Working."
In seconds, B'Elanna had more to choose from than she knew what to do with. She was grateful to have Tom beside her to give advice.
"If they're getting married in the woods, you don't want any of these heavy kimonos. I'd say go with one of these simple dresses instead—they're very pretty. Does Lusha need something too?"
"Yes, and she specified Chinese. I'll get to her later. What do you think of this dress, and these suits for the men?"
"Sure. Do you know the sizes?"
B'Elanna nodded and gave the computer instructions to prepare the clothing, and then made another request. "Computer, 20th century Earth clothing. Chinese."
The two couples spent their morning walking through the woods, or quietly talking. They kept their distance from each other, realizing that this day would be one of the last quiet ones they would be allowed. Intensive training for what was coming would resume when they returned home.
For Ranma and Akane, it was a day of great happiness, mixed with frustration. Their families had been trying to get them together for such a long time, to the point where it clouded their perception of what was important.
"Ranma, why can't our fathers see what is happening? All they can talk about is joining their houses. If we're not ready when the attack comes, there may not be any houses left."
Ranma pulled Akane into his arms, and she rested her cheek against his chest. "Shh, Akane. I know. When we get home, we'll work on them together, even if we have to beat some sense into them. But I don't want to talk about that now. Today is our day."
The couples came together at midday, and prepared a simple lunch. Although they didn't mean to bring up the subject, Allucia and Ryoga couldn't help talking about what was ahead of them.
"Will three months be enough time?" wondered Allucia.
"It has to be—we have no choice," responded Ryoga. "They're coming, and we have to be ready."
Ranma and Akane didn't speak at all. They'd said everything that needed to be said to each other that morning. Ryoga looked at Ranma, and saw what he needed to know in his friend's eyes. Ranma meant to stop the invaders, and to protect the woman he loved. It was the same resolve that Ryoga had made.
They were interrupted by the hum of transporters, and a crate materialized in the clearing.
"What is that?" asked Akane. "Is that the wedding gift you were talking about, Lusha?""
Allucia grinned. "Come help me open this thing. B'Elanna put it together for me."
There were several boxes in the crate, labeled with their names. Akane started to open hers, but Allucia slammed her hand down on the lid.
"Don't do that! Ranma can't see what's in there. At least not until you're wearing it."
"You mean... you don't mean?"
"Yes, Akane. It's a wedding dress."
Akane put the box down and hugged Allucia for all she was worth. Allucia came out of that encounter feeling like her ribs were broken.
"Okay, okay, Akane! You're welcome!" Allucia turned to Ranma. "What time do you expect the minister to get here?"
Ranma consulted his watch. "About two hours, I think."
Akane started to look a little panicked. "We have to start getting ready. We've got to heat water for washing, and we need to dress, and—"
She was interrupted when her fiancé pulled her into his arms for a fierce hug. "Take it easy, Akane. I'll go get the water. You build up the fire. There's plenty of time."
It didn't surprise Akane when Ranma came back female.
"I kinda splashed myself, Akane."
"Baka."
Ranma and Ryoga stood behind a blanket they'd strung between the trees behind Ryoga's tent. Ranma had hung a small mirror from a tree, and was rather unsuccessfully trying to get his tie tied.
"Is this thing straight?"
"Not quite, let me fix it. Ranma, would you stop fidgeting! I can't fix it if you don't stand still!"
"Sorry. I think I'm getting nervous."
They left their makeshift dressing room, and Ranma looked at his watch.
"Look, I've got something to do. Would you wait here for the minister? I'll be back soon."
"You sure you don't want me to come along?"
Ranma shook his head. "No, this is something I want to do on my own."
Ryoga nodded, and started to wander out of the clearing. Ranma had to grab him before he disappeared, and guide him back.
"Stand here, and don't move!"
Moments later, Ryoga found himself bound to a tree.
"You're not getting lost on me!"
Although he knew he could get free very easily, Ryoga just sighed, and stayed where he was as Ranma disappeared into the trees. He closed his eyes, and thought about how he could get even... later.
Ryoga's eyes flew open when he heard a giggle.
"I suppose that's a pretty good way to keep you in one place!"
Allucia's grin turned to a look of alarm, and she lunged at Ryoga and held onto his nose.
"Don't you dare! You'll ruin the suit!"
Ryoga had taken one look at Allucia, his eyes had opened wide, his chin looked like it was going to drop to the forest floor, and he'd begun to babble incoherently. The sight of her in that sexy violet silk cheongsam was too much for him. With a great deal of effort, he controlled himself, and the pressure in his nose eased.
"That's better, Ryo-kun. Where's Ranma?"
"He said he had something to do."
"Good."
Before Ryoga could ask Allucia what she meant, she'd leaned in for a kiss. When she stopped to catch her breath, Ryoga smiled at her.
"Untie me. I want to hold you."
"Nope, I like being in control."
Allucia went back to what she was doing, until she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.
"Miss, if you have to tie your fiancé to a tree in order to marry him, perhaps you should reconsider this wedding."
Allucia jumped away from Ryoga, and turned bright red.
"I-I-I'm not the bride!" She pointed behind her tent, where there was another blanket hung between two trees. "She's over there, getting dressed. Um, please excuse me. I'm supposed to be helping her." Allucia ran behind the blanket, and the two men soon heard the sounds of giggling.
The minister laughed as he untied Ryoga. "That's an unusual girlfriend you have there."
"Yes, and I intend to hang onto her."
"Is my hair all right?"
Allucia held the mirror so that Akane could see herself as she placed a circlet of silk flowers on her head.
"You look wonderful. Let me take a picture."
"You have a camera?"
Allucia produced a camera from one of the boxes. "Tom thought of that one."
They were still snapping each other's pictures when Ranma spoke from the other side of the blanket.
"Can I come in?"
Allucia came out from behind the blanket, carrying the camera. "Not until I take your picture, Ranma! You look so cute holding those!"
"Lusha!"
"Well, you do!"
A curious Akane pushed the blanket aside to find out what Allucia meant by "cute," and discovered Ranma holding a huge bouquet of wildflowers and ferns. Ranma was so stunned by the sight of Akane in her white silk dress that he simply held out the flowers, unable to speak. Akane buried her nose in the flowers, breathing in the fragrance.
"Thank you, Ranma."
"Are you ready, sweetheart?"
Akane's eyes opened wide. Ranma very rarely called her anything other than "Akane," or sometimes an affectionate "tomboy," so the use of the word "sweetheart" was very, very special to her. She placed her hand in his, and squeezed it.
"I'm ready, love."
Ranma's hand shook slightly as he took Akane's ring from Ryoga, and placed it on her finger. Akane's hand was just as unsteady when she gave Ranma his ring. Ranma was so involved in staring into Akane's eyes, that the minister had to tell him twice that he could kiss her. Once he'd gotten the message, though, he didn't need any more encouragement. Neither did Akane.
"You're sure you won't stay? At least let us make you some tea before you leave."
The minister shook his head, and smiled at the newlyweds. "No thank you. It's a long walk home, and I want to take my time. I'm a birdwatcher, and I haven't had time to get out into the woods for a long time."
The minister hadn't been gone long before the hum of transporters was heard, and another crate materialized in the clearing. Everyone looked at Allucia, but she seemed to be as confused as they were. Ryoga soon had it open, and they were all delighted to find that a full dinner had been sent down, compliments of Neelix.
Allucia and Ryoga unpacked the food, and started to serve it.
"I can't believe we got away with it, Ryo-kun!"
"Got away with what?"
"Neelix made an entire meal without using leola root."
Ryoga looked disappointed. "Darn. I like the stuff."
Allucia winced.
Ranma sat close to the fire, Akane in his lap. They'd been totally absorbed in each other ever since dinner, and were evidently oblivious to the sounds of Allucia and Ryoga packing up their things.
"Do you think we should say goodbye to them, Lusha?"
"No, leave them alone."
The newlyweds failed to notice when Allucia and Ryoga quietly made their way into the darkness, leaving nothing in the clearing but each other, their tent, and the starlight.
