Ranma ½ – Happily Ever After
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is the property of Takahashi Rumiko and all those other large corporations that publish and distribute Ranma ½. No profit is gained from this work, just a great deal of enjoyment writing it.
Chapter 25 – Misery Loves Company
When Ranma thought about it, since he had proposed to Akane, there were really very few things that could make his life truly miserable. His relationship with Akane, although not without it's little bumps, was, as far as Ranma was concerned, the best thing that could have ever happened. Even some of the little thing about Akane that had been a major source of irritation, now really didn't matter and in fact really became part of what made Akane 'Akane'.
Other facets of his life had changed also. He no longer had a multitude of fiancés chasing after him. Kodachi had changed her life around. Shampoo was no longer an issue and Ukyo actually enjoyed the position of being Ranma's pseudo-sibling. Without the angst of a marriage promise between them, they could talk freely as friends and offer each other advice. And strangely enough, it was Uchan who was asking the advice of Ranma (and Akane).
Since, Ryoga had moved into the same building where Ukyo both lived and operated her okonomiyaki restaurant, Ryoga and Ukyo were seeing a great deal of each other. Mizuki had also taken a liking to Ukyo and although Mizuki still insisted in sleeping without benefit of nightclothes and cuddled up closely with Ryoga, she was acting more like a little sister that dearly loved her older brother.
But even in the relatively short time Ryoga had been living there, things had progressed to the point where Ukyo and Ryoga went shopping together (Ukyo knew enough not to send Ryoga alone) without Mizuki chaperoning. Nothing really serious… but progressed to the point where Ukyo was asking Akane and Ranma about the idea of inviting Ryoga (and Mizuki) to dinner at her apartment.
The situation between Shampoo and Mousse had also changed, not that anybody who didn't really know them would notice, but enough that Ranma and Akane could see the difference. Shampoo was now asking Mousse to do things for her in an almost civil tone of voice (not that Mousse would have refused no matter what the tone of voice was), but the periods of screaming at the top of her lungs and long periods of silence were now gone.
The biggest surprise of all was when Grandma Cologne confided that Shampoo had consented to go see a movie with Mousse, although Shampoo would never openly admit that it was a date. They just happened to want to go see the same movie at the same time. When Ranma commented that Shampoo, to his knowledge, had never gone to see a movie before, Shampoo shouted a loud protest, but the blush in her cheek told a slightly different story.
But, even as well as life seemed to be, there were still a few things that could make Ranma's life miserable to the extreme, and one of those things was scheduled to happen tomorrow.
"Ranma, its only one day," Akane said as she sat next to Ranma on their bed. "And it's not even an entire day. Just part of the afternoon and evening."
"I know," Ranma replied as he scratched the head of a contented Katsu, who was sitting comfortably on Ranma's lap. "But our lives have been so much less complicated ever since mom took dad back home. No, even an afternoon and evening seems like too much."
"I think you're making too much out of this," Akane said critically. "It really can't be that bad."
"Akane," Ranma said, looking at Akane with unusually serious look, "think about what you just said and think back to the last time my dad was here."
After a moment of silent reflection Akane closed her eyes as a sudden chill ran down her back. The smile that had been on Akane's face turned into a frown. It had just been the previous Saturday, but Akane's natural ability to block out things she really didn't want to see or think about had kicked in. But all it required was a gentle reminder from Ranma for her to remember.
"If your father ever tries to grab me like that again," Akane said, "I'm going to borrow your mother's sword and perform some not so delicate surgery on him."
"Give me half a chance," Ranma said, "and I'll hold him in place for you."
"No need," Akane said, finally smiling again. "The surgery I have in mind would be far more effective on a moving target. You're right though. In just the short time he's been out of the house, I'd forgotten how obnoxious your father was."
"You didn't have to put up with him as long as I did," Ranma replied removing Katsu from his lap. "You need to move Katsu. I need to get my literature book."
Katsu meowed gently and walked across the bed and brushed up against Akane. Akane gently scratched Katsu, eliciting another appreciative meow. The kitten curled up on the bed next to Akane.
"How much more do you have to read of your book?" Akane asked.
"About a third," Ranma said as he returned to the bed with his book. "I was hoping to finish it this weekend and start on the report, but I have a feeling I won't finish for a few more days. How is your report coming?"
"I was doing really well, but preparation for the wedding as kept me busy for the last three days."
"And you won't have much of a chance to work on it tomorrow."
"No, between Gymnastics' practice and your parent coming, tomorrow is going to be a total loss."
"You can say that again. What time are my parents supposed to get here?"
"Your mother said that they would be here about four… and the party is scheduled for six."
"I really wish that you wouldn't make such a big deal out of this."
"Ranma, It's your eighteenth birthday. After tomorrow we can legally get married."
"I don't know what our fathers were thinking. That first wedding wouldn't have been legal."
"My dad still thinks that the ceremony is far more important than all the legal papers."
"My dad probably wasn't thinking. He was more interested in the food at the reception than anything else."
Akane sat quietly for a moment rubbing the head of Katsu, who purred in appreciation. "Ranma, is there something special you would like for your birthday?"
"Not really," Ranma replied. "I wouldn't even know what to ask for. My dad wasn't big on celebrating my birthday. We never did anything for it while we were on the road, and I was too young to remember doing anything when I was still at home."
"I never realized that," Akane said somewhat shocked. "But when I think about the way your dad is, it makes perfect sense."
"Are you going to do the shopping right after practice?"
"No," Akane responded after a short pause. "I'm going out to the ice cream parlor with Yuka and Sayuri and Hikari and Miyuki after practice."
"How are the people from Gymnastics' Club treating Miyuki now?"
"Some of the people from the club won't have anything to do with her. Miyuki still isn't well enough to practice, but when she spots for me on the beam or on the bars, some of the club members will go to practice on other apparatus. And I haven't heard it officially, but the coach supposedly asked her to quit the team."
Shaking his head, "How about Yuka and Hikari and Sayuri?"
"They were doing the same thing at first… especially Hikari," Akane answered. "But we had a long talk Wednesday after practice. I think Yuka is still uncomfortable, but at least she's talking with Miyuki now."
"So, whose idea was it to get together today?"
"It was mine. Before you proposed, we would get together all the time after practice on Saturday and have a treat, but I realized that we haven't done that since then. You and I have gone a few times, but I haven't gone with Yuka and Miyuki and Sayuri and Hikari. Is there a problem?"
Ranma smiled. "No problem at all. In fact it really sounds like a good idea. I wouldn't mind if I could go along with you."
"This is a girls only gathering."
"You know I can take care of that."
"Ranma!"
"I'm only joking. I think you need the break. It looks like the next two weeks are going to be even more hectic."
"I have my final fitting for my wedding dress next Saturday… and Kasumi and I are going shopping some time this week for gifts for the wedding guests now that we have a final count. There will be wrapping, and seating cards and Kasumi thinks of something else every day."
"Then you do need a break. Enjoy yourself tomorrow and have some extra hot fudge for me."
"Ranma, how long do you intend to read?"
"I want to finish at least two more chapters and maybe a little more. Why do you ask?"
"Because I was thinking of taking a bath and I was wondering if you would like to join me?"
"Of course I would. Let me read for a little while and then we can take a bath together."
The gathering at the ice cream parlor was a welcome break. The morning practice had been particularly grueling, with the coach insisting that Akane work a number of new elements into her balance beam routine. None of the new elements were particularly difficult, but they required a significant change in the timing of Akane's routine and that, of course, led to falls from the beam.
Luckily Miyuki was there when Akane needed her to catch her (like she had always been before but now Akane noticed it). But with each fall the coach began another tirade that Akane wasn't properly focused and that she needed to examine her priorities.
Akane, Miyuki, Yuka, Sayuri and Hikari were seated around what had become, over time, their regular table, although the seating arrangement had changed slightly. Miyuki, who had always sat between Hikari and Sayuri, changed places with Yuka and now sat next to Akane.
"I can't believe the coach," Yuka said after the waitress took their orders. "She actually asked you to put off your wedding until after the Prefecture Gymnastics Tournament. What is she thinking?"
"She's thinking this may be her only chance to have matching trophies," Miyuki replied. "And unfortunately she sees Akane as her only chance to do that."
"Has she asked you about taking the extra training, Akane?" Hikari asked.
"She asks every day," Akane replied. "And every day I tell her that I don't have the time to fit in any extra training. And every day she tells me that my priorities are all wrong."
"I heard that she came to your house to talk to your father about it," Sayuri said.
"Yeah," Akane said rolling her eyes. "She came by Thursday while Ranma and I were in the dojo with a class. My dad had a pretty good laugh about it. He said that she went on and on about how much potential I had as a gymnast and how I was wasting that potential doing unimportant things like getting married and martial arts."
"That must have gone over well," Yuka laughed.
"My dad says the she stomped out of the house when he called her a brainless idiot who had no idea about what real priorities were about."
"That must be why she's been such a bitch the last few days," Hikari commented. "We haven't had breaks since then."
"Between that," Miyuki said, "and me not voluntarily quitting the club. She told me Tuesday that a number of parents had complained about my association with the club and she asked me if I would consider ending my association with the club. When I told her no, she said that she would start formal proceedings to have me removed from the club and from the school if necessary."
There was a stunned silence at the table.
"What are you going to do?" Sayuri asked.
"Nothing," Miyuki answered. "When I told my mother about it, she almost busted a blood vessel. She was on the phone to the school in a second. She may have even scared some sense into that nutcase principal of ours."
"I don't think that's possible." Akane said. "He has so many screws loose, I'm not sure what's holding him together."
"Ugly Hawaiian shirts," Miyuki answered. "If he takes it off he'll fall to pieces."
"I don't want to think about him taking off his shirt," Yuka said, scrunching up her face is disgust. That would be just too scary."
"OK, who had the double hot fudge sundae?" The waitress asked arriving at the table with the order.
"That would be mine," Akane replied.
"Double hot fudge?" Hikari asked, raising her eyebrow. "You have a fight with Ranma or something?"
"No," Akane answered as the waitress placed the sundae in front of her. "But having an extra order of hot fudge for him was his condition for letting me come today."
"Strawberry sundae?" the waitress asked.
"That is mine," Sayuri said.
"And three chocolate sundaes," the waitress said placing the orders in front of the appropriate people and then leaving the check on the table.
"So did you have to get permission from Ranma to have a treat with us?" Hikari asked.
"I didn't have to get permission," Akane responded. "It's just that we have plans for tonight and he was wondering if I was going shopping right after practice. When I told him about us getting together, he thought it was a really good idea and he told me to have some hot fudge for him."
"Maybe he isn't as bad of a guy as I thought," Hikari said with a smirk on her face. "So what are the big plans for tonight?"
"Ranma's parents are coming to dinner," Akane answered after finishing a spoonful of ice cream. "We're having a little party for him for his eighteenth birthday. I'm cooking dinner and Kasumi is making a cake."
"Ranma's father?" Yuka asked. "Is that the old bald guy with the pet panda?"
Akane couldn't hold it in. She began to laugh uncontrollably as the others at the table (and the other people in the ice cream parlor) looked on.
It took several minutes for Akane to compose herself, but once she did she said, "That pet panda is Ranma's father. He has a curse on him like Ranma does. If you throw cold water on Ranma's Father, he turns into a panda."
"Akane, are you really sure you want to marry into a family that has so many curse associated with it?" Sayuri asked.
"I'm marrying Ranma," Akane said, "not his family. And Ranma's mom is pretty neat."
"So what did you get for Ranma for his birthday?" Yuka asked.
"I don't think she got him anything," Hikari interrupted. "I think Akane is going to tie a ribbon around herself and let Ranma unwrap his gift at bedtime."
"You're getting ahead of yourself," Sayuri said. "That will be Akane's gift to Ranma two weeks from now on their wedding night. Right Akane?"
When Akane didn't respond immediately all eyes turned to find Akane sitting silently, eyes wide.
"Akane, you did get something for Ranma for his birthday?" Miyuki asked.
The sound of Miyuki's voice jolted Akane from her state of shock, "Of… of course I did. I bought a yukata with a dragon design on it for him."
"Is there something wrong, Akane?" Miyuki queried.
"No, nothing is wrong," Akane answered in a quiet voice. "I just thought of something that I really hadn't thought about before."
Quiet small talk was the order of business until everyone had finished with their sundaes, most of it centered on griping about the gymnastics' coach and Akane's wedding. Any discussion about Miyuki was carefully avoided.
"I have to go," Akane said finishing up the last of her sundae. "I still have grocery shopping to do for dinner tonight."
"So what are you fixing for dinner?" Hikari asked.
"I don't know yet," Akane replied after scraping the last of the hot fudge from the rim of the glass. "It depends on what looks good at the market."
"I really need to be going also," Yuka said. "My mother will be wondering where I am."
"You didn't tell her you were going out with us?" Sayuri asked.
Yuka sat quietly for a moment and then said, "My mother doesn't exactly approve of my association with Miyuki. I think she may be the source of most of her troubles. When she found out about you confessing to Akane, she started calling the school and some of the other parents. She was even talking about removing me from school unless they do something about you."
All five girls sat silently until Hikari finally said, "You're mother is an idiot!"
"Hikari!" Miyuki exclaimed, shocked by the statement.
"Don't worry Miyuki," Yuka said with a smile. "She's right. My mother is an idiot. She is spreading vicious rumors about you based on nothing more than her own prejudice."
Again, silence.
"Miyuki, may I ask you a personal question?" Yuka said with her head bowed slightly. "Have you actually… ever… ever had… had… had sex with another girl?
Under other circumstances, Miyuki would have given a wise-ass answer. That was the way Miyuki was. But Miyuki understood the seriousness of the question and answered, "Yuka, in all honestly, I have never had sex with another girl. And I don't know that I ever will. My hope had always been to have an intimate relationship with Akane, but that will never happen. In fact, I can honestly say that the only person I have ever had sex with is myself… but I think that may be the case with all of us."
Everyone nodded their head in agreement… Everyone that is except Akane, who sat quietly, pondering the meaning of what Miyuki had just said.
By the time Akane arrived home after shopping, it was after three. Kasumi had already finished Ranma's cake and had started to prepare things in the kitchen for Akane. Ranma was nowhere to be found.
"Thank you Kasumi," Akane said, setting the grocery packages on the counter. "I'm sorry I'm late. The grocery was mobbed. They were running all kinds of meat specials today and the women were like wild animals trying to get the few packages there were. I couldn't get anywhere near the meat counter."
"What did you finally get to cook for dinner?" Kasumi asked.
"I went to the fish market. They had shrimp and tuna that looked really good and I remember that there was a recipe for tuna in mother's notebook."
"If it's the recipe I'm thinking of, father will be very happy. It was one of his favorites. But that is a very difficult recipe."
"I know. It was one of the very few recipes that has more than four pages of notes. I may need some help with it."
"Whatever I can do to help, just ask."
"Thank you Kasumi."
Kasumi went to unpack the groceries and Akane went to the cupboard where her mother's cooking notebook was stored.
"How was your gathering with your friends?"
"It was very nice. We had a chance to talk about all kinds of things, especially our lunatic gymnastics' coach. I think being around Principal Kuno is starting to have an effect on her."
"Principal Kuno was never one to inspire anyone to sanity."
"Principal Kuno was principal when you were in high school?"
"He took over as principal just before I started and disappeared during the summer of my third year. No one had any idea where he had gone. On the other hand, no one made any real effort to find him either."
"Too bad he decided to show up again. Have you seen Ranma?"
"He left right after his class this morning and he promised he would be back before his parents arrived"
"I certainly hope so. I don't want to have to deal with his father without Ranma here."
"He promised. I think we can trust him. OK Akane, what would you like me to do?"
"First," Akane said, holding up a large tuna, "can you tell me what I'm supposed to do with this."
Ranma had been true to his word and arrived at the back door moments before Nodoka and Genma arrived at the front door. Akane and Kasumi were busy with preparing the meal.
"I'm sorry I took so long," Ranma said placing one of the packages he was carrying on the counter. "I stopped at the sweet shop and picked up some of your favorite pastries for later."
"You were gone quite some time just to pick up pastries," Akane said.
"I also stopped at the travel agent and paid the balance on our honeymoon arrangements."
"I though that you weren't going to do that until next week."
"One of the students paid off the balance on his bill and it gave me something to do rather than stew about my father coming to visit."
As Akane spoke, the doorbell rang. "Ranma, I think you're on. Kasumi and I are going to busy in the kitchen for a while longer."
"Are you sure I can't hide in here with you?" Ranma asked.
"No you can't," Akane said giving Ranma a kiss on the cheek.
Ranma had begun to walk toward the door to the dining room when Akane called out, knife in hand, "And make sure he doesn't come into the kitchen. I don't need any suggestions from him on how to improve my cooking."
"I'll do my best," Ranma said with a smile.
By the time Ranma reached the front door, Soun had already greeted Nodoka and Genma.
"Ranma," came the loud greeting from Genma. "It looks like almost married life agrees with you. It looks like you've put on some weight."
"I probably have," Ranma replied sarcastically, "now that I have the opportunity to eat without someone stealing my food." Turning to Nodoka and bowing, " Hello mother, you're looking good."
"Thank you Ranma," Nodoka replied. "You are looking very well yourself. And happy birthday to you."
"Thank you mom." Ranma replied.
"Genma, aren't you going to wish Ranma a happy birthday?" Nodoka asked Genma in a somewhat stern voice that almost demanded a reply.
"Yeah, right. Happy birthday," Genma said with no particular feeling. "So Ranma, have you and Akane done the deed yet?"
"GENMA!" came the loud and commanding voice of Nodoka.
The grin that usually appeared on Genma's face when he asked about such thing vanished in an instant and Genma immediately stood up straight and faced Nodoka (as did Ranma and Soun). It was only then that Ranma noticed that the sword that had been absent from Nodoka's back on the last few visits was again in place.
"Please come in and have a seat," Soun said. "I have the Shogi board set up. We can get a few games in before dinner."
Soun led Nodoka and Genma to the living room with Ranma following closely behind his father.
"Dad," Ranma said in a quiet voice, "don't even think about going into the kitchen. Akane has a knife… and it's probably somewhat dull at this point… and I know exactly what precious part of your body she intends to use it on if you disturb her while she is cooking."
Genma turned abruptly to face Ranma. Ranma only smile broadly.
With Soun and Genma engaged in Shogi, Ranma had a chance to sit and talk with his mother.
"Your father is right though," Nodoka said. "You do look as if married life will agree with you."
"It's far less stressful than life on the road," Ranma commented.
"And things are going well between you and Akane?"
"We still have our little disagreements," Ranma said with a smile, "but nothing that we can't talk about and work out without having to resort to screaming and hitting."
"Are you beginning to feel nervous about the wedding?" Nodoka asked.
"I've felt nervous about it from the very beginning mom," Ranma replied.
"That's good," Nodoka said in a tone of voice that Ranma had never heard before. "That means that you're taking this with the seriousness it deserves."
"I just hope that I'm up to the challenge."
"You are son… You are. And I think so is Akane. You two are so different but also so much the same in so many ways.
"I know that Akane and I will have to work together to make this work. I know we will have challenges, but I think if we face them together, everything will be fine."
"You've turned into a smart young man," Nodoka said with a smile, "in spite of spending all of that time on the road with your father."
"Dinner is in the oven," Akane said as she and Kasumi entered the living room. "Good afternoon Mrs. Saotome."
"Please call me Nodoka. Good afternoon, Akane. Good afternoon, Kasumi."
"Good Afternoon Mrs. Saotome."
"So, Akane," Nodoka asked, "what's on the menu for tonight?"
"Something a little different," Akane said with a hint of pride in her voice. "It's tuna slow baked with ginger and garlic. I found the recipe in my mom's notebook and when I saw the tuna at the market today, I thought I would try it."
"It sounds excellent," Nodoka said.
"I have some time before I have to go back to the kitchen and finish dinner so I thought I might come out and talk for a while," Akane said as she sat down next to Ranma.
"I will be back in a few minutes," Kasumi said. "I need to go Tofu's office and make sure he gets here for dinner. Sometimes he gets so lost in what he's doing that he'll forget to eat and sleep for several days."
Suddenly a loud piercing scream could be heard that was unmistakably that of Genma.
"It sounds like my husband lost to Soun at Shogi," Nodoka said with a smirk on her face. "He is such a poor loser."
"Either that," Kasumi said with a sweet smile, "or he discovered that father anchored the board to the floor so that it can't be turned."
Akane sat and talked with Nodoka and Ranma for about a half hour. While they talked, they were joined by Kasumi who had dragged Doctor Tofu away from his office and by Nabiki and Kuno.
Punctuating their conversation several times was the loud pained screams and complaints from Genma. On the last occasion the complaints were followed by another scream, much louder than those that had been heard before. It was not long after that Soun and Genma joined the others. Soun was smiling broadly and Genma was visibly limping.
"It's not my fault," Soun said with no trace of sympathy in his voice. "You knew very well that the board was attached to the floor."
"And that's another thing," Genma complained. "Having the board anchored like that didn't allow me to get the view of the board that I'm used to."
"I'm sure that not being able to move the board had a significant effect on the outcome of the games," Soun responded.
"Are you insinuating that I might have cheated?" Genma bellowed.
"I'm not insinuating anything," Soun replied. "I don't have to."
"I don't have to take that from…" Genma began to scream, but was interrupted by Nodoka who said in a loud clear voice, "Children, that will be enough!"
Both men responded immediately and found places to sit, not only distancing themselves from each other but also from Nodoka.
Akane smiled and snickered to herself. "I need to excuse myself and continue with dinner. Ranma, the rest of our guests should be arriving soon."
"I'll take care of welcoming them when they arrive," Ranma said as he stood with Akane and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Akane exited toward the kitchen while Ranma returned to his seat.
"Who else is coming tonight?" Nabiki asked.
"Ryoga is coming with Ukyo and Mizuki," Ranma answered. "And Shampoo is coming with Mousse. We invited Cologne, but she said that someone needed to mind the café."
"And since Akane is busy in the kitchen," Genma said in a quiet but sarcastic tone, "Ranma gets to play hostess."
Nodoka turned and cast an evil look and Genma, but Ranma said nothing in response.
"A few of Akane's friends from gymnastics may stop over later for cake and ice cream," Ranma continued.
"Akane's friends," Genma said quietly. "Weren't you allowed to invite your friends?"
Everyone's heads turned to look at Genma and Nodoka let out a sharp reproach, "Genma!"
"Don't worry mother," Ranma said. "Let him get is licks in. He doesn't get a chance to do it often and I'm not going to let it bother me."
In short order the other guest did begin to arrive, with Ryoga, Mizuki and Ukyo being the first to arrive.
When Ranma opened the door he almost didn't recognize them. Well, he recognized Ryoga. He was still wearing the same clothing he always wore (although it was obvious that someone had made the effort to clean them up and repair them). Ukyo, on the other hand, was wearing a frilly light blue party dress (with a hem that was a significant distance above her knees) and Mizuki wore a pink dress that exposed a significant amount of cleavage. Each girl had taken position of one of Ryoga's arms and showed no evidence of giving it up.
"Uchan, I don't think I've ever seen you voluntarily dressed up like this," Ranma said as he stood aside to let them through the door. "You really look beautiful."
Ukyo began to blush brightly.
"Mizuki say that if Mizuki have to dress fancy tonight Ukyo have to dress fancy too," Mizuki reported. "Ryoga turn as red as Ukyo when Ryoga see Ukyo and Mizuki."
"Ryoga isn't used to being accompanied by such beautiful women who are dressed in such pretty cloths," Ranma said with a mischievous smile on his face.
Both Ryoga and Ukyo blushed brightly.
Mizuki looked at both Ryoga and Ukyo and said, "I think Ryoga love Ukyo, but Ryoga not say he love Ukyo and Mizuki not understand why Ryoga not say so."
Ranma could almost feel the heat from Ryoga and Ukyo's blush.
"It's… It's not… not like that," Ryoga stammered. "Ukyo and I are… are just good friends. Right Ukyo… good friends."
"That's right, Mizuki," Ukyo said, almost equally as flustered. "Ryoga and I are good friends."
Mizuki just stared at the pair and shook her head.
"Please come in and have a seat," Ranma said. "Akane is finishing in the kitchen. My mom and dad are already here… and so are Doctor Tofu and Kuno."
Mizuki led the way into the house leaving Ryoga and Ukyo (still arm in arm) with Ranma.
Looking at the pair Ranma said, "I think Mizuki is very perceptive."
"Shut up, Ranma!" Ryoga quickly replied as the pair quickly disengaged their arms.
No sooner had Ranma escorted Ryoga, Ukyo and Mizuki to the living room that the doorbell rang again. This time Ranma was greeted by Shampoo (who entered first) and Mousse (who was at least ten steps behind).
"I not care what that silly Mousse say," Shampoo said as she walked past Ranma. "I not on date with Mousse. We just walked here together because we both invited. This is not a date!"
Ranma smiled and waited for Mousse to catch up.
Precisely at six Akane came into the living room and announced, "Dinner is ready."
Akane had come out earlier and asked Kasumi and Nabiki to help set the table and to warn people that dinner preparation was nearly complete.
As people found their placed around the table, Genma at first attempted to sit next to Ranma (as he had when Genma was still living in the Tendo house), but Nodoka none too gently directed him to a place at the far end of the table. Ukyo and Mizuki, of course sat to either side of Ryoga and Nabiki sat next to Kuno. In an attempt to find a seat as far away as possible from Mousse, Shampoo took a spot that placed her directly across from him.
Soun relinquished his place at the head of the table, allowing Ranma to sit there. Appropriate places were left for Kasumi (next to Doctor Tofu) and for Akane (next to Ranma).
Once everyone had taken their place, Akane and Kasumi brought out dinner, consisting of rice, miso soup, steamed vegetables, skewers of grilled shrimp and the baked tuna with ginger and garlic. With everything in place, Kasumi and Akane took their seats.
"Ranma, will you do the honors," Soun said quietly to Ranma.
Ranma took a deep breath and said, "Itadakimasu!"
To which everyone replied, "Itadakimasu!"
Shampoo carefully examined the food she placed on her plate and then asked, "Akane, you cook all of dinner?"
"All of dinner," Akane replied. "Kasumi made the cake we'll have later."
"Don't worry Shampoo," Ranma said, "Akane has been practicing and has really gotten to be a very good cook."
"Maybe not quite as good as Kasumi," Akane said with a broad smile as she took a skewer of shrimp and placed it on Ranma's plate, "but I haven't poisoned anybody for at least three weeks."
"Four weeks if you count tonight," Kasumi said with an equally broad smile.
"This is very good," Ukyo said after tasting the tuna.
"Your mother used to make something like this," Soun said, but usually it was in the colder weather."
"I know," Akane said. "Kasumi told me, but when I saw the tuna at the market I couldn't pass it up."
"It is still excellent, Akane," Nodoka said. "Don't you think so, Genma?"
"I've had better," Genma replied rather curtly.
"Genma!"
"It probably would have tasted better if he had taken off my plate, mother," Ranma sarcastically. "Akane, this is excellent… you did a very good job."
"Thank you Ranma," Akane replied.
"He's only saying that to get considerations in bed," Genma murmured.
"That was uncalled for!" Ranma shot back.
"Ranma, please don't," Akane said placing her hand on his.
"It was very much called for," Genma said leaning forward against the table. "Since I left, you've gotten soft. All I hear now is 'Yes Akane' and 'Right away Akane'. Living here without me has turned you into a woman."
"No father," Ranma retorted, "living here without you had nothing to do with it. You took care of that your self at Jusenkyou."
Genma stood up at the table despite Nodoka's best effort to keep him seated.
"I don't have to take that from you," Genma bellowed. "I did everything I could to make a man out of you, but it seems that all of my effort was wasted. I don't think you could come close to beating me even if you tried."
Ranma remained in his seat, looked up at his father and said in his normal tone of voice, "And I won't try. You've been trying to provoke something since you got here, and I have no idea why. But I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of fighting with you and ruin everyone else's evening."
"You're nothing but a coward," Genma screamed. "What you need is a good thrashing and some extended training time on the road."
"What I need is a father," Ranma said, slightly raising his voice, "not a personal trainer. What I need is someone I can talk to when I have a problem… someone I can confide in when I need advice. What I don't need is someone to fill me with strange and perverted ideas… someone who would trade me away for the price of a bowl of noodle. If you're willing to be my father, then I need you… But if you're not, then I have no need for you what so ever!"
"I will not listen to this anymore," Genma yelled as he began to walk away from the table. "This wedding will not happen. Without my consent, this marriage cannot occur, and I do not intend on giving my approval until you apologize for your disrespect."
"Get back here and sit down you idiot," came the commanding voice of Nodoka. "First, let me remind you that only one parent's signature is required on the marriage document and that whole point would become irrelevant if there was only one living parent."