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 37 – Of Tunnels of Love and Fireworks in the Sky
When Akio did finally return empty handed, it didn't take much discussion to decide it was time for dinner.
"We'll have to get changed for dinner," Aka-chan said as they walked back onto the main aisle of the pier. "The sushi bar doesn't allow swimsuits. And there are hot showers in the changing rooms."
"Ranma, which locker room do you go into in situations like this?" Akio asked.
"If I can help it, neither," Ranma answered. "I'll ask Akane… or someone to bring some hot water out and I'll find a quiet place to change."
"I can take care of that for you while the girls change," Akio volunteered.
Returning to the changing rooms required walking down the pier back to shore and then through the main portion of the amusement park. As the foursome walked through the crowd there was no end of turned heads watching as they walked passed and almost as many comments were heard about this group of pretty girls.
Unfortunately not all of the comments were complimentary. Aka-chan almost said something to two very obnoxious teens boys who had made an extremely lewd comment about Aka-chan and Akio walking hand in hand, but before Aka-chan could say anything, Akio squeezed her hand and quietly said, "It really doesn't bother me. You know I'm a guy and that's all that's really important to me."
When they arrived at the changing rooms, Akane and Aka-chan vanished into the girls' changing room (taking the bags of souvenirs to store in the lockers). Meanwhile Akio went into the boys' locker room with an empty drink cup and returned after a few minutes with it full of hot water.
"Will this be enough?" Akio asked. "And is it hot enough?"
"That should be plenty," Ranma replied, "and we'll see if it's hot enough in a minute."
The area around the changing room building was quite busy since many people were returning from the beach to change for dinner. Although no one apparently noticed when Akane had done the same thing in the middle of the train station, Ranma was not as confident that he could get away with the same thing here.
Ranma looked around for a quiet spot and decided that the area behind the changing room building would provide the best opportunity for privacy to do what needed to be done.
"I think behind the building here will be our best bet," Ranma said. Akio followed Ranma to the back of the building carrying the cup of hot water.
The changing room building was built up against the wall that separated the amusement park from the parking lot, but there was a small space between the building and the wall. Ranma looked around just to make sure they wouldn't have any unexpected visitors and then bent over slightly and said to Akio, "Just pour the water over my head."
Akio did as he was instructed. The change, of course, was instantaneous and the suddenness of it startled Akio.
"I can't believe that you don't feel something when that happens," Akio said after he caught his breath.
"Just that my balance is different because I'm taller as a boy then I'm as a girl… and then there's the matter of the breasts," Ranma replied matter-of-factly as he shook the excess water from his hair and mopped his face with his hands, "and of course the fit of my clothing is different. I usually try to wear loose fitting clothing that work no matter which form I'm in."
Ranma rubbed his hands together and realized that his wedding ring was not where it was supposed to be. He patted down his pants and found the ring in the pocket he had placed it before he went for his swim.
"I'm glad I put this in my pocket," Ranma said as he placed the ring back on his finger. "That is another thing. My hands and fingers are smaller and the ring slips right off when I change to a girl."
Akio stood silently as Ranma spoke, but when it was apparent that Ranma was ready Akio asked, "Ranma, do people hassle you about the curse? I mean, do they make fun of you because you turn into a girl?"
"Not if they know what's good for them," Ranma laughed.
"You do have that advantage," Akio said with a forced smile on his face.
"There have only been a few people who have hassled me," Ranma said, changing to a more serious tone after seeing Akio's reaction. "And most of them did it quite deliberately because they knew how I would react. They were out to pick a fight… and they got one. Actually I've had more problems with guys trying to get a date with me than anything else."
"At least I haven't had that problem," Akio said with the same forced smile and a quiet laugh to himself.
"Does my curse bother you?" Ranma asked.
"No, not at all," Akio responded. "Well… it doesn't now, now that I've gotten over the initial shock. But… maybe I'll a little envious of how well you deal with it… and how well your wife deals with it. It doesn't seem to bother you at all what other people think or say about you."
"Akio, is what those idiots said while we were walking here bothering you?" Ranma asked.
"It's not that," Akio said. "I've heard even worse and it doesn't bother me like it used to, but it really gets to Akane. We talked today about having a more serious relationship, but now I'm thinking that it isn't fair to Akane for her to have to put up with what people are going to say about us as a couple."
"Now you're being an idiot," Ranma said shaking his head. "There are always going to be people who say rude things no matter what the circumstances are. The only thing that's important is how you and Aka-chan feel about each other. What other people say doesn't mean a thing." Ranma paused for a moment and then continued, "So you and Aka-chan talked about having a more serious relationship?"
"We talked about it," Akio said, now with a full smile on his face, "although I'm not really sure what that means. It won't exactly be easy for us to get together with our responsibilities at home. Right now we go out to see movies or go out for treats as often as we can, but that isn't really all that often"
"A more serious relationship means that you'll work harder to find opportunities to see each other and to be with each other and spend some special time together."
"When you say 'special time'" Akio asked innocently, "do you mean making out?"
The question caught Ranma completely off guard. "I guess… I guess it… it could mean that. But… but that's not quite what I meant. I meant time when you could sit together and talk and just be together. Where did that come from?"
"It's something that Akane… Aka-chan said while we were talking," Akio replied. "I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. I think it was just her way of joking with me."
'That's right,' Ranma thought to himself. 'Just Aka-chan's way of joking with you.'
By the time Ranma and Akio walked out from behind the building Akane and Aka-chan were already waiting for them.
"Hey, what took you guys so long?" Akane called out as Ranma and Akio approached. "You get lost?"
"No we didn't get lost," Ranma replied. "It just took a while to find someplace private for us to do it."
The reason for the big smirk that appeared on Akane's face at first eluded Ranma… until he thought about what he had said exactly.
"That's not what I meant… and you know it," Ranma said in a mildly flustered voice as he arrived at Akane's side.
"I didn't say anything," Akane said as she smiled broadly.
"Yeah, but I could hear you think it all the way from over there," Ranma said putting his arm around Akane and giving her a squeeze. "You have really developed a dirty mind."
"I wonder who I could have gotten that from," Akane said sarcastically.
"I don't have a clue," Ranma replied and he kissed Akane on the cheek.
Aka-chan just shook her head and smiled, "You two are something else, but we can discuss the relative dirtiness of your minds after dinner. I'm hungry. Let's eat."
There was no way Akane or Ranma could deny it. It probably was some of the best sushi they had ever had. The variety was huge. Ranma lost track of how many different types he had tried.
Of course it probably made a difference that Aka-chan and the sushi chef were best of friends. As soon as they walked into the restaurant, Aka-chan was greeted with a hug and even though the restaurant was packed they were seated almost immediately and the food personally delivered to the table by the chef.
"Sozui-san worked for the inn for many years," Aka-chan explained as the foursome walked away from the restaurant, back toward the amusement park and beach. "He helped Grandmother in the kitchen along with his other duties, but when the resort opened up it's facilities to the other onsen and inns in Kyoto he came to work here. He so wanted to become a sushi chef that he took a job washing dishes just to get in the door. I remember coming here with my parents just after he was promoted to chef. Then three years ago when the owner of the Restaurant decided to retire Sozui-san bought it. During the summer it's always packed for lunch and dinner, but it's even busy during the off-season. I try to get here as often as I can, but it's usually only during the summer when I come along on outings like this."
They walked silently for a few moments, and then Aka-chan asked, "What do you want to do now? I probably can't interest anyone in going down to the beach with me? It's still warm, but most of the crowd should be gone."
"I think Akane and I have done enough swimming today," Ranma replied, "but maybe we could go for a walk… as long as I stay away from the water."
"Or as long as we take some hot water with us," Akio added.
"I wouldn't mind riding the roller coaster again," Ranma said.
"I'll ride the roller coaster with you," Akane said, "if you'll ride in the tunnel of love with me."
"I'd ride in the tunnel of love with you even if you didn't ride the roller coaster with me," Ranma said.
"Would you ride with me in the tunnel of love?" Akio asked Aka-chan.
The question took Aka-chan by surprise, but not so much that she couldn't quickly and enthusiastically answer, "Of course I will."
The beach wasn't quite as deserted as Aka-chan had expected and it was exactly the people that Aka-chan didn't want to see occupying the beach… the students that were staying at the inn. They, with another group of similarly aged teens, were playing a game of Frisbee.
"I guess the beach is out," Aka-chan said with a disappointed tone to her voice. "I love walking on the beach, but I don't want to have anything to do with them if I don't have to. I will be so glad when they're gone."
The roller coaster proved to be another matter. Neither Aka-chan nor Akio were fans of rides like this (well neither was Akane, but she did say would ride with Ranma), so their consent to ride with Ranma was less than half-hearted. And when Ranma heard the loud ear-piercing scream come from the seat behind him, he realized what a bad idea it had been.
When the ride was finished and it was time to exit the ride, Aka-chan had a death grip on Akio that wasn't easily broken and it was only after Akane and Ranma convinced Aka-chan that Akio was having trouble breathing that the two were separated and they could finally exit the car.
"I'm sorry, Aka-chan," Ranma said as they walked away from the ride. Aka-chan was still trembling and holding on to Akio for dear life.
"I've only ridden a roller coaster once before," Aka-chan said in a quiet, trembling voice, "and that was when my father convinced me to ride. I was so sure that I was going to fly out of the car when it went around the turns, I screamed the whole time."
"You should have said something," Ranma said. "I would have understood."
"I really wanted to go on the roller coaster with you and Akane," Aka-chan said in a louder voice, but she became quieter as she continued. "I thought just this one time I might be able to do it. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry Aka-chan," Ranma said in as comforting of a voice as he was able. "Everyone, for one reason or another, has things that they are afraid of. That's just the way life is."
"Some people are afraid of roller coasters," Akane added, "some people are afraid of other things. It isn't a catastrophe to be afraid."
"That was terrible," Ranma said.
"I know," Akane said with a broad smile. "Let's go ride something a little more Aka-chan's speed."
"Are you sure you want to do this Ranma?" Akane asked as they looked at the tunnel of love ride.
The 'Tunnel of Love' was of course a very slow boat ride through darkened tunnels (which were even darker since the sun was very low on the horizon).
"I don't think it should be a problem," Ranma replied, "unless the boat sinks… or someone decides to splash me."
"Now who would do that?" Akane asked in a mildly sarcastic tone.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Ranma replied in an equally sarcastic voice.
"No… probably not," Akane said putting her arm around Ranma and squeezing him. "I just want you to get into the boat."
Aka-chan and Akio were in the first boat, which slowly drifted into the darkened tunnel. Aka-chan snuggled up close to Akio, but Akio remained somewhat stiff where he sat.
"Is everything all right?" Aka-chan asked.
"Everything is fine," Akio replied in a voice that sounded like Aka-chan's question had startled him. "No, everything is fine."
"You know, I wouldn't mind if you put your arm around me," Aka-chan said snuggling up even closer to Akio.
It took a moment, but Akio tentatively put his arm around Aka-chan's waist. "Is this all right?" he asked shyly.
"That's fine. It feels really nice. May I put my arm around you?"
"Sure, if you'd like to."
Aka-chan put her arm around Akio and gave him a squeeze, "How is this?"
"It feels really nice."
"Yes it does… How are you holding up?" Aka-chan asked. "It really has been a strange day."
"Yes it has. Ranma's curse is really something else. When I poured the hot water on him, he changed back into a guy in a blink of an eye. And to Ranma it's like nothing happened. It doesn't seem to bother him at all."
"I don't think it was always that way," Aka-chan commented. "Akane said Ranma hated the curse. He was always trying to find a way to get rid of it, but Akane said that he's learned to live with it now…" Aka-chan laughed a stifled laugh. "At least now I understand why Ranma seems to understand how a girl feels."
"And the curse doesn't seem to bother Akane."
"No it doesn't. It doesn't seem to bother her at all." After a moment of reflection, Aka-chan continued, "Akane and Ranma are so different from any couple I've ever met. I feel so comfortable around them… so safe. I haven't felt like this about someone for a very long time. I kind of wish they didn't have to go home. I kind of wish they could stay here forever."
Akio said nothing in reply, but squeezed Aka-chan. Aka-chan rested her head on Akio's shoulder.
After a moment Aka-chan asked, "Do you think Ranma is pretty when he's a girl?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. There really isn't much difference between Ranma's boy face and his girl face, "Aka-chan reflected. "Maybe his girl face is a little rounder and a bit more delicate… but there really isn't that much difference."
"I guess you're right," Akio replied. "I really didn't notice. I was paying attention to someone else's face."
Aka-chan turned to give Akio a kiss on the cheek but in the dark she couldn't see that Akio had turned his head to face Aka-chan. Therefore the kiss that had been intended for Akio's cheek landed almost squarely on his lips (or as close as it was going to get for a random event in the dark).
"I'm sorry," Aka-chan said as soon as she realized what had happened. "I didn't realize you had…"
"Please don't be sorry," Akio said cutting off Aka-chan's apology. "That was nice."
Aka-chan said in a quiet shy voice. "Would you like to do it again?"
"If you'd like to."
"Yes I would."
This time, with random elements not coming into play, the contact between their lips was much truer… and the kiss lasted far longer.
Ranma had the man running the Tunnel of Love ride hold their boat so that Aka-chan and Akio's boat had a significant head start.
"How long does the ride take?" Ranma asked.
"About twenty minutes at the speed I have it set for now," the man replied. "This time of day most of the people who ride aren't interested in a fast ride. And if I see that a couple is… distracted… I usually let the boat go through a second time."
"Or a third time?" Akane added.
"Or a third time," the man said with a smile, "but usually if a couple is that distracted I suggest that they get a room at the inn."
Both Akane and Ranma laughed at the comment as the man released their boat and it entered the darkened tunnel.
Ranma and Akane settled in next to each other… arms around each other… with Akane's head resting against Ranma's shoulder.
"Thank you for rescuing me Ranma," Akane said when they were well into the tunnel. "I'm sorry about messing up keeping your curse a secret."
"There's nothing to be sorry about Akane. The important thing is that you weren't hurt."
"But everything was going so well. I thought that we might make it though the rest of our honeymoon without anyone finding out about the curse."
"No, you were right Akane… Things always happen. And it seems that the harder I try to keep it a secret, the more likely it is for the curse to reveal itself at the most inconvenient times." Ranma remained silent for a few seconds and then continued, "Aka-chan and Akio seemed to have accepted it very well."
"Yes they did," Akane observed, "and so did the family. When I first saw the look on the mother's face I though she was going to scoop up her kids and run away screaming."
"The fact that we had just rescued her little girl might have had something to do with it."
"That's true… Were you worried that Aka-chan and Akio might not accept you because of the curse?"
"In a way maybe I was."
"Why? What people thought about you and the curse never seemed to bother you before."
"Like I said, I don't understand it myself, but Aka-chan is… different. I'm not sure I've ever had this kind of feeling about someone."
"And what kind of feeling is that?" Akane asked in a slightly raised voice, raising her head from Ranma's shoulder.
"Not like that," Ranma replied quickly. "I will never feel about anyone else like I feel about you, Akane. This is different… like the way I feel about Uchan… like a little sister… but different."
Akane and Ranma sat silently for a moment and then Akane again placed her head against Ranma's shoulder.
"The baby was cute, wasn't she?" Akane asked.
"Yes she was," Ranma replied.
"And once her mother showed me how to hold her, it felt really nice holding her. She felt so warm in my arms… and she was so happy."
"You looked happy too," Ranma said stroking Akane's shoulder. "You looked so natural holding the baby. I think you will be a wonderful mother."
"Thank you Ranma. I think you'll be a wonderful father."
Again Akane and Ranma sat silently until Ranma commented, "Akio told me that he and Aka-chan talked about having a more serious relationship with each other."
"I know," Akane replied. "Aka-chan told me about it when we were changing. She is so happy about it."
"Akio is too," Ranma said, "but I think he's still worried about some of the comments that people will make."
"Oh, you mean like the one we heard today," Akane said. "That was rude."
"Akio says that it really doesn't bother him," Ranma continued, "but he's really worried about Aka-chan's feelings."
"Aka-chan in more concerned about how Akio feels when he hears things like that."
"The comment could have been about us," Ranma said quietly.
"Yes it could have."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"It only bothers me that someone can be that rude. Nothing else."
Akane snuggled closer to Ranma and continued, "Anyway, I think we may have tried that last night."
Ranma was silent for a moment and the said, "You may be right. I really don't remember."
"Neither do I."
Ranma readjusted his arm, moving it from Akane's shoulder and placing it under Akane's arm.
"You're not wearing a bra," Ranma said, mildly surprised.
"It took you long enough to notice," Akane responded. "After wearing that swimsuit this afternoon I figured that not wearing a bra under my blouse wasn't nearly as daring. And actually, after wearing that swimsuit, this feels far more comfortable."
With another readjustment of his arm and hand, Ranma gently cupped Akane's breast.
"That feels so nice," Akane purred.
"Yes it does."
Aka-chan couldn't remember the ride being so long. She had ridden on it a few times in the past (either with her parents when they were alive or by herself more recently) and it never seemed this slow.
Not that Aka-chan was complaining. It had given Aka-chan and Akio a chance to talk… and to hug… and to kiss. At one point Akio (accidentally) brushed his hand across Aka-chan's breast. When he realized what he had done, he began to apologize profusely. Aka-chan reassured him that she realized it was only an accident and that everything was all right. In fact it was better than all right. The touch had sent a tingle through Aka-chan that she couldn't really describe, but it felt good. At least for now, though, she would keep that to herself.
"Akio… have you given any thought to what you are going to do after we get back to the inn tonight?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, by the time we get back to the inn, it's going to be well after midnight. I know you took the bus to get to the inn this morning, but I don't think there will be any busses running to get you home."
"I hadn't thought about how late we would be getting home."
"Usually we don't stay this late. We usually have dinner and leave for the inn right after that, but I wanted to stay for the fireworks so I talked grandmother and Kano into it."
"I don't really know what I'm supposed to do. I have to call my parents and let them know I'm going to be real late… and then I'll have to call a cab to take me home."
"You don't have to worry," Aka-chan said. "Grandmother already thought of all of that. Since you didn't know we were staying late, she knew that there was no way you could have talked to your parents about it. She called them this morning and made arrangements with your parents for you to stay overnight and set aside a room for you for tonight."
"My parents didn't say anything to me about it."
"I think you may have already left," Aka-chan said and then paused. "That isn't going to be a problem, is it?"
When Akio didn't respond immediately Aka-chan said, "It really wasn't even my idea. My grandmother originally was going to have Kano take you home tonight after he dropped everyone else off at the inn, but Kano said that it would be better if he took you home in the morning. Your mom even said that it would be all right for you to stay until next Sunday."
"She did?" Akio said in a clearly surprised voice.
"We haven't caused a problem for you have we?"
"No… No you haven't caused any problem for me at all," Akio responded. "I'm honored that your Grandmother would extend to me such an invitation… and maybe a little surprised that my mother went along with it…"
"It's not as if we were going to be sleeping in the same room…"
Akio remained silent.
Aka-chan added in an innocent voice, "… Unless… you… want to."
"No," Akio responded quickly. "I'm not ready to do something like that."
"Honestly, neither am I," Aka-chan said in a voice that hinted some relief at Akio's answer.
Again they sat silently.
"Although…" Aka-chan said cautiously, "I was hoping… you wouldn't mind… going into the hot spring with me."
"No… I wouldn't mind at all," Akio replied, "That… that would really be nice."
Akio tightened his embrace on Aka-chan and Aka-chan rested her head on Akio's shoulder… but only for a moment.
After a moment of silent thought Aka-chan sat upright and asked, "Akio, have you ever been in a bath with a girl?"
"Do my mother and my sister count?"
"I guess they do."
"Then, yes I have."
"You take baths with your mother and your sister?"
"All the time."
There was no immediate reply from Aka-chan, but finally Akio broke the silence and said, "My parents are somewhat old fashioned… to say the least. We have a big family bath and it isn't unusual for everyone to take a bath at the same time. You don't have a problem with that? I'm sure that at the inn you share the hot spring with people that you don't even know."
"I don't have a problem," Aka-chan said after some additional reflection. "It's just difficult for me to imagine your family all in the bath together."
"You're perfectly welcome to join us sometime Akane," Akio said with a stifled laugh.
"Someday I might do that," Aka-chan said as she again rested her head on Akio's shoulder.
"Akio," Aka-chan said after they floated in silence for some time, "I really don't mind if you call me Aka-chan."
"That always irritated you so much. I've been calling you that to avoid confusion."
"I know… but when the right people say it… it really sounds beautiful."
When Aka-chan and Akio's boat exited the tunnel, Akane and Ranma were standing on the platform waiting.
"You were in the boat behind us," Aka-chan said as the man running the ride offered a hand to her to help her out of the boat. "How did you finish the ride before we did?"
"We were in the boat behind you," Ranma said with a broad smile, "but apparently you never noticed the first time you came out of the tunnel."
"First time?" Akio said as he stepped from the boat and stood next to Aka-chan.
"When you came out of the tunnel the first time you looked like you might want to ride again," the man said as he directed the boat into it's storage place, "so I just let your boat go through again."
"Don't feel bad," Akane said. "He did the same for Ranma and me."
"But if you went through a second time," Akio asked, "how did you finish the ride before we did?"
"When you came out of the tunnel the second time you didn't look any more interested in getting out of your boat than you did the first time," the man explained, "so I figured there wouldn't be any harm in letting you ride again."
"We weren't doing anything that… like…" Aka-chan asked.
"No you weren't doing anything that would have made me suggest that you should find a room somewhere," the man said with a laugh. "You just looked like a very happy couple."
Aka-chan looked at Akio and smiled. She was really happy.
"We still have about an hour before the fireworks start," Ranma said. "What would you like to do until then?"
"I'm not really interested in any more rides," Akane said. "And I'm still full from dinner."
"I know this great place where we can watch the fireworks," Aka-chan said. "There shouldn't be a big crowd there. We can get some drinks and wait there for the fireworks."
"This wouldn't happen to be the place you showed me earlier today, would it?" Akio asked.
"Actually it is," Aka-chan replied. "There's a clear view of the fireworks. The only place that's better is the place on the pier we were earlier today… but I didn't think that anyone would be interested in watching from there. Plus it isn't as far of a walk back to the bus as it would be from the pier. We won't have to rush after the fireworks are over."
"I don't think Kano would leave without you," Akio said.
"He might," Aka-chan replied. "He's the one who set the time we would be leaving. He'll be standing next to the door of the bus looking at his watch. The door will close exactly thirty minutes after the last of the fireworks go off and the bus will leave."
"Then why don't we get our things out of the changing rooms so we don't have to stop there on the way to the bus," Akane said. Then after putting her arm around Ranma and giving him a squeeze, "And then he can get me another balloon to replace the one I lost earlier."
"And why should I replace it," Ranma said as he turned his head to face Akane. "You're the one who let it go and let it float away."
"Because you love me?"
"Well if you put it that way, I guess I don't have a choice."
"No you don't."
"Then if you'd like I'll get you ten balloons."
"I think you'll have trouble fitting ten balloons on the bus," Aka-chan said with a giggle.
"One balloon will be fine," Akane said, "as long as it's red."
"I don't believe that you fathers would arrange a marriage for you without even discussing it with you first," Aka-chan said after taking a drink of her iced coffee.
Akane, Ranma, Aka-chan and Akio were all seated around a picnic table in the overflow picnic area. They were not alone. Other people… mostly couples… had figured out that this would be a good place to watch the fireworks. So there were people scattered at the various tables and on blankets on the grass around the area. (Akio was mildly relieved that they were not alone.)
"In my parent's family, that was the way it was done," Akane explained. "My father met my mom once when they were very young, and then not again until their wedding day."
"But that is so old fashioned," Aka-chan said. "I didn't think anyone arranged marriages like that any more."
"Maybe not exactly like that," Akio said, "but my parents have already arranged three marriage interviews for my sister."
"Your sister," Ranma said in a shocked tone. "How old is your sister?"
"Karin is twenty-two," Akio answered.
"Twenty-two," Ranma said. "I thought she was your younger sister."
"Most people think that," Akio said, "because I'm taller than she is… and when she wears her shrine garb, you can't tell that she has a rather well developed figure."
"But why would your sister agree to go along with going on marriage interviews?" Aka-chan asked.
"It isn't that she is going along with it," Akio explained. "She asked our parents to arrange them."
"Why?" Aka-chan queued.
"Well, I guess shyness runs in the family," Akio said. "My sister never dated all the time she was in high school… and she hasn't met anyone in college she's really wants to go out with. I don't think she will actually marry any of the guys she's interviewed with. I think she's just using it to build up her confidence around men."
"You're parents won't want to arrange marriage interviews for you will they?" Aka-chan asked cautiously.
"I doubt it," Akio said. "Honestly, my mom and dad will be ecstatic when I tell them that I'm going out with you."
"You really think so?" Aka-chan asked.
"I know so," Akio replied as he put his arm around Aka-chan and hugged her.
After a moment of quiet embracing Aka-chan turned to Akane and Ranma and asked, "What plans do you have for the rest of the week?"
"I think there are still a few souvenirs that we need to get," Akane said.
"You mean we haven't bought enough already?" Ranma said. "I think we bought one of everything they had at the one souvenir shop."
After Ranma received a sharp jab in the ribs Akane said, "We still need to get a gift for your father and mother and something for my father… And I really would like to talk to Akio's father and get a charm for Kasumi and Doctor Tofu."
"We can do that tomorrow," Akio said. "I have to go home and get some clothes. It seems that I'm going to be spending the week at the inn with you and Aka-chan."
"I keep telling him he doesn't have to do that," Aka-chan interjected. "We have yukatas that he can wear."
"But going home tomorrow will be a perfect opportunity to introduce you to my family as my girlfriend," Akio said. "And my father can pen a charm for Akane and Ranma while we are there."
"I'd like to get a wall scroll for your mother," Akane said, "but I have no idea of what to get for your father or my father."
"That's easy," Ranma said. "A bottle of good quality sake for your father and a bottle of cheap sake for my father."
"Ranma!" Akane exclaimed. "Be serious. We need to get something nice for your father."
"My father doesn't know the difference between cheap sake and good quality sake," Ranma said. "There isn't any point in getting anything really high quality for him."
"Other than he'll probably come to the house and share it with my father," Akane explained.
"You're right," Ranma said after a moment of reflection.
Aka-chan just shook her head. "I don't know about the two of you. I can give you another pass for the liquor store and there's a shop not too far away from the inn that does beautiful scrolls, but we can do that all in one day. Isn't there something else you'd like to do?"
"Aka-chan, why don't you pick something you think we'd like to do," Akane said. "I'm sure we'll enjoy anything you plan."
At that moment they heard a dull thud followed by a loud explosion and a bright flash of light.
"Uhhh, it's started," Aka-chan said.
And with arms around each other Akane and Ranma and Aka-chan and Akio watched the fireworks display.
After the fireworks were over the foursome hurried back to the bus.
It was exactly as Aka-chan had said. Kano was standing next to the bus watching his wristwatch. By the time they arrived, the bus was already half full and notable among the missing were the high school student group.
"I wouldn't feel bad if they missed the bus," Aka-chan said as she took her seat next to Akio.
Ranma stored the bags of souvenirs in the storage area above their seats and then he sat down next to Akane, who was staring out the window at the lights of the amusement park.
"Did you have fun today Akane?" Ranma asked.
Akane turned to face Ranma and said, "I had a wonderful time. I wouldn't mind coming back here again."
"I wouldn't mind either," Ranma said. "If things work out, maybe we can come back next year to celebrate our first wedding anniversary."
"Maybe we could," Akane replied with a smile.
Unfortunately, as far as Aka-chan was concerned, the high school student group showed up just as Kano was about to close the doors on the bus. Although they were quite loud as they approached the bus, an icy stare from Kano quieted them down quickly and they made their way onto the bus in silence.
The bus ride back to the inn was quiet. Most of the people on board were sound asleep… including Aka-chan, who was sleeping with her head resting on the sleeping Akio's shoulder.
Akane and Ranma though were still awake, but they said little so not to disturb the others that were sleeping on the bus.
They were almost back to the inn when Ranma noticed Akane cupping her hand under her right breast.
"Akane?" Ranma asked in a whispered voice. "What is it?"
"Nothing really," Akane replied in a low whispered voice. "I was just wondering what it must feel like when a baby is nursing."
Ranma leaned over and kissed Akane on the cheek and Akane rested her head against Ranma's shoulder for the remainder of the trip to the inn.