A Ranma 1/2 Story:

"LOVE SICK"

Part 1

He wore a gleaming white suit with a black bow tie and black dress shoes, while she wore a long flowing virgin white dress with a flower in her hair and white, heeled shoes.

It wasn't your typical Japanese wedding, a little more modern, but it wasn't the clothes that stole the show, it was the actors—the married couple.

They were being married by a priest at the Tendo Training Hall. The entire house and grounds was decorated with suitable arrangements for a modest budget.

Ranma stood next to Akane, holding hands. They were guests at the wedding for the couple who booked the Training Hall for the blessed event.

Recently, the Training Hall had decided to branch out, booking events to make money. And it was widely successful. With the new business venture, they were able to make repairs to the entire property and even spruce the place up a little with cash left over for other amenities.

As Ranma held hands with Akane, he was glad he was not the groom. It brought a sense of relief to him. But he was still forced here against his will. Akane held his hand so he wouldn't run away. She held his hands tightly, holding him in place.

The whole atmosphere scared Ranma, one day he would have to take the plunge; the arranged marriage their parents made many years earlier forced he and Akane together.

If it were up to him, he'd be elsewhere right now. But he was also conflicted. He also felt a sense of duty to be here, because the Training Hall was hosting the event.

Ranma and Akane stood side-by-side next to the back wall.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kasumi quietly said, approaching them.

Her voice was low, so as not to interrupt the vows of the couple at the altar. The Dojo was decorated to a designers specifications and filled with guests and chairs. There were approximately fifty guests, all crammed into the Dojo.

"Akane, I think you can let go of Ranma now," Kasumi added softly. "I don't think he'll run away in the middle of the ceremony. "But someday, that could be you two."

Akane let go, and Ranma sighed with relief. He rubbed his hands. But he blushed with Kasumi's other comment.

Akane snorted irritated.

Ranma noticed she looked upset. Was she that annoyed that she had to keep him in place, holding his hand? She was told to do so by Kasumi at the start of the event, and obviously she felt angry doing so. Her grip had kept on getting tighter with every minute.

But there were times he thought of making his move.

Akane had a certain charm, a likeable quality. He had gotten used to her quirks. But then that temper of hers would erupt, ticked off by something he did, and all that likability would vanish like a splash of cold water in the face.

After the wedding was over, the reception started with guests' toasts, and an outdoor buffet.

Ranma crouched next to the pond in the back corner of the yard, and stared at the orange koi swimming around. They swam around like that didn't have a care in the world. His reflection stared back at him in the clear water, between water ripples. He put his finger in the water. One of the fish even tried to nibble on his finger, as if it thought it was a worm.

He pulled it back. "You aint getting my finger," he said with a laugh.

He looked up at the married couple, now sharing a piece of cake together, and wondered what his wedding would be like—years from now. He liked the choice of suit the groom wore. And the bride looked beautiful. They were neighbours from down the street, engaged only months back.

After the Tendo Training Hall began to advertise their new business acumen, they started to receive bookings almost right away. And money flowed it. But he wished it was money brought in through martial arts, yet students were scarce despite the Hall renown in Nerima.

He sighed, and then looked back down at the pond.

Just then, he noticed a dark shadow appear in the water next to his reflection, and then felt the hard grip from that person on his shoulder.

He winced. "Ow!"

Ryoga was at the wedding, too, dressed appropriately for the event. Like Ranma, they both wore suits and ties, modern attire. He wanted to wear something more to his style, but he didn't want to outshine the wedding couple. If that could even be possible?

Ryoga had decided to make an appearance suddenly, so he needed proper clothes to attend the wedding, renting some because suits and ties were not in either of their repertoire. And it would be very bad if Ryoga attended in his bright yellow, dusty travel clothes.

Ryoga continued to hold him.

Ranma said, "Don't ya dare push me in, man! Or you'll be sorry."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Ranma," Ryoga said Ranma's name as if it was its own curse. "Besides, it would ruin the day. And the last thing we need is a fight."

Ranma shouldered Ryoga's hand off him and agreed with his rival. They had a truce right now.

Ryoga crossed his arms across his chest as Ranma stood up, they looked at the party going on. At the smiling faces, engaging in erroneous chit-chat. Both stood silent for a moment.

Ranma smiled thinly, despite feeling nervous. Just the remainder of his own situation brought him stress, pressure on when he would eventually walk down to the altar. But would be marrying for love or for a dowery—the Tendo Training Hall.

Then Ryoga said, "I'm glad someone else is getting married at the Tendo Training Hall. When I saw the advertisement in the paper about it, I immediately raced here to make sure it was't you. You don't deserve Akane. You treat her so badly sometimes."

Ranma gripped a fist at his side, but Ryoga's words rang true.

"You'll never marry Akane," Ryoga further added. "I won't allow it."

Ranma clenched his teeth in anger. "Oh, yeah?"

Ryoga turned to him. "Yeah!" he replied confrontationally.

They faced each other with fire in their eyes. Ranma knew Ryoga loved Akane, but Akane was already engaged, and Ranma thought: To me! Countless times Ryoga had tried to break them up, but each time, they reconciled to continue their engagement despite the strife between them. Akane was duty bound with tradition, but Ranma stayed with her, and each time, he kept asking himself why.

They loved Akane in different ways and that's where it stood—for now.

"Oh, very nice wedding and reception, I say," Shampoo suddenly interposed between them, cooling things off. Ranma wonder if she must have seen them about to get into a fight. "Cat Cafe make good deal with couple, very profitable for us and good savings for them."

Ranma snorted. He'd put his feud with Ryoga on the back burner. Ryoga seemed to agree, his own body language relaxed.

Ranma noticed Shampoo's nice blue dress with silver dragon deco, slit down the legs; It also accentuated her chest. It was very becoming of her.

Ranma felt his temperature rise just looking at her. A member of an Amazon tribe, an encounter with her people sometime back as he and his father were travelling across China, forced her to come to Japan and claim ownership of him, as her groom-to-be. He had bested her in combat.

Despite his reservations, and his pre-engagement to Akane, she remained to keep Amazon tradition alive, and marry him, or return home in disgrace.

But it had not been her fault.

Ranma had a sandwich earlier, eating light. "Yes," he agreed, "nice spread, Shampoo." He didn't see Cologne at the moment, but Ranma knew the Old Ghoul was somewhere serving people.

"Too bad Ukyo couldn't come," Ryoga said. "I really enjoy her Okonomiyaki."

Ranma smiled coyly. "Oh, I bet you do," he said, hinting at a euphemism meaning.

Ryoga snapped a hard glare at him. "And what do you mean by that?"

Ranma smile faded slightly, as he brought up a finger to scratch his cheek distractedly. "Oh, nothin', I meant nothin' at all by it." His smiled broadened.

"Don't be so teasing, Ranma," Shampoo said. "He mean, you like Ukyo," saying bluntly.

"Whaaaat?"

Ryoga's voice carried across the pond and some of the guests looked over. Ranma waved them off with a smile. They turned around, the situation resolving itself.

"Keep your voice down, Ryoga," Ranma chided.

"Shampoo, what did you mean by that?" Ryoga demanded.

"Mean, you and Ukyo getting close," the Amazon said. "You spending much time at her restaurant, helping out—making Okonomiyaki. Place becoming very popular, for more than food." She seemed to smile coyly herself. "And much much rumour flying around of relationship between you two," Shampoo said the last word in a teasing manner.

Ryoga blushed, his face turning beet red. "I'm just helping her out," he said defensively.

"More than just a busboy and a waiter," Ranma said, with a wink. "Don't deny it, man."

Ryoga erupted with anger and gripped Ranma's shirt with close fists. "You take that back!"

Ranma batted his rivals hands away. "Hey, you'll winkle the shirt, man." He smoothed it out. "Look, I'm just kiddin' ya. So, don't get your bandana in a knot. Right, Shampoo?" He didn't want to start a fight at the wedding, so it was best to claim it was a joke.

Shampoo opened her mouth to saying something, then closed it, as if to abide by an unspoken agreement, as Ranma looked directly into her eyes.

"Sure, of course. Just kidding, Ryoga," she lied.

"Jez, Ryoga, you can sure get testy," Ranma added, making sure there were no marks on the shirt. As long as the shirt was in perfect condition, it wouldn't cost to own.

"Clothes fine, Ranma," Shampoo said.

Ryoga snored, then walked away.

Ranma looked at Shampoo again. "You look great, Shampoo, just wanted to say so." He smiled.

Shampoo blushed.

Just then, Ranma saw Akane headed in his direction. He gulped. Was she upset with him for admiring Shampoo's dress? Did she catch him smiling at her? Akane was often jealous.

With a reach, she grabbed his arm and yanked him away.

"Hey!" he protested, but couldn't stop her. She was strong when she wanted to be. Akane dragged him aside to a secluded spot behind the house. "What's the deal? Why'd yer drag me away like that? I aint done nuthin' wrong!"

Akane's eyes suddenly glimmered as if filled with tears. "Ranma," she began stoically, "where do you see our relationship going? Be honest with me."

Ranma took a mental step back. His eyes went wide and his thoughts froze with shock. He was both mystified and confused with the question.

Was this about the married couple? The wedding? Love between a man and a woman?

Was Akane feeling an urge to take their relationship to the next level? Did she want assurances that he did care about her?

"Whoa, Akane!" He put out his hands as if to erect a barrier. "Where'd this come from?"

"Ranma, if this wedding has taught me anything," she began, looking deep into his eyes, "it's to never take one's destiny for granted. We've been engaged for a while now, but I want to know if you want to stay with me, or should we break up?"

He was right, this was exactly what he thought. However, the situation caused Ranma's heart to beat faster, his breath caught in his throat, and his hands felt clammy. It was like the universe had been listening to his thoughts earlier wondering about his own relationship, compared to the newly married couple. He didn't want to be here.

"Your destiny, Akane?" he said. "You're not makin' any sense. And you've never acted like this before. And why would you even ask me such a thing? I don't like bein' put on the spot like this."

"I want to know if you like me, Ranma. It's a yes or no answer."

He was caught off guard, he didn't know what to say. He was speechless.

Why was she calling him out now?

He felt like a trapped animal and it started to make his stomach feel nauseous, like butterflies in his stomach, when one got very nervous. He felt the same way when he had to perform on stage in a school play of Romeo and Juliet. He had kissed Akane on stage, but she had performed a trick on him and taped his mouth shut.

She then remarked, "Wouldn't you have liked to do it for real?"

The truth of the matter was—

His mouth moved to answer her, but no sound came out. Still, is mind and heart raced with a new reality. Was he ready to take their relationship to a new level?

But fear stopped him.

Well, he thought, actions do speak louder than words.

He leaned in close. Akane was up against the side of the house. And he pressed on hand against the wall next to the left side of her head, basically pinning her.

He could smell her shampoo, a fragrance of flowers. He liked her hair, short and cute, and when the light hit it just right, it glowered with a beautiful cobalt blue. Her eyes twinkled a similar colour with flecks of dancing sunlight. She had a thin frame. Her breasts weren't as perky as, like, Shampoo's, but he could still work with that.

He puckered and licked his lips.

This was it. This was when their relationship was about to change. With a—

His cheeks suddenly blew up like a blowfish, and his stomach felt queasy. It was more than just butterflies, it was—

"Oh, man…I think I'm goin' to hurl."

Akane quickly pushed away from him as he vomited in the very spot she once stood. He collapsed to his knees and hocked out some more. And it was more than just a little. "Oh, man…make me sick." The middle part was lost.

Akane huffed. And the moment passed. She then stormed away.

He sat down and leaned his back against the side of the house, wiping his mouth with a hand. He reached out for Akane, but she was gone.

He looked at the vomit next to him and then folded his head into his knees and sighed deeply. His heart was still pouncing, now with sorrow and loss, and even shame.

Does Akane think she sickens me? Oh, I've done it now!

To be continued...

Please enjoy my other recent Ranma prequel stories: "Abducted Heart", and: "Confession of a Teenager".