Broken Hearts, Mended Souls
By
Nuclear Twinkie
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Disclaimer: In all seriousness, all rights to Ranma½ and its characters go to Rumiko Takahashi. In all silliness… Nabiki, could you please help with the disclaimer? "My payment?" I already gave it to you. I even got a receipt. See? "Oh, you're smarter than most. All right then, here." Nabiki, what is this? "The disclaimer." No way! This has go to be at least a hundred pages, and what's this part about the offending fanfic writer becoming your slave? "Oh that's nothing you need to worry about. Trust me on this one." Trust you? Riiiight. Shiver in fear
{} = Character Thoughts
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The sun is slowly setting across the Nerima skyline. The view from the roof of the Tendo home can be quite breathtaking at times. Below, Akane and her father are just arriving home. Shadows are darkening as the sun leaves the sky in a star-specked darkness. On the roof, Ranma Saotome is pondering what to do next.
{OK. First, I have to get Akane to understand I l-lo… why is that so hard to even think. I do, don't I? She's cute when she's nice, and she's really cute when she smiles. Yeah, I think I do. I l-lo-love Akane, but will I ever be able to tell her? Wait, I'm Ranma Saotome. There's nothing I can't do. Well, maybe not stuff about c-c-cats, but that's different. I wasn't thrown into a pit of crazed, starved, Akanes as a child. Wow, that's scary to even think about.}
Ranma shivers slightly in fear. {Anyway, I then have to get Ukyo, Shampoo, and the Kunos not to kill me once I tell her. Since the second part sounds easier, I'll start with that one.}
Ranma lays back and puts his hands behind his head so he can stare up at the sky. {Ukyo is my friend, and so is Shampoo most of the time. I don't want to hurt them, but if they find out I want Akane to be my fiancée…} Ranma blinks in surprise. {Woah, I want Akane to be my fiancée. I thought that more easily than I believed I could.} Ranma sighs and stares at the sky for a couple more minutes.
{All right, back to coming up with how to solve this. I'm a martial artist, not a bookworm or mega-genius. I guess I'll have to think like a martial artist then. With this many people to worry about, divide and conquer. Try to think of only one at a time. OK, Shampoo. She thinks her stupid law gives her the right to marry me. I can't make her not think that, so then what? The only way I know to get her off my back would be if someone beat both Shampoo and myself. OK, I can see someone beating Shampoo, but me? That's not going to work.
How do I get around these stupid Amazon laws? I have to think like a martial artist. Learn of your opponent's strengths and weaknesses, like getting Akane and Ryoga mad. They both get really sloppy when the get angry. So how do I learn about Amazon laws? Cologne certainly won't help, and neither will Shampoo. Would Mousse? Hmm, would Mousse help me nullify my engagement with with Shampoo? It can't hurt to ask.}
Ranma stands up and walks to the top of the roof and starts a light and simple kata to help him concentrate. {OK, Ukyo. Pops made that stupid promise. It would be honorable if both sides agreed to nullify the engagement. That would work if she thinks she is supposed to marry me, but I think it's more than that. She always goes around proclaiming herself as my cute fiancee. Does that mean she wants to marry me, or only that she is supposed to marry me? Does Ukyo think of me as more than a friend? It can't be, but how can I find out for sure? I'll ask Konatsu, he lives at Ucchan's and works for her! He should know. What if she does like me? If she does, and I tell her about Akane…}
Ranma stops and looks up to the sky. {What am I going to do? There's so much I don't know, and I can't fight my way out of this one. Why is it that for me to be happy, others have to be sad? I don't want to hurt anybody else.} Ranma sits down again.
{How do I get break the engagements and keep everyone from being hurt? If only I could get them to break up with me, then nobody would be hurt and everybody would be happy. That will never happen, it's way too convenient. So what happens if this does make anyone sad? How do I help people not be hurt because of me?}
"Ranma?"
Ranma jumps up and turns to see has climbed on to the roof and sat down next to him. "ARGH!!! Akane, don't scare me like that!" Recovering form the shock of Akane's sudden appearance, Ranma sits down again.
Akane concernedly looked at Ranma. "Sorry Ranma, but you missed dinner and I was just wondering if you were OK up here."
"Sure Akane, I'm fine."
Akane starts to get angry. "Ranma you are not fine! You've been up here all night and didn't even come down for dinner! Now what's wrong?"
Ranma turns to face Akane. "You want to know what's wrong. Fine, I'll tell you, but you have to answer a question for me first."
"What question would that be?"
Ranma looks down at the rooftop for a moment before looking back at Akane. "Akane, this question I want to ask you, if you don't want to answer it, it's OK."
Akane now looks very confused, and still concerned. "What did you want to ask?"
"Have you ever been really sad?"
Akane's jaw dropped in shock, but she quickly recovered. "I suppose, when my mother died I was very sad. Ranma, why are you asking this?"
"I can't tell you right now, but I will later. Akane, when your mother died, how did you… not stay sad forever? What helped you through it?"
Akane is getting annoyed again at Ranma's lack of response to her questions. "Ranma, what is wrong? Why are you asking me this? What are you wanting to know?"
"I told you I'd tell you later. If you don't want to answer the question, I'll just leave."
Ranma begins to stand up when he feels Akane's hand on his arm. Akane is looking up at him. "I'll answer the question Ranma, as long as you PROMISE me you will tell me why you are asking this."
Ranma sits back down and looks directly at Akane. "I promise."
Akane looks up at the sky, contemplating an answer. "I guess, my dad and sisters helped me through it most, especially Kasumi. Nabiki started going into ice queen mode to help make money, and to hide her emotions. Dad was even worse than me, and I don't think he ever really got over Mother. As for Kasumi, she was always there when I cried. She would stay with me while I cried myself to sleep. Kasumi is the best big sister I could ever have."
Akane goes silent as both youths just continued to look at the sky. Ranma glances out of the corner of his eye over to Akane and sees her wiping a tear from her face. {I guess she is still sad, but having somebody to help you through it I think is what counts. Who do I get to help Shampoo and Ukyo through it? They really don't have anybody to help them through this. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm going to need help.} Ranma stands up and looks down to Akane. "Thanks." He then jumps off the roof and goes inside.
Akane soon follows Ranma inside. {Why did he say those things? What is wrong? I'm so worried, so confused, and so… he never told me why he asked me that question. That jerk!} Tears start to stream down Akane's face, as she walks upstairs. {That stupid Ranma made talk about mother, and now I…} Akane stops at the door to her bedroom and looks down the hall. She walks down the hall and knocks on Kasumi's bedroom door. When Kasumi opens it, Akane says "Sis, will you stay with me until I'm done crying?" Kasumi, without saying a word, puts an arm around Akane and walks back to her bedroom. Kasumi stays with Akane until she cries herself to sleep for reasons Kasumi can only guess.
The next day, life in Nerima was fairly quiet. All the usual suspects were incredibly busy that day. It was a good business day for both the Neko Hanten and Ucchan's. There were Kendo and Gymnastics tournaments taking place, and all three Tendo daughters were on a day of shopping to cheer up Akane. Nerima was unusually quiet. It couldn't last forever.
"Saotome, how dare you take Shampoo from me and then issue a challenge of combat! Prepare for retribution!"
Mousse flicks his wrists as long blades appear from each one. He charges his rival and swings both high and low. His opponent jumps back and pulls a small bladed weapon from his kimono.
"Mousse, please wait! I'm not Ranma!" Mousse slices upwards first with one hand and then the other. The weapon his opponent is holding blocks both strikes.
"You coward! Resorting to using weapons now! I have you!" Mousse feints forward and then drops, attempting to kick the legs out from under his opponent, who jumps up and throws a shuriken just above Mousse's head. This knocks Mousse's glasses off the top of his head and into place in front of his eyes.
"Mousse, it's Konatsu! Stop attacking!"
Mousse, still kneeling low from the last attack, looks up at his opponent. "Konatsu? I thought you were Saotome. I was supposed to meet him here for a fight." Mousse stands up and hides his weapons back into his sleeves, as Konatsu also hides his ninja-to. "What are you doing here?"
Konatsu brushes the wrinkles out of the kimono he is wearing. "That is odd. Mr. Saotome asked me to meet him here as well. I wonder why?"
"It's because I need your help." Both Konatsu and Mousse turn to see Ranma jumping out of a nearby tree and walking towards them. {I hope this works. I need help, and I don't know who else to go to.} Ranma stops and holds up his hands as Mousse tenses and enters a fighting stance. "Before you get mad or attack me, just let me explain.
Mousse relaxes his stance slightly and stares intently at Ranma. "You'd better make this good."
Ranma puts his hands down and breathes deeply before speaking. "Look, this isn't something that can be solved by fighting, otherwise I wouldn't be coming to you two for help. The problem is…"
Mousse dashes forward and jabs at Ranma, who sidesteps the attack. "Wouldn't be coming to us? Are you calling me weak? Do you want to die?" Mousse is now standing directly in front of Ranma in a full battle stance ready to fight.
Ranma sighs takes a step back. Underneath his breath, he says, "I knew this wasn't going to work."
Konatsu hurries over and stands between the two. "Mr. Saotome, wait! Mr. Mousse, please stop attacking. I am sure he meant no offense, but simply that he could handle this problem if it was a fight. Since it is clearly not, he needs our assistance in resolving his issue. Let's at least hear him out." Konatsu tenses, waiting for Mousse's response.
Mousse stands straight and crosses his arms. "Very well. Let's hear it."
Ranma stares at the to men before him. Konatsu turns to face Ranma. "Please continue Mr. Saotome."
As he did before, Ranma takes a deep breath and continues. "I need your help with a promise I made to my father. In return, I will help you both in any way I can to get the women you like."
Konatsu stands in stunned amazement as Mousse's jaw nearly hits the ground. After a couple of seconds, Mousse regains the ability to speak. "Wait, let me get this straight. You want our help, and in return you will help me win Shampoo's love? This isn't some trick to steal her, is it?"
Ranma is now clearly annoyed. "Mousse, would you just listen, for once! I do not want Shampoo; I do not want Ukyo; and I certainly don't want Kodachi."
Konatsu clears his throat to interrupt the conversation. "Excuse me, Mr. Saotome. If you do not want any of them, that only leaves…"
"HEY!" Ranma starts to look sheepishly at the ground. "I know w-who that leaves, OK? That's why I need your help."
Mousse stares at Ranma with a rather confused look on his face. Ranma sees this and begins to walk towards Mousse. "Mousse, you helped to save my father's life. In return for that, I am honor bound to help you get Shampoo. Do you want my help?"
Mousse blinks in astonishment, and then gets an evil little smile on his face. "Very well, I accept. I only have one condition for all this."
"And that condition is?"
Mousse folds his arms across his chest and continues to smile. "You must be able to say that you love Akane. You don't have to shout it from the rooftops or anything, just tell us. That way, I know you are serious about all this."
Ranma nearly collapses in surprise. "WHAT! You can't be serious!"
Konatsu takes a step forward. "Mr. Saotome, I believe Mousse has a point. You must be able to say this to us, or you will never be able to say it to her, much less do what is necessary to get her."
"No, this can't be right! You guys got to be kidding! I'm going to help you get Shampoo and Ukyo! Why do I need to do this?"
Mousse extends his arm and points at Ranma. "This is your test! To see how serious you are about this whole thing! Otherwise, we walk away now!" Mousse brings his arm down to his side and looks at Konatsu. "Right, Konatsu?"
"I don't know if I could totally abandon Mr. Saotome when he needs help so badly, but he does need to say it."
Ranma starts to sweat. {They have got to be kidding! I just recently was able to admit it to myself. There's no way I can do this. What am I saying? I'm Ranma Saotome, and I can do anything. Besides, they do have a good point.} He stares at the two men before he says, "Alright, fine, be that way. I'll say it. Well, here goes." Ranma starts to fidget and look down towards the ground. "I… I l-l-l…" Ranma starts to stutter and his whole body starts to shake slightly. "I... I… l-l-lo…" The shaking becomes more pronounced as Ranma fights an internal battle. "I…I l-lo-lo…" Ranma's eyes roll back into his head as he finally says, "I-love-Akane" and falls backwards unconscious.
Mousse chuckles. "I didn't think he would actually be able to say it. I guess that means we're in. At least if this doesn't work out, it will be fun to watch Ranma suffer."
Konatsu turns to Mousse slightly shocked. "Mousse, you shouldn't say such things."
"Are you saying it's not true?"
Konatsu slightly blushes. "No, I'm just saying you shouldn't say things like that." Mousse starts to laugh and Konatsu's blush deepens as he quietly joins in the laughter.
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Author's Notes: [UPDATED 12/28/02] First chapter in the next story arc completed. What will Ranma, Mousse, and Konatsu do to help the Nerima Wrecking Crew resolve their love traingle, square, pentagon, … whatever. Anyway, please e-mail me with opinions, criticisms, and suggestions. Please be constructive with all C&C. I don't mind being told what someone doesn't like, as long as they provide some direction to make it better. (ntwinkie@effectnet.com)
By
Nuclear Twinkie
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: In all seriousness, all rights to Ranma½ and its characters go to Rumiko Takahashi. In all silliness… Nabiki, could you please help with the disclaimer? "My payment?" I already gave it to you. I even got a receipt. See? "Oh, you're smarter than most. All right then, here." Nabiki, what is this? "The disclaimer." No way! This has go to be at least a hundred pages, and what's this part about the offending fanfic writer becoming your slave? "Oh that's nothing you need to worry about. Trust me on this one." Trust you? Riiiight. Shiver in fear
{} = Character Thoughts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sun is slowly setting across the Nerima skyline. The view from the roof of the Tendo home can be quite breathtaking at times. Below, Akane and her father are just arriving home. Shadows are darkening as the sun leaves the sky in a star-specked darkness. On the roof, Ranma Saotome is pondering what to do next.
{OK. First, I have to get Akane to understand I l-lo… why is that so hard to even think. I do, don't I? She's cute when she's nice, and she's really cute when she smiles. Yeah, I think I do. I l-lo-love Akane, but will I ever be able to tell her? Wait, I'm Ranma Saotome. There's nothing I can't do. Well, maybe not stuff about c-c-cats, but that's different. I wasn't thrown into a pit of crazed, starved, Akanes as a child. Wow, that's scary to even think about.}
Ranma shivers slightly in fear. {Anyway, I then have to get Ukyo, Shampoo, and the Kunos not to kill me once I tell her. Since the second part sounds easier, I'll start with that one.}
Ranma lays back and puts his hands behind his head so he can stare up at the sky. {Ukyo is my friend, and so is Shampoo most of the time. I don't want to hurt them, but if they find out I want Akane to be my fiancée…} Ranma blinks in surprise. {Woah, I want Akane to be my fiancée. I thought that more easily than I believed I could.} Ranma sighs and stares at the sky for a couple more minutes.
{All right, back to coming up with how to solve this. I'm a martial artist, not a bookworm or mega-genius. I guess I'll have to think like a martial artist then. With this many people to worry about, divide and conquer. Try to think of only one at a time. OK, Shampoo. She thinks her stupid law gives her the right to marry me. I can't make her not think that, so then what? The only way I know to get her off my back would be if someone beat both Shampoo and myself. OK, I can see someone beating Shampoo, but me? That's not going to work.
How do I get around these stupid Amazon laws? I have to think like a martial artist. Learn of your opponent's strengths and weaknesses, like getting Akane and Ryoga mad. They both get really sloppy when the get angry. So how do I learn about Amazon laws? Cologne certainly won't help, and neither will Shampoo. Would Mousse? Hmm, would Mousse help me nullify my engagement with with Shampoo? It can't hurt to ask.}
Ranma stands up and walks to the top of the roof and starts a light and simple kata to help him concentrate. {OK, Ukyo. Pops made that stupid promise. It would be honorable if both sides agreed to nullify the engagement. That would work if she thinks she is supposed to marry me, but I think it's more than that. She always goes around proclaiming herself as my cute fiancee. Does that mean she wants to marry me, or only that she is supposed to marry me? Does Ukyo think of me as more than a friend? It can't be, but how can I find out for sure? I'll ask Konatsu, he lives at Ucchan's and works for her! He should know. What if she does like me? If she does, and I tell her about Akane…}
Ranma stops and looks up to the sky. {What am I going to do? There's so much I don't know, and I can't fight my way out of this one. Why is it that for me to be happy, others have to be sad? I don't want to hurt anybody else.} Ranma sits down again.
{How do I get break the engagements and keep everyone from being hurt? If only I could get them to break up with me, then nobody would be hurt and everybody would be happy. That will never happen, it's way too convenient. So what happens if this does make anyone sad? How do I help people not be hurt because of me?}
"Ranma?"
Ranma jumps up and turns to see has climbed on to the roof and sat down next to him. "ARGH!!! Akane, don't scare me like that!" Recovering form the shock of Akane's sudden appearance, Ranma sits down again.
Akane concernedly looked at Ranma. "Sorry Ranma, but you missed dinner and I was just wondering if you were OK up here."
"Sure Akane, I'm fine."
Akane starts to get angry. "Ranma you are not fine! You've been up here all night and didn't even come down for dinner! Now what's wrong?"
Ranma turns to face Akane. "You want to know what's wrong. Fine, I'll tell you, but you have to answer a question for me first."
"What question would that be?"
Ranma looks down at the rooftop for a moment before looking back at Akane. "Akane, this question I want to ask you, if you don't want to answer it, it's OK."
Akane now looks very confused, and still concerned. "What did you want to ask?"
"Have you ever been really sad?"
Akane's jaw dropped in shock, but she quickly recovered. "I suppose, when my mother died I was very sad. Ranma, why are you asking this?"
"I can't tell you right now, but I will later. Akane, when your mother died, how did you… not stay sad forever? What helped you through it?"
Akane is getting annoyed again at Ranma's lack of response to her questions. "Ranma, what is wrong? Why are you asking me this? What are you wanting to know?"
"I told you I'd tell you later. If you don't want to answer the question, I'll just leave."
Ranma begins to stand up when he feels Akane's hand on his arm. Akane is looking up at him. "I'll answer the question Ranma, as long as you PROMISE me you will tell me why you are asking this."
Ranma sits back down and looks directly at Akane. "I promise."
Akane looks up at the sky, contemplating an answer. "I guess, my dad and sisters helped me through it most, especially Kasumi. Nabiki started going into ice queen mode to help make money, and to hide her emotions. Dad was even worse than me, and I don't think he ever really got over Mother. As for Kasumi, she was always there when I cried. She would stay with me while I cried myself to sleep. Kasumi is the best big sister I could ever have."
Akane goes silent as both youths just continued to look at the sky. Ranma glances out of the corner of his eye over to Akane and sees her wiping a tear from her face. {I guess she is still sad, but having somebody to help you through it I think is what counts. Who do I get to help Shampoo and Ukyo through it? They really don't have anybody to help them through this. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm going to need help.} Ranma stands up and looks down to Akane. "Thanks." He then jumps off the roof and goes inside.
Akane soon follows Ranma inside. {Why did he say those things? What is wrong? I'm so worried, so confused, and so… he never told me why he asked me that question. That jerk!} Tears start to stream down Akane's face, as she walks upstairs. {That stupid Ranma made talk about mother, and now I…} Akane stops at the door to her bedroom and looks down the hall. She walks down the hall and knocks on Kasumi's bedroom door. When Kasumi opens it, Akane says "Sis, will you stay with me until I'm done crying?" Kasumi, without saying a word, puts an arm around Akane and walks back to her bedroom. Kasumi stays with Akane until she cries herself to sleep for reasons Kasumi can only guess.
The next day, life in Nerima was fairly quiet. All the usual suspects were incredibly busy that day. It was a good business day for both the Neko Hanten and Ucchan's. There were Kendo and Gymnastics tournaments taking place, and all three Tendo daughters were on a day of shopping to cheer up Akane. Nerima was unusually quiet. It couldn't last forever.
"Saotome, how dare you take Shampoo from me and then issue a challenge of combat! Prepare for retribution!"
Mousse flicks his wrists as long blades appear from each one. He charges his rival and swings both high and low. His opponent jumps back and pulls a small bladed weapon from his kimono.
"Mousse, please wait! I'm not Ranma!" Mousse slices upwards first with one hand and then the other. The weapon his opponent is holding blocks both strikes.
"You coward! Resorting to using weapons now! I have you!" Mousse feints forward and then drops, attempting to kick the legs out from under his opponent, who jumps up and throws a shuriken just above Mousse's head. This knocks Mousse's glasses off the top of his head and into place in front of his eyes.
"Mousse, it's Konatsu! Stop attacking!"
Mousse, still kneeling low from the last attack, looks up at his opponent. "Konatsu? I thought you were Saotome. I was supposed to meet him here for a fight." Mousse stands up and hides his weapons back into his sleeves, as Konatsu also hides his ninja-to. "What are you doing here?"
Konatsu brushes the wrinkles out of the kimono he is wearing. "That is odd. Mr. Saotome asked me to meet him here as well. I wonder why?"
"It's because I need your help." Both Konatsu and Mousse turn to see Ranma jumping out of a nearby tree and walking towards them. {I hope this works. I need help, and I don't know who else to go to.} Ranma stops and holds up his hands as Mousse tenses and enters a fighting stance. "Before you get mad or attack me, just let me explain.
Mousse relaxes his stance slightly and stares intently at Ranma. "You'd better make this good."
Ranma puts his hands down and breathes deeply before speaking. "Look, this isn't something that can be solved by fighting, otherwise I wouldn't be coming to you two for help. The problem is…"
Mousse dashes forward and jabs at Ranma, who sidesteps the attack. "Wouldn't be coming to us? Are you calling me weak? Do you want to die?" Mousse is now standing directly in front of Ranma in a full battle stance ready to fight.
Ranma sighs takes a step back. Underneath his breath, he says, "I knew this wasn't going to work."
Konatsu hurries over and stands between the two. "Mr. Saotome, wait! Mr. Mousse, please stop attacking. I am sure he meant no offense, but simply that he could handle this problem if it was a fight. Since it is clearly not, he needs our assistance in resolving his issue. Let's at least hear him out." Konatsu tenses, waiting for Mousse's response.
Mousse stands straight and crosses his arms. "Very well. Let's hear it."
Ranma stares at the to men before him. Konatsu turns to face Ranma. "Please continue Mr. Saotome."
As he did before, Ranma takes a deep breath and continues. "I need your help with a promise I made to my father. In return, I will help you both in any way I can to get the women you like."
Konatsu stands in stunned amazement as Mousse's jaw nearly hits the ground. After a couple of seconds, Mousse regains the ability to speak. "Wait, let me get this straight. You want our help, and in return you will help me win Shampoo's love? This isn't some trick to steal her, is it?"
Ranma is now clearly annoyed. "Mousse, would you just listen, for once! I do not want Shampoo; I do not want Ukyo; and I certainly don't want Kodachi."
Konatsu clears his throat to interrupt the conversation. "Excuse me, Mr. Saotome. If you do not want any of them, that only leaves…"
"HEY!" Ranma starts to look sheepishly at the ground. "I know w-who that leaves, OK? That's why I need your help."
Mousse stares at Ranma with a rather confused look on his face. Ranma sees this and begins to walk towards Mousse. "Mousse, you helped to save my father's life. In return for that, I am honor bound to help you get Shampoo. Do you want my help?"
Mousse blinks in astonishment, and then gets an evil little smile on his face. "Very well, I accept. I only have one condition for all this."
"And that condition is?"
Mousse folds his arms across his chest and continues to smile. "You must be able to say that you love Akane. You don't have to shout it from the rooftops or anything, just tell us. That way, I know you are serious about all this."
Ranma nearly collapses in surprise. "WHAT! You can't be serious!"
Konatsu takes a step forward. "Mr. Saotome, I believe Mousse has a point. You must be able to say this to us, or you will never be able to say it to her, much less do what is necessary to get her."
"No, this can't be right! You guys got to be kidding! I'm going to help you get Shampoo and Ukyo! Why do I need to do this?"
Mousse extends his arm and points at Ranma. "This is your test! To see how serious you are about this whole thing! Otherwise, we walk away now!" Mousse brings his arm down to his side and looks at Konatsu. "Right, Konatsu?"
"I don't know if I could totally abandon Mr. Saotome when he needs help so badly, but he does need to say it."
Ranma starts to sweat. {They have got to be kidding! I just recently was able to admit it to myself. There's no way I can do this. What am I saying? I'm Ranma Saotome, and I can do anything. Besides, they do have a good point.} He stares at the two men before he says, "Alright, fine, be that way. I'll say it. Well, here goes." Ranma starts to fidget and look down towards the ground. "I… I l-l-l…" Ranma starts to stutter and his whole body starts to shake slightly. "I... I… l-l-lo…" The shaking becomes more pronounced as Ranma fights an internal battle. "I…I l-lo-lo…" Ranma's eyes roll back into his head as he finally says, "I-love-Akane" and falls backwards unconscious.
Mousse chuckles. "I didn't think he would actually be able to say it. I guess that means we're in. At least if this doesn't work out, it will be fun to watch Ranma suffer."
Konatsu turns to Mousse slightly shocked. "Mousse, you shouldn't say such things."
"Are you saying it's not true?"
Konatsu slightly blushes. "No, I'm just saying you shouldn't say things like that." Mousse starts to laugh and Konatsu's blush deepens as he quietly joins in the laughter.
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Author's Notes: [UPDATED 12/28/02] First chapter in the next story arc completed. What will Ranma, Mousse, and Konatsu do to help the Nerima Wrecking Crew resolve their love traingle, square, pentagon, … whatever. Anyway, please e-mail me with opinions, criticisms, and suggestions. Please be constructive with all C&C. I don't mind being told what someone doesn't like, as long as they provide some direction to make it better. (ntwinkie@effectnet.com)
