Ramna ½: A Wedding

Disclaimer: I don't own it. It ain't mine. Don't sue me, I already owe to much money as it is.

Chapter Four

"But I know in my heart of heart of hearts
I know I'm never gonna hold you again
Now I, I wish it would rain down, down on me"

Phil Collins, "I wish it would rain down."

Ranma looked out the window as silver clouds obscured the morning sky. It was a false dawn. The sun had yet to rise, which meant that both of the families were still asleep. The pig-tailed boy had been awake for almost twenty minutes now. He dared not breathe out of fear that the short-haired girl would wake up.

She looked so peaceful lying there in her sleep. Her arms and legs were intertwined around him as they formed a lovers knot. He smiled. Only she could make yellow pajamas with black pigs look sensuous.

"Akane," he said as he kissed her forehead, "Time to get you back."

The short haired girl stretched and smiled, "How did you sleep?"

"Like a baby."

Akane sighed. One of those would be nice. But not till later, much later. "Well, good. Between Cologne and your nightmares I was worried that you were running yourself ragged."

Ranma stood up and offered Akane his hand, "Let's get you back, before anyone else wakes up."

"Do I have to? Can't we just sleep in?"

"Do you want your father calling a minister tonight?"

The thought was tempting. They were getting married anyhow. But if it looked as though their parents had railroaded them into a wedding then neither Shampoo nor Ukyo would accept the outcome. There would be a repeat of the last ceremony for sure. Akane sighed, "I guess it can't last forever." She stood up and allowed Ranma to pull her into his arms as he carried Akane to the window.

"Can't we take the door?"

"It would wake Kasume." Ranma jumped, landing softly on the grass next to the pond. It was only a half-truth. He could sneak Akane back to her room fairly easily. This method required him to carry her in his arms. It was an added benefit.

"One day you are going to have to show me how to do this."

"That lesson starts next week."

"Oh," she said as he leapt towards her window. He landed on the ledge and leaned forward, his momentum coming to a rest as he lighted on her desk.

"I'll be in early tonight."

"Cologne let you off?"

"No," he gave her the self-sure smile, "Today's my last day."

"You have enough?"

"For a small one," Ranma said.

"It only took three weeks," she sighed, "I guess this means that we have to tell our parents?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow. But when we do, you have to bring it up," Akane said. That is when the mayhem would really start. She reached up and kissed her soon-to-be fiancé. "I'll see you tonight. I love you."

"I love you too. I need to go in early today, to help the old ghoul get things ready for lunch." Ranma said as he jumped down from her window again.

"Remember don't eat anything she cooks for you." Aknae called as her gaze followed the pig-tailed boy out of the window. The morning mist descended on the garden as her fiancé's hair changed from brown to red. Ranma-chan looked up and smiled at the short-haired girl as she leaped over the garden wall. Akane watched her disappear from sight, letting her body flop to her bed when she could see her fiancé no longer. Holding her left hand in front of her face she smiled as she lightly stroked her ring finger. Tonight it would hold a diamond ring. "I'm getting married… I'm getting married…" she chanted.

Konastu held Ryoga's hand as the two of them walked to the jeweler's. He still was not quite sure as to what he should think about this situation. Ryoga had moved into the restaurant at Ukyo-sama's request three weeks ago. This was something he did not approve of. During this time Ryoga and he were sharing a room. The male ninja did not like this either. She and Ryoga had become all but inseparable. The male ninja could not tolerate that.

But, the closeness was due to the fanged boy's inaptitude for direction. If either Ukyo-sama or he did not keep a close eye on the lost-boy, he would wonder off somewhere and not be seen for days. And if he wondered off he wouldn't be able to ask his mystery girl to marry him… And if Ryoga never asked her he would never leave… And then the lost-boy and Ukyo-sama would continue to get closer… And the gender-confused ninja definitely would not tolerate that.

"Konastu, I realize that you are a guy and don't think of other guys that way," Ryoga said, "But do you have to hold my hand so tight."

Every pedestrian within earshot of the two stopped and looked at the couple. Both boys blushed bright red and smiled. Konastu giggled, hiked up the helm of his kimono and dashed around the corner, dragging the pig-boy with him. "Yes, it is necessary," he said, "Ukyo-sama said the next time I had to go look for you she would dock my time off from my pay." He thought he had been rid of Ryoga. How was the 'waitress' to know that his boss would make him go look for the wandering idiot?

Ryoga looked down at his feet, "Sorry, how should I have known the bus was headed to Kyoto?"

"That's what they make bus schedules for. Let's just get this over with. The sooner you get this ring the sooner you can be out of Ukyo-sama's hair."

Ryoga nodded. The sooner he got the ring the sooner he could leave.

"So, when are you going to ask her?"

"Ask her what?"

Konastu gritted his teeth, "To marry you."

"Oh, I wasn't sure. I thought I would wait for the right time."

Konastu paused for a second. That was unacceptable, Ukyo-sama would probably insist that the bumbling idiot stay and continue their 'practice' dates, while the gender-confused coached him on what women liked. He had to leave tonight… and that might not be soon enough. "Why don't you ask her tonight?"

Ryoga paused and looked up at the sky.

Ryoga would drop down on one knee in the garden behind the Tendo

home as the rain poured down. Holding in his Umbrella in his left hand

he would pull out the ring with his right. "Akane Tendo, marry me and I will

make you so happy you forget about Ranma."

"Ranma who?" Akane would reply as she would throw her arms around

his neck.

"Oh, my dearest Akane, you have made me the happiest man alive."

Ryoga would say.

"Oh, Ryoga," his fiancé would say as she moved in to kiss him. Ryoga

would look back down at Ukyo and…

Ryoga trembled. How did Ukyo get in that daydream?

"Are you Ok?" Konastu asked as he opened the door to the jewelry shop.

"Yeah," he said, "Just a scary thought."

The gender-confused ninja shrugged his shoulders as he followed the lost boy into the jeweler's. Boys were strange.

Ranma walked up to the old Ghoul while she lay on the counter smoking her pipe. "Hey, old Ghoul, do you have my pay for this week?"

The Amazon elder cocked an eyebrow, "Its Friday isn't it? What has you so worked up Son-in-Law?"

Ranma gritted his teeth. She knew damn well why he was asking for the money. "I need to go shopping."

Cologne smiled, "Oh, what for?" The elder poked the pig-tailed-boy's chest, "I know you don't need to go shopping. You're always wearing the same shirt. Although I guess you could use a few braziers, living with Happy and all."

Ranma shivered, "Come on old Ghoul. I need to get to the merchant's district before the jeweler's closes. Please."

The elder paused. She had never heard him use that word before outside of the Soatome secret technique. It was a shame that her great-granddaughter had to let that one slip through her fingers. But then her granddaughter had lost before she ever knew she wanted to compete. That Tendo girl was something, a proud Amazon that one would be. "Here, here is your money, along with an advance for next week. Consider it an engagement present from me."

Ranma took the envelope that the elder held out to him. "Thank you; I don't know what to say."

Cologne smiled at the boy. For a moment the pig-tailed martial artist could have sworn that her aura reflected deep sorrow. "With as much as you have done for my tribe in the past, and will do in the future, it's the least I could do. Now go, just remember that your intended won't get off work until after the café closes." Ranma smiled, the old Ghoul still did not suspect anything. "And no proposing during the dinner rush, Shampoo won't earn any tips tonight if all the boys know her fiancé is in the café."

The boy stifled a laugh, that wouldn't be a problem. Cologne watched the boy leave the restaurant; it had been fun playing with him the past few weeks. She sighed. Now it was over, and the boredom would set in again.

"Shampoo, so happy. Tonight have ring," the young Amazon pirouetted around the room. "Tomorrow have Ranma. Next week China."

The elder laughed to her-self. But maybe there was a bit of entertainment left to milk out of all of this. Mouse, however, frowned. Tonight would not be easy.

Kuno sulked as he strolled through the estate garden. He could not stand the bare walls of his room, it was bizarre. There should be photos everywhere of his true loves: pictures of the athletic and lithe Tendo Akane, photos of the buxom and divine pig-tailed-goddess. But he could share in their true love no more. Tendo Nabiki had seen to that with her blackmail, threatening to expose his family's darkest secret. But then, if it was the loss of his true loves which was troubling. It was his thoughts. If ideas were pathways and thoughts were meadows, then the young master did not care for the direction that his mind was meandering towards without the distracting presence of the two lusty girls.

"Young Master," Sasuke asked, "What was in that envelope has you fretting so?"

"I told you Sasuke, I never read the contents."

Sasuke laughed, "I shall take your word for it then. I will pry no further."

"Harvard," Kuno said.

The Ninja smiled, "And why does this worry you so? The seer's prophesy perhaps?"

"I thought I forbid you to mention any word of that charlatan or his foolery in my presence."

"My apologies master, if there is nothing that I can do to help, allow me to take my leave." Sasuke turned toward the shadows to disappear.

"Wait." The urgency in Kuno's voice pulled the Ninja back. "Do you think that she was telling the truth? Is she really leaving?"

Sasuke bowed to hide his smile. His charges were easy to read. "I could find out for you, Young master, if you so desire?"

"I do." Kuno said, as he turned to examine a lily blossom. "And Sasuke?"

"Yes Master Kuno?"

"If she has accepted the offer of the American school, take whatever measures you deem appropriate."

"Yes Master Kuno."

Ryoga walked into the Uchan's, "I got it."

Ukyo jumped across the grill, "Let me see, let me see."

Konastu rolled his eyes. Ryoga dug into his pockets and pulled out a Tiffany blue box. He eased open the cover and revealed an intricately carved band. "Ryoga, its beautiful. God, I hope Ranma gets me one like this."

"Well, Konastu said this was the one I should get," Ryoga blushed.

"Konastu?"

"I told him that with a ring like that there was no way the girl could say no. Did we do a good job?"

Ukyo hugged the pseudo-girl, "Oh, Konastu, you did wonderful."

Konastu blushed. "I well… I… um…"

Ukyo stood up, "Ryoga, you should ask her tonight. It would be perfect."

The gender confused ninja nodded enthusiastically the faster Ryoga asked the quicker he would leave, "Yes. The sooner the better."

"But isn't it supposed to rain tonight?"

"Ryoga," Konastu said, "Don't you know anything? Rain is romantic. If you ask her tonight she won't be able to resist the romantic atmosphere."

"Are you sure?" Ryoga closed the box. "I don't think tonight would be…"

"Konastu is right" Ukyo nodded, "If you ask her tonight there is no way she could say no."

"But what about the rain?

The kunoichi sighed in frustration at this rate he would never get him to leave, "Come on. Why not use that umbrella that you are always carrying around."

Ryoga looked down at the blue box. If he were to become wet, everything would be ruined tonight. But if he pulled it off, there was no way that Akane could say no.

"Oh, Ryoga," Akane would say as they sat around their dining room table,

"Remember when you asked me to marry you?"

"Yes, dear how could I forget?" he would reply as he ate her wonderful

cooking.

"I don't think I would have agreed to marry you if it had not have been for

the rain."

"I'll do it." Ryoga said.

Ranma looked back at the store window one last time as he twirled a burgundy box with his right hand, unaware of the pair of eyes that had been stalking him for several hours now.

"Oh, Ranma-sama," Kodachi said as she bounded into his arms, "You should not have."

"I didn't."

"No, not another word, my love. The ring you hold in your hand tells me all that I need to know."

"Then you know?" Ranma scratched his head in confusion.

"Well yes, and though it is a small, cheep thing…"

"Cheep, I'll have you know I…" Ranma said, doing his best to control his anger.

"It's the thought that counts, and I will treasure it when you place it on my hand."

"Give it to you?" the pig-tailed boy stuttered, "Kodachi…"

"Not now, my love," the gymnast blushed bright burgundy matching the box the boy bared. "Wait till tonight when the moon is full and the mood is perfect."

"What?"

"Then I can introduce you to father, and we can ask his blessing since Tachi has already granted us his." Kodachi leaned in and kissed the young martial artist on the cheek as he paused at the storefront in his confusion.

"But I don't want your father's…."

"Then we elope? How romantic. I'll do it for you, Ranma-sama," Ranma opened his mouth in protest, but Kodachi placed a finger on his lips to silence him, "Until tonight my love, good-bye."

A cloud of pollen and black rose petals filled the marketplace, blinding the boy momentarily. When his burning eyes finally refocused the girl was gone, leaving behind a very confused martial-artist. "I can't wait till this is over."

Nadoka and Kasumi sat in the kitchen sipping tea as Nabiki stormed in, tearing open the cabinets searching randomly for something.

"Nabiki, dear, what are you looking for," Nadoka asked.

"Arsenic… Rat Poisson… Something sharp I can run through the old man's belly."

Kasumi raised an eyebrow, "Oh, are you angry with father."

Nabiki glowered at the two women sitting at the kitchen table.

"What happened?" Auntie asked.

"I was out at the Market, checking on some investments and collecting on some loans when this man in a red jacket came out of nowhere and asked my name was Nabiki Tendo."

"That's nice," Kasumi took another sip of tea.

"And then there were twenty men. In red suits. Singing. They followed me around all day."

"That sounds romantic," Nodoka rolled her eyes, "Why are you complaining?"

"They were the Tokyo University Glee Club. And they were singing the school fight song. I don't know how he did it. But if this doesn't end soon the old man is going to pay." Nabiki stormed out of the kitchen. Stomped up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door.

Nadoka and Kasumi giggled over the rims of their teacups.

Mouse stood in the door of the cat café, while Shampoo scowled at him. "Duck Boy, get out my way."

"Shampoo, you really don't want to go to the dojo tonight."

"You know nothing. Ramna choose Shampoo."

"Then maybe you should wait for him to bring the ring to you." Cologne suggested from behind the counter.

"No, grandmother, Shampoo want Kitchen-destroyer to know Ramna belong to Shampoo. Shampoo want to see look on her face when Ramna give Shampoo ring."

"But Shampoo…"

"Mouse, step aside," Cologne said, she looked away from her great-great-granddaughter. "Let her go, there is nothing you can do."

Mouse lowered his head in defeat and stepped aside.

"Thank you great-grandmother." Shampoo pushed passed Mouse and bounded off into the night. The blind-boy watched her as she disappeared over the roof of the building adjacent to the café.

"We both know what she will learn tonight at the dojo." The elder placed a hand on the male Amazon's shoulder. "When the time comes stop her before she does something she will regret."

Mouse nodded, and followed the pink-haired girl into the night.

"Ryoga, are you ready yet?" Ukyo called from the bottom of the stares.

"Yes, I'm coming. Konastu, where did you say the stairs were again?"

"Its right behind you," Konastu's voice called from upstairs. "No, that's our room Ryoga-sama. No…" Someone sighed. " For Christ's sake, here."

Ryoga rolled down the stares, coming to a stop at Ukyo's feet. "Danmit you didn't have to push me," Ryoga yelled towards the top of the stairs.

"Just trying to help Ryoga-sama." Konastu called back sweetly.

Ukyo giggled, Ryoga was cute when he was angry. It was probably the way his fangs stood out when he yelled. Somehow it reminded her of a growling puppy. "Get your Umbrella, silly. We need to go before the rain gets any heavier."

"Yes, ma'am," Ryoga said as he stood up.

"And don't forget the ring." Ukyo said as she stood at the restaurant door.

"Yes, ma'am."

Kodachi sat at the manor entryway. Her wedding Kimono was getting uncomfortable. Where was Ranma-sama? Had he forgotten her? Surely not. No one could forget her. Not with her feminine charms. He had just been delayed.

Outside the rain was coming down harder. Maybe something had happened to him. She should go look, after all it wouldn't do to have her soon to be fiancé injured on the day of their engagement day.

"Sasuke," Kodachi called, "Bring my umbrella."

"Yes my lady," Susaku said, appearing from the ceiling. "May I ask where you are going on such a night?"

"To fetch my fiancé." She said as she opened the umbrella, and stepped outside.

Akane was surprised by the light rap at her bedroom window. The rain was coming down in sheets, and the idea that anyone would be outside, especially on a night like tonight was surprising. She looked up, to be greatted by the sight of a very cold, wet Ramna. "Are you ok?" she asked as she pushed the window open.

"I'm fine," the red-headed girl shivered uncontrollably as she stepped inside her fiancé's room, "Do you have any hot water."

"That depends," Akane stood at the window, her arms crossed in front of her. "Why do you smell like roses?"

"It happened when Kodachi kissed me," Ramna laughed nervously.

"When she did what?" Akane began to glow light red. "She better have been using a paralysis powder."

"She was using something alright."

Akane punched the pig-tailed boy in the stomach.

"Ouch." The young martial artist gasped.

The tomboy smiled, "That was for letting her kiss you." She reached down and pecked her fiancé on the cheek. "If it had been Ukyo or Shampoo I would have used the mallet."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ramna said as the short-haired girl emptied the contents of a kettle on his head.

"So what's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"Bull, you don't use the window unless something is wrong."

"Well there is that entire fear of death thing." Akane elbowed her fiancé lightly in the ribs.

"Then why are you here."

"Well, I kind of wanted to give you this." Ramna pulled a small burgundy box out of his pocket.

"Give me wha…"

"I got the money to day. It's not very big but…" Akane raised her hand to her face in astonishment. "I ain't very good with words, and I tend to put my foot in my mouth a lot, but will you?"

Akane tackled the boy, knocking the ring box out of his hands. She snatched it off the floor, and slid it on her finger. "I got my ring… I got my ring…" she half chanted.

"Was that a yes?"

"Of course silly." She smiled and hugged him again.

"I guess this means that we have to tell our families," Ramna said.

"It can wait till morning," Akane said as she snuggled her fiancé's chest.

Outside Akane's window five teenagers stood holding umbrellas, they had heard everything. Kodachi was hyperventilating. Ukyo was trying to fight back the tears. Ryoga had never felt so numb. Shampoo shook with rage. "Shampoo, kill."

"Shampoo, stop. Its over." Mouse said.

"It never over. Ranma mine."

"Shampoo."

"Duck-boy, get out of Shampoo's…." Shampoo dropped her umbrella as she lost conscious, transforming into kitten. Behind her the Amazon elder perched on her cane.

"Old ghoul you…" Mouse begain.

"Hit her sleep point while you had her preoccupied," the elder said, "You did well, Mr. Part-timer. The distraction kept me from having to injure her."

"What now?" Moose asked.

"Pick her up, Moose, its time to go home. That goes for the rest of you to. There is nothing more to be done here." Cologne said as she tuned to leave.

Mouse scooped the sleeping kitten into his arms and followed the elder. Ryoga watched the Amazons leave. He hurt. But for some reason his thoughts kept turning to the chief standing next to him. "Ukyo, are you ok?"

The chief sobbed.

"Ukyo, lets go home." Ryoga put his arm around the crying girl and pulled her away, leaving Kodachi alone in the cold wet. Tears mingled with the raindrops, as the girl fell to her knees.

"Ramna-sama, why?"