The Truth about Ranma & Akane Saotome
Ranma and Akane are lay on her bed holding each other and enjoying the peace and quiet of the house all to themselves. Rare are the days when they are just left alone. Akane smiles and kisses Ranma and he opens his eyes and yawns "Time already?" Akane kisses him again "Yes my love, time to get up. The family will be home soon" Ranma sits up and watching Akane put her top back on "One of these days they will leave us alone and we can have a normal life" Akane enjoys the way he watches her get dressed "When do you think that will be?" Ranma thinks for a second as he gets out of bed and starts to put his pants on "I was thinking after the second child, you know one for each family" Akane hugs him and they start to make the bed and then she looks at him "Then they will be in full grandparent mode" Ranma lets out some air "Yah, I know. One of these days my love, one of these days"
So, after the room is picked up and they have hugged and kiss one last time Ranma stands stock still and steadies himself "OK, I'm ready" Akane's arm reaches back and quickly slaps him across the face leaving a large red mark and tears come to her eyes "I hate this, it is so stupid" Ranma smiles at her "You are so uncute" Akane lower lip quivers "I love you too" Ranma step over to her and hugs her "I know you do and I'll never think otherwise. So, let me hear my Akane roar" she smiles at him "Ranma you Jerk! Get out of my room!"
Ranma heads down stairs as the front door opens and the whole family comes in and he looks at them "I hate macho chicks who are so uncute and built thick like a brick." Kasumi looks at the mark on the side of his face "That's pretty bad. I'll get some sav for that" as she heads for the medicine cabinet Akane comes down stairs. Nabiki can see Akane is pretty upset for the tears in her eyes "What did he do this time to rate this level of beating?" Akane sniff and wipes her eyes "He said we could sell my cookies as rat poison to make money" Nabiki and the fathers start to laugh "Stop this right now" comes a commanding order from Nodoka and everyone is quiet. "Ranma, look at Akane and apologize" Ranma turns and looks at Akane and thinks for a second "I'm sorry your cooking is lethal" and his mother soundly smacks the back of his head. Ranma looks at Akane and see her concern so he quickly blinks their code that he is alright so she sticks her tongue at him. Nodoka makes a growling noise "Let's try that again but a lot more mature this time" Ranma clears his throat "Akane Tendo, I am sorry for my comment about your cooking" Nodoka looks at Ranma none too happy "You would think a young man who is nineteen would be a lot more mature" Ranma starts to say something and then rubs the back of his head "Oh never mind, I'm out of here. Ukyo always has something good to eat" and Akane yells after him "I hope you choke on it. You Jerk!"
Genma speaking to Soun "Boy has a point" Soun looks at him thinking "You mean as rat poison?" Genma shrugs his shoulders "Well its mite at least scares them away" Nodoka cracks Genma in the shoulder "That's my future daughter-in-law and I won't listen to you two belittle her. Akane get your shoe on, your coming with me" and Nodoka walks outside.
Later as Nodoka and Akane are walking down the street towards her house. Nodoka has to ask "Are things that bad between you two?" Akane puts her arm around Nodoka and gives her a hug as they walk "We have our good days and then we have bad days" Nodoka stops and takes a deep breath "I was hoping that as you two got older, you both would have mature a little bit more and see that you two do really care for each other" Just then Ranma pops up next to them causing Akane to jump a little. Akane glares at him "What are you doing here? I thought you had to gorge yourself at Ukyo's" Nodoka answers "He has been following us sense we left your house" Ranma quickly thinking on his feet "I forgot my wallet and came back for it and saw you two leave and I was curious about where you were going" Nodoka takes a deep breath and frowns at him "You had your wallet when you left. I checked." Ranma gives her a surprised look and she answers "I'm your mother, that's what mothers do" she looks at both of them and they see something has clicked in her head that she has never thought of before "OK, you're coming with us" Ranma not sure "Where?" and looks to Akane and she shrugs "To my house" and they start down the street.
When they get to Nodoka's house she has them sit down on her couch and she stands and looks at them. Akane and Ranma make sure they don't sit too close to each other. Ranma is looking at his mother and she is just starring back at him. Ranma is starting to get a little uncomfortable "Are you mad at me mom?" Nodoka puts her hands on her hips "Do you remember how I feel about liars?" Ranma sits up and looks straight back at her "Yes, you told me. You never lie to someone you love. They are not to be trusted and that is why you don't live with Pops anymore. Your number one rule." Akane is becoming nervous and Nodoka looks at her "Something you want to tell me Miss Tendo?" Akane's eyes get big and she is searching for the right thing to say and Ranma is getting mad. Ranma takes a big breath and lets it out slowly and then moves over towards Akane so he is sitting next to her and taking her hand and pats it and then gives her a kiss on the cheek. Akane smiles and they both turn back to his mother and he has an answer for her "To tell you the truth mother, I don't care for you interrogating my wife" and Nodoka sits down. Akane is smiling "Hi, I'm Akane Saotome, nice to meet you. I have been waiting so long to say that. It really feels good! Oh, I am in love with my husband Ranma. Isn't he wonderful?" and Akane gives him a hug.
Nodoka doesn't know what to say and is just blinking and looking at them. Akane gets up and goes into the kitchen and gets Nodoka some tea and throws something together for them to eat while Nodoka is thinking. When Akane comes back she hands Nodoka some tea and food and Nodoka looks at it and isn't sure. Ranma is watching and smiles as he reaches over and takes a piece and eats it. Nodoka is surprised as Akane sits back down next to her husband. "You see mother, Akane Tendo cannot cook but my wife Akane Saotome is a great cook" Nodoka tries the food and looks at it them and then looks at Akane and then Ranma "Why? Why all the theatrics?"
So Ranma talks about how after the disaster of a wedding he felt really bad about everything and all he could think about is how beautiful Akane looked and how much she deserved the wedding she wanted. Ranma was sitting on the roof wondering how to fix this for Akane without the fathers getting involved. When he heard her walk into her room and start to cry, she was crying very hard. Ranma came down to her room entering quietly through the open window and when he could see she was very upset and sadden that the wedding had exploded on her. Then Ranma heard Akane say to herself when she thought she was alone "Why don't you love me? I love you so much Ranma" His heart broke and he took her in his arms and he just talked to her for the first time straight from his heart and he told her that he had always been in love with her and planned on marrying her first chance they had. So, they came up with the plan to let everyone think they no longer wanted to get married and would keep insulting each other. A couple weeks later when everything was set and they were left alone they snuck off to city hall and were married quietly just the two of them. "So, we have had a pretty quiet life so far. We get our times alone like today which was wonderful till we had to stage the fight but she is more than worth a good slap in the face" Nodoka isn't sure what to say "So I'm the only one in the family that knows?" Akane smiles "Only you, so if anyone finds out it will be on you" Nodoka just realized she finished the food Akane gave her and it was really good.
"So, when do you plan on telling the world the truth?" Ranma has an answer "We have talked about it and next Christmas I am giving my wife her wedding ring for Christmas and she is giving me my wedding ring for Christmas. We are going to stand up in front of everyone and exchange our gifts together" Nodoka is surprised "I'm amazed you can keep this a secret for so long" Ranma smiles "Well I think it should work" Akane pokes him "Unless you knock me up" Nodoka is shocked. She hadn't thought of that till then "Your using protection, aren't you?" Ranma shacks his forehead with his hand "Why didn't we think of that?" and Akane on cue smacks him "I love him but he can still be a jerk" Ranma looks at her than his mother "Tell her to stop picking on me" Ranma and Akane laugh and hug. Nodoka blinks a few times as things register with her "So you two are having sex" Akane is all smile "Yes we are" then Nodoka turns to Ranma "You told her you love her?" Ranma puts an arm around Akane "every chance I get"
Nodoka is thinking and sipping her tea that Akane has refilled for her (Akane is being the perfect hostess in her mother-in-law's house) and then she thinks of something "How do you get your birth control supplies and from whom?" Ranma is surprised by the question "Doc Tofu, he is our doctor and we trust him" "Anything we tell him he has to be keep confidential" adds Akane. Nodoka smiles "Have you seen him around Kasumi? If he knows, she knows" Akane looks unconvinced "If Kasumi knew she would have been all over us, no?" Ranma is thinking "Not if she knows we are happy and taking precautions and are legally married" they look at each other and reading each other's thoughts.
Akane gets up and walks into the kitchen and picks up the phone and dial home "Kasumi? Do you know?" is all she asks and she puts down the phone and walks back "What did she say?" asked Ranma "She said a course she knows and she loves us" Akane gets teary eye and looks at Ranma "Now I feel like I'm lying to them. Ranma, what do we do?" Ranma gets up and walks over to her and Nodoka is watching, wanting to see if her son is a mature adult now "Akane, my beautiful and loving wife, I never meant for you to feel bad about any of this. It was supposed to be fun, a little adventure of our own. I think tonight it is going to be a lot like Christmas" and Nodoka smiles.
After sitting around talking to Nodoka about their plans for the future and the dojo and the family they want to bring into the world. They insist Nodoka is a big part of their life and their future children's life, things start to become comfortable. Akane enjoys the fact she can just be herself and not screaming over everything. Being able to sit in the crook of Ranma's arm next to each other like a normal married couple is heaven for her. Ranma is all smiles even when he does complain about Akane "You know what she is going to do to me don't you?" he goes on and instead of Akane getting mad Nodoka sees she is smiling at him totally in love "She is going to feed me so much great good food I'm going to weigh four hundred pounds in no time" She laughs and pats his arm. Nodoka has never seen the two of them so happy before.
So Nodoka has to ask "How did you become such a good cook Akane?" Akane smiles and Ranma looks just a little too proud "Well to be honest it was Ranma who really helped me" Nodoka is surprised to hear her son could help anyone cook "How?" she asked. Akane can see Ranma is excited so she tells him "Go on" and he starts the story "Well we had been married a short time and enjoying being able to just have a descent conversation without everyone listening to everything we say. Akane mentions that as my wife she needs to be able to cook me something without killing me and I agreed. So, I get this idea that if we can work together in the dojo on our fighting skills why can't we work together in the kitchen on her kitchen skills? So, we started by looking at some of Kasumi's cook books and reading how different items are combined" Akane cuts in "and we started to pay attention to how Ukyo and Cologne cook and work with different ingredients" Ranma smile at her and holds her hand, He enjoys sharing their story with his mother. Ranma continues "and we would then practice, she cooks and I clean up as we go. Working as a team and it has evolved" Akane smiles "Once we started working together it came along pretty fast and it is something we enjoy doing together" Nodoka watches them, they are happy and affectionate towards each other. All she has ever wanted to them.
As it is getting closer to dinner time Nodoka goes into the kitchen and calls Kasumi and tells her she is bring them home for dinner. As they walk home for the first time Ranma and Akane hold hands in public and just enjoy being themselves. When they get about a block from the Tendo home, they see Ukyo and Shampoo walking towards them. Ranma squeezes Akane's hand and they are ready. "So, it's true? You two are married." ask Shampoo. "Yes, we are married, we have been married for over a year now" answers Akane "We just want you to know that we are very sorry you had to hide your marriage from everyone" adds Ukyo "We just want to be left alone, to be happy. We are just tired of all the stupid running around and fighting that did nothing for anyone. I love my wife and I'm sorry if anyone has a problem with it but it is our lives and we are going to live them together" informs Ranma. "Your right" answers Ukyo "Shampoo and I were talking and it has been obvious for a long time now. You always chose Akane over anyone else. We just didn't want to see it. We see it now and respect both of you for your decision" "Well this is nice. Come along we don't want to be late for dinner" directs Nodoka. And they continue on their way.
When they get to the house Kasumi is waiting outside for them. "There you are. I can now say congratulation to both of you. I am so happy for you both" and Kasumi put her arms around both of them. "You knew all along?" ask Akane. Tears come to Kasumi's eyes "A course I know, the house isn't that big and because all of the heating ducts run through the kitchen, I hear everything" she smiles at both of them. Ukyo and Shampoo look at each other realizing that they weren't the only ones not told.
Kasumi leads the group to the Dojo "We are having dinner in the Dojo?" ask Akane "The conditions of you two getting married was taking over the Dojo and Anything goes martial arts" answers Kasumi as she opens the door. And everyone is there and a great big banner that reads "Congratulation to Ranma & Akane Saotome" They are led to the front of the Dojo and Ranma looks at his father and ask one word that covered everything "HOW?" Genma hugs his son "You have a bad habit of leaving things laying around and when you start to pick up after yourself and being clean and neat, I knew you were up to something" and he hands his son a small blue box. Akane smiles as her husband opens the box and takes out her ring and puts it on her finger and then giving her a hug and kiss in front of the world. Then Ranma turns to the crowd "This is my wife Akane Saotome, I love you very much." and everyone cheers. Now crying Akane takes his ring and puts on his finger "This is my husband Ranma Saotome, I love you too" and they kiss again. Ranma says a little louder than he needs to "Give me back your ring" Akane looks at him funny "Why?" Smiling really big Ranma answers her "So I can give it back to you again" Akane pats his chest "Just kiss me, we don't have to hide anymore" and everyone cheers even louder as they kiss.
As people come forward to congratulate them Ryoga comes up to them not sure of what to say but Akane knows what to say "P-Chan!" and she gives him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Ryoga is surprised and looks at Ranma "You told her?" Akane laughs "No he didn't, you think I'm that dense?" Shampoo starts to say something "Don't go there" warns Ukyo. Moose walks up to Ukyo and hugs her "Mrs. Saotome! I am so happy for both of you!" and Ukyo slams him with her big spatula knocking him out and flat on the floor. Breathing really hard Ukyo looks around at everyone looking at her "I need some air" and storms outside "Stupid Duck" chides Shampoo who steps over Moose and follows Ukyo out. Akane looks at Ranma who is smiling "Still kind of a sore subject?" "Well for him it is, it knocked him out cold" adds Ranma.
Soun and Genma have taken the microphone and are standing in front of the shrine, they each have a sake cup in their hand. Soun starts "I just want to take a moment to remember the first person who knew this would come to be and prophesied it years before any of this was possible" Ranma and Akane are a little confused. Akane whispers to Ranma "You don't think?" Ranma shakes his head no "Not the old pervert, no way" he whispers back to Akane. Genma continues "Master Happosai was many things to many people" "Old pervert who stole our underwear" charged one of the women in the audiences. "Couldn't take a bath in privacy if he was anywhere near" challenged another. Soun and Genma wave their hands to quiet the growing disgruntle crowd. Soun continues "Yes, Master was many things, but it was him who told Genma and I that one day our children would inherit the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts" Genma continues "We didn't believe it ourselves. But when Ranma and Akane were born so close together and we put them together for the first time they held on to each other and cried when we took them apart" Nodoka interrupts this time "Really? They were fighting over a cookie" and everyone laughs "And they still are!" calls out Nabiki to ever more laughter even from Akane and Ranma. Soun and Genma look to each other and click their cups together "To Master!" and drink.
The party continues in full swing till someone yells out to Soun "Soun! So, who's the next bride Soun?" A very happy Soun who is very much inebriated is helped up by his good friend and fellow father-in-law Genma "The next bride is Kasumi to Dr. Tofu Ono!" Kasumi is surprised by this and stands up "Father! Why would you say such a thing?" Soun weaving back and forth because Genma is almost more of a hindrance than help "Because you have completed your dear mother's last charge to you with nothing but love and kindness and second because everyone in town knows the good Doctor Tofu is nuts about you and you have borrowed every book he has and feed him eight out of ten meals. So just marry him and you don't have to return the books or the dishes anymore" and everyone cheers. Tofu stands up next to her and puts his arms around her "Sweet Kasumi, marry me. I am totally in love with you. Will you marry me?" Kasumi hides her face in her hands as everyone cheers her on till, she shakes her head yes while still hiding her face. "Is that a, yes?" ask Tofu. Kasumi slowly lowers her hands "Yes you dear sweet man, I love you too" so he hugs her and gets a kiss for his troubles and everyone cheers them on. Then someone yells "That leave Nabiki!" and Nabiki stands right up "Don't even go there!" someone starts to say something and she points at them "NO!" and she sits back down to loud laughter. Then they start to get rowdy "Ha! Nodoka, going to take Genma back?" Smiling she yells back "Only after Nabiki has grandchildren" Genma stands barely "I'll drink to that!" and falls down flat on his face. Ranma turns to Akane "and you wonder why I don't drink?" she gives him a kiss on the cheek "I didn't wonder and I'm always glad you don't"
It was a long party and many well wishes for the young couple. A lot of people who caused them trouble promised to leave them in peace and wished them the best of luck. Needless to say, the Kuno family was not represented and no one asked.
As the last of the guest leave and it is just the three sisters with Nodoka and Dr. Tofu holding Kasumi and Ranma with an arm around his wife Akane. Nabiki ask the one question she has been dying to ask "So where are you two going to live now the it is official you are married" Akane playing with Ranma's hair "Well in my room, only makes sense." Nabiki not liking that answer "You mean I have to listen to you two all night long? I don't think so" Ranma smiling now (actually he has been smiling all night long) "You haven't complained so far" Nabiki's stared daggers at him "Now I'm going to have nightmares" everyone laughs and the fathers snore. Nodoka has an idea "Why don't we let the newlyweds stay at my house for a couple weeks. That way they can have some kind of a honeymoon and we can have some peace and quiet and I'll have some fun making Genma's life a living hell for not telling me when he found the rings" everyone laughs. Ranma and Akane really like this idea "Thanks mom, this is really wonderful of you to do this" says Ranma thanking her. Nodoka smiling "We'll put an extra futon in the guest room you normally use so you have enough room for the two of you" Kasumi quickly adds with a smile "They have been using Akane's bed so far, so one futon should be more than enough room for the two of them" Nabiki covers her ears "TMI Kasumi, TMI" and everyone laughs. Tofu mentions to Kasumi "Think we can get by with one futon?" she looks at him "You need two just for yourself, bed hog! Chasing me all over that bed" "I'm going to have nightmares for years to come having to listen to you guys" complains Nabiki. Nodoka speaks up "Oh Nabiki, you just need the right boyfriend and you will change your tune" Nabiki looks up "Yes one with enough money so I can have my own room" everyone laughs and Soun sits up and looks at the group "What does Nabiki need with a new room?" and even Nabiki laughs with everyone else.
Later that night in Akane's/ Their room, Akane is snuggled into Ranma with her head on his chest "I like this" Ranma kisses the top of her head "Me too" Akane sits up in bed having a thought "You know what has really surprised me about all of this?" Ranma turns over and supports his head on the palm of his hand "What surprised you Babe?" She smiles at him "This" pointing to both of them "Us? How do we surprise you?" Akane touches him very gently "How easy it was once we realized that this is what we both wanted. It's a nice present after all the stupid stuff we been through and did" Ranma takes her hand and kisses it "it's because we finished growing up together and we learned how to really talk to each other. We made our mistakes up front in a safe environment. Jealously, lies, half-truths, learning to just be ourselves and openly caring about each other. A lot of couples don't get that chance. We were stuck with each other and had to learn to work together. Best of all we found each other and I'm glad you waited for me" Akane looks at him not sure what to think "How did I wait for you?" Ranma reaches over and pulls her on top of him and she doesn't complain "Most of the guys in school attacking you first thing every day. You could have gone out with any of them, even Kuno" She looks at him real close "I have a mallet around here somewhere" Ranma puts his arms around her and holds her as she half heartly tries to get a way.
Ranma happens to look outside as he plays with Akane and noticed it was a perfectly clear night and he lets her go "Come on, get dressed" and he starts to work his way out of the bed "Wow, you really are getting good with the sexy bedroom talk" she replies sarcastically. She watches and still find it hard to believe her husband is actually getting dressed. Looking at her he smiling "Come on, when was the last time we just sat on the roof and not care who sees us?" she understands now "What easily a year ago" then thinking "Right before we got married about fifteen months ago" Ranma now dressed "that's right, best fifteen months of my life if you ask me" Akane now getting dressed punches him "Better be the best fifteen months of your life or I'll beat you to death" Laughing they hug and kiss, Ranma opens the window and gets up on the window sill "I remember when this use to be a stretch to reach" Akane watches as he effortlessly pulls himself up on the roof. Reaching up Akane hands him a blanket and grabs his hands. She always marveled at how easily he pulls her up, never a worry that he might drop her.
Up on the roof Ranma gets comfortable in his old spot but this time Akane sits between his legs leaning back against him and Ranma takes the blanket and wraps it around them so only their heads stick out. Ranma holds Akane close to him and she holds his arms, a quiet peaceful smile on both of their faces. Ranma whispers in her ear "I love you Mrs. Saotome" and kisses her neck and she whispers "I love you Mr. Saotome" and kisses the side of his face.
Akane looks at her wedding ring and smiles "Remember when we snuck off and bought our wedding rings?" She hears Ranma make a sound and knows it is a happy sound "Yes, I remember it very clearly" he answers her and she continues "I told you we couldn't afford fancy rings" Ranma continued "I told you we could afford permanent rings, rings that will last us a life time and that is all that matters" Akane squeezes his forearm "I thought I was in love with you before that but after you said Permanent, I was in love with you even more." Ranma smiles "That's why we made love as soon as we got home" Akane giggles a sound that never fails to lift Ranma's heart "I want to rip your clothes off right there in the jewelry store." Ranma whisper in her ear "Permanent, Permanent, Permanent" she slaps his arm "You always know how to make me laugh" Ranma laughs "I better, you have a mallet and you know how to use it" and they both laugh and kiss and hug and laugh.
And as they get comfortable, they start to relaxes in their own little world of just the two of them and no one else. "Well, aren't they the cozy little couple" comes Ukyo's voice "He never wanted to sit in the moonlight with me" grumbles an unhappy Shampoo. "Knew this was too good to be true" complains Ranma "Well that's what we get for not inviting the neighbors" adds Akane as she stands up, glad she put on her street cloths and didn't come up in her pajamas. Akane turns to address the two ex-fiancés "Why hello girls, come to watch the stars with us?" Ukyo looking a little unhappy "We had wonder why Ranma had stop coming up here for a while at night. Thought maybe he was trying to catch up on his studies for his finials after not studying for three years" "More like studying Akane if you ask me" grumbles Shampoo some more. Ranma stands up and wraps the blanket around Akane who smiles at him "Who are you and what have you done to Ranma?" complains Ukyo. Ranma looks at them and shakes his head in disbelief "I told you this day would come Akane" Standing next to her husband "Yes you did, but Ladies can we please keep it down? People are trying to sleep" Ukyo and Shampoo give each other a frown so Ranma continues "When did I ever give either of you any idea, I wanted to make out with you or even date you?" Shampoo not happy at all "Well no, but he shows up for food all the time. But Akane, tell us, please, till right before you two were married did he try to make out with you?" Akane thinking back "Well no" and Ranma smiles at her "But you did come in through my bedroom window pretty often and late at night" Ukyo's eye gets big and she is not happy "You went in her bedroom window at night? Kasumi didn't kill you?" Ranma looks at her and wonder if she knew these people "Seriously? You ever get hit with that mallet of hers?" Akane smiles "He behaved himself but you know Ranma. A lot of bragging about himself or insulting me and I said a lot of foolish stuff back at him. So, we were just being childish." Ukyo thinking of Ranma getting smacked with Akane's mallet made her smile.
Shampoo sits down and is being quiet, very un-Shampoo. She thinks of all the crazy interactions she has had with Ranma from popping up in front of him nude in his bath to trying to get him to say he loved her with secret witnesses and every time she could see his mind shift to Akane. Akane Tendo was always in front of his mind no matter what she did and Shampoo knew she always would.
Then she thought about Akane. Shampoo had washed Ranma out of Akane's head and she could still remember him. Shampoo stood up and she wasn't smiling "Ukyo we never had a chance with them. They have been in love from the beginning and were just too immature to see it. Just as Doctor Tofu said all those years ago, I should have listened to him. They are the same person with different name" Ukyo looks like she is going to cry "I just wish you hadn't given me any hope" Ranma goes to say something and she puts up her hand to stop him "Life was better when I hated you Ranma Saotome. At least then I knew where I stood was real." Turning to Shampoo "Come on, I'll help you pack and then you help me and we leave this town for good" Shampoo walks over to Ukyo and puts her hands on her shoulders and they touch foreheads together with closed eyes as acceptance of life washes over them. Shampoo smiles "You good friend Ukyo, we travel together. I can never go back to Amazon tribe. Great Grandmother leaves for China with Moose tomorrow or I should say today. I'm alone in the world now" Ukyo smiles with a tear in her eye "You're not alone, come on" Ukyo and Shampoo leave the roof not looking back, never to be seen again.
The next morning comes way to early for everyone after the previous night's party. But Akane Saotome is up early and busy in the kitchen. Kasumi comes in and gives her a hug "Good morning Mrs. Saotome" Akane smiling "Good morning, Kasumi" and hands her a cup of tea. Kasumi happily takes the tea looking at how industrious Akane has been "Need any help with anything?" Akane shoos her out of the kitchen "Go sit down, drink your tea, it's your turn to relaxes" So Kasumi as told takes her tea and sits in her spot at the table watching Akane working in the kitchen. Nabiki comes down and sees Kasumi sitting down while Akane cooks in the kitchen. When Akane she her she quickly hands Nabiki a cup of tea and the morning paper and goes back to work. About five minutes later Ranma comes down and kiss his wife. He grabs a cup of tea and sits down leaving Akane with a smile. Then the fathers come down and sit at their places at the table and thank Akane for the tea she hands them. After they take a sip, they realize Kasumi is sitting at the table doing nothing but taking it easy. "You already cooked breakfast?" ask Soun "No father I haven't done a thing. This is all Akane this morning" Soun and Genma look at each other and just don't know what to say. So Genma looks over at Ranma smiling at his wife "So you eating breakfast today?" "Sure, Pops and I'll eat anything you don't want" Genma thinks for a second "Food being delivered?" Ranma turns to his father not very happy "Really? Your daughter-in-law is making you breakfast and you are insulting her. That's my wife you know?" Ranma is getting a little angry now "Ranma, we talked about this, let it go" Calls Akane from the kitchen "Your right Babe, I'm sorry" Nabiki looks at him not sure what to think looks over to Akane and see she is smiling and going about breakfast. "You need any help" ask Nabiki "Thanks, you can start getting things put out on the table, please." Calls out Akane, then she calls back out to the tea room "Ranma dear, could you please let Mom know breakfast is almost ready?" "You got it Babe" and Ranma jumps up and heads up stairs. Soun and Genma are not sure what to expect turns to Kasumi "Do you know what is going on?" Soun ask his eldest daughter. "Well yes, Uncle Genma's daughter-in-law is making us breakfast to show us the Saotome family is capable of helping out around the house and contributing to the family" Soun and Genma look at each other and blink and turn back to Kasumi "You knew this was going to happen?" Kasumi puts down her tea "No, it was a pleasant surprise for me this morning" she answers and in walks Nodoka who is handed a cup of tea by Akane who goes back into the kitchen. To everyone's surprise Nodoka sits next to Genma as Matriarch of the Saotome family should. "These dishes smell as good as it looks Akane" says Nodoka to Akane in the kitchen. Akane comes to the door way to the tea room and bows to Nodoka "Thank you mother, that is very kind of you to say"
Soun and Genma look at the food and smell it and look at each other "This does look good" announces Soun. Genma taking a piece from a bowl to sample "Wow, this is really good. Akane this is great, well done" exclaim Genma. Akane smiling comes over and sits next to her husband who kisses her on the cheek "You are getting a lot better every time Babe" Akane smiles "As long as your happy" and they turn back to the table and most of the family is looking at them in shock.
Everyone has started to eat and are pleasantly surprised at Akane's abilities in the kitchen. Nodoka who is eating puts down her chopsticks and turns to Akane and stands "Akane please come here" she says in a firm voice that takes everyone by surprise. Akane gets up and walks to her mother-in-law and bow "Yes Mother" Nodoka takes her in her arms and hugs her taking Akane by surprise "I want you to know I am very proud to call you my Daughter-in-law" and she kisses her on the cheek. Akane hugs her back smiling "Thank you". After Nodoka lets Akane go but still looking at her "Genma! Don't you have something to say besides stuffing your face." Genma puts down his chopsticks and takes another drink of tea and then stands up turning to Akane "Come here" he calls her in a very familiar uncle voice and Akane steps over to him and he hugs her "Akane, you already know how proud I am of you and have always been" and he kisses her cheek "But for the record and self-preservation" giving Nodoka a measured side look "I am very proud to call you my Daughter-in-law" and he kisses her again "Thank you Poppa Genma" and Akane gives him a kiss on the cheek in return.
After Akane has taken her place back next to her husband she sees Nabiki is starting to cry "Nabiki, what is so wrong?" she asks and Nabiki quickly takes her in her arms "I just realized I'll never have Akane Tendo to play with or take her cloths or talk to. I lost my little sister" Kasumi has walked over and pulls both girls up and hugs them both and all three of them are crying "No matter what happens and no matter what our last name becomes, Saotome or Ono" "I'm staying Tendo" informs Nabiki and Kasumi hugs them again "But we will always be sisters. No one can ever take that away from us, ever." and Kasumi holds her girls tight.
"Someone die?" and everyone turns and sees Dr. Tofu. Walking into the Tea room and over to Kasumi. Kasumi lets go of her sisters and steps over and gives him a hug and kiss. Her life has moved on to its next chapter. "We were just giving Akane a hug for being formally accepted into the Saotome Clan and for losing our little sister Akane Tendo" she explains. As Tofu and Kasumi take their place at the table Akane brings Tofu tea and then breakfast.
Soun who has been quietly watching everything, smiling and talking to no one in particular "I wish your mother could be here today and see this. She would be so very happy" and he cries. "You're a foolish man Soun Tendo" chides Nodoka "You don't see her? She is right here, right now. Looking at you and she is so very happy. I don't understand how you don't see it" Soun looks at her and then turns to his daughters. From Kasumi to Nabiki and then to Akane, they are all grown up and are happily smiling at him and then he realizes Nodoka is right. His beloved wife is sitting in front of him smiling and happy. As happy as all of them are.