"Akane Tendo! Verily, it must be fate that drives thee into my arms! Come, let thine tears of joy flow now that you have been freed of the lecherous sorcerer Sao-" Kuno was violently interrupted with a particularly well aimed mallet, suddenly sent flying into the stratosphere by an extremely vexed Akane, who growled and straightened her ruffled dress. "Damn it Kuno, I had hoped this ridiculous behavior would stop after we graduated!" She huffed as she grabbed her fallen grocery bags, shooting a softer glare at her quietly giggling sister. "My, he certainly hasn't changed much, has he?" Kasumi collected herself and shifted her purse, indicating she was ready to continue their shopping trip. "Thank you for coming with me Akane. I thought you were going to lock yourself in the Dojo again?" Kasumi spoke softly, a gentle smile indicating her statement wasn't an accusation.
Akane thought for a moment and sighed. "You're welcome of course Onee-chan. I just, figured it's time to get back to my own life," Akane explained hesitantly, waiting for Kasumi to nod before continuing. "It's almost been four months since… Since the accident. I've grieved long enough. Plus," Akane grinned sheepishly. "I feel bad for allowing the Dojo to stay closed to classes for so long. It's about time I return to teaching." Kasumi's smile widened and she gently bumped her hip against Akane's. "I'm proud of you Akane-chan. Never forget that." Akane smiled back at Kasumi and returned her hip bump. "I never did, Onee-chan."
"Tadaima!" Kasumi and Akane called out as they stepped into their home, slipping out of their outing shoes. "Okaeri!" Nodoka called back from the kitchen, poking her head out with a smile as her nieces brought the groceries to her. "Ah, excellent! Thank you girls, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the market. I've just been so busy recently with Genma and…" Nodoka's smile wavered for a moment, but she shook her head as if to brush away cobwebs. "Well, recent circumstances." She finished weakly, relieving Kasumi of her groceries and setting them on the counter. "Akane, why don't you set those down and go take a bath? Dinner will be done soon, and I know you were practicing in the dojo before we left." Kasumi offered her, making Akane grin sheepishly.
"Yeah, okay. Call me when dinner is ready? I might be a while." Akane hugged Kasumi and Nodoka before setting her own groceries down, stretching, then heading for the hot furo. Nodoka relaxed her shoulders, not even realizing she had tensed in that moment. "Thank you Kasumi dear. For a moment there I was certain she was going to ask to help with the meal." Nodoka gave Kasumi a guilty look which she responded with an understanding nod. "I've known her the longest, Aunt Nodoka. I know when she feels obligated to help cook." Kasumi giggled and lightly covered her mouth to whisper playfully to Nodoka. "Even if she can't cook!" The two women burst into silent giggles while Nodoka resumed her cooking, while Kasumi started putting the excess groceries away.
Ryoga grumbled to himself as he walked along a cobbled walking path. It was the middle of the night, and he once more had no idea where he was. It looked strangely familiar, but he couldn't remember the name of the city or town he was in. He looked around suddenly, watching as a man and women passed by him. He reached out and tapped the man on his shoulder, causing him to jump slightly in surprise. Whatever they had been talking to each other about, it seemed he hadn't even noticed Ryoga, much less expected anyone else to be out at this time of night. "Yes? How can we help you?" He asked Ryoga, cautiously shifting his body so he stood protectively in front of the woman with him, who looked at Ryoga curiously. "I'm sorry, I think I'm lost. Could you tell me where I am?" Ryoga grinned at the couple, reaching up to scratch at his head. The man tilted his head in confusion. "Huh? How could you be lost?" The man raised his brow suspiciously.
"Look, I just am okay?" Ryoga growled softly. "Easy man, you're in Matsumoto." The man quickly reassured him. "Matsu… Moto?" Ryoga quickly processed the name and tilted his head as well. "Then… That means I'm in Nagano then?" The couple nodded silently. Ryoga blinked in surprise. If he was really in Nagano, then this was at least the fourteenth time he'd been here in the last year. "I-I see. Thank you for your time." Ryoga gave the couple a deep bow. "Please enjoy the rest of your evening." He stood back up and waved before picking a random direction to start walking. The couple blinked at each other for a moment and started to giggle. "That poor guy, he must have a really bad sense of direction." The woman laughed and clung to the man's arm. They gave Ryoga a parting look before returning to their outing. Ryoga chewed on his thumbnail absently as he walked, grumbling and growling to himself. 'Man, why is it so hard to find the Tendo Dojo? Hell, why did I even leave?' Ryoga thought to himself. He looked up into the cloudless sky with a roll of his eyes.
'Because Akane needed space. Time. Things I couldn't give her. Not yet anyway.' He idly kicked a small rock out of his way, not noticing as he walked into an empty park. He walked for a couple more minutes, until his sharp ears picked up a faint sound. He paused, looking around for a moment to see if he could figure out what the sound was. It was silent for a moment, so he shrugged and kept walking. Not even five steps passed before he heard the noise again, a little louder. 'It sounds like… Crying? Like a kid?' Ryoga thought as he listened. Yes, crying! It was coming from a little ways up a path to his left, and he quickly jogged down the cobbled walk, listening as the crying got louder. 'Oh man, nobody better be hurting a kid on my watch!' Ryoga growled, balling his hands into fists as he got closer, before suddenly stopping and listening again as a soft voice joined the screaming. "-Shhh, come on sweetheart, I'm trying here…" Came the voice of a tired and slightly exasperated woman.
Ryoga once again tilted his head in confusion, silently walking up to a tree that was close to the source of the noises and peeking around it. 'What the..? It's the middle of the night and ten degrees out here! What's a lady and her kid doing out here?' He thought to himself incredulously, before his breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened in violent disbelief. There, circling a large water fountain with a wailing, fussing baby, stood a tiny, petite woman with flowing, bright red hair that gleaned in the moonlight. She was dressed in a thick coat, her lower face wrapped in a scarf, and she wore big round glasses. She was speaking softly to the little bundled baby in her arms, softly rocking it while it cried. She looked exhausted, with dull circles under her big blue eyes, and her shoulders were slumped. But Ryoga couldn't deny who the woman looked like. "R-Ranma..?" He stuttered quietly. He spoke so softly that any person would've easily missed it, especially over the sound of a screaming baby. But Ranma was a martial artist, and her head immediately whipped around to look in his direction with a scared, suspicious glare.
"H-hello..?" She called out, pulling her baby protectively against her chest. "I'm sorry, she wouldn't sleep so I brought her out here to try and get her to fall asleep! I'm just going to go home!" She called out, stepping back carefully without taking her eyes off of Ryoga's tree. He narrowed his shocked eyes, watching angrily. Ranma was acting like a weakling! Backing away from a fight, stuttering, and what was with the baby?! "So you faked your death Ranma? You coward!" Ryoga snarled as he stepped away from the tree into the moonlight. Ranma's eyes widened in recognition, shock, and… Fear? "R-Ryoga! What are you doing here?!" She gasped and stumbled slightly, stepping away from him again. "Shut up! How dare you put everyone through that sorrow! You bastard! I'll kill you for real!" Ryoga roared as he suddenly dashed towards Ranma, his index finger raised in a disturbingly familiar stance. Ranma gaped in shock, almost forgetting to dodge him as a loud explosion of dust and rock exploded underneath her. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" Ryoga yelled as Ranma scrambled to her feet shakily.
"Ryoga, stop!" Ranma screamed, her form shaky as she stood to face him, scratches starting to bleed slightly across her face where rubble had managed to hit her. "Not this time Ranma! Your tricks have gone too far! I can't believe I ever mourned you!" Ryoga pulled himself out of the rubble and dusted himself off. "You even made Akane cry for you, you heartless bastard!" Ryoga clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked threateningly. "Now die!" He suddenly dashed forward, his arm cocked back as he prepared to take Ranma's head off. She suddenly screamed and turned away from him, falling to the ground and curling herself around the screaming baby still in her arms protectly. "Ryoga, please! The baby!" She wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ryoga stumbled slightly, his punch losing almost all momentum as he stood over her, shaking with rage and shock. "W-what? Baby?" He looked down in confusion, then paled as he remembered the baby in Ranma's arms.
"O-oh crap! I forgot! Y-you have a baby?! What the hell is going on Ranma?!" He demanded angrily, suddenly leaning down and grabbing Ranma's collar, lifting her easily into the air while she let out a frightened whimper. She looked down at his twisted, hate filled face and gulped. She needed to defuse him, quick! "D-don't hurt our baby Ryoga!" She suddenly squeaked out. Ryoga blinked for a moment before her words finally registered in his brain, causing his grip to harden around her jacket. "W-what do you mean, 'Our baby'?" He growled in confusion. Ranma quickly moved her shaky hand up to turn the baby in her arms, still screaming and pulled up the beanie on it's little head. "S-see?! Sh-she has your black hair, a-and your brown eyes!" Ranma stammered out. "She's our daughter!" Ryoga stared at the child in shock and disbelief, shaking his head after a moment and looking back at Ranma in anger.
"You think I'm dumb enough to fall for that? That you and I had a kid?! You idiot! I should kill you just for trying to make me look like a fool! Who's baby did you kidnap, you fiend?!" He snarled and shook Ranma by her collar. "N-no! Look!" Ranma pointed at her belly, where a long, fresh, pink scar marred her belly, underneath her belly button. Ryoga looked at it in shock, then slowly looked back up at Ranma's terrified face. "That… That's a-" Ryoga stammered as sudden realization came over him. "My C Section scar!" Ranma quickly affirmed, nodding and shivering slightly as the cold fall air brushed against her bare belly. She watched Ryoga's expression carefully, setting her feet apart as he suddenly fainted, dropping her safely to her feet before he promptly fainted. Ranma let out a shaky, relieved breath she didn't realize she was holding, falling to knees as her trembling legs gave out from underneath her. She looked down at the baby in her arms, who had finally started to quiet down, with a breath of relief. She looked down at Ryoga and sighed, leaning down to throw his arm over her shoulder and letting out a soft grunt in exertion as she pulled him to his feet. "Nngh..! R-Ryoga no baka…" She grumbled as she dragged him into the night.
Author's note
I know, I know, the writing isn't that great. *sweatdrop* But it's been such a long time since I've written anything more than a short, I just need to dust off the old keyboard. Please stick with me! I have a beginning and an end to this story, I just need to flesh it out so it's not just a jumbled mess! I promise I'll get into writing longer and longer chapters, but of course they'll take a little longer to come out! Comments and criticism are always welcome and appreciated, but otherwise, I hope you enjoy this story as it progresses!