** I do not own Ranma 1/2. That masterpiece is the property of Rumiko Takahashi.**
Ranma's mother set up the dojo for a large meeting, since it was expected there would be too large a gathering to be held inside the Tendo house. She set up chairs in a circle and smiled at her work. This will work just fine.
Genma entered and smiled at his wife. "Just think, we may actually be rid of these curses once and for all. No more Mr. Panda," Genma beamed.
Nodoka smiled back at her husband. "And it could be the end of our son turning into a girl. He can be a full manly man again."
Genma nodded just as Cologne hopped in with Shampoo and Mousse following behind her.
"Welcome Elder Cologne! You and your family can sit wherever you'd like. You're the first ones here, so we are just waiting a few moments for the others to arrive. Ranma and Akane should be home from school shortly." Nodoka smiled and welcomed her guests.
"Thank you for having us," Cologne bowed to Nodoka and then directed the younger amazons to be seated. They took the three seats along the back, Cologne on the far left, then Shampoo to her right, and then Mousse. Cologne looked at Shampoo and reminded her that she was to remain silent. Cologne and Shampoo had a long talk previously about how Shampoo was to behave while at the Tendo dojo, especially knowing Miyuki would be in attendance. Shampoo looked extremely annoyed and rolled her eyes at her great grandmother. Nodoka and Genma seated themselves across from them on the other side of the dojo.
Ranma and Akane walked silently through the front door of the house. They walked up to their rooms to put the school bags away before meeting with the others in the dojo. Ranma sat next to his father, so Akane chose to sit at the opposite end, beside Cologne. Nodoka raised an eyebrow as she noticed this distance between her son and the girl they had chosen for him to marry. Ranma felt his mother's eyes on him and sheepishly sank into his chair.
Soun joined them and took a seat next to Nodoka. "I'm not going anywhere, but I do want to know what's going on," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest with a serious look on his face.
There was a light rapping at the door as Ryoga slowly and timidly let himself in. Nodoka smiled at him, "Hello Ryoga! Welcome! Take a seat." Ryoga took a seat next to Mousse, looking at the floor and feeling very awkward. He made sure to not travel away from the dojo the night prior and hid where he could still see it. Thankfully, Ukyo had found him and brought him some food. Ryoga wasn't about to miss his opportunity to go back to Jusenkyo and rid himself of his curse.
"Is that everyone?" Nodoka asked, looking at Ranma.
"She said she would come. Give her a minute." Ranma told his mother.
Moments later a large gust of very cold wind blew through the dojo. All the members present at the meeting shivered. "What was that?" Cologne asked. "It shouldn't be cold today." Ranma noticed a small amount of tiny snowflakes in the wind as it slowly subsided and the regular warmth of the afternoon returned. Akane rubbed her arms for warmth. "That was weird."
A few moments later, Miyuki appeared in the doorway in a beautiful green kimono that matched her eyes perfectly. Ranma lit up and smiled at her. Shampoo glared at Miyuki while Akane looked away.
Nodoka eyed the girl in the doorway. "Come in, dear. Take a seat anywhere you'd like."
Miyuki smiled at Nodoka, "Thank you, ma'am." Miyuki took the seat on the other side of Ranma, touching his arm and smiling at him as she sat down. Ranma looked at her with a stupid grin on his face. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You're late. I missed you." Nodoka frowned. She didn't hear what her son had said to the girl, but she knew that this was not what they had planned for him.
Nodoka stood and addressed the attendees. "Thank you everyone for taking the time to attend this impromptu meeting. I have asked you all here to discuss the prospect of some or all of you taking the journey back to Jusenkyo. Apparently, the cursed springs have been restored to their former functionality. This news comes from a," Nodoka eyed Miyuki and Ranma, "friend of Ranma's. I have invited her to join this meeting. Dear, could you explain to us how you know Jusenkyo is restored?"
Miyuki smiled at Nodoka. "Yes, ma'am. My family has confirmed that the floods receded a month ago and that the springs are back to working exactly as they were before." Miyuki looked around at the other guests, trying to think of how to explain without outing herself as a tennyo. All eyes were on her as she fumbled through her thoughts. "My family.. they.. vacationed near there and saw the springs for themselves."
Ranma smiled at Miyuki's feeble attempt at stretching the truth.
Nodoka nodded, accepting this explanation. "Then it appears that there remains the opportunity for those that are Jusenkyo cursed to return to seek their cure. Elder Cologne, are your two tribe members plagued with this curse ready to accompany the others? I know that my husband, son and Ryoga have already decided that they will definitely be going."
Cologne nodded. "Yes. We know this trip will be more successful than the last. The threat of Jusendo is not current and it allows for easier access to the springs."
Nodoka smiled at Cologne. "Very well. I believe that next Sunday will be an appropriate time to depart. It will give Ranma time to gather his homework, take care of his other responsibilities and celebrate his birthday before they leave. I will make arrangements with the school in the meantime. Does this work for you, Elder Cologne?" Nodoka asked.
Cologne nodded. "They are ready when you are. I will prepare them for their journey."
Nodoka looked over at Akane. "What are your intentions regarding this trip, Akane? Will you be joining them?"
Ranma flinched. Please don't.
Akane nodded. "I intend to. I was able to handle myself last time when the threat was greater. Therefore, I would like to help my friends."
Ranma started to sweat. Ugh. No. I don't know if I can handle that. Miyuki grabbed Ranma's hand and smiled up at him. "She will be okay, Ranma. I promise." She said quietly to him before releasing his hand, feeling Nodoka's eyes drill fire into her.
Nodoka nodded. "Very well. Soun, are you in agreement?" She looked to Soun.
Soun nodded. "Yes. I think it's important she help her fiance find his cure. I know my baby girl can handle herself. She has proven this."
Nodola smiled. "That settles it. We will meet at the loading dock where they set sail previously at 8am Sunday morning. Thank you all for coming." She dismissed them.
As people started to get up and leave, Nodoka turned to Ranma and Miyuki. "Miyuki, I'd like to have a word with you." She insisted.
Miyuki nodded and walked away with Nodoka to a more private space to talk as Ranma watched after them nervously. Nodoka turned to Miyuki. "Why are you going to Jusenkyo? Ranma has enough people who care about him that will be accompanying him. Why are you inserting yourself into this journey?" She asked her.
Miyuki smiled at Nodoka. Miyuki brought up just a touch of her divine energy to soothe Nodoka's emotional state, but not enough to emit a glow. "Ma'am, I need to attend Jusenkyo for my own purposes. It is very important that I get there as soon as we are able. It was my idea to make this trip and I asked Ranma to join me. We can all help each other."
Nodoka smiled, her heart feeling a little lighter and less angry with the girl in front of her. "Will you share with me what these purposes are?" She asked.
"They are very personal and very crucial. I will give permission for Ranma to share this information with you as he deems appropriate." Miyuki bowed to Nodoka.
Nodoka accepted this answer. "You seem like a very nice girl, Miyuki. I can see why my son is drawn to you. That does not mean I approve of your relationship when my husband and I have betrothed him to Akane."
Miyuki nodded. "I understand, ma'am. I hope one day we can all be friends," she said, smiling at Ranma's mother.
Nodoka smiled back. Maybe she isn't so bad.
Ranma approached Ryoga. "What's up, man? Where did you go? Akane is pissed at both of us."
Ryoga frowned. "Well, I told her. You don't have to worry about P-Chan anymore. Hopefully, this whole trip works out this time and I won't have to, either."
Ranma sighed. "I know it will work. I trust Miyuki." He smiled over at the girl talking to his mother. He could tell she was winning his mother over.
Ryoga smacked Ranma in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Ranma asked in mild pain, mostly just slightly offended.
"You can stop being so obvious about it. Akane knows you're into her, you don't need to keep rubbing it in," Ryoga said, glaring at Ranma.
"Sorry, I didn't realize I was being obvious." Ranma paused. "Do you know that Miyuki admitted that I would be more drawn to her because of divine energy? She even said that, because she liked me, that it would be amplified. It makes me wonder. She did say it wouldn't happen if the feelings weren't already there, but I really don't know what that means. If this trip works out for her then she will be spending most of her time as a regular human, so that would stop and I could figure out my feelings for real, right?"
"Don't ask me, Ranma. I don't even think she knows for sure. It's never been done before, remember? Why a tennyo would want to live as a human is beyond me. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but then again I've never been a divine being. Do you think there's a Jusenkyo spring for that?" Ryoga joked.
Ranma chuckled. "You never know, man." Ranma thought for a moment. "Hey, how are we going to make sure we don't lose you before we leave?" He asked.
"Oh, uh, Ukyo said I could stay with her. She's going to come get me soon. She was going to help me find Akari, too. I haven't seen her since before Jusendo. She's got to be annoyed with me by now," Ryoga explained.
"Doubtful. That girl was very much in love with you the last I saw her." Ranma smiled.
Akane looked at the boys, frowned and then walked out of the dojo.
"Ouch. She really hates me right now. This trip could be really uncomfortable if she's coming," Ryoga told Ranma.
"I'm sure she will calm down enough to talk it out with both of us before we leave. She was able to get along with Miyuki last night rather well. Miyuki is pretty easy to get along with, though." Ranma looked back to see Miyuki give his mother a hug. Ranma smiled. "I knew there had to be something special about her. Girls like her just don't exist in a normal world."
"Ranma, I can tell you're quite smitten. I've never seen you like this with anyone else. I thought for sure you were going to end up with Akane, especially after Jusendo. I've never seen a man so incredibly destroyed when you thought she was gone. However, I've never seen you affectionate with anyone outside of a spell or neko-ken. I mean, you've had moments with Akane, but with Miyuki you were all in from the start. It's hard because I can see how happy this girl is making you, but I hate how it is hurting Akane," Ryoga explained.
"I know. I don't know what to do. I care about Akane a lot." Ranma said.
"But do you love Akane?" Ryoga asked.
"I do," Ranma said without hesitation.
"Then how can you even look at another girl?" Ryoga asked.
"I don't know. I honestly don't even understand what happened myself. I've thought a lot about it. I need time to figure all this out. I need to help Miyuki and see if her becoming human will alter the feelings I'm having. I need to know if my feelings are even real. I don't think I should be this infatuated with a girl I just met, so I question it a lot. I hate hurting Akane, but if my feelings, the way they are right now, are actually real then maybe Akane wasn't meant to be my wife. Maybe she was meant to be my best friend. I mean, other than Ukyo," Ranma looked at Ryoga, "and maybe you."
Ryoga chuckled. "Wow, Ranma. I have never known you to be the sentimental type. Is this girl changing you? If you figure this out and your feelings are real, then I will support you. I'm sure everyone will. It's just hard for anyone else to understand when no one even really knows her. Especially Akane. Akane risked her life for you and was ready to marry you a month ago."
"I know, but if I can't even understand it myself, then how can I expect anyone else to," Ranma said.
Ryoga nodded. "Hey, what's this about a birthday party?" He asked.
Ranma groaned. "My mother is making me. She didn't get to throw any parties for me basically my whole life, so she's taking years of pent up maternal instincts and putting it all into my birthday. I really have no desire for a birthday party. I'm only turning 18." He explained.
"That's too bad, because the rest of us are planning on having a blast!" Ryoga chuckled.
"Us?" Ranma asked.
"Your mother already invited everyone, including me. Hopefully things are less tense with Akane by then," Ryoga sighed.
"Great. Thanks, Mom." Ranma looked over to where his mother was originally speaking with Miyuki, only to see his mother leaving the dojo and Miyuki walking over to them.
"I think your mother will be more accepting from now on," Miyuki smiled brightly.
"What did you do?" Ranma asked with mild suspicion.
Miyuki laughed. "I know you don't understand a lot about tennyo yet, Ranma, but I assure you we are not evil masterminds."
"I didn't mean.. I mean.. what happened?" Ranma fixed himself.
"I'll admit, I used just a touch of divine energy to make it a little easier for her to accept me. Her hang ups about the entire situation were not going to allow her to see me objectively without it. She understands that I care about you and wish for nothing but your happiness. We have that in common." Miyuki looked around. "Where's Akane?" She asked.
Ranma shrugged, "I think she went in the house. She's pretty ticked off with Ryoga and me at the moment," he told her.
Miyuki looked at Ranma with concern. "I hate when people are upset. I much prefer having fun. That's why I like Circus so much! Hey, would you mind if I invited Akane out with me tonight? Maybe it will be what we both need," she asked.
"That's up to Akane to decide. I wish I could be the one to hang out with you tonight," Ranma sighed, "but you and Akane getting along would mean so much. Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind."
Miyuki smiled at Ranma. "I was kind of made to be," she said, winking at him.
Ukyo lightly knocked on the open door. "Knock, knock," she said. She smiled at the boys, but her smile dropped when she saw Miyuki. "What's going on here, guys?" She asked.
Miyuki smiled at Ukyo. "I'm just about to go invite Akane out for a girls night. Would you like to join us?" Miyuki asked.
Ukyo raised an eyebrow at her. "If Akane wants to go and wants me to come, you two let me know. Right now, I have to escort this directionally challenged man to my place so we don't lose him." Ukyo looked at Ryoga, "You ready?"
Ryoga nodded. "Bye, guys. I will see you both soon."
Akane was sitting at her desk in her room aggressively doing her homework. Miyuki walked to the partially opened door and could see Akane raging. Miyuki took a deep breath. Ok, I can do this. She's upset. I can help her. That's what I would do in the heavens.. although, people aren't angry like this up there. I can use divine energy to at least help, but I feel like that may make things worse. I really like Akane. She's important to Ranma, so she's important to me, too.
"What do you want, Miyuki?" Akane looked up, but didn't turn around to confirm who was sitting in her doorway.
"Oh, um, I was just," she took a cautious step inside Akane's room, "looking for you. I didn't want to intrude. I wanted to see if maybe you'd like to hang out with me tonight. We could go to Circus. Ukyo said she might come, too. It can be a girls night." Miyuki smiled. That wasn't so bad.
Akane turned to look at Miyuki with what seemed like fire in her eyes. Miyuki retracted her step into the room quickly. "Why would I want to hang out with you? You interfered in my life and have been flaunting it around. You knew we were engaged! Why would you go after a man who's engaged to someone else?!" Akane snapped.
"I.. I'm.." Miyuki started.
"Get out of my room. We are not friends. I am going to Jusenkyo to help my actual friends, not you!" Akane continued.
"I'm so sorry, Akane. I will leave you alone." Miyuki turned and quickly left.
Akane sighed. Wow. I kind of scared myself there. I didn't realize how angry I was feeling. She deserved that, though. Right?
Miyuki didn't know what to think. No mortal has every yelled at her before. Her siblings up in the heavens would sometimes, but never like that. Miyuki felt her eyes moisten. Am I.. crying? She wiped a tear that finally made its escape. I need to get out of here. She moved quickly to leave the residence, walking straight past Ranma without stopping to say anything.
"Miyuki!" Ranma ran over to her. "What's wrong?"
Miyuki tried to keep walking away from Ranma, but he grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to look at him. "Why are you crying? What happened?" he asked, slightly frantic.
"It's nothing, Ranma. I'm just not used to people not liking me. It's hard to think that I've actually done something to hurt someone, especially when what hurt them has made me so happy." Miyuki's lower lip started to tremble lightly. "I don't know how to make this better without walking away from you."
Ranma's jaw almost hit the floor. "What are you talking about? You're not walking away from me. We are going to Jusenkyo." Ranma insisted.
"Maybe you should all go without me and find your cures. Maybe I don't belong down here. Maybe I should go home," Miyuki said, looking miserable.
Ranma embraced her by pulling her into a tight hug. "No. You belong here with me. We will work this out with Akane," he told her.
Miyuki let the tears go and let herself cry for the very first time in her life. She felt like she was overreacting, but she couldn't help but cry for the sadness she caused in Akane. Ranma hated when girls cried, but with Miyuki there was something even worse about it. He wasn't quite sure why it felt worse, but it was a significantly different feeling.
"What the hell?!" Nabiki came in the front door in a mildly wet panic. "There's a random snow storm outside! It's late spring! How is it snowing? Especially that hard?!" Nabiki cried out to no one in particular as she kicked off her shoes and carried on in the opposite direction.
Ranma lowered his eyebrows and thought for a minute. He held Miyuki a little tighter, lightly rubbed her back and hushed her gently. After a few moments, he spoke to her. "Hey, Miyuki?"
"Hmm..?" she responded between sniffles.
"Are.. you making it snow, by chance?" Ranma asked carefully.
Miyuki's eyes widened. "Oh my. I might have. I'm so sorry.' Miyuki looked terrified.
Ranma and Miyuki looked out the window. The snow was already starting to fade as Miyuki regained her composure. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that would happen." she said, and sniffed again. "My sister is not going to be happy with me."
Ranma thought for a moment. "Your sister.. when she appeared there were crashing sounds like a lot of lighting and her name is Arashi.. and your name... does your family affect the weather?" Ranma asked incredulously.
Miyuki nodded.
"So, if you stayed human forever or something happened to you while human, would snow still exist?" Ranma asked.
Miyuki looked at him confused. "I.. think so?" she sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Ranma, Akane loves you. I hurt her by coming into your life. I should never have come. I have heard many stories about tennyo coming down to Earth and falling in love with a human, but I didn't think it would happen to me nor did I realize how quickly it could happen. It wasn't fair of me to come down and put you all in this position. I don't belong here, either." Miyuki looked away from him. "I need to go home."
Ranma furrowed his eyebrows and pulled her back to look at him. "No. You belong here. You deserve a life you want. You didn't force me into this. I am to blame for hurting Akane. She was my fiancé. It's not your fault, Miyuki!" Ranma pleaded with her.
Miyuki slowly started to form a glow around her. "I'm sorry, Ranma. I need to give Akane her life back. I should never have stolen it from her." Miyuki said, looking him in the eyes. She leaned over and kissed his lips passionately, grabbing his face while his arms wrapped around her waist and up her back. Miyuki broke the kiss.
"Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" Ranma asked frantically.
Miyuki smiled sadly at him. "Because I have to. Tennyo don't hurt people. Goodbye, Ranma. I love you." She paused to look at him before turning her body and disappearing, the same way her sister had done.
Ranma stood shocked.
"Ranma?" Akane said quietly from behind him on the stairs.
Ranma's mouth was slightly opened expressing the complete and utter shock he felt while his face bore a tortured expression. He slowly turned to look at Akane, "She's.. gone."
** Arashi = Storm **
** Miyuki = Beautiful Snow. **