Chapter 2: Preparations and Warnings

July 17th, four days before the wedding.

The sun was just starting to peak up above the distant treetops, bringing the sleepy city of Tokyo to life with its warm beams that accompanied the new day. A family of doves took to the sky's moments later, calling out to the world around them. Beating their wings, the winds steered them towards a barren pasture filled with tasty worms. Below, a stray cat hopped up onto a half open trashcan in hopes of finding some scraps of food dumped there from the night before. The can crashed over from the cat's weight, sending the animal skidding back into the alleyway in fright.

People quickly roused as alarm clocks accompanied the start of the day. Small clusters of cars started appearing on the stretch of highways and streets. The people inside the cars yawned audibly, drinking badly needed cups of coffee on their ways to work. The cycle of activity and day-to-day life stared again, reborn from the cool period that went with night and blessed sleep.

In Nerima many of the residence still slept on, defying the start of the new day. On the roof of the Tendo dojo, a family of sparrows burst into song, accompanying the rise of patriarch Soun Tendo from a long and refreshing sleep. Tying on a bath robe, he went out into the dining room and stretched loudly. The sound was slightly muffled by the blue toothbrush sticking out from his mouth. He quickly brushed his pearly whites, washing the paste from the brush into the sink.

As he was awake unusually early, no was awake yet, not even dutiful Kasumi, who was usually up before anyone to fix breakfast for the dojo's many occupants. With all the excitement that greeted the family on a daily basis, exhaustion usually kept the majority asleep until well past seven. For Soun, it was something else than his alarm clock that had caused him to awaken at such an early hour. It was his nerves. It wasn't the usual shot nerves that he got when a bad thing happened or a new enemy kidnapped his daughters. No, this was more of an anxious and exciting feeling. He had good reason to feel this way, he justified to himself. His baby girl, Akane, was getting married in three months! The unthinkable and unimaginable was finally happening!

He smiled broadly, taking a drink of water from his cup. Her decision to accept Ranma's proposal, even after the two had turned over a new leaf, had been nothing short of remarkable. Looking back, he realized that he had pushed them together too much in the past. All it had made the two stubborn teens do was fight to stay apart. If he had been patient and waited for nature to take its course, they might have come together quicker. Still, all in all, it was a wonderful and exciting time. Everything had worked out according to his and Genma's plan, even if it was later than expected.

Opening the sliding screen door, he sat down and basked in the early morning sun, yawning loudly. Feeling refreshed, he leaned back and lit a cigarette. Taking a puff, he savored its flavor and allowed the smoke to flare out of his nostrils. Lazy trails of smoke floated up from the cigarette, dissipating quietly into the wind.

It wasn't that he had ever had any doubt of the two and their love for each other. Such was actually far from the truth. It was just that the two teens were so clumsy at love and so unsure of themselves. That had been why they'd worked so hard to show their children just how wonderful they were together. The love had always been there. When danger came, Ranma would go to lengths to protect his friends. But when Akane was in danger Ranma was like an entirely different person. The boy just hadn't been mature enough to realize that the fear he felt when Aakne was in danger spoke volumes about how he really felt for the girl.

But all that was in the past now, Soun reminded himself quickly. Ranma and Akane were finally ready and the wedding was almost here. Things were finally going as they should and in the right speed and time. In a place such as Nerima, it was wonder among wonders.

There would be quite a few changes following all these wonderful changes, Soun reminded himself. Ranma and Akane would sleep in the same bed, children would eventually arrive, and someday he would be a grandpa. It was all so very strange to think about.

He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. Perhaps he was thinking too far ahead. The two were only sixteen after all. There was still high school to finish and the dojo to take over. Akane had years to go before she would be ready to have children.

If only Misaki were here to watch her daughter's growth into womanhood. Soun sat back against the house and thought of his wife as a bittersweet sensation of pain and love tugged at his heart. He smiled softly, thinking back. No, maybe Ranma and Akane's wouldn't be so strange after all. He and his wife had gone through the very same thing so many years ago. It was the cycle of nature and humanity. No one could change that.

Tears started trickling down his face. Misaki had been such a sweet and vibrant woman. She had still been so full of life when the cancer had taken her from him with its hideous claws of tragedy. That's why he hated going to hospitals; it brought back too many painful memories from the past.

He had been helpless to save her, a fact that brought fits of frustration to the surface every time he thought about it. All he had been able to do was watch helplessly as she wasted away and died in his arms. Even after so many years he could still picture that last day he had seen her. He could still see her beautiful eyes close for the last time, never to gaze upon him again. A long sigh had followed as her soul left the dead vessel, disappearing into a happily afterlife she so rightly deserved.

Yet, amidst the grief there was also a sense of happiness. He had, after all, spent many wonderful years with her and fathered three beautiful daughters. He smiled again, reflecting within his pool of memories. Akane looked more and more like her mother every year. It showed from her smile to the way she moved. Even her laugh was the same. It was a clear, joyful sound more beautiful than any mother nature could make.

He turned his mind to other matters. Today would prove to be a busy day filled with dozens of preparations for the wedding to attend to. He had thrown himself into the wedding planning wholeheartedly by using most of his life savings to prepare the dojo to accommodate all the guests he expected to show up. In fact, he realized suddenly, there were still a lot of decorations to put up and the cake would be arriving today as well as the ice fountain. He also made a mental note to call and request a status on his suit.

Soun was determined not to let the same fiasco that had destroyed the last wedding occur again. But, most importantly of all, he would have to have a man-to-man talk with Ranma on the important features of the life they were about to enter, the boy helpful hints and strategy on how to make his relationships with his new wife as pleasant as his had been with Misaki.

He took another puff from his cigarette and watched the morning sun creep up over the tops of the buildings. Yes, there was so much to do, and not nearly enough time to do it in.

Ukyo sat up in her room dressed in a crisp, white negligee, drinking a cup of coffee and trying to settle her nerves. Looking at herself in the mirror, the chef chuckled. She almost felt like she was the one getting married. This thought worked against her and she bowed her head, sighing dramatically.

It just wasn't in the cards yet. Besides, she had more than enough to handle right now. She drew up a mental list of things she had yet to do. After the decision had been made to temporarily close her restaurant of a couple of days so she could help Mr. Tendo decorate the dojo, Ukyo had thrown her full support into helping to make Akane's new wedding the best it could. The day before, she had gone shopping with Akane and the two had found, (in their opinion's,) the most gorgeous and breathtaking wedding dress in all of Japan. They had decided to go with a western style wedding instead of Japanese style and in Ukyo's mind there wasn't a prettier dress in the entire nation. The prices were outlandishly high and clearly reflected this mindset, but the girls couldn't have cared less. Price meant nothing in a situation such as this. Marriage only came once in a girl's lifetime!

Akane's dress was made of silk and left her arms and shoulders uncovered. On her hands she would wear a pair of soft white gloves that came up to the middle of her forearm. The back of her dress converged into a large bow that spilled out across her back. The dress was long, running a foot or two past her on the floor. On her face she would wear the typical soft see-through veil.

Ukyo looked towards her closet where her dress was. As the maid of honor, hers was a dark red dress that was simple yet elegant in design to avoid drawing attention away from the bride. She decided, after much coaxing from Akane, to put her hair down for the event.

After that, the two had gone to a jewelry shop to pick up the gold ring Akane had ordered. Rushing out the store giggling all the while, the two girls took their dresses back to Ukyo's restaurant and hid them from prying boy's eyes.

Ukyo looked towards her closet where the dresses waited in secret. As the maid of honor, hers was a dark red dress that was simple yet elegant in design to avoid drawing attention away from the bride. Ukyo decided, after much coaxing from Akane, to put her hair down for the event.

Ukyo drained her cup of coffee and got up to open the shades, letting the warm sun enter the room and warm her naked legs. She stretched happily, throwing her arms out wide. In just a week everything would change even more than it had over the last few months. Everyone was preparing in their own way. Shampoo and Mousse had largely been absent from the picture and Cologne had been attending to Happosai, though all three had formally sent notice that they would not miss the wedding for anything in the world.

Ryoga and Ranma had been just as secret with their going on's as well. Ryoga had rushed off with Ranma every day for the last three days and not come back until early evening each time. If possible, the two were even more nervous than the girls were and dealt with it in a far less graceful manner. Ukyo smiled as she thought of how flustered Ryoga had been acting lately and a giggle slipped through her defenses.

He' so cute! She thought, turning away from the window.

The wedding was doing wonders for deepening her relationship with Ryoga. He'd been wonderfully gallant, caring for her while her ribs and arm had healed from the damage done by Zero. Once she'd regained full mobility they had resumed training and sparing in the morning, running the restaurant by night and spending time together at night.

She realized that in just a week's time Akana and Ranma would be sharing a bed doing this and a little of that and a bright blush touched her cheeks. I wonder when Ryoga and I will… gah! I can't even think about it! Be still my beating heart! Woh, down girl!

She slapped her cheeks, using the pain to get her thoughts in order. There was no way she could share a bed with Ryoga as things stood now. He was far more of a man than before she still had doubts that he wouldn't flood the room with blood from his nose. Besides, she was still in the process of trying to instill some kind of sense of location into his thick skull, though she had a sneaking suspicion that such efforts were ultimately doomed to fail. At least he'd become comfortable in the restaurant to not get lost on his way to the bathroom.

Outside in the hallway, she heard noise from the bathroom as the door opened, revealing a yawning, damp-haired Ryoga. He leaned up against her doorway, squinting against the light. "Mornin' honey."

It still sounded a bit weird to have him call her that, though she too had long since started addressing him differently as well. Gone were the silly and immature "stupid's" and "jackasses". Ryoga was getting more and more in touch with his personal feelings every day, just like Ranma had right before his rematch with Taro. It was making forming a relationship foundation all the easier.

She offered him a cup of coffee which he declined. He quietly stepped into the room, padding over to her and draping his arms over her shoulders, gulping at her naked legs and trying to keep his eyes focused on her face. She felt a small thrill at affecting him with her natural attributes.

"Good moring, sugar! Sleep well?" Ukyo embraced her boyfriend, brazenly running her hand across his strong washboard stomach.

"Yeah. Actually, I slept better than I have in a long time. How about you?"

"I slept pretty well too. I'm still really nervous though. I've got butterflies in my stomach most of the time. Strange isn't it? I mean it's not even my wedding."

Ryoga hugged her tightly. "I'm nervous too, nervous and excited. We've just got to try and calm down and take things one hour at a time, that's all. There's still a lot of stuff to be done before the big day and the last thing we need to do is screw up and forget something on account of shot nerves. We owe those two that much, right?"

Ukyo looked up at Ryoga and was started at the expression that blossomed on his face. It wasn't just a nervousness that he felt. It was more than that. It was...apprehension!

"Ryoga, I'm no mind reader, but I can tell when someone is upset. What's wrong?"

Ryoga sighed. "I didn't want to bother you with this but I got a letter that was sent from Herb. He mailed the letter to the Neko Haunten and it was addressed to Ranma."

"Why would he send a letter addressed to Ranma to Shampoo's restaurant?" Ukyo wanted to know.

"Because the one time he came to Tokyo the only place he visited was that restaurant. Against her better judgment, Cologne read the letter then brought it over to me immediately.

A feeling of dread flared up in Ukyo's gut. "What did it say?"

Ryoga held up a small folded up piece of paper and placed it in her hand. "Read it."

Ranma,

Greetings from China. I wrote this letter to you with the utmost haste for a dire peril is heading to Japan. Allow me to explain.

After returning home to the Musk Dynasty, I found my two body guards Mint and Lime in a jumpy, apprehensive state. This went on for several months as my suspicions grew. Then they would disappear for hours or days at a time, never answering my summons and shirking their duties and responsibilities. I eventually learned that the two were undergoing serious experimentations on themselves funded by a group of Communist scientists. I locked them up in my prison but they escaped before they could stand trial for treason.

I pursued them personally but they got away and slipped into the wilds. I will give chase all the way to Japan but I am not sure I can find them before they strike. While undergoing interrogation they brazenly revealed their intentions. It seems they still dwell on their defeat at the hands of your friends all those years ago and desire revenge. Whatever the Han government did to them, it amplified their hatred at the expense of reason. I promise that if I can intercept them I will do so as far away from your wedding as possible so as to not cause any sort of disturbance on your special day. Still, I caution you to be vigilant.

With sincere regret,

Herb

Ukyo read the letter in stunned silence then read it again to make sure she had read it correctly. A rush of anger gripped her and her hands wadded the defenseless paper up and threw it in the trashcan. "Ryoga, listen to me. This letter doesn't change a thing! Those two are still getting married!"

"It's not that I don't believe it Ukyo. I'm just tired of all these fights. Pantyhose, the Phoenix, the Orochi, Zero, the Oni, Wraith...all of them. I just want to live a normal life with you...and you know… get married too someday.." He blushed deep red.

Ukyo smiled softly and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his forehead. "You have to live the life you were destined to have sugar. We'll talk to Ranma and Akane about this tomorrow and with luck, a plan will develop. If we let the two knuckleheads hinder our plans we'll kick ourselves for it for the rest of our lives."

Ryoga massaged his jaw line, shaking his head. "I thought our situation with the Musk had been resolved the first time around. All these grudges that keep resurfacing are starting to wear me down."

Ukyo leaned up and kissed his chin. "The life of a martial artist really is fraught with perils."

Ryoga couldn't help but crack a small smile. "That's the understatement if I ever heard one. Say, are you sure we should tell Ranma and Akane? I would think the last thing they would need is worrying about anther fight."

Ukyo sighed. "A valid point sugar. However if they do arrive before or during the wedding and they are as strong as Herb spoke, then we'll need everyone ready for anything. It's a sucky situation either way you look at it, but we don't want to hide important information only for someone to get seriously injured as a result."

Ryoga rubbed at his neck. He knew all about the serious injury Mint and Lime could inflict. During their first battle in the mountain forest, Lime had nearly snapped Ryoga's neck during their battle. If the two were even strong now, then the situation did not bode well.

Taking pity on his worried face, she sat down on her bed and patted her lap. "Come here."

Moving around to her side, he dropped to his knees and laid his head in her lap, allowing her soothing hands to massage his neck, rubbing his worries away. There was something about the hands of a beautiful woman that somehow had the mystical power to push even the most blatantly impending doom to the backdrop of his mind.