So show me how you do that Kaminariken attack again, Ranma said, wordlessly. As was the norm, when the "twins" were together in private, they never spoke...verbally. Think I've almost got the hang of it.
Couldn't if you tried, bro. Your ki's not right for it, Ranko said, authoritatively. That's why you or Pop'll never be able to use my Phoenix variation of the Saotome AGMA kenpo. It was designed with a female in mind. She hooked a thumb at herself. Namely, me. Maybe I will teach Shi-chan, though...
A voice called to them in their heads, as Ranko's Phoenix Eye talisman glowed a soft, non-intrusive blue. Lunch time!
A second voice joined in. Better say your prayers!
Both Saotome siblings felt the sting of pain, followed by, That HURT, Akane!
Serves you right for saying that, Shampoo! You know I spent hours with this food!
Brother fondly looked to sister. Give somebody a magical pendant-
Sister lovingly looked back. -and they think they have a real psychic link with us. Ranko smiled. If they only knew...
He spoke. "C'mon, we better go face our fates bravely before Akane gets even worse ideas."
"Got a question for you, bro: Didja ever see that one Sigourney Weaver film, Alien?"
Both Saotomes walked off their sparring point in the water, to join their family and friends for lunch. It was a nice Saturday, the Fourth of July. They were all in Carmel.
The previous days had been exhausting, to say the least. All of the San Francisco contingent filing Police and Insurance Reports. Dealing with the "psychic broadcast" that Ranko had somehow sent to her loved ones around the world. Healing. Getting together to help rebuild the Magic Duck and Pier 39 (a job fully donated by Kunotech Construction Corp.-good thing that it was a construction company that KTech had just bought). Dealing with Ranma going into the "Cat Fu" after Mige pounced on him one morning. More healing. Sending Mige to live at Ronnie's for the rest of the Saotomes' stay. Still more healing. The fact that the coin pendant that Jiu gave Akane allowed her a limited amount of the link that the Saotomes shared; the same went for the other half of the Phoenix Eyes that Ranko gave to Shampoo-she said that this had been the Chinese Amazon's true birthright, she was entitled to half. Even more healing. Shampoo actually getting a new shoulder length hairdo to make up for the burns. A twelve hour standoff between Shampoo and Ronnie over Mousse. And yet more healing.
There were also several changes that everybody had to deal with. The first was Ranko's announcement that she no longer wanted to be called "Ran-chan"; she was not and never would be "Ranma-chan". The second was when Ranma and Akane said that they were proud that she'd finally become her own woman and that she could come home; to which Ranko replied that she was home, she'd found her place in life, where she belonged. The third was the CNN report that informed the world that there had been a 8.2 earthquake in the Quinhai region of China; no casualties reported, but the area known as the Jusenkyo valley became a below-sea level canyon, and the mountain known as Quanjing suddenly disappeared. The fourth, well...
As the group munched on sub sandwiches that Akane had bought (to everyone's relief), Nabiki turned to her husband. "Oh, Kuno-baby, forgot to tell you. Dr. Rosenberg found out why I've been having those dizzy spells for the last few weeks."
Shampoo, leaning on Mousse, looked at Nabiki. "Tate mentioned something about that. Why didn't you call? Never mind that, though-what was the prognosis?" She also took the time to pinch Ronnie, who was on Mousse's other arm, much to his discomfort.
She took a sip of her soda, then looked at the concerned faces of her family and friends. "He says we'll find out in about seven months or so." She took a small bite of her sandwich, and continued. "Personally, I was leaning towards Eric, if it's a boy, or Ashley, if it's a girl." Looking at Tate, she said, "Unless you want Japanese names..."
Tate stopped, mouth agape at mid-bite. His bite still unchewed, he stammered, "Mmpmh...a...mmmph?!"
"Sorry," she blinked, then ran a finger along the trace of his jawline. "Didn't catch that. By the way, swallow that, wouldja? It's really disgusting!"
He quickly swallowed, then gulped. "I'm gonna be...a father?" She nodded yes.
Ranma clapped Kuno on his back. "That's great!"
"I get to be an aunt again!" Akane cheered.
Nabiki looked at the other two girls. "Same with you, 'Aunt Shan Fu', 'Aunt Ranko'. Don't think you're getting off the hook, either."
Both ladies replied in stereo. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Maria chirped, "I'll bring the champagne and flowers!"
Ronnie rubbed the pinch mark Shampoo had given her. "Maria, champagne's for parties! Don't know about the flowers, though..."
"Oh. Oopsie."
Libby chuckled, rolling her eyes in familiar amusement. "Same old Maria."
The girls all hugged Nabiki, while Ranma stared at his brother-in-law. "Hey, Tatewaki, you can snap out of it now." Kuno continued to stare into space, so Ranma began to shake him. "Hey, man, wake up! You still at one with your body? Starfleet Command to Enterprise, he-llo..."
Mousse smirked, looking at his watch. "I give it an hour before he comes back to reality." He then peered at the statuesque Kuno. "Then again..."
Tyler smiled, "I say two."
Gil disagreed, stating, "A week, at least."
Tate Kuno was off in la-la-land for three hours.
As the sun began to set, Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, and Tate sat on a blanket, as Ranko and Gil flew a Chinese Dragon kite, and Shampoo and Ronnie were fighting over Mousse. Tyler and Maria wandered off to happily chat, maybe ride the carousel. They watched all that went about in the world, conversing in their native language while waiting for the fireworks show to start. At least, that's what it looked like.
Tate commented to all, staring at Ranko and Gil. "Whaddya think?"
Ranma answered. "Well, I can answer for her. She's attracted to him, but time will tell..."
Nabiki said, "That's great. She deserves somebody in her life. That is, somebody single, for a change."
"You know it was the gem," Ranma said, coming to his sister's defense.
"I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was, she may spend the rest of her days repairing the damage that the demon did to her life. There may even be people that may not believe her. We all do, but what about Kodachi? Or Mikado? You know what Azusa wanted-still wants to-do to her."
"Pigtail will handle it in her own way, same as always," Tate replied. "That's plainly obvious."
Akane watched the other romantic crisis unfold. Nodding in the direction of Shampoo, Mousse, and Ronnie, she commented, "I'd like to see how that turns out."
"Mousse, I thought this was supposed to be a romantic trip!"
"Leave me alone, Ronnie!"
"I don't see you putting up much of a fight, Mousse."
"She won't get off my arm, Shampoo!"
"Sure she won't. You're obviously not trying hard enough. I thought you loved me. How could you do this to me?"
"Hey, I'll do him. It's clear he doesn't want you."
"Shut up, Ronnie..."
"Make me."
The Saotomes and Kunos winced in sympathy as Shampoo delivered a ki-charged punch towards Ronnie, who ducked and let the shot hit Mousse. They then watched as the girls began a full-out catfight, inadvertently trampling and stomping on Mousse.
Nabiki looked at Ranma and Akane. "Gee, does that look familiar to you two?"
Ranma and Akane looked at each other uneasily, then began laughing. Ranma answered for them both: "What is it you Americans always say? Oh yeah-'We plead the 5th.'"
Tate countered, wide smile on face. "Surely, though, you can't resist watching Shampoo getting her just desserts, right?"
A wicked grin beamed on Akane's face. "You know what they say about karma..."
Pretending to admire the view of the sun sinking behind the horizon, Ranko stole a glance at Gil when he wasn't looking. The date they went out on last week was nice and platonic, a pair of friends just going to dinner and the movies together. But he's seeing Maria, I think. I'll have to ask Shampoo. Still, he's such a babe...
Gil caught her glance. "Thinking about something, Ranko?"
"Nothing much. Just thinking about how happy I am to be here." Beside you, that is.
Shampoo sat on Ronnie, the other girl completely buried in sand and incapacitated for the moment. She used that moment to steal a kiss from Mousse. "I love you, Muu Tsu. Don't forget that."
Mousse couldn't help himself. He tried his old tactics once more. "So when are we getting married, Shan Fu?"
A playful, yet definite shadow crossed her face. "Don't push your luck, duck boy. Still," she said, resting her head against his arm, "You never know. Just be patient."
"Been that way for 26 years. I have no intention of stopping now."
She leaned in for another kiss. "Good for y-" The words stopped as the pair kissed once more, cherishing the love that had somehow managed to survive through 26 years, tons of troubles, and two continents.
As the fireworks began to reach for the sky, the former Chinese Amazon felt fireworks of a different kind racing though her heart.
Shan Fu Lao decided this had to be the best day of her life yet.