(Music fades in)

 

(Credits begin)

 

“Jump In (Ranma’s Theme)”

Opening Theme for

An Ending To All Our Days

 

I looked into your eyes,

That first time we met,

I was wondering what you thought,

You were wondering too, I bet.

 

I never thought I could love you,

You never thought you’d love me,

We’re finally together-

 

Jump on in,

Say that I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love.

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

 

We see the world through together eyes,

Together we face what comes ahead,

I’ll never forget what you shared,

And I’ll never forget what you said.

 

The way you smile lights my heart,

You speak my name and it’s the world,

You make me so happy-

 

Jump on in,

Tell me I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love.

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

 

(Guitar solo)

 

The way you smile lights my heart,

You speak my name and it’s the world,

You make me so happy-

 

Jump on in,

Say that I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

 

(Repeat Chorus)

 

(Fade)

 

(Title fades in)

 

An Ending To All Our Days

By

Joshua Trujillo

 

Part 11: Epilogue

 

Dear Diary,

 

    It’s been almost two months since the run in with the demon.  Two months since I lost Ranma.

 

    Tofu confirms with Happosai and Cologne that Ranma’s not really dead. The infection in his back was almost spiritual in nature. That was the one thing that probably saved him in the end. The infection divided itself into six parts, so Happosai and Cologne theorized that Ranma’s soul was also divided by six and set free into the world.  The infection is consuming his body, so there is a limited amount of time in which we can work. The three of them theorized again that if all six pieces were joined back together, the infection would break down and Ranma would be back.

 

    It seemed hopeless at first, and Nabiki actually saved me from doing something incredibly stupid. She later told me that we all grieve in a different manner. Like Shampoo. She and Mousse have already set out for America in search of any pieces that might be there. Nabiki has been really great. She used to pick on Ranma and use him, but I guess she really did love him as a brother, because she's used her connections and influence (no matter how illegal) to come up with people who might have Ranma's soul. Dr.Tofu said he'd explain the whole thing if the first person panned out. Located in Japan, he's not really very far from the dojo. His name is Nako Hiroyama and he's a student.

 

    Sukido wasn’t killed, but it was close. We all found out that Sukido really was that good a person, just not manipulative or evil. He remembers what happened because the demon chose to torture him with something he could not control, and that fact tears him up inside. One thing that he never regretted the demon doing was finding Nabiki, who is now going to be the first Tendo married. He feels like it was his fault, so he’s thrown his fortune into not only fixing and expanding the house and dojo, but also with any expenses on our trips. He wants us to use his houses in America and Europe as bases of operation. Toward his credit, he’s trying to make everything right again. And I’m trying to forgive him.

 

    Kasumi was severely beaten, but was healed quickly (thanks to some special treatment from Dr.Tofu, who still won’t tell us what it was) and is something of a spiritual leader for the rest of us.

Father was about worthless during this time, but after Kasumi was up and around again, he straightened up and kept everyone going. I was amazed, but happy. Uncle Genma disappeared for a couple of weeks, but returned with two huge casks of liquid. Auntie Nodoka and everyone else was yelling at him to explain where he had run off to, but he just ignored everyone. Putting the casks on the patio, he opened one up. He then, still not explaining any of this to us, picked Ryouga up and dumped him into the open cask. Ryouga popped up and started to yell at him for the dunking, but Uncle Genma ignored him and told him to get out-because it was his turn. I realized then what it was.

 

    The Nannichuan. It was the water that they needed to be normal again. Uncle Genma had gone by himself and brought back the water. I wonder if any of the others were asking themselves why he hadn’t done that a long time ago. There was a third barrel, smaller than the others, that Genma later took to Ranma’s Shrine. Funded by the Kuno’s, Father and Auntie Nodoka built it to keep Ranma’s body safe. I snuck out to watch him. Auntie startled me when she crept up behind me, but kept me silent as we both watched Genma as he approached Ranma.

 

    He placed the barrel there next to Ranma and stood back, taking his glasses off. Auntie and I exchanged confused glances. Then we heard him. He was crying. Not the fake cry that he sometimes does with Father, but real, heartfelt. He dropped to his knees and started weeping louder.

 

    Auntie went to him. I knew this was a private moment, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn away from the second man I’d eventually call Father. I went to him as well. When he saw me, he started begging for forgiveness. I tried to say that there was nothing to forgive, but by then he was

blubbering. Auntie Nodoka then grabbed his head and kissed him.

 

    It made him stop blubbering. She also told him one thing. Bring back my son.

 

    Later that evening, Auntie and I were sitting on the deck near the koi pond. It didn’t have any koi in it, but that was a formality. She told me that this was just her son on another foolish training mission that he so frequently said he was on when he was evading her, and that things really hadn’t changed. More than anyone else, even myself, Nodoka held onto the belief that we would find Ranma’s soul in time.

 

    Dr.Tofu said that the virus was slow going, so we had some time to work, but not much. Like I said, Shampoo and Mousse had already gone to America, but then since only Mousse speaks English, it may be hard for them. Cologne, Happosai and Ukyou are going to Europe. I didn’t realize it, but Ukyou speaks fluent French, English, and Italian. I feel sorry for her though. It

must be incredibly difficult for her to do this.

 

    Ukyou was actually the one who comforted me the most. She’s a lot like Kasumi when she tries. She also is the only one, other than myself, to visit Ranma everyday. I would watch her go to the shrine and sit there and cry. Does she still love him? Probably. Do I know how to take it? No. She knows that when Ranma comes back, she'll lose him to me, but it still can't be easy for her. I'm sure he'll still want to be friends, but how would that affect her? I don't know that either. I can only hope she finds something in this trip that neither Ranma nor anyone else could give her.

 

    Ryouga still blames himself. Now that I’ve given him a chance to tell his story, it makes sense, and I forgive him. Ryouga, Genma and myself will be starting here in Japan. Nabiki will be organizing us from home with Nodoka, Kasumi and the Kuno’s.

 

    As for myself, I don’t want to have feelings about all this. My feelings weigh me down like an anchor and everyone knows I can’t swim. If I think about my feelings, I drown. Sorrow, regret, depression and loss.

 

    Auntie tells me I should focus on seeing Ranma as still living, just out there somewhere. And it’s my job to go get him. It helps.

 

    In the past two weeks, Ryouga has returned from his surgery and rehab in Tokyo and Uncle Genma and I have finished packing. The burns that Ryouga received were extensive and he’s only gained back about fifty percent mobility in his right arm because of it. The two breaks were in his lower arm, so he has partial mobility back for now, but it may be a while before he can do martial arts. It serves as an ugly and painful reminder of what we’ve been through.

 

    It’s going to be a long and winding road. But I’m willing to travel it for the man I love.

 

    For Ranma.

 

(Music Fades in)

 

(End credits roll)

 

“Forever Yours (Akane’s Theme)”

Ending Theme For

An Ending To All Our Days

Tell me lies,

Set me free,

What first could not,

Suddenly can be.

 

Love you forever,

Lose me today,

Look in my eyes,

And hear me say-

 

I’ll love you forever,

 Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

 To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.

 

Seeing the future,

Being the past,

What’s now is forever,

And forever won’t last.

 

Love you forever,

Lose me today,

Look in my eyes,

And hear me say-

 

I’ll love you forever,

 Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

 To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.

 

(Instrumental Solo)

 

To protect me you said,

As you stepped into eternity,

Into my heart forever,

You gave your life for me-

 

I’ll love you forever,

 Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

 In so many ways,

I’ll love you forever,

 To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.

 

(Fade To Black)