(Music fades in)

(Credits roll)

“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)

(Titles fade in)

An Ending To All Our Days

By

Joshua Trujillo

Part 9: The Little Helper Part II

Nabiki was getting worried. Sure Sukido had said she had his heart, but at times like this, she wondered. Akane was acting strangely around him, almost like she used to around Dr.Tofu. This meant a crush, but Nabiki knew for certain that Akane loved Ranma. Nabiki was so used to dealing with facts and figures, she had no practical experience with this social interaction thing. The closest she ever came to social interaction was threatening people with information for the loans that they got from her.

Sukido had healed Kasumi and now they were cleaning in tandem. It was almost like some strange ballet in the middle of the living room. Nabiki watched this weird dance with controlled annoyance. Dusting. Spritzing. Swiping. Into the kitchen, running water. Out with some snacks. Upstairs. Back downstairs with the dirty laundry. Back upstairs with the clean laundry.

They’d been at this routine for almost ten straight hours.

Nabiki had never seen Kasumi more tired and out of breath, or happier.

And if Nabiki didn’t know better, she’d say that Sukido was actually encouraging the flirting going on between the two of them.

Time to act.

“Suki-chan, let’s go for a walk,” She said, getting up.

“Sorry Na-chan, but Saotome-kun likes being groomed,” He said from somewhere behind Mr. Saotome.

Panda held up a sign that read {Oh Yeah!}.

“Yeah well, I don’t mean to pout or anything, but I...well...”

Sukido looked around the mass of white and black fur in front of him and smiled.

“Of course, how selfish of me. Saotome-kun, we’ll have to finish this later, okay?” He asked.

{Hai. Oyasumi.}

“Oyasumi,” He said as he gathered his tools, “Na-chan, let me get cleaned up and I’ll be right out.”

He was dropping what he was doing to do what I want? Is this guy sick or stupid?

“Well, Suki-chan, I mean, you don’t have to stop...” She said, blushing.

“Don’t be silly. I must seem like I’m flirting with your sisters. I’ve neglected you for too long,” He said, smiling again.

Ooo, She thought, I wish he would quit it with that smile. He’s just too cute. She decided to blush slightly.

“Sukido, it’s only been 2 days,” She said.

“Two too long.”

Sukido reached to her and kissed her on the cheek.

“You Tendo women are all so touchy sometimes,” He said, walking from the room.

She decided to blush some more. She really didn’t know how to react then. Was she supposed to just say okay? She didn’t even have to haggle about the price. This just didn’t seem normal. Maybe she’d have to talk with him about that. Or maybe just make out for a while. He was REALLY good at that too.

She smiled at that thought and sat down to wait for him.

***

The door to Akane’s room was open. Sukido knew that Akane was asleep, an afternoon nap. Sukido had been surprised at the ease at which she’d fallen to him. She looked so sweet now, yet Sukido knew that there was a hidden strength in her attached to her fiancé, this Ranma, that may pull her from him yet. The hold was tenuous.

“I picked the damnedest of all assignments. This one’s heart for that Ryouga boy...sheesh, how medieval,” He said quietly.

He closed the door and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

***

Akane’s heart skipped a beat.

Assignment? What the Hell was he talking about? She thought, What, I’m some kind of trophy?

Akane started to fume at the thought.

How dare he and Ryouga toy with my emotions like that! She thought, I’d expect this much deceitfulness from Ryouga-but Sukido? Probably no better than his brother!

Akane heard the running water stop and the door open. She breathed deep and tried to calm herself down. Even if he was a chauvinistic pig, he was still powerful and without Ranma here, it could cause real problems. Akane calmed herself and tried not to move. She heard the footsteps stop, then slowly proceed down the stairs.

Akane got up and made her way cautiously to the stairs. She watched as Sukido led Nabiki outside. Akane then came downstairs. Akane went to the livingroom to find Kasumi with her head down on the table.

Her eyes were open but glazed over.

“Onee-sama?” She asked.

That brought her around.

“Akane...I’m sorry. I was just tired. I’ll start dinner,” Kasumi said, getting up and starting for the kitchen.

“Onee-sama, I’ve never seen you like this before. What’s going on between you and Sukido? I haven’t seen Dr.Tofu over here in a few days. Is there something that happened between you and Dr.Tofu?” Akane asked, worried.

If something had happened...If Sukido had done something to Kasumi...

“Oh Akane- nothing’s happened. I’ve just been thinking about-how would Nabiki put it?- “collecting on old debts” from my dear Tofu-chan.”

“Kasumi?!? Do you mean...marriage?”

Kasumi just smiled and tilted her head.

“It’s about time isn’t it? Tofu-chan and I have been dating for over a year now and I’m 21, so daddy can’t cry too much about it, either with happiness or sadness. With Saotome-sama here, I can really follow my heart-I mean he is a doctor and he’s handsome-”

“I know that Kasumi. It almost sounds like you’re trying to convince me or something,” Akane said, happily.

“Maybe I’m trying to convince myself. I love Tofu-chan greatly, but Suki-chan has shown me that not all young men are so...young.”

“Do you-have feelings - for Suki-cha-uh, Sukido?” She asked. Now you and Nabiki have me saying that! She thought angrily to herself.

Kasumi laughed and continued into the kitchen. Akane followed her and watched as she almost absently knew where things were and what to get for the dinner that night. The motions were so practiced that Akane knew her sister wasn’t thinking about them.

“He’s a nice man and all. But I’ve loved Tofu-chan for years. Both are nice and helpful...”

“That’s not an answer,” Akane said quietly.

Kasumi stopped what she was doing and turned to face Akane.

“It isn’t, is it? Oh my...”

Kasumi began to turn back to her cooking but stopped. She turned back to Akane with a strange, contemplative, almost pensive look on her face.

“Kasumi? What is it?” Akane asked.

“What’s that noise?”

“What noise?” Akane asked, not hearing anything.

There were crickets chirping. The far sounds of a small flute being played somewhere. The occasional dog barking in the distance. Nothing unusual for an evening in Nerima. Akane was shaken from her thought as a huge explosion from the pond rocked the house. Akane and Kasumi look at each other as if to say “Oh, that noise!”. They rushed to the dining room.

The door was blown back and bent slightly. Water lay pooling on the floor in the dining room and the few koi lucky enough to be thrown into a puddle were now suffocating. Kasumi picked up the two that were near and put them in her apron. The pond itself had just enough water in it to allow the koi freedom, but not much more. Kasumi muttered about the lack of water, but more so about Ran-chan, who was draped over the large rock to the right of the pond.

Akane’s heart leapt as she saw Ran-chan. It sank just as fast when she saw that he was injured. Akane hears a familiar noise coming from the tree, but chose to ignore it. She’ll deal with him later. Kasumi also heard the noise, but doesn’t let Ryouga bweee for very long. Taking him out of the tree, she walks him into the livingroom where Akane had somehow managed to drag the unconscious Ranma. Kasumi set Ryouga down next to Akane.

“I’ll get some hot water,” She said, “And I’ll see if Tofu-chan is back yet. He should be, so he’ll get here soon.”

Akane tries to bandage Ranma as best as she can. Ryouga walks slowly around her until he is nearest both the futon and Akane. Ryouga was just as worried about Ranma’s condition as he was ecstatic over seeing Akane again. But something was wrong. Akane didn’t seem to even notice him. Maybe she was just too worried about Ranma. That’s it. He’ll curl around in the corner over there and wait. He began to walk away when Akane cleared her throat. He looked back at her pensively.

“Hello P-chan,” She said in a tone that made Ryouga go cold, “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

She batted her eyelashes at him. Maybe the sarcasm in her voice was all in his head. Yeah, that’s it.

“Bweee...”

The vein in her forehead began pronounced enough for Ryouga to know that he was in deep...and being a pig, it was already too deep. She only reserved that kind of look for Ranma and his comments on her cooking.

“Don’t play dumb with me Ryouga! I know it’s you!” She yelled, firing out her flaming daggers, “Do you think I’d never figure it out? Do you think I was stupid?”

She...knew?

“Bwe-” He sounded plaintively.

“Shut up Ryouga!” She spat at him, “I don’t know what you did to Ranma, but you will pay for it. And for everything you’ve done to me.”

His world shattered about him. Every vestige of that former person seemed a million miles away as she burned her words into him. He wanted to cry, but couldn’t. He wanted to run, but his legs wouldn’t listen. He wanted to die, but he doubted that Akane would let him off that easily.

Igottagetouttahere...Igottagetouttahere...Igottagetouttahere...Igottagetou-

Akane picked the mallet up and noticed that Ryouga was out cold. Probably for the best right now. She was so pissed at him, they might have pork chops for dinner. She was more worried right now about Ranma. Ryouga would wait.

Tofu arrived moments later and tended to Ranma first. Kasumi poured hot water on the both of them and propped Ryouga up against the other futon. Akane noticed that she seemed completely unsurprised by the transformation in Ryouga. The fact that Ryouga had clothes on confused her, but she dropped that line. She would have to talk to Kasumi, but it too would wait.

“This is bad. An infection has begun to spread through his back. He must ’ve been in quite a bit of pain for the past few days. The shot I gave him was antibiotics. With the two pressure points on his head, he should heal quickly,” Tofu said, trying to be as clinical as he could.

Akane deserved that. The truth was, he wasn’t quite sure Ranma would recover now. He should never have gone out in his condition...

“So he’ll be okay?”

“Yes Akane, he’ll be up and fighting in a day or so,” He said, again smiling and clinical.

“I don’t really feel like fighting,” She said quietly, sitting forward toward Ranma.

“He’s lucky really. Another day and he would’ve been down for some time,” He said, examining Ranma, “The other boy-Ryouga you said-was successfully anesthetized with a heavy mallet to the face. A bit brutish, don’t you think Akane?”

“He deserved it,” She said, folding her arms indignantly.

“So I’ve heard.”

“Tofu-san, can I talk to you?” Kasumi asked from the doorway.

“Why of course Kasumi,” He said, getting up.

His glasses began to fog up, but he wiped his glasses, shook his head and went to Kasumi who wandered into the kitchen.

“Thank you, onee-san,” Akane said quietly.

“Akane?” Ryouga asked from her left.

“What,” She said more than asked.

Ouch.

“Ranma-he came after me because of you. He risked his life several times during our trip home. He did it all to get back here-to get to you. I made up my mind early in the trip to let you go. I have Akari and she’s not hung up on my other form,” He explained, sitting up.

“HUNG UP?” She shouted turning to him.

Ryouga swallowed hard and tried to calm himself inside, fearing she might knock him out again.

“Akane-please let me finish. What I need to say is hard enough.”

Akane stopped what surely would have resulted in him going through the roof. She sat there and watched him, too much like a wolf looks at a rabbit. Ryouga had to mentally convince himself that he wasn’t in pig form anymore. There was silence. At least she seemed willing to listen. Ryouga took a breath.

“Akane-I...I-” He began, then, with effort, “I love you. It’s taken me a long time to realize that you’ll never love me back, but I know that now. A lot of things happened during our trip. I told Ranma I was giving up on you and he actually apologized for dumping me in that damned spring.”

He began to shake. He tried to contain it within himself, but he couldn’t. The fear and emptiness that he felt far outmatched Akane being angry with him. If she was going to be angry, then dammit, she’d get a good reason. The shaking was slight at first, but now grew more. He couldn’t help it. He grew beyond caring. He just needed to finish what he began.

“I hope that you can accept that Ranma and I are friends now - even if” He starts to snuffle, “you and I,” Now he begins crying, “can never be.”

And there it was. He just wanted to die now. She knew everything. His dark secret. His love for her and the fear of her finding out either. He was glad actually. Glad that this was over. Years of repression had built up many feelings that he didn’t know how to handle. He was glad it was over.

Sitting there watching him spill everything and finally break down was heart-wrenching. Akane couldn’t hate him anymore. Ryouga had laid himself bare and open to ridicule and humiliation at the hands of Akane. The words, however, died on her lips. He’d stopped crying and just sat there, knees drawn up to his chin.

“Ryouga-” She began.

She didn’t say anymore as a low moan came from Ranma. Both Ryouga and Akane jumped to his side. Akane took his hand and he opened his eyes and looked at her.

“Akane? Ryouga?” Ranma said, looking confused, “How’d I get here?”

Akane laughed slightly and tiredly. She reached down and hugged him.

“How do you feel?” Ryouga asked.

“Like someone hit me in the back with a jet.”

“That’s because someone did hit you in the back with a jet,” Ryouga answered back.

“What?” Akane asked, wide eyed at Ryouga.

“Long story.”

“You’re going to have to tell me that one,” She said, laughing.

Ryouga begins to laugh as well, then realizes...

“Uh...Akane? Are you still-?” He asked.

“Just be honest with me from now on okay? Honesty is the best weapon,” She said, shaking her head.

Ryouga gave her a strange look.

“Where’d you get that?” He asked.

“From me of course,” Nodoka said from behind them, “How’s my son?”

“I’m okay,” Ranma said, weakly, “I just need to rest.”

“Okay. C’Mon you two. You can help me with Happosai,” She said, indicating the guestroom.

“Happosai?” Both Akane and Ryouga looked at each other.

“Yes, now come along.”

***

Happosai was laying on the futon in the guestroom. Bandages covered him in various places and he looked worse for wear. An old withered monkey on a long cane was standing near. That would be Cologne. She’s the great-grandmother of that beautiful, purple-haired girl standing near her. Shampoo. Shampoo eyed Akane evilly. The boy with the stupid grin and thick glasses behind Shampoo would be Mousse.

Nodoka looked them all over carefully. Mousse was too stupid to effect any plot against her family. Shampoo was misguided and may possibly be a threat, but only when guided by Cologne. Cologne was the real threat. She was capable of true evil.

This whole thing with her son could mearly be a plot of some kind. Nodoka wouldn’t put it past her if it weren’t for the fact that Cologne looked genuinely concerned, which was something that Nodoka had never seen before.

“Happosai has been defeated by a very powerful and mischevious demon,” She said, turning from Happosai.

Soun and Genma were standing with arms folded, nodding happily. Akane and Shampoo were trying hard not to start a fight. Mousse and Ryouga were examining the situation, Mousse having problems doing this facing the wall. That boy and his glasses...Tofu was out near what was left of the pond. Kasumi went upstairs to tend to Ranma. Then Nodoka realized who was missing.

“Where’s Nabiki?” She asked.

“She’s out with Sukido,” Akane said.

A high pitched wheeze escaped Happosai.

“Su-Sukido...” He muttered.

All eyes turned.

(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)