Breaking Free, Chapters 10-14
"Breaking Free, chapters 10-14", a Ranma ½ fan fiction, by KaraOhki, May, 1998
Ranma ½ and its characters were created by Rumiko Takahashi, and are used here with apologies to her, and without permission.
Breaking Free
Chapter 10
An Unexpected Separation
Akane sat back, remembering her fight with Shampoo. Cologne had stopped trying to manipulate Ranma, leaving Ranma and Akane wondering. Did she give up because Ranma was married, or because of what Akane had done? She and Ranma had spent a lot of time speculating on whether or not Akane should have fought Shampoo when she’d first returned to Japan. It was a question that would never be answered.
Shampoo had shadowed Ranma for several weeks after that. He made it a point of ignoring her, and she never came near enough to speak. Then one day she, Cologne and Mousse vanished. Except for a letter sent by Cologne several months later, they’d never heard from them again.
Akane was so deep in thought that she didn’t realize Ranma’s doctor had entered the room until he spoke, and she jumped.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Saotome. I didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Yes?”
“Your father and father-in-law are downstairs, asking for permission to come back up. What do you think?”
Akane smiled. It felt good to have someone ask her opinion, rather than force their decision upon her.
“It’s okay with me, so long as they promise to keep calm and stop trying to order me around.”
“All right, then.” The doctor stepped to Ranma’s side, took his pulse, and looked him over.
“Nice, strong pulse, Mrs. Saotome. He’ll be back with us soon, I’m sure.”
Akane smiled at the doctor, and resumed talking to Ranma once the door had closed behind him.
“Your father is coming back, Ranma. Let’s see if he really does keep his word not to interfere. He hasn’t been able to do it yet. I still don’t believe that he managed to separate us after we’d only been married for a few weeks.”
*****
Shortly before the end of the school year, Ranma and Akane inserted an advertisement in the paper announcing the summer classes they would be teaching. Soon, they had enough responses to arrange two classes - one for men and one for women - three days a week.
A week after school ended, Ranma and Akane were sweeping out the dojo and preparing it for the first group of students when Soun came to the door with a stranger.
“Ranma, Mr. Fujita is here to see you. He says that your father promised that you would go to him when the school year ended.”
Ranma turned white. “Not again!”, he thought to himself.
“Um, er . . . I don’t suppose you have a daughter?”
Mr. Fujita looked blank.
“No, I have a son away in America.”
“Then why am I supposed to go with you?”
“Last summer you and your father were training near my farm. Fruit and vegetables kept disappearing, and I found your father picking them one morning.”
Ranma held his breath. He could almost guess what was coming next.
“When I demanded payment, your father promised me that you would come in the spring to help me prepare the fields for planting. I’ve been waiting for you!”
Ranma locked gazes with his wife. It appeared that this was something he was not going to be able to refuse to do, and he could tell that she knew it.
“Sir, can you tell me exactly what my father said?”
“On my honor, a Saotome will help with the plowing and planting in the spring.”
Akane sighed. Her father-in-law had put Ranma in an impossible situation again.
“Mr. Fujita, how long will this take?”
“With the two of us, and my other helpers, about two weeks.”
Ranma’s expression hardened.
“There will be one more person coming along. Akane, please pack some things for me. I’m going to get Pop. He’s a Saotome too, and he’s going to help.”
Ranma walked out of the dojo, and Akane followed him.
“Can’t I come with you?”
Ranma looked like he was in severe pain.
“I want to take you with me, Akane, but someone has to stay and teach the classes.”
*****
A short time later Ranma returned with his father. Genma was rather subdued, and had some fresh bruises. Evidently it had taken more than words for Ranma to convince his father to accompany him.
Akane was in the dojo waiting for the students, and Ranma went in to say goodbye to her privately. He drew his wife into his arms, and kissed her. Akane buried her face in Ranma’s shoulder, and began to sniffle.
“I’m going to miss you so much!”
Ranma stroked Akane’s hair, and rocked her gently.
“It could have been worse, sweetheart. When I first saw Mr. Fujita, I was certain that I had another fiancee to deal with.”
*****
The assembled students stared at Akane, disbelief on their faces. Finally, one of them spoke up.
“Your husband was called out of town?”
“Yes, that’s right. He’ll be back in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I’ll be leading the class.”
“A young girl like you can’t teach!”
Akane paused before replying, trying to find the right approach. There was no point in starting an argument.
“My husband and I planned to teach together, and we will once he returns. I’m as qualified as he is.”
Before the man could respond, a voice came from behind Akane.
“If you doubt my daughter’s skills, why not challenge her?”
Seconds later, the man was staring at the dojo ceiling. A face swam into his range of vision, and a hand reached down.
“Need help getting up?”
Red-faced, the man allowed Akane to help him to his feet. He took his place with the class, and waited for her to begin.
*****
The women’s class was over, and Akane closed the dojo doors and sat down, leaning on the wall. She’d been too busy to allow herself to be upset about her husband’s absence, but now it overwhelmed her. Some time later, Kasumi found her sitting there sobbing. She drew her sister into her arms, and held her.
“I was afraid I’d find you this way, Akane. Come with me.”
Akane wordlessly followed her sister into the house. Kasumi brought her into the kitchen, poured her some juice, and handed Akane her mother’s notebook.
“You need something to do, Akane. Let’s make dinner together. Here’s a pen.”
Akane stared at the pen blankly.
“What’s the pen for?”
“Look inside the notebook, Akane. See? This is Mother’s writing, and this is mine.”
Akane had never noticed before, but while Kasumi was teaching herself from her mother’s book, she had made notes about her disasters and successes, and had added hints of her own as she learned them.
“Write down what you learn, Akane. Someday a daughter of yours might be reading your notes.”
*****
That evening, Nabiki looked suspiciously at a platter of noodles and vegetables, wishing that Ranma was there to be the usual “guinea pig”.
“Did you make this, Akane?
“Yes, I did. What makes you ask?”
“I thought it looked weird.”
Akane struggled to keep her temper under control.
“I haven’t gotten the hang of cutting things as evenly as Kasumi can, Nabiki, but it does taste good. I DID taste it before I put it on the table.”
Nabiki looked skeptical, but served herself and tasted the dish.
“Not bad, Sis! Some of the veggies are a little hard, but I guess that’s because they’re in big chunks.”
Akane smiled. Kasumi had hovered nearby as she worked, not enough to make her nervous, and had allowed Akane to cook with her mother’s book as a guide. The only time Kasumi had intervened was to take Akane’s hand and guide it toward the plain sesame oil. Akane had been reaching for the spicy sesame oil, which would have made the dish a disaster. Kasumi had laughed gently, making only one comment:
“Remember, Akane. Read the label carefully before you put anything into a dish. Then you won’t mix up the ingredients. Slow down, and relax. After all, we’re in no hurry to eat.”
Between the two of them, Kasumi and Akane had produced a dinner that everyone approved of. Akane only wished that Ranma had been there to share it with her.
*****
Ranma turned over, trying to find a comfortable position. He missed Akane’s presence, and his snoring father wasn’t making it very easy for him to relax. He finally gave up, picked up his bag, and went downstairs. Taking out paper and pen, he began a letter to Akane.
Akane lay in bed, looking at the stars through the window. Ranma had phoned to say he’d arrived at his destination, and she hadn’t wanted to let him hang up. She was afraid that the next two weeks would last forever.
Akane was wrong. Teaching kept her busy, and gave her something to focus on, and Kasumi did her share of distracting Akane, by continuing with her cooking lessons.
*****
Akane reread Ranma’s letter for the hundredth time, kissed it, and tucked it into her pocket. Two more days, and he would be home.
Akane cleared her mind and went back to work. She was trying hard to master a new recipe. There had been so many culinary disasters over the past few days that she’d waited until the family was away to try anything new. Better to poison herself than her father and sisters. Besides, she had a new tool to work with, one that made her feel confident.
*****
Ranma got off the train, and started running toward the dojo. It was two days before he was expected, and he couldn’t wait to surprise Akane. He entered the house quietly. No one was in the living room, and he could smell something delicious coming from the vicinity of the kitchen. Ranma grinned. He’d missed Kasumi’s cooking.
Ranma went upstairs and left his bag in the bedroom. Akane was not there, and he headed back down to the kitchen to ask Kasumi where she was.
When Ranma stuck his head through the doorway, he was surprised to see Akane standing before the stove rather than Kasumi. She was concentrating on what she was doing, and totally unaware of his presence. Ranma was about to speak when he noticed her picking up a book, and checking something in it. He caught sight of the cover, and suppressed a laugh. Ranma had seen books with similar covers, yellow with black print, in the local bookshop, but they’d always referred to technical things like computers. There was a Dummies® book for cooking?
Akane stiffened. She had the distinct feeling that she was being watched. Then she heard a welcome voice.
“It’s me, Akane.”
Akane whirled, and threw herself into Ranma’s arms, hugging him hard.
“Hey, loosen up! You’re going to break my ribs!”
“I’m sorry. I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Mr. Fujita told me to go home, Akane. He said I’d done enough work, and Pop could finish the rest.”
Akane started to respond, but found it impossible to speak when Ranma was kissing her. He finally paused to catch his breath, and Akane took his face in her hands, looking into his eyes. Ranma looked tired and sunburned. Akane withdrew from his embrace, and nodded toward the stove.
“Hungry?”
Ranma pulled Akane back into his arms, and kissed her again.
“For more than food, love, but I guess I can let you feed me. . . first”
*****
Ranma slept on, and Akane rested her voice. She’d grown stiff from sitting, so she got up and and walked around the bed, looking at her husband from all angles.
Ranma was pale and still, unlike the way she remembered him from the story she’d been telling. Akane recalled watching Ranma sleep that afternoon after they’d made love. She had spent a long time studying his face, and looking at the tan he’d developed while working outdoors, and noting that his sunburned nose was peeling. At once point she thought she’d get up to wash the lunch dishes, but Ranma’s grip on her became tighter, and he murmured something unintelligible. Finally, she’d given up and gone to sleep herself.
The contrast between the remembered Ranma and the one before her was too much for Akane. She sat down again, put her face in her hands, and wept.
*****
Chapter 11
Standing Firm
Akane stood to one side as Ranma’s parents held his hands, and spoke to him. They alternated between imploring and ordering him to awaken, and she firmly resisted the urge to ask them to leave. After a couple of minutes, Genma turned around.
“Akane, I owe you an apology. This wouldn’t have happened if Soun and I hadn’t insisted on trying to control your lives. I think I can safely promise that we won’t interfere again.”
Akane didn’t respond immediately. What if the promise had been made too late? She quickly pushed that fear to the back of her mind.
“Wait until Ranma wakes up, Father Saotome. Then you can repeat that promise to both of us.”
Nodoka got up and crossed the room to her daughter-in-law.
“We’re going home for a little while, dear, to get some sleep. Won’t you come with us? You look so tired.”
“Thank you, but no. Ranma needs me, and I won’t leave him.”
To Akane’s amazement, Nodoka simply nodded, took her husband’s hand, and left. Akane took the chair her mother-in-law had vacated, picked up Ranma’s hand, and continued talking. She coughed, and got some water. All this storytelling was giving her a raw throat.
Akane skipped ahead, to a part of the summer she’d rather put behind her.
*****
A couple of weeks later, Akane noticed that her father was grinning broadly at the morning paper. He saw her looking, and handed it to her.
“They finally printed the wedding announcement, Akane.”
Akane held the paper so Ranma could see it too, and they read the short announcement of their marriage. Soun had also included a picture of them from the reception he’d thrown for them.
Across town, Tatewaki Kuno stared at the paper, his breakfast forgotten. He cursed himself for his cowardice in not informing his sister of Ranma’s marriage. She was not going to take the news well.
A few minutes later, an ear-splitting screech came from Kodachi’s bedroom, followed by a crash as her breakfast tray hit the floor. Kuno braced himself, and within seconds she was standing before him, waving the newspaper in his face.
“You knew, brother, didn’t you? You knew, and you didn’t tell me!”
Kuno couldn’t think of a thing to say. It wouldn’t have made a difference, since his sister was beyond reason.
“That . . . that husband thief! She will pay!”
*****
Akane poured tea for her in-laws, trying hard to maintain a calm expression. The Saotomes had been invited for lunch, and had arrived quite early. The rest of the family had gone out to give Akane a chance to cook for her in-laws, and having no one to talk to, Genma had wandered into the dojo to watch Ranma and Akane teach. He had interrupted several times with comments and suggestions. Afterward, he had spent quite a long time telling them what they were doing wrong (and in his opinion, nearly everything was wrong). He and Ranma had gotten into a shouting match, and now were barely speaking to one another.
Nodoka and Akane were trying to salvage the situation by making quiet, friendly conversation, but watching their husbands glare at one another was making them uncomfortable.
“This soup is delicious, Akane. Did Kasumi teach you to make it?”
“No, Mother Saotome. I used my new cookbook. I’m glad you like it.”
“Akane’s cooking has really improved, hasn’t it Ranma?”
Ranma took his eyes from his father long enough to smile at his mother, and his wife. "She sure has, Mom. I’m not too afraid of being poisoned any more.”
Akane turned red, and was about to yell at Ranma, when he grinned at her, and gave her a small hug.
“C’mon, Akane. It was a compliment.”
Akane hesitated, and smiled. In a way, it was.
Nodoka smiled at Akane.
“You’re doing very well, dear. If you keep up like this, you’ll be able to make your family wonderful meals.”
Genma finally opened his mouth, and put his foot in it.
“Speaking of families, Son, when are the two of you going to give us a grandchild?”
“Not for a while, Pop.”
“Why not? The sooner the better, I say.”
Ranma lost his temper again.
“Pop! Mind your business! Akane and I have another year of school yet, and having a baby now is out of the question.”
Genma glared at his son, and opened his mouth to yell back at him, but Nodoka spoke first.
“They’re right, dear. Remember, you’re thinking from a man’s point of view. Do you remember how sick I was with Ranma? How could Akane go to school if she was afflicted with morning sickness as badly as I was?”
Nodoka then got up, and began to clear the table.
*****
Akane and Nodoka stood in the kitchen, washing the dishes. Akane had been very quiet since lunch, barely speaking at all.
“What’s wrong, dear? You look so worried.”
Akane hesitated, but the kind look on Nodoka’s face encouraged her to speak.
“It’s hard, Mother Saotome. Ranma and I want to be independent, but everyone keeps trying to run our lives. When are you all going to realize that we’re not children any more?”
Nodoka patted Akane’s hand, and smiled.
“Yes Akane, I understand what you mean. But you must remember that you and Ranma are still very young. Guidance from older people isn’t that bad, is it?
“You’re missing the point, Mom. You or Father Saotome or Daddy may give advice, but you don’t have to worry about the consequences. Ranma and I have to live with any decisions we make, and we don’t want to look back and regret that we let others push us into what we didn’t want.”
Nodoka looked thoughtful for a minute, and then nodded.
“I can understand your feelings, Akane. If I have anything to say, it will be a suggestion only, okay? This way you can choose whether or not to listen to it.”
*****
It was a calmer Akane that sat back down at the table once the kitchen was cleaned up. Genma and Ranma made an effort to keep from arguing, but Akane couldn’t wait until the rest of her family came home. There was too much friction between father and son. It was with a sense of relief that she heard the doorbell ring.
Ranma got up first, and came back with his hands full.
“It was the mailman, Akane. This package came for you, and it’s too big to fit in the box.”
Akane looked curiously at the box, which had no return address.
“I wonder what it is?”
Since the wedding announcement had appeared in the paper some days ago, several wedding presents had been sent to them, and Akane suspected that this was another. She quickly tore the paper off the box, and lifted the lid. In a nest of tissue paper was a lovely silk robe. She lifted it up, looking for a card.
“It must be a wedding present, Ranma, but there’s no card. And the silk is so nice and soft.”
Akane held the silk to her cheek, enjoying the smoothness of it. She suddenly felt dizzy, and the robe dropped from her hands.
“Ranma . . I feel sort of strange . .”
“Akane?”
Akane could hear Ranma, but her vision blurred, and she felt herself falling.
Nodoka screamed as Akane slumped over into Ranma’s arms.
*****
Several hours later, Ranma held onto Akane’s hand as she rested in their room. She still looked a little pale, but insisted on sitting up in bed.
“I’m fine, Ranma, really. The doctor said I didn’t handle the silk long enough for the poison to do any permanent harm.”
Ranma released Akane’s hand and held her tight, shuddering. The thought that he could have lost her was too much for him to handle.
When Akane had collapsed, Ranma had immediately concluded that the robe was the cause, and used the tissue paper to tuck it back into the box. Akane had been taken to the hospital, where it was determined that the robe had been treated with some sort of contact poison.
“It’s plant-derived, Mr. Saotome”, the doctor had said. “This is something made by an expert in poisonous plants.”
Ranma knew only one person with that sort of knowledge, and notified the authorities.
*****
There was a knock on the doorframe, and Ranma released Akane to slide the door open. Nabiki stood there, Kuno beside her. Kuno bowed deeply, and hesitated, unsure if he should enter the room or not.
“Excuse the intrusion, Saotome. I am here to see Saotome Akane, and to apologize.”
Ranma was surprised to see him so subdued, and let him in. Kuno hesitated again, and then walked to Akane’s bed.
“Saotome Akane, I am sorry. If I had informed my sister of your marriage at the time it occurred, perhaps this would not have happened. Kodachi appears to have . . snapped. I have arranged to have her properly cared for, and I can assure you that she will not be able to harm you again. I do not like to beg favors from anyone, but I have one to ask of you.”
Akane looked from Ranma to Kuno, and responded softly.
“What is that?”
“Please do not make any charges against her. My sister is sick, and needs help.”
“I agree, under one condition.”
“Anything, just name it.”
Akane squeezed Ranma’s hand. This opportunity was too good to pass up.
“Renounce all claims to the pigtailed girl.”
*****
Chapter 12
Where Do We Go From Here?
Akane sipped her tea, and toyed with her sandwich. She’d slept about two hours out of the last twenty-four, but did not feel all that tired. Her entire world had shrunk to the size of this small room, and she would stay here until her task was done, and she could bring Ranma home.
He’d grown a little restless the past couple of hours, moving his head and hands. Akane had noted that when she spoke he seemed to lean his head in her direction, as if trying to listen to her. The doctor had taken that as a good sign, and she’d continued with her story.
*****
Ranma wandered through the haze. He couldn’t see where he was going, and couldn’t feel anything around him, no matter how far he stretched his arms. He was truly lost.
Ranma chuckled, feeling a little amused. Now he knew how Ryoga felt. But he had one advantage over Ryoga. He was following Akane’s voice. Sooner or later, it would lead him out of the fog.
Akane heard Ranma’s chuckle, and leaned forward, holding onto him.
“Ranma? I know you’re in there! Please wake up.”
The smile on Ranma’s lips faded, and he slept on.
“You hear me, I know you do. Just keep listening, Ranma.”
*****
“Our senior year was so much better than we expected, Ranma. The school had been a battleground for us for such a long time that it was strange that no one there wanted to fight you, or grab at me. After a while, it actually became a haven for us, since we were under such pressure at home . . .”
*****
Ranma waited outside the computer lab, watching Akane through the window. She and her teacher huddled before the screen, discussing something. Finally, Akane nodded, picked up her things, and left.
“What were you doing, Akane?”
“Learning how to use the new software we just got in, Ranma. I think I understand it now.”
“When we can afford it, I’ll get a computer for the house, Akane. If we can keep our own records, then your sister won’t be able to charge us outrageous rates to do our books for us.”
Akane thought of how disappointing that would be to Nabiki, and giggled. She and Ranma were doing their best to keep their records organized while Nabiki was away at college, and hoped to avoid asking for her help.
They left the school, heading toward home. As the couple passed Dr. Tofu’s clinic, he stepped outside.
“Hello, you two. I was hoping you’d pass by. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure, Doc, what’s up?”
Tofu waved them inside, and made some tea.
“Had you heard that Mrs. Kasahara is retiring?”
Akane was sad, but not too surprised. Mrs. Kasahara had worked for Dr. Tofu, keeping his office organized, as long as Akane could remember.
“You’ll miss her, won’t you?”
“Yes, I will. I know you’re taking classes in office work, Akane. Do you think you would like to come work for me?”
“Me?”
Akane looked at Ranma, and smiled. He’d decided to go on teaching the men’s group three afternoons a week, but there had not been enough interest for the women’s group to continue. This would give her a chance to make her own contribution to their finances.
“I’d love to.”
*****
It was a couple of months before Mrs. Kasahara retired, and during that time Akane worked hard bringing her skills up to the level needed for the job. She was excited about it, and Ranma shared her enthusiasm.
The same could not be said for her father, though, as they found out once Akane had started her job.
*****
Ranma walked along the top of the fence, looking down at his wife. Usually, he walked beside her to school, but Akane was so deep in thought that Ranma didn’t think she even realized he wasn’t there.
This was the third day of Akane’s strange behavior, and Ranma didn’t know what to make of it. She was too quiet, and too polite, and too - Ranma couldn’t find the right word - unlike Akane.
That evening, Akane sat at dinner, looking down at her food, and totally ignoring the conversation around her, even if some of it was directed at her. Soun was going on, as usual, about his objections to her having a job outside the house, rather than helping Ranma teach, and instead of arguing with him, as she usually did, she was simply letting him talk.
Ranma had tried to change the subject, and draw Akane into the conversation, but she wasn’t responding at all. He wondered whether she was angry with him, but they hadn’t had an argument in weeks . . .
*****
Ranma was stretched out on the floor after his bath, watching television with Akane, when she got up to bathe. He expected her to rejoin him afterward, but instead she walked past him and went upstairs. Ranma turned off the television and went up.
Akane was already in bed, and Ranma joined her, turning off the lights. He gathered her into his arms, and settled her into her usual position, head on his shoulder.
“You smell so good, Akane.”
Ranma buried his face in Akane’s freshly-washed hair, breathing in the fragrance. He kissed the top of her head, and then moved down to her forehead, her cheekbones, and her lips. Akane’s arms came up to hold him, but she held him almost casually, returning his kisses half-heartedly. Ranma suddenly tasted salt, and switched on the light.
“Akane, why are you crying?”
“I don’t know.”
Ranma sat up, and looked down at his wife. She was rubbing her eyes, trying to stop the sobs that were now tearing her apart.
“You haven’t been yourself for days, Akane. When are you gonna tell me what’s wrong?”
Finally, as Akane calmed herself, the words came.
“We made a mistake, Ranma. We were too young to get married.”
“WHAT!!!”
Ranma turned away, hurt. He took a couple of deep, slow breaths, and turned back to his wife.
“You’re not happy with me?”
Akane flew into a sitting position, and grabbed Ranma.
“No, it’s not you! It’s everyone else. Maybe if we’d waited until we were older, they wouldn’t try to rule our lives. But they think that we’re just kids who can’t do anything right. Daddy won’t let up, neither will your father, and even Kasumi . .”
“Kasumi? She doesn’t boss you around, sweetheart.”
“No Ranma, she doesn’t. But she’s constantly forgetting to stop doing the things for you that I want to do. I’ll get home from school to find out that she’s collected all of our laundry out of our room and washed it. When I point out that I was going to do it she’ll tell me that it was no bother, she was doing wash already.”
“Or I’ll dust the furniture and polish the floor in here, and find her doing it again. Not that she didn’t think I did a good job, but that it’s a habit for her to do the whole house.”
Ranma nodded. He was beginning to understand.
“Is it always going to be this way? I don’t want to be mothered by Kasumi forever.”
“Maybe she’ll get married, Akane.”
Akane laughed bitterly.
“Right. Dr. Tofu can’t even say good morning to her without tying himself in knots. I can’t even say her name in the office for fear that all the patients will run out the door.”
Akane hesitated, looking down, and then lifted her eyes to Ranma’s face.
“Do you understand what I mean, Ranma? Doesn’t this situation bother you a little?”
Ranma nodded.
“It does, Akane. I feel like we’re living under a microscope. We can’t even disagree with each other without your father accusing me of ‘not treating his little girl right’. And when Pop and your father watch me teach, I feel like they’re waiting for me to say or do something wrong. I’ve been thinking about it, and I can only see two ways to go.”
“What are they, Ranma?”
“We can put up with it, but that means we’re both going to be unhappy. Or we can fight back, but that might make things even worse.”
“There is a third option, Ranma.”
“Which is?”
“We could move out.”
Ranma couldn’t help laughing.
“How? We’re both working part time. We could never afford our own place.”
Akane’s face fell. She lay back down, and turned over, away from Ranma.
“Forget I said anything. It was a dumb idea anyway.”
Ranma got out of bed, walked around it, and knelt down so he could look at Akane’s face.
“No, it wasn’t a dumb idea. It was a good one. Let’s sleep on it, Akane, and maybe we can come up with something tomorrow.”
Ranma kissed Akane, walked back around the bed, and lay down, turning out the lamp. After a minute, Akane turned over and cuddled up next to him. She was soon asleep.
Ranma was as far from sleep as he could be. His wife was unhappy, and he’d promised himself on their wedding day that she would never be that way. Although Ranma knew it was an unrealistic promise, he was determined to do his best.
*****
Chapter 13
Unexpected Help
Akane pushed her plate away, and started to stand up.
“Oh no you don’t, Sis. Sit down and finish.”
Nabiki’s tone was enough for Akane to know that her sister was serious, and she sat down and finished her meal. Akane’s sisters had joined her in Ranma’s room, and helped her to give him a massage. Then they had taken her by the arms and dragged her downstairs for lunch. Akane had tried to protest, but Kasumi’s words were enough to make her listen.
“Ranma needs you, Akane. If you collapse, you won’t be able to help him.”
*****
Akane opened Ranma’s door, and found that he wasn’t alone. Kasumi’s fiance was sitting beside him, talking softly.
“Tofu!”
Dr. Tofu stood, and hugged Akane.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner, Akane, but I couldn’t leave Mrs. Kuwabara.”
“I understand, Tofu.”
Dr. Tofu pulled another chair close to Ranma, and they sat together. Akane held her husband’s hand and leaned on the side of the bed, her eyes half closed. She felt relieved that it wasn’t necessary to hold a conversation with Tofu just because he was there. He wouldn’t expect it of her.
After about a half hour, Tofu stood, and moved closer to Ranma.
“I want to try something, if you don’t mind.”
“Go ahead.”
Dr. Tofu examined Ranma carefully, pressing his fingers gently against many parts of his body. After a few minutes, he began concentrating on certain pressure points.
“There was some pressure that needed to be relieved, Akane, and I did what I could. It’s funny, you know. At times like this I miss Cologne. She was the true expert.”
Tofu tucked the blanket back around Ranma, and gave Akane a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m going to take Kasumi and Nabiki back to the house. They look exhausted. I’ll come back as soon as I can. Keep talking to Ranma, Akane. When I spoke to him I’m sure he heard me.”
*****
Akane moved back to Ranma’s side, picking up his hand. While she’d been out, the nurses had bathed him, and shaved him. Now it didn’t tickle when she kissed him.
“Tofu has been such a good friend to us, Ranma. He helped us when we thought our situation was hopeless.”
*****
Akane lifted her head from the rental listings, and sighed. They’d lowered their target from an apartment to a room, but even the rooms were too expensive. Ranma saw her look, and tried to be encouraging.
“Don’t give up, Akane. We’ve just started looking.”
*****
At work that afternoon, Akane finished the last of her tasks, and went into Dr. Tofu’s office.
“Is there anything else I can do?”
Dr. Tofu smiled.
“No, Akane, nothing. Isn’t Ranma waiting for you?”
“He’s teaching tonight. I can stay a little longer if you need me for anything.”
Tofu folded his arms, and frowned at Akane.
“Why don’t you want to go home?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t try to fool me, Akane. I’ve known you since you were a little girl. Why don’t you want to go home?”
*****
Half an hour and a couple of cups of tea later, Akane had finished telling Dr. Tofu about the dilemma she and Ranma found themselves in. When Akane stopped talking and looked at the floor, Dr. Tofu just sat there for a minute, deep in thought. Akane finally looked up, and found that he was smiling at her.
“I may be able to help, Akane. Follow me.”
Akane followed Dr. Tofu outside, where he unlocked the door next to the clinic. He led her upstairs, and unlocked a second door.
“This is where Mrs. Kasahara lived, Akane. When she retired, she went to live with her son. I haven’t rented the room yet.”
Akane held her breath. She was looking at a very small room. Against one wall was a refrigerator, sink and stove, and directly opposite were three large windows. There was a small closet, and one door which she opened to find a tiny bathroom, with a shower stall. Akane turned to Dr. Tofu, and began to stammer.
“B-but, we don’t have that much money, and”
“Did I say anything about money, Akane?”
Akane drew herself up to her full height (which was not very high), and glared at her friend.
“Don’t you dare!”
Then her face softened.
“Please. I appreciate the offer, but if Ranma and I lived here, we’d want to pay rent.”
“All right, Akane. I understand. But it wouldn’t be more than you could afford. You need to be on your own, even if it’s just a temporary arrangement. Talk to Ranma about it when you get home.”
*****
Akane laughed.
“I still remember the look in your eyes when I told you, Ranma. You wanted the place so badly.”
*****
Ranma and Akane stopped at Tofu’s on their way home the next day, so that Ranma could see the room. After looking it over, he told Tofu that he would think about it, and they continued home.
“What did you think, Ranma?”
“Well, it is a very small room, Akane. You’ve always lived in a big house. Would that bother you?”
Akane squeezed Ranma’s hand.
“Not as long as you’re with me.”
Ranma was quiet after that, until they neared the house.
“We’ll talk more about it tonight, Akane. It’s a big decision, and I don’t want to rush it.”
*****
In the end, the decision they made was rushed, and caused by an outside source. That evening, Ranma was downstairs getting a bedtime snack when he heard a shriek come from his bedroom. He dropped what he was eating, and flew up the stairs.
The sight that greeted Ranma when he slid the door aside and switched on the light made him livid. Akane was standing in the middle of the room, her nightgown soaking wet, trying to pry Happosai off her chest. An empty bucket lay on the floor.
“Let go of me, you pervert!”
Happosai picked up his head, and looked at Akane in confusion.
“Akane? I thought you were Ranma-chan!”
Ranma immediately understood the situation. Happosai had come in through the window and soaked Akane, who had been in bed, thinking that she was Ranma. He reached for Happosai just as Akane, who looked more furious than he’d ever seen her, succeeded in loosening his grip.
“Do I look like Ranma to you?”
She was going to clobber him, but Ranma held out his hands, and Akane handed him over. Ranma was beginning to glow, and Akane caught her breath. Was he going to use a chi attack against Happosai? Then the glow faded, as Ranma controlled his temper. He walked to the window, and turned the old man around to look into his eyes.
“I’m only going to tell you this once, you old freak, so listen carefully. If you ever lay a finger on my wife again you will live just long enough to regret it. Then you won’t live any longer. Get it?”
Happosai looked from Ranma to Akane, and back again.
“Surely you wouldn’t treat your master so badly, Ranma. Nobody told me you were married. It was only a little mistake, and --”
The rest of Happosai’s speech was lost as Ranma punted him through the window, and out of sight.
“What on earth happened?’
Ranma turned around, to find Kasumi and Soun at the door.
“Happosai happened.”
Soun turned pale.
“The Master was here? We haven’t seen him in months! I hope you weren’t rude to him, Ranma.”
“Rude? You’ve gotta be kidding! He threw water on Akane, and grabbed her. Should I have been polite?”
Soun burst into tears.
“You know what he’s like when he’s angry, Ranma! Couldn’t you have overlooked it?”
Akane completely lost it.
“Daddy! Are you trying to say that it was ok for that pervert to grope me? You’re so afraid of him that you’ll let him get away with that? Do me a favor, and go back to bed!”
Akane turned her back on her father, and didn’t turn around until she heard him going back downstairs, still weeping. Kasumi was still in the doorway, and Akane spoke to her in a milder tone of voice.
“Go back to bed, Kasumi. I’m sorry we woke you.”
Kasumi nodded, and closed the door. Akane went to the bed, and pulled the sheets off. The mattress was soaked.
“We can’t sleep in here, Ranma. I guess we could use my old room.”
*****
A short time later Ranma and Akane were crowded together in Akane’s old bed. Ranma held Akane close, and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Not too much room in here, is there?”
“Nope, none at all.”
Ranma chuckled.
“If we take Tofu’s room, we’d be able to put a small futon in it, but our bed would never make it.”
“You’re right. But I think you’d better switch the “if” to “when”. It’s time to go, Ranma. I don’t care about what we take with us, or leave behind.”
“Then we go, Akane. As soon as we can.”
Akane responded with a kiss, which Ranma was only too happy to return.
*****
“The list of names our parents called us was so long, Ranma. Ungrateful, disloyal, stubborn, foolish . . . I can’t even list them all. And it was so unfair of them to treat Tofu so badly, when all he was trying to do was help.”
*****
Akane and Kasumi sat in the attic, packing a box.
“I’m glad I saved all of Grandmother’s things, Akane. I thought I was just being sentimental, but now you can use them.”
Kasumi had unearthed their grandmother’s dishes, pots and pans from the attic, where they had been stored for many years. She was the only family member who supported the young couple in their decision. Nabiki had yet to be heard from.
“I’m sure there are other things here that you could use, Akane. I’ll bring them to you if I find them.”
Akane laughed.
“Don’t overdo it, Kasumi. We don’t have a lot of room.”
Kasumi helped Ranma and Akane carry the boxes to Tofu’s waiting car. To give him credit, Tofu had been making a great effort to control his reaction to Kasumi’s presence, and was acting almost normally. When she put her hand on his arm, though, he began to lose his control.
“Tofu, I must ask you a great favor.”
“Y-y-yes, K-kasumi?”
“Watch over Ranma and Akane for me, would you?”
Tofu shook his head, trying to clear it.
“They don’t need it, Kasumi. Don’t you understand? They can take care of themselves.”
Kasumi’s eyes opened wide. She wasn’t accustomed to hearing Tofu speak coherently to her.
“That’s what I’ve been telling Father. You’d think I’d be able to take my own advice.”
*****
Chapter 14
Happy
“That was the beginning of a good time for us, Ranma. It wasn’t easy for us to deal with our parents’ anger, but we did. We did what we’d agreed to do on the train - support each other - and that made us strong.”
*****
The class was over at the dojo, and one student stayed behind. He was having difficulty with what he was learning, and Ranma was giving him some individual instruction.
Ranma had learned something about himself. Teaching was giving him more patience. At first, the patience was directed only toward his students, but it soon carried over into other aspects of his life. He was learning to be more patient with his parents, his father-in-law, and his wife.
Ranma’s quick tongue had been getting him in trouble for years, but over the past few weeks it had been happening less often.
Ranma’s student left, and he shut the lights and locked up the dojo. Soun was standing outside.
“Akane didn’t come with you tonight, Ranma? Why is she avoiding me?”
Ranma opened his mouth, closed it again, and thought for a moment before he replied.
“She’s working tonight, Father Tendo. We’ll both come next time.”
Kasumi appeared at the door.
“Ranma, won’t you stay and eat with us?”
“I can’t, Kasumi. Akane should be making dinner now.”
Soun shuddered, and looked at his son-in-law sympathetically. Ranma caught the look, and laughed.
“Don’t look that way, Father Tendo. Akane’s cooking is improving all the time.”
As he walked home, Ranma grinned. He hadn’t been lying to his father-in-law. Akane was improving, but that didn’t mean that everything she made was edible. He laughed, remembering the state he’d found her in a few nights ago when he came home from teaching . . .
*****
Ranma opened the door at the street level, and smelled smoke. He flew up the stairs, and found all three windows open in their room, and Akane desperately trying to wave the smoke out the window.
“What happened?”
Akane had tears running down her face, and she threw herself into Ranma’s arms.
“I ruined our dinner, Ranma. I’m so sorry!”
“How did you do that?”
Akane handed Ranma her mother’s notebook.
“I put all the spices on the fish, and put it in the oven, and sat down to look at my homework. The next thing I knew, all this smoke was coming out of the oven, and the fish was black!”
Akane kept sniffling, as Ranma read the notebook. He went over to the stove, and looked at the settings.
“Here’s what you did wrong, Akane. You set the oven on broil instead of bake.”
Akane just continued to sniffle, while Ranma wrapped the remains of the cremated fish and took it downstairs to throw it away. He then got out Akane’s coat, and handed it to her.
“C’mon, Akane. When’s the last time we had pizza?”
*****
“We had our disasters, Ranma, and we had our fights. But mostly, we were very happy. At least once a week either you or I had to explain to Daddy that we would come back home when we were ready to, but after a while he stopped asking. I think the fact that we tried so hard to be nice to him finally convinced him that we didn’t hate him. I don’t know where he had gotten that idea in the first place.”
“Remember when Nabiki came home for a visit? I think that was the first time she ever complimented my cooking. And she made it so clear to Daddy that she supported us in our decision to be on our own.”
“It was just after her visit that Kasumi came to us with the letter from Cologne. I remember your face changing as you read it, and then you handed it to me so I could . . “
*****
“Dear Ranma,
I’m sure that you did not expect to hear from me, but I felt it necessary to write to you at this time, as it will soon be impossible for me to do so again.
Shampoo, Mousse and I have returned to Joketsuzoku, and much has happened since then.
When our people found that Shampoo had failed to follow Amazon law, many of them treated her as outcast. It was very difficult for her the first few weeks after our return.
One person who did not treat her badly was the village carpenter. He and Shampoo had been playmates when they were children, and he seemed happy to have her back. Shampoo spent quite a bit of time watching him building furniture, which he had become quite skilled at since our departure for Japan. What she did not realize was that he was waiting for her arm to heal.
As soon as Shampoo was able to fight again, he challenged and defeated her. Shampoo did not argue when he insisted that they marry immediately.
They are happy, Ranma, and therefore I am happy also. Shampoo is once more accepted as an Amazon, and I can leave her knowing that she will be all right.
For I am dying. My age has finally caught up with me, and I will probably be gone by the time you receive this letter. I apologize for all of the pain I have caused you and your wife, and wish you nothing but happiness in your lives.
In closing, Ranma, I must tell you that we visited Jusenkyo as soon as we came back to China. The springs have not been restored, and the guide was not there. I did see his daughter, though, and Plum tells me that her father has a plan to restore the springs, and that he is confident that he will be successful. She has promised to contact you should that happen.
Please forgive me for the past, and may your future be a happy one.
Cologne”
*****
Akane looked up from the letter, to find tears in her husband’s eyes. Ranma wiped away the tears, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“It’s funny, Akane. After all the old ghou. . .Cologne, did to us, I didn’t think I would feel this - this bad.”
Akane was also crying, and Kasumi stayed with them, offering what comfort she could. Kasumi had been making it a habit to visit regularly. She missed her sisters, and while Nabiki was too far away to visit, Akane was nearby.
Kasumi’s regular visits were having an effect on Dr. Tofu. He no longer walked into walls when he saw her, and was up to the point where he could manage an entire sentence when speaking to her. Akane had been observing them, and was very encouraged. She’d made up her mind that Kasumi and Tofu belonged together, and wanted to see them married, or at least engaged, before she and Ranma returned home.
*****
“The weeks went so quickly, Ranma, and before we knew it spring had come, and Nabiki was home. Our families gave us a wonderful first anniversary party, and then it was time for our senior prom.”
*****
Nabiki and Kasumi insisted that they should dress Akane for her prom, the way Kasumi and Akane had done for Nabiki. Akane gave in, and Ranma took her home and gave her into the hands of her sisters. After dressing, he went downstairs to wait for her, and sat with their parents.
Ranma endured several uncomfortable minutes with Mr. Tendo, who had come to the conclusion that Ranma and Akane would be moving back to the house once they graduated. Ranma wondered where the idea had come from, and was about to ask when footsteps on the stairs made them all turn around.
Akane looked lovely. Her father took one look, and burst into tears.
“Akane, you look just like your dear mother! Oh, if only she could see you!”
Akane was afraid that her father was going to cry all over her gown, but Genma had the presence of mind to hold onto his friend’s arm, and prevent him from hanging all over his daughter.
*****
“The prom was perfect, Ranma. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we danced every dance.”
Akane paused, and kissed Ranma’s cheek.
“I believe, Ranma, that our daughter was conceived the night of the prom.”