COS88-90
A Change of Scene, Chapters 88-90
by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
October 1, 2000
Ranma 1/2 and its characters were borrowed from Rumiko Takahashi. This story was written for noncommercial purposes only.
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Chapter 88
�Nabiki! Hey, Nabiki, stop!�
Tatewaki stopped walking, but Nabiki continued on. Only the fact that they were holding hands made her notice he wasn�t walking any more.
�Tatewaki?�
�Don�t you hear, Nabiki? Mike is calling you.�
Running footsteps behind Nabiki made her turn to see Mike catch up to them. He was out of breath, and looked extremely upset.
�I�ve been looking for you all over campus! Our report is due in two days!"
Nabiki looked at Tatewaki. Tatewaki looked at Nabiki. Mike waited. Then Nabiki turned to him and smiled.
"Excuse me for just a minute, Mike." Nabiki dragged Tatewaki a few feet away and stopped, facing away from Mike.
"I'm sorry, I completely forgot about that assignment! We've got to get that done--it's worth a lot towards our final grade."
"Then go, Nabiki. Perhaps we should cancel our dinner plans?"
Nabiki winced. "I'm afraid so. Can we meet for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"The time cannot pass quickly enough, my love."
"You're doing it again! Good thing I'm not Akane, or you'd be airborne by now!"
Tatewaki's response was to take Nabiki's face between his palms and kiss her forehead.
"Forgive me. I begrudge every minute that we're apart." Tatewaki squeezed Nabiki's hand and left her. She watched him walk off, and though she meant to turn around and join Mike, Nabiki couldn't help waiting until her boyfriend was out of sight. Although she often teased him about his way of speaking to her, she secretly loved every compliment that he paid her, and lately there had been an abundance of compliments.
�Um, Nabiki?�
�Sorry!� Nabiki forced her mind away from thoughts of how good Tatewaki looked from behind, and put it back on her partner. �All of my notes are at the dorm. Do you want to work there?�
Mike nodded. �Sure. I have my stuff with me. We really need to get this done.� He opened his mouth to tease Nabiki about her reunion with her boyfriend, but thought better of it. Perhaps he would be better off waiting until the project was complete.
*****
When Ranma walked into the day care center Akane was standing with her back to him.
�Ready to go?�
�I can�t. I�m going to be stuck here for another hour.� Akane turned around as she spoke, and Ranma saw that she was holding a baby.
�What? The place closes in five minutes!�
Akane glared at Ranma, and for a fraction of a second he was sure that she was going to put the baby down and hit him. �I know that!� she growled. Then her expression softened. �I�m sorry, I guess I�m tired. Hiroko�s father called a few minutes ago. He�s been delayed at work, so I have to wait for him to get here.�
�What about her mother?�
There was a rather long delay before Akane answered. �Hiroko�s mother died when she was born. Poor little thing...�
Akane trailed off, looking close to tears. Ranma reached out and hugged Akane, causing the baby to be held between them. They both looked down at the sleeping child, then back up at each other. Ranma let go rather quickly and backed up a step.
�Y-you want me to wait here with you?�
�You can�t. Isn�t your tutor coming tonight?�
�I forgot!� Ranma looked at his watch. �I�d better get home. I�ll start dinner for us.�
�Don�t bother. I�ll pick something up on my way home.�
Ranma turned to leave, but something made him turn around again. Akane wasn�t looking at him, but at the baby she held. The look of yearning on her face made him gulp, and he left quickly. They definitely needed to have another talk.
*****
Allison turned the corner onto Yanagi Street and began to look for Ranma�s house. She was halfway up the block when she heard pounding footsteps behind her and a young man flew past and up the steps of a house three doors down. He was opening the door when Allison realized this was the address she was looking for, so she ran up to the steps.
�Excuse me?�
Ranma turned around. �Yes?�
�Are you Ranma Saotome?�
The young man nodded. �That�s me. Are you Miss Rose?�
Allison held up her hands, palms out. �Please, call me Allison. The children in my junior high school class call me Miss Rose, and it makes me feel terribly old!�
�Okay, Al-li-son.� Ranma paused, and scratched his head. �I�m sorry,� he said in careful English. �Your name is hard for me to say. You can call me Ranma, please.� He opened the door, and waved her inside. �I live on the third floor.�
Allison started up the stairs, trying hard not to laugh, but a giggle escaped her. �Don�t feel bad about it, Ranma. Some of the people I work with still can�t pronounce my name, and they�ve known me for a long time!� She followed Ranma into the apartment. He looked rather embarrassed, and waved her to a seat at the table.
�Please, sit down. I will make tea.�
�Thank you.� Allison watched as Ranma put a kettle on to boil, and took a seat at the table. He seemed rather nervous.
�Alli-son, I...� Ranma trailed off, looked impatient with himself, and switched to Japanese.
�I should have thought of this before I called you. Money's really tight right now, and I'm not sure if I can afford a tutor."
"I understand. It's hard to work and go to school at the same time. If you work too many hours, you don't have enough time to study, and if you don't work enough hours, you can't pay your bills. Right?"
That made Ranma relax a little and smile. "Yeah. Exactly."
"What about some kind of trade? One of the women I tutor is giving me cooking lessons in exchange."
"Cooking lessons? I can cook a little, not enough to teach another person, and I wouldn't recommend letting my wife teach you to cook. She's not as bad as she used to be, but..."
Ranma trailed off, but his grin was enough to give Allison the right idea.
"That's okay. I don't need a second cooking teacher. Is there anything you can suggest?"
Ranma didn't hesitate. "What about self-defense? I'll be teaching my wife and one of our friends starting next week."
Allison thought about it, and nodded slowly. "That sounds like a good idea, especially after what happened on campus recently."
She received a solemn nod in reply. "That's why I'm teaching it. Those guys attacked our friend, and she's still getting over it. Akane and I got there in time to stop them, but she still can't talk about it without getting really upset."
"That was you? The paper said it was two students, but they didn't give names. I'm impressed!"
Ranma shrugged. �We did what we had to do. Martial artists are supposed to protect people who can�t help themselves, and Mishi couldn�t.�
*****
"Mike, I have to take a break. I'm getting dizzy."
Nabiki's partner looked at his watch, and reached for the phone. "No wonder you're dizzy. We forgot to eat! I'll have something delivered."
"At least we're nearly done. I'm sorry about forgetting.�
"No problem. You had other things on your mind." Mike grinned at Nabiki's self-conscious look and started dialing.
*****
When Akane pushed the apartment door open a very strange sight met her eyes. Two dark heads were bent over a book. Then both of the people at the table straightened up and began laughing. Akane couldn't help but notice that the young woman was very pretty, and that Ranma seemed quite comfortable with her.
[Down, girl. Down!] Akane had to tell herself, as her grip tightened on the bag she was holding almost to the point of destroying her and Ranma's dinner. [She's a tutor, NOT a fiancee!]
All traces of Akane's jealousy vanished when Ranma jumped out of his chair, took the bag out of her arms, and kissed her cheek.
"Akane, meet my tutor, Allison Rose. Allison, this is my wife, Akane."
Allison smiled. "Nice to meet you, Akane." Then she turned to Ranma. "You lied. She's prettier than her pictures."
It wasn't until then that Akane realized that the book Allison and Ranma had spread out on the table was a photograph album.
"Nice meeting you, too. Why are you looking at photographs?"
"Um, I guess we got distracted. Allison asked her to tell me about myself, and about you, and--"
Ranma was looking rather embarrassed when Allison interrupted.
"Ranma, you don't know it but you just had your first tutoring session."
"I did?"
"What language have you been speaking?"
"English."
Allison nodded. "Why?"
"Because you asked me to. Oh!"
"Exactly. You've been sitting here, telling me about yourself, your wife, and your friends, and you've been speaking English. Now I have an idea of how much you know, and what I need to do to help you out."
Ranma just stood there.
"Sneaky," was Akane's comment. "I like that." Then her face clouded over. But what about paying you? I don't think I can stretch our budget any further than it already is."
�That�s no problem, Akane. Allison is joining our self-defense class next week.�
�She what?�
�I told you I�d think of something!"
Allison got up and reached for her purse. �You two should have your dinner while it�s hot.�
�Won�t you stay?� asked Akane.
�I�m afraid I can�t. I have a lot of papers to grade tonight.�
�Let me walk you downstairs,� said Ranma. He let Allison out, and waved as she ran down the porch stairs. �See you Monday!�
*****
Ranma walked Akane to campus Saturday morning, and kissed her goodbye.
"What time do you think you'll be home?"
"Around lunch time, I think."
"Okay, see you later!"
Ranma ran off for his haircut, and Akane headed for her classroom.
*****
Nodoka looked at the clock. By this time, Akane should be in her bread making class, and Ranma should be running his errands. Now was the time to move.
By her estimation, it would take several hours for Akane and her class to mix and knead the bread dough, allow it to rise, shape it, allow it to rise again, and bake it. That would give her plenty of time to get Ranma and Ukyo together. Nodoka had the feeling that she would need that time to convince her son to obey her. She went to Ukyo's room and rapped on the door.
"Ukyo? Are you nearly ready to go?"
Nodoka fought to keep her face neutral when Ukyo opened the door. She was dressed in her usual okonomiyaki seller�s outfit, rather than the pretty dress Nodoka had bought for her.
�I thought you were going to wear your new dress, dear. I�m sure Ranma would like the way you look in it.�
Ukyo shrugged, looking rather unconcerned. �It doesn�t matter what I wear. Ranma�s my friend, and he�s used to seeing me dressed like this.�
�But Ukyo--�
�Mrs. Saotome,� Ukyo interrupted, �Ranma is going to be more interested in how I am than how I look. Can we go now?�
*****
Ranma paid the barber and left the shop as quickly as he could. �I�m gonna have to find a new barber,� he muttered as he headed for the market.
For some reason Ranma couldn�t comprehend, the barber had taken a strong dislike to his pigtail. All Ranma wanted was to have his bangs and the end of his pigtail trimmed, but the barber had tried convincing him to cut off his pigtail.
�You�d look so much better without it!� he�d said.
�I like it, and my wife likes it,� had been Ranma�s response. The barber had grumbled, just like he had the last time Ranma had been there.
He wondered if perhaps next time he needed a trim Akane would be able to take care of his bangs for him. Then he remembered the mess she�d made of his hair when the dragon�s whisker had made it grow so long.
�Naaah,� he said aloud.
*****
Mrs. Takai opened her door to find two strangers on the porch.
�Good morning. May I help you?�
Nodoka bowed. �Good morning. Do you remember me? I am Nodoka Saotome--Ranma�s mother. He�s expecting my visit, and told me to ask you to let me in if he wasn�t home when I arrived.� Nodoka brought Ukyo forward. �This is Ranma�s friend, Ukyo Kuonji.�
�How nice to see you again, Mrs. Saotome, and to meet you, Miss Kuonji.� Mrs. Takai went into her apartment for a key, and led the two women upstairs.
*****
Professor Mori was in the middle of explaining the proper procedure for kneading yeast dough when the phone on his desk rang. His students waited patiently as he listened to whoever was on the other end, and began looking at one another curiously when he said, "I'll be right there."
"I'm sorry, but we'll have to cancel class this morning." Professor Mori waited for the murmurs of surprise to die down before continuing. "I realize many of you made an extra effort to be here on a Saturday morning, when I'm sure you had other things to do, but I really must go." He paused, and smiled broadly. "It seems I'm about to become a grandfather. Please put away all the supplies for me, and would the last person to leave please lock the door."
Professor Mori left to the sounds of scattered applause and congratulatory comments from his students.
*****
After Mrs. Takai let the two women in, Ukyo took a quick look around the apartment. Ukyo picked up the wedding picture that was on the bureau, and looked at it wistfully.
"They look so happy," she whispered to herself. Then she looked at Nodoka. "Ranma is happy, isn't he?"
Nodoka hesitated before she responded. "I believe so."
"Then why am I here? Why do you want to get the two of us together? If Ranma's happy with Akane, why would he bother with me?"
"Because he cares about you, dear. He would come into the restaurant all the time to ask me how you were."
[Lie], thought Ukyo to herself. [Ranma didn't ask his mother about me, he asked Konatsu.]
"You're not really answering my question, Mrs. Saotome. What can I do for Ranma that Akane can't?"
"You can give him a child, that's what you can do!"
Ukyo sat down rather quickly. "You mean Akane can't have children?"
Nodoka's tone grew cold. "Not can't. Won't."
"That doesn't sound like Akane to me. She worked in a day care center while we were in school, and she always talked about how much she loved the babies. Doesn't she work in one here, too?"
The expression on Nodoka's face made Ukyo certain that she had caught her in another lie, but before she could do anything about it the door opened and Ranma came in. She held her breath, waiting to see how he would greet her.
*****
Akane was one of the first students to leave Professor Mori's classroom. She hurried across campus, eager to get home. A Saturday morning free to spend with her husband was a rare thing, and she wanted to take full advantage of it.
*****
Ranma looked from Ukyo to his mother and back again. He'd expected his mother, but Ukyo? That was a completely different story. Conflicting thoughts passed through his mind as he looked at her.
Ukyo had tried to kill Akane, not once but twice. She had no business being there.
But Ukyo was his friend. She hadn't been well when she attacked Akane. If she was out of the hospital, that meant she was better, didn't it?
Before Ranma could sort out his thoughts, Ukyo did the unexpected. She stepped forward, and bowed low.
�Ranma, please forgive me. What I did was inexcusable.�
�Ukyo, I-I--�
�No. Let me finish what I have to say, and then you can decide how you feel.� Ukyo straightened up, and Ranma could see tears on her cheeks. �I�ve been very foolish. It should have been obvious to me how you felt about Akane, but I refused to see it. I realize that you have every right to refuse to speak to me again and if that�s what you want, I�ll accept it, but there�s something you should know. My doctor has helped me to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. I need to know how you feel about me, Ranma. I�m ready for the truth.�
*****
Nodoka stood there in shock. Ukyo had just tossed a grenade into her carefully constructed scenario, and blown it to pieces. Her only hope to salvage the situation would be a kind response from Ranma. Hopefully her son would be gentle with Ukyo.
*****
Ukyo held her breath, waiting for Ranma to respond. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Nodoka stepping forward, an extremely concerned look on her face. Then her attention focused on Ranma as he began to speak.
�Where�d you get the idea I�d run out on you like that? C�mon, Ukyo, you should know me better! I�m not gonna blame you for what you did, I...dammit! I don�t know how to explain--�
Ranma cut himself off sharply, and Ukyo was astounded when she was pulled into a rough embrace, and she heard a soft voice meant for her ears alone.
�You�re my friend, Ucchan, and that�s never going to change.�
�You�re my friend...� The words echoed in Ukyo�s ears, and she hugged Ranma as tightly as she could. Despite what she had done, by some miracle she couldn�t quite understand, Ranma was not going to abandon her.
�Thank you,� she whispered back, and then she forced herself to let go.
*****
Nodoka watched as Ranma pulled Ukyo into his arms and whispered something to her. Whatever it was, it had quite an effect on the girl, because she stopped crying, hugged Ranma hard, and whispered something back. Now was the time to move.
�I�m so glad you two have resolved your differences! For a while I was quite concerned that the two of you would never get together!�
Ranma and Ukyo took a couple of steps away from each other and stared at Nodoka. Her heart sank when Ranma looked at her suspiciously.
�What exactly are you talking about, Mom?�
�What do you think, Ranma? She�s trying to get us into bed. Aren�t you, Mrs. Saotome?�
Ukyo�s bluntness shook Nodoka�s confidence. Her intentions had been to bring up the subject gently, thereby convincing Ranma to bend to her wishes in a more subtle way. Now she had no choice but to tell the truth.
�You are right, Ukyo, but there is a reason.�
�It had better be a good one, Mom! I told you before that I won�t cheat on Akane, so how come you�re doing this?�
Nodoka wavered for a second before forcing herself to give her son a stern look. �I suggest that you ask your wife.�
�Mom, you�ve got the wrong idea about Akane!�
�Do I? She told me herself that she doesn�t want children. If she won�t give me a grandchild, I have to find someone else who will!�
*****
Ranma slowly counted to ten. It didn�t help. �Get out.� His mother just stood there, looking incredulous.
�What did you say?�
�I said, get out.�
�You�re taking Akane�s side against me, your own mother? How could you?�
Ranma lost it.
*****
Akane closed the porch door behind her and stepped into the hallway. She hadn�t gone up more than a few stairs before she heard shouting.
�Damn right I am! Akane promised to be faithful to me when we got married, and I made the same promise to her. How DARE you ask me to cheat on my wife! Get out, and stay out!�
She began to run and nearly collided with her mother-in-law as she flew down the stairs. Nodoka looked close to tears.
�What�s wrong?�
Nodoka just shook her head and tried to get past, but Akane blocked the way.
�Talk to me!�
�Why? You�ve turned my son away from me! You won�t give me a grandchild! Get out of my way!�
Akane didn�t move. �I never said I wouldn�t give you a grandchild. Do you have ANY idea how much I want children?�
Nodoka gasped.
�I didn�t think so.� Akane moved out of the way. �Leave if you want to.� Her mother-in-law burst into tears, pushed past her, and fled.
*****
The apartment door slammed behind Nodoka, leaving Ukyo alone with Ranma. She waited for him to turn around, noting the way his hands were clenched into fists, and wondering what he was going to say. Then he turned around, and his expression made her gulp.
�Did you know what she was going to do?�
�I suspected, but I didn�t know for certain.�
�And you were going to go along with it?�
Ukyo shook her head. �No.�
�Then what are you doing here?�
Before Ukyo could answer, a voice came from behind Ranma.
�I want to know that too!�
-------------------------------------
Chapter 89
Akane stood in the doorway, her customary �I caught Ranma with another woman� expression on her face. Ukyo was amused to see that Ranma wore his usual �Don�t hit me! I didn�t do anything!� look on HIS face. Then her amusement faded. If Akane hit Ranma, it would be her fault.
�Ranma�s mother brought me here, Akane, and I didn�t come to do any harm.�
*****
Ukyo�s words brought Akane to a screeching halt.
�Excuse me?�
Then Ukyo came forward and bowed. �Forgive me, Akane. I know I don�t deserve it.�
Akane looked from Ukyo to Ranma, and flinched when she saw his expression. She, like Ukyo, knew it all too well: It was screaming �Don�t hit me! I didn�t DO nothing!� She had jumped to conclusions too many times in the past when she found Ranma in what seemed to be a compromising position. That was then. This was now, and she had to give her husband the benefit of the doubt.
*****
Ranma watched Akane�s expression change, going from angry into something resembling confusion. He jumped on the opportunity and took his wife�s hands, leading her to the nearest chair.
�Let Ukyo talk, Akane. I want to know what�s going on, too.�
�But why isn�t she in the hospital?�
�She--�
�Perhaps I�d better start from the beginning,� interrupted Ukyo, as she joined them at the table.
*****
Ukyo took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This was not going to be easy.
�Akane, I told Ranma that my doctor has been helping me to understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I had this big fantasy that Ranma loved me, and that he wanted me. I also had the stupid idea that you were in the way. I�m sorry.�
�You already apologized once, Ukyo,� replied Akane. �I think I�m beginning to understand a little. What else?�
�While I was in the hospital Mrs. Saotome would come to see me every day. I was very grateful for the visits, and also because she was running the business for me. Then she told me that there was another reason why she was there. She told me that the Saotome family owed a debt of honor to me because of the promise her husband made. I...I�
Ukyo turned her face away from Ranma and Akane, and fought back the tears of anger and grief that were threatening to overcome her. Why did this have to be so hard?
�I thought she was going to offer to repay my dowry, and she said she would, but then she did something else.� Ukyo twisted her hands in her lap. If Ranma had reacted violently to Nodoka�s suggestion, what would Akane say? �She kept telling me that Ranma loved me. She said that she would be happy and proud to have me be the mother of her grandchild.�
To Ukyo�s surprise, Akane held onto her temper. �She made that suggestion to us back in Nerima a couple of months ago. Ranma said no.�
Ukyo actually smiled, and as she did she felt a knot of tension that had been plaguing her disappear. �I didn�t know that, but it doesn�t really surprise me.� She looked from Akane to Ranma. Both of them looked very worried. She laughed, and shrugged. �I should have known better. It�s pretty obvious how you two feel about each other.� Ukyo straightened up and stopped playing with her fingers. �I won�t let anyone fool me like that again!� Then her voice dropped to a whisper. �I�ve been fooling myself for too long, and I let myself be influenced because of it. It�s time for me to leave the past in the past, and look ahead.�
*****
As she spoke the last words, Ukyo got up. She bowed again, and turned around. When her hand was on the doorknob, Ranma spoke.
�Where are you going?�
�Back to the restaurant. It�s nearly time to open for lunch, and I�m sure your mother won�t be there.�
�Do you want us to walk you?�
Ukyo shook her head. �I don�t really need you to, but if you do, I�ll make you both lunch.�
*****
Akane watched the exchange between Ukyo and Ranma. She could hear the affection in his voice, but it didn�t make her jealous. This was the way Ranma would always be--no matter what Ukyo had done, he was ready to forgive, and to be her friend. Akane followed his example, and rose from her chair.
�Lunch sounds great, Ukyo, but only if we can pay for it.�
�But--�
�I won�t take no for an answer!� When Ukyo looked slightly hurt, Akane gave her a hug, and giggled at the amazed expression on her face. �Listen to me. The debt is still there, and somehow the Saotome family is going to pay you back. We can�t go adding to the debt by taking free meals, can we?�
�I suppose not. But do me a favor, okay? Don�t be in a big hurry to pay me back. I got something better than money today.� Ukyo paused and wiped her eyes. �I got my friends back.�
*****
Konatsu paced back and forth, looking out of the shop window. Mrs. Saotome had come running in, passing him without a word. Shortly afterward, she had come downstairs with her bags packed and departed. The look of grief on her face was one that he would not soon forget.
�Ukyo, where are you?� he muttered. He had just made up his mind to go looking for her when she appeared down the street, accompanied by Ranma and Akane. When they drew closer, he saw that they appeared to be--happy? He opened the door and let them in, watching in confusion as the three of them smiled at him.
�Get the grill fired up, Konatsu! We�re going to make the best lunch in the world!�
*****
The meal that followed was a wonderful one. Everything Ukyo made was the best, and there was plenty of it.
�I think I know what I want to do next.�
�What�s that, Ukyo?� Ranma asked while reaching for another okonomiyaki.
�I think I�ll let Konatsu run the shop by himself some afternoons while I take a couple of courses at Sanna.�
�That�s a wonderful idea!� said Akane. �What do you want to take?�
Akane watched as Ukyo told them her plans. She watched Ranma as well, and noticed that his smile was beginning to look strained. He also had tension lines around his eyes. When he finished the okonomiyaki he was eating, she took his hand before he could reach for another.
�We really should go. There�s a lot Ranma and I have to do today.�
Ucchan�s was beginning to fill up, and Ukyo nodded in agreement. �Looks like I�m going to be pretty busy myself. I�ll see you both later!�
Akane reached into her purse before Ranma could find his wallet and paid for their meals. Then she led him out of Ucchan�s.
They walked without speaking, which didn�t surprise Akane at all. The moment the restaurant was behind them, Ranma�s smile had disappeared, and was replaced with what a stranger would have termed a neutral look. Akane knew better. Something was simmering beneath the surface, and she wanted to get her husband home before whatever it was escaped his control.
*****
Couples strolled through the park admiring the cherry blossoms, Nabiki and Tatewaki among them. It was mid-afternoon, and many couples were sitting in the grass sharing picnic lunches.
�I should have thought to bring a picnic for us,� Tatewaki remarked.
�Are you hungry?� asked Nabiki.
As Nabiki spoke, some cherry blossom petals drifted down and landed in her hair. Tatewaki reached out to brush them away, but instead changed his mind, picked them up, and put them in his pocket.
�Yes. Would you like me to take you somewhere for lunch?�
Nabiki shook her head, �No. Let�s go back to your place. I�ll make something for us.�
Tatewaki concealed his surprise and accepted her offer. A little while later, he watched as she moved confidently around the kitchen, putting together what looked like a delicious meal.
�I didn�t know you could cook.�
Nabiki laughed. �How could you know? I took cooking in school, but I never bothered to cook at home. Kasumi had that job buttoned up.�
�And I always assumed I would have to hire a cook when we got married.� Nabiki�s gasp coincided with Tatewaki�s realization that he had spoken his thoughts aloud. She turned off the stove, and sat down at the table.
�Was that supposed to be a proposal, Tatewaki?�
The smile on Nabiki�s face was encouragement enough. �Sort of,� he replied, �but not quite what I had planned.�
�Then try again,� she said, and put her hand in his.
Any nervousness Tatewaki had fled. If Nabiki�s smile meant what he thought it did, he had no reason to doubt her answer. He squeezed Nabiki�s hand, and smiled at her. �Miss Nabiki Tendo, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?�
*****
Akane kept a watchful eye on her husband as they neared the house. Ranma was evidently deep in thought, and he squeezed her hand several times. After his grip became painful, Akane thought it necessary to mention it.
�Ranma? Honey? That hurts.�
�Sorry.�
�Please, won�t you tell me what�s wrong?�
�Not here.�
Then, to Akane�s complete surprise, Ranma dropped her hand and sprinted for home. She tried her hardest to catch up to him, but he was out of sight before she got started.
Akane was completely out of breath by the time she arrived home and ran up the stairs. Ranma wasn�t in the kitchen, and the bedroom door was shut. Akane�s hands shook a little as she took off her coat and put her things on the table. She went to the door and opened it a crack.
�Ranma?�
The room was in semi-darkness, with only a little bit of sunlight filtering through the closed curtains. Ranma was sitting on the floor facing a corner, with his arms wrapped around his knees. Akane saw his shoulders shaking and hurried to kneel down beside him. She didn�t know what to do, or what to say, so she just sat watching her husband cry. He finally turned to her, and the look of despair on his face nearly broke her heart.
�Akane, what have I done?�
Unable to think of a thing to say, Akane simply put her arms around her husband and held him.
*****
Kodachi rang her brother�s doorbell, and waited for an answer. When none came, she rang it several more times. It was not like her brother to keep her waiting.
Finally, the door opened, and she could see both her brother and Nabiki Tendo standing there. Evidently they were about to go out.
�Brother, I need to speak with you. Could you tell that person to leave?�
Tatewaki stiffened, and the look he gave his sister was less than friendly.
�You know Nabiki�s name, Sister, so please use it. What did you want to tell me?�
Kodachi ignored Tatewaki�s first sentence, and pulled an envelope out of her purse. �I received a letter from Father. He intends to return to Hawaii--permanently.�
Tatewaki raised one eyebrow. �Does he? That will make things simpler.�
�Simpler? I don�t understand.�
�Surely you remember how peaceful it was in our home when Father was away? It will be much easier for me to start married life with him absent.�
Kodachi recoiled as if she had been slapped. �Married?� She looked at Nabiki, who took Tatewaki�s arm and smiled at him in what Kodachi considered a proprietary way. �How could you consider marrying into THAT family?�
�There is nothing wrong with my fiancee�s family,� replied her brother. As he spoke, he exited the apartment with Nabiki and locked the door behind him. �Please excuse us, we have much to do this afternoon.�
Kodachi stood open-mouthed as her brother turned his back on her and walked down the hallway with his fiancee. He got to the end, and looked back at her.
�Tell Father to have a safe journey.�
*****
Ranma still sat on the floor of the bedroom, staring out the window. Akane had stayed with him until he�d asked her to leave, which she had reluctantly done, retreating to the kitchen.
His mind kept replaying that morning�s scene over and over again. Had there been any other way to handle the situation--one that would have allowed him to keep Ukyo�s friendship while not alienating his mother? Ranma couldn�t think of one.
He and his mother had been separated for so many years that he had come to doubt that he had one living. Then, like a miracle, she had appeared at the Tendo home, and he had been forced to hide from her until she figured out and accepted his curse. That was one of the happiest moments of his life.
Now his mother was gone again, and it was his fault. He could almost hear his father berating him, telling him what an ungrateful son he was.
�I blew it,� he whispered aloud, �and I�m gonna have to learn to live with it.� That decision made, he got off the floor and went looking for his wife.
*****
The cherry trees along the Majime-kawa were in full bloom, and the Saotomes were not the only couple strolling along its banks. Akane couldn�t help but notice how quiet her husband was as he walked along holding her hand. He had emerged from the bedroom looking calmer, but he was rather pale and held himself stiffly.
�Let�s go for a walk,� he had said. �One of the guys at work mentioned that the cherry trees down by the river were really beautiful.�
He had been right. The trees were beautiful, but Akane couldn�t really enjoy them properly when Ranma looked so unhappy. All around them people were talking, laughing, and picnicking. Little children ran back and forth playing games, and flirting couples strolled along holding hands.
After a while, Akane decided she�d had enough. She dragged Ranma into a quiet spot, let go of his hand, and placed both of hers on her hips.
�Okay, start talking.�
�What about?�
�Don�t give me that! What happened today between you and your mother is eating at you. Are you blaming yourself?�
�I don�t wanna talk about it.�
�Ranma! Who ELSE are you supposed to talk to about it? How am I supposed to help you if you won�t--hey! Come back!�
Ranma was already too far away to hear Akane�s cries.
Akane searched for Ranma for an hour before giving up. If he didn�t want to be found, he wouldn�t be. As she expected, the apartment was empty when she returned home.
�And I thought we�d have fun spending a day off together,� she said to the empty kitchen. �It�s all your mother�s fault!�
Akane�s mood nearly caused her to ruin dinner. As it was, it came out barely adequate, and she wasn�t very happy having to eat alone. She left Ranma�s dinner on the table, and got into bed
�Ranma, where are you?� she whispered, and closed her eyes.
An hour later the sound of the key turning in the lock caused Akane�s eyes to shoot open. She heard Ranma�s footsteps in the kitchen, then the bedroom door opened.
�Ranma, your dinner is--�
�I don�t want it.�
Ranma undressed in the dim light, and then he joined Akane in their futon. She automatically turned to fit herself against him, but he took her by the shoulders and pushed her away a few inches. Then he turned over, placing his back to her--something he had never done before.
Akane was completely devastated by Ranma�s rejection. She turned over and curled up into a fetal position, unsuccessfully fighting tears. If her husband heard her, he gave no sign.
-------------------------
Chapter 90
Akane slept poorly, finally drifting into a deep sleep just before dawn. When she woke, Ranma was gone.
�Damn you, Ranma! Stop running away!� she yelled. As she did so, she picked up her slippers and threw them. One of them struck the wedding portrait on the bureau. The picture teetered. Akane gasped and threw herself forward as the picture fell. She landed on her stomach, her outstretched hands grasping the picture. The two faces in it smiled back at her. They looked happy and carefree.
Akane traced Ranma�s face with a fingertip, and carefully placed the picture back where it belonged. �You�re going to talk to me, Ranma, even if I have to kill you to make you do it,� she told the picture, and left the bedroom.
The telephone was ringing when Akane emerged from the shower, and she ran to grab it.
�Ranma?�
�Akane? It�s Shiro.�
Akane pulled herself together. �Hello! How are you?�
�Fine. I wanted to know what time we were meeting.�
Akane�s hand flew to her mouth. Her towel began to slip, and she quickly grabbed it. �I�m sorry! I totally forgot!�
Shiro sounded rather disappointed. �You didn�t make other plans, did you?�
�N-no.�
�Is something wrong?� This time, Shiro sounded worried.
�No, nothing at all!�
�Yes there is. If you don�t want to talk to me about it, should I put Shampoo on?�
�NO! I mean, no--thank you.� Akane paused, and thought hard. �If I don�t have it solved by the time we get together, I�ll talk to you then. Can we meet you around 3:00?�
�3:00 it is, and Akane?�
�Yes?�
�Good luck.�
*****
Ranma ran. The ground blurred beneath his feet as he pounded around the track. He�d lost count of how many times he had completed the circle some time ago, but he wasn�t about to stop. He was going to run until he couldn�t think anymore.
Unfortunately, it wasn�t working. Instead of the constantly shifting view of campus that his eyes should have been taking in as he kept circling, all Ranma could see was the pain in his mother�s eyes when he sent her away
Ranma gritted his teeth, and increased his speed.
*****
Akane was eating breakfast and studying when she heard Ranma�s steps on the stairs. When he opened the door, she saw that he was drenched with sweat. Without saying a word, Ranma removed his sneakers and disappeared into the bathroom. Shortly afterward, Akane heard the shower go on.
She reminded herself that she had decided to allow Ranma the opportunity to speak first, and tried to concentrate on her studies. Instead, all she could do was worry.
A few minutes later, Ranma came into the kitchen. He served himself some miso soup and rice, and seated himself opposite his wife. After a few spoonfuls he looked up at her.
�It�s good.�
�Thank you.�
Akane felt a surge of hope when Ranma spoke to her, but he finished his breakfast without further comment. When he was done, Ranma put the dishes in the sink and went into the bedroom, emerging with his books. He sat down again, and opened one of the books and a small notebook. Akane watched as he sat there reading and taking notes, evidently totally involved in what he was doing. After watching for a while Akane put her own books away, washed the dishes, and went into the bedroom for her purse.
�I�m going to the market. Did you want anything special for lunch?�
Ranma just shook his head. �Anything�s fine.�
Akane got halfway down the stairs and stopped. She looked behind her and wiped away a tear. �What am I going to do?� she whispered.
*****
Nodoka Saotome rose to face the day. She had arrived home late the previous day, to find it empty. That meant her husband must be staying with the Tendos.
She didn�t know if she could face him. He had warned her not to go forward with her plans, and she hadn�t listened. What would he say to her?
*****
Genma sat back and smiled as he watched Kasumi clearing the table. All of her bruises were gone, and she looked healthy and happy. He didn�t know how he and Soun would do without her once she married Dr. Tofu, but seeing the way the girl lit up every time her fiance was present made him feel guilty for even thinking about it.
[Perhaps I can get No-chan to come home,] he thought. [If only she�d give up her foolish ideas.]
As if in answer to his thoughts, his wife�s voice was heard in the hallway.
�Hello? May I come in?�
There was something in her tone of voice that made him scramble to his feet and run to her. �What�s wrong?� Then he saw the look in her eyes, and all he could think of was his son. Something terrible must have happened to him.
�No-chan?�
Nodoka collapsed into her husband�s arms.
*****
When Akane returned from the market, she found a note on the table. �Went to the library,� was all it said. She closed her eyes in exasperation, counted to ten, and unpacked her groceries. Then she got out the ironing. If she didn�t keep busy, she was going to go crazy.
Akane managed to keep her mind on other things beside her husband until she got to the bottom of the basket. Lying there was something that didn�t need ironing, but mending. It was the last of Ranma�s Chinese shirts--the only one that had survived fights, spills, and innumerable washings.
The shirt was faded and worn, and one sleeve had separated from the shoulder. Ranma had become taller and broader, and it really didn�t fit him, but Akane couldn�t bear to throw it away. Not this shirt. She got out needle and thread, and repaired the sleeve. Then an impulse sent her into the bedroom, Ranma�s shirt in one hand, while the other reached for the buttons of her blouse.
Two minutes later Akane stood before the mirror, looking at her reflection. She closed her eyes and thought back to the last time she wore the shirt. Once more she was in Ranma�s arms, and could hear him calling to her. Akane remembered opening her eyes, seeing the tears on Ranma�s face. She and Ranma had been through too much to allow anything to come between them. That was one of the reasons she wouldn�t throw the shirt out. It was a piece of their history, every bit as important, if not more so, than their wedding album. Saffron couldn�t separate them. Neither would this problem. The sound of the telephone ringing brought her out of her thoughts.
*****
�She�s coming around.�
�Thank you, Kasumi. Would you leave us alone, please?�
�Of course.�
Nodoka�s head swam. Why had she passed out? [Because you haven�t eaten since Ranma threw you out of his apartment,] came the answer. She opened her eyes, and pushed a cold washcloth off of her forehead. Genma sat beside her, arms folded.
�What happened between you and Ranma?�
�How did you...?�
Genma removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. �I knew something was wrong the moment you walked in. There�s only one thing that could get you this upset, and that�s trouble between you and Ranma. I tried calling, but Akane said he wasn�t home. She didn�t sound right.�
Nodoka just stared.
�You may as well tell me, No-chan. You pushed Ukyo at him, didn�t you?�
�Yes.�
�And he blew up at you?�
The tears began to flow. �Yes.�
�I hate to say it, but I did warn you.�
The trickle of tears grew into full-blown weeping. �He hates me! My son hates me!� Nodoka put her face in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably. She felt her husband pull her into his arms, and gently pat her back.
�I don�t think so. We�ll find a way to fix it.�
*****
�You missed lunch.�
�I wasn�t hungry.� Ranma added a new stack of books to the ones on the table, and sat down.
�If you say so,� replied his wife. �I suppose that means you�ll just eat more when we get to the park.�
Ranma looked blank.
�Don�t you remember? We�re meeting Shampoo and Shiro at Tokiwa Park this afternoon. We planned this a week ago!�
�I-I...can you go without me?�
Akane glared at Ranma and put her hands on her hips. �NO! You promised we�d go, and we�re going together!� Ranma flinched, and then the look of misery returned to his face. Akane relaxed her combative pose, and pulled a chair in front of her husband. She sat down and took both of his hands in hers. �Talk to me, Ranma. Tell me what�s wrong.�
Her only reply was silence.
�Fine! Be that way! But you�re coming with me if I have to drag you!�
[Two can play this game,] thought Akane. She piled the vacant space on the table with her books, and sat down to study. Ranma ignored her. After a while he put one book down and picked up another.
�You read that one already.�
Ranma pushed his chair back, gathered all of his books, and carried them into the bedroom. He emerged with his shoes in his hand.
�I�m going for a walk.�
�Not without me, you�re not!� Akane jumped up and grabbed her shoes, purse and jacket.
�Fine,� muttered her husband. He stuck his hands in his jacket pockets and led the way down the stairs. When he turned left, Akane grabbed his arm and pulled him in the opposite direction.
�What?�
�Shiro�s house is that way.�
*****
�They�re coming.�
Shiro put down the magazine he was reading and joined Shampoo at the window. �Both of them?�
�Yes. But they no--I mean they do not look happy.�
Her husband had no problem understanding what she meant. Ranma was walking with his hands in his pockets, looking at his feet. Akane had her arms crossed, hugging herself as if she were cold. She looked straight ahead, but as Shiro watched he spotted her giving Ranma a furtive glance, worry plain on her face.
�Man, something�s wrong. I�m surprised they even showed up.�
Once they were all in Shiro�s car and on their way to the park, Ranma made a little effort to talk, but Shiro could tell that his heart wasn�t in it. He looked in the rear view mirror at Akane, who sat in the back with Shampoo. She wasn�t responding to any of his wife�s comments, but instead stared out the window. This did not look like it was going to be a fun outing.
*****
Tokiwa Park was crowded and noisy. The foursome�s first stop was at one of the many food stands, where they all got a light snack.
�What�s the first stop?� asked Shiro, as he polished off the last of his popcorn. He looked to Ranma for a reply, but he was gone. �Hey, where�s Ranma?�
Shampoo pointed. �There.�
Ranma was over by one of the midway games. There were pyramids of plastic bottles filled with sand set up, and people were trying to knock them down with baseballs. Everyone ran up in time to see him pick up a baseball and wind up. The man running the game cringed as Ranma threw the ball so hard that it not only scattered the bottles, but also put a dent in the wall behind them. The rest of his throws got the same results, and Ranma found himself being handed two prizes instead of one.
�Look, do me a favor. Don�t play again, okay!�
Ranma handed one of the stuffed penguins to Akane and the other to Shampoo. �We gonna go on a ride, or what?�
�We�re starting with the Ferris wheel,� replied Akane. Her tone of voice told the others that she didn�t expect an argument. When they got into line Shiro separated Akane from the others, while Shampoo took Ranma�s arm.
�Ranma, you have headache?�
�I�m fine.�
Shampoo let go of his arm and whacked him lightly. �Do not lie to me! You too quiet! Can Sham--can I help?�
�I don�t think so,� was the soft answer.
Behind them, Akane was whispering to Shiro. His eyebrows rose in surprise and then he smiled and nodded at her. Ranma turned around in time to see Akane�s smile, and to see her lips form the words �thank you�. What was she thanking him for?
The wheel slowed down and stopped, and the people in the bottommost seat got off. The Saotomes and Hayasukas moved up in the line as the people in front of them began boarding. When Ranma took his seat with Akane, he failed to notice Shiro pulling Shampoo out of line.
*****
The wheel went up and jerked to a stop several times as more people boarded, Once it was full, it began revolving. After only a few revolutions, the wheel slowed down and stopped altogether, leaving Ranma and Akane at the very top. Akane poked Ranma in the ribs, and pointed.
�What a fantastic view! Isn�t it beautiful?�
Ranma couldn�t help agreeing. �Yeah, it is. But how come we stopped? Is something wrong?�
Akane gathered her courage, and faced her husband. �It stopped because I wanted it to, and it�s not going to start again until you agree to talk to me.�
�What? You�ve gotta be kidding!�
�No. Shiro gave the operator a bribe to keep us up here, and he won�t start the wheel again until I signal him to.�
Ranma�s expression hardened. �It�s not gonna work, Akane. I could always climb down.�
�I know you could. It�s not too far for you to jump, either. But you won�t, will you?�
Ranma began to get up, causing the car to sway. �Damn right I will!�
�Oh? I�d sit down if I were you.� Akane smiled grimly when Ranma took one look at the mallet in her hands and settled back into the seat. �That�s better.�
�Look, I don�t want to talk about it here. It�s too personal. If I promise to talk you when we get home, will you let us down?�
�You�re really promising me? This isn�t just to avoid getting hit?�
Akane jumped when Ranma took her by the shoulders, and the mallet fell from her hands. It traveled down a few feet, and vanished, but Akane was too busy looking into Ranma�s eyes to notice.
�I promise,� he said. We�ll sit and talk when we get home.�
�And we�re not going to sleep until we get it worked out, no matter how long it takes. Got it?�
�Got it,� said Ranma.
*****
The ride operator was getting a little nervous. Some of the people on the Ferris wheel were waving at him, yelling loudly to get the ride going.
�Can I start it yet?�
Shiro kept gazing up at the top of the wheel. Akane waved, and he waved back. �Go ahead.�
Everyone cheered as the wheel began to revolve again. The operator waved at the people in the cars as they went by, and then he turned to Shiro. �So, what was that about, anyway? Was the guy on top proposing to the girl or something?�
�Not quite,� replied Shiro. He walked away a few feet and stood with his wife, watching the wheel revolve. It was going too quickly for him to be able to determine the expression on the Saotomes� faces, and he waited anxiously for the ride to stop. Eventually it slowed down, and began the process of letting people off. Shiro located Ranma and Akane�s car. They were sitting quietly, looking not at each other but out into the distance. Shiro noted that they weren�t touching, unlike the other couples on the ride.
Eventually the Saotomes� car got to the bottom, and Shiro noted with relief that Ranma put his arm around Akane�s shoulders and kissed her cheek before they got out.
*****
�That�s not going to make it all better, you know,� said Akane.
�I know that,� Ranma replied. �It was just...sort of...�
�Sort of what?�
�Sort of an apology. You�re really sore at me, aren�t you?�
Akane just stared. �You don�t get it, do you?�
�Get what?�
�I�m not mad. I�m hurt!� Before Ranma could respond, Akane took off and disappeared into the crowd.
�Hey, wait a minute!� Ranma ran after his wife, leaving their friends staring after them.
�I don�t understand,� said Shampoo.
�Neither do I,� responded her husband.
*****
�Akane! Akane, wait up!�
Akane ran a few more feet before stopping. When she turned to face him, Ranma could see the strain on his wife�s face.
�Don�t run out on me like that!�
�Why not? You did!�
�But--�
�Hey! If you can run away from your problems, why can�t I?�
People were starting to stare, which made Ranma very uncomfortable. He grabbed Akane�s hand and dragged her to a boat ride. She started to protest, but one look from him was enough to make her get into the boat. When he sat down beside her and tried to take her hand, she snatched it away.
Ranma sighed. �We�re not very good at this, are we?�
�Not very good at what?�
�Being �grown up�.�
�I guess not.�
Akane shivered, and Ranma put his arm around her.
�Are you cold?�
�No.�
�You�re upset.� It was a statement, not a question.
�Yes.�
The pair remained silent for a while as the boats traveled on. Eventually, Ranma looked down at Akane. She seemed to be a little calmer than she had been when they got into the boats, as she sat hugging the stuffed penguin.
�Do you remember the day you went to the cemetery, and I followed you?�
That got Akane�s attention. She looked up at Ranma, curiosity evident in her expression.
�Yes. Why?�
�Do you remember what we talked about?�
�Well, I was worried about being a good wife, and you told me not to worry, because--oh my goodness.�
Ranma nodded. �Yeah. I told you I didn�t know anything about being a husband. I guess I kinda proved that the last couple of days. We�re supposed to be partners, and I didn�t treat you like one. I�m sorry.�
Akane�s hand went to her eyes, and she wiped away a tear. �I guess it�s a little bit my fault, too. Maybe I shouldn�t have tried so hard to make you talk to me.�
�I don�t know. But I will. Once we get home, I�ll tell you everything.�
*****
The Haysukas looked for their friends for a few minutes before deciding to leave them alone.
�Come on, Shampoo. We haven�t gone on any rides yet! What would you like to try first?�
Shampoo didn�t hesitate. �The merry-go-round!� She pulled Shiro by the hand, and started running.
�Again, please?�
�We�ve gone around three times already!�
�Please, Shiro? Please?� Shampoo gave Shiro her best �cute wife� look. It worked. Then a voice behind them made the both of them turned around.
�Hi! We�ve been looking for you!�
Ranma stood there with Akane. The both of them were smiling.
*****
�Are you sure I should let Ranma into the car?� asked Shiro. �I can�t believe how much he ate!�
Akane giggled. �He sure packed it away, didn�t he?�
Ranma looked indignant. �Hey, I missed lunch!�
His friend just laughed. �I was just kidding. Get in!� They all piled into the car and headed in the direction of the Saotomes� apartment.
Shiro looked in the rear view mirror at his friends. Akane was snuggled up to Ranma, who had his arm around her. Her eyes were closed, and she looked quite content, as did her husband. It was a huge difference from the way the pair looked earlier in the day.
After Ranma helped Akane out of the car, he leaned down to talk to Shiro. �That was fun. I�d invite you up, but Akane�s kinda tired.�
�It�s okay. Next time.�
Akane woke on Monday morning well before the alarm went off. Ranma slept on, looking very peaceful.
He had poured his heart out to her the night before, telling her of his fear of having alienated his mother permanently.
"That's impossible," Akane had said. "Your mother loves you too much for that to happen."
Those simple words had been enough. The haunted look vanished from Ranma's eyes.
[I hope I was right.]
*****
Nodoka cleared away the breakfast dishes and wondered at her husband's silence. He had been very quiet since their return to their own home.
"Husband, is something wrong?"
"No, nothing. I was just thinking."
"Of what?"
Genma looked up. "Ranma. I believe it's time we told him the truth."
"But--"
"Yes?"
"I thought you didn't want him to know."
Her husband shrugged. "I didn't. But if telling him will bring the two of you back together, I'm willing to swallow my pride."
*****
The results of Mike and Nabiki's project were handed to Mike that day, but Nabiki wasn't present. He spent some time looking for her on campus, but no one could remember seeing her.
At the same time, Kodachi Kuno was searching for her brother. She had walked the entire campus and even gone to his apartment without success. A day of thinking about his engagement to Nabiki Tendo had left her determined to talk him out of it, but if she couldn't find him she couldn't get started.
"I'll try again tomorrow," she muttered.
*****
Early the next morning Nabiki opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She looked at her sleeping companion and picked up his hand. His wedding ring shone dully in the dim light.
"What have I done?" she whispered to herself. Then she smiled and curled her fingers around his.
[The right thing,] she thought as she went back to sleep.