Cinders
A Ranma 1/2 fanfiction by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
September 26, 1999
Ranma 1/2 and its universe was created by Rumiko Takahashi, and belongs to her. This work of fiction was written for entertainment only, and is not intended for commercial purposes.
Chapter 2
"You can stay for ten minutes, and that's all. It's getting late, and they need to rest. Try not to wake them."
"Thank you."
Nodoka followed the nurse into the room. For a moment, it looked to her like Ranma and Akane were sleeping together in a double bed. Then she realized that their individual beds were up against each other.
"Why are the beds pushed together like this?"
The nurse chuckled.
"Your son wouldn't stay in bed. Every time I came in he was sitting next to Miss Tendo, sound asleep. Once we moved the beds he stayed put."
Nodoka nodded.
"I see."
Two more people appeared in the doorway. Soun Tendo hesitated for a moment before going to Akane's side. He reached down to touch her, and pulled back. He'd been told not to.
Genma went around to Ranma's side, and looked him over.
"It's not as bad as I thought it was, thank goodness."
Nodoka took her husband's hand.
"Yes, but poor Akane. I'm afraid--"
She was interrupted when Ranma stirred in his sleep.
"Akane."
Ranma reached over and felt for Akane's hand. His expression was worried, but once he'd located it he relaxed again. Soun looked at the linked hands and wept.
"It took this to make him decide."
Nodoka whispered something too low for Soun to hear.
"Now it's too late."
*****
Two frightened girls sat on the roof of Furinkan High School.
"What have I done?" sobbed Ukyo for what seemed like the millionth time.
"Airen will never forgive Shampoo."
Neither of them noticed that they were no longer alone until Cologne stepped in front of them.
"I've been all over town looking for the two of you. Come with me."
*****
The hospital corridors were dimly lit, and very quiet. Ukyo and Shampoo followed Cologne in silence. Both girls were pale and quiet. Cologne stopped walking when she saw a man approaching her.
"You're here. Thank you for coming."
"I would have come in any case, Akito. I know these young people."
"Please go in. They need your help, especially the young lady."
Cologne nodded and entered the room after motioning for the girls to wait outside. She went directly to Akane and uncovered her.
"It's bad," she muttered, "but I've seen worse."
"What are you doing here?"
Ranma shot to a sitting position, and suppressed a cry of pain.
"Your doctor is an old friend of mine. He asked me to help."
"I don't want your help!"
Cologne's staff touched Ranma, and he sank back down onto his pillow.
"Quiet, Ranma."
[Ranma? She didn't call me Son-In-Law?] That thought alone was enough to make Ranma pay attention.
"My people have a special salve for burns, one that must be made fresh every day. I brought some with me, and the two of you will get some delivered to you each day until you no longer need it. It speeds healing, and helps to prevent scarring."
Cologne placed two jars of salve on Ranma's table and paused, waiting for him to speak, but he just nodded.
"The doctor has been using my salve for a couple of years now, as part of a study. The two of you are lucky they brought you here. If you were in a different hospital, I might not have been able to bring it to you."
Then Cologne moved to the door, and closed it.
"Ranma, I'm not going to lie to you. Akane is much worse than you are, and the salve won;t be enough."
Cologne reached into her bag and took out a small pouch.
"I brought this from China in case Shampoo, Mousse, or I needed it. Since Shampoo was partially responsible for what happened to the two of you, I feel it is only just that I use it here."
Cologne opened the pouch and poured its contents into the palm of her left hand. Ranma's paralysis was wearing off, and he sat up in order to get a better view. It looked like sand, but was an intense blue color. Cologne closed her eyes and waved her right hand over her left. Then she began to chant something Ranma couldn't understand, and the sand began to glow.
Movement to his side caused Ranma to turn his head. Akane was awake, and looking at him. Her eyes were wide with fear.
"She's here to help, Akane. Don't be afraid."
[Help? After what Shampoo did? Ranma, you must be crazy!]
Unfortunately, all Akane could do was blink at Ranma.
Then Cologne opened her eyes and smiled. She stepped close to Akane and held her hand over her forehead. The sand poured down, but vanished before it touched her.
For a moment, Akane stiffened. Then her entire body relaxed and began to shine, as if there were a light within her. The color of the light was the same blue as the sand. Akane looked at Ranma, and tears began to slide down her cheeks. Ranma gasped, and looked at Cologne angrily.
"What did you do to her?"
"She's better, Ranma. For now there is no pain, and this will speed up the healing process. You'll see--I saved some for you."
Cologne held out her hand. There were a few more grains of blue sand in it. She held it over Ranma's head, and released the sand. Ranma watched it vanish as it reached him, and then he felt the relief as it entered his body and the blue light began to glow from within him. For the first time in hours he felt absolutely no pain.
"Thank you."
"I have to ask some favors of the two of you."
Akane blinked.
"That means yes. Two blinks mean no."
"Tell no one about this magic. It's not meant for anyone outside the Joketsuzoku."
Ranma nodded, and Akane blinked.
"What else?"
"Shampoo and Ukyo are out in the hallway. They have something to say to you."
Akane's eyes flashed.
Blink blink.
"She doesn't want to see them."
Cologne sighed. "I was afraid of that. Akane, please let them come in. No one will harm you."
"Damn straight they won't!"
"Ranma, you have my word."
Ranma turned to Akane again. She blinked once.
"Okay."
*****
Cologne waited until the blue light faded from Ranma and Akane's bodies before she opened the door and invited the girls inside.
Ukyo had seen Ranma angry many times. So had Shampoo. Neither of them had experienced the full force of his anger upon them. As they entered the room it felt as though the temperature had dropped below freezing.
"Ran-chan."
"Airen."
"Don't call me that!"
Ranma sat there, his bandaged hand over Akane's. His fury was almost visible.
"Cologne said you wanted to see us. Well, here we are. Whatever it is you have to say, say it and get out."
Ukyo gulped.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you! Honestly! I just didn't want you to get married...at least not if it wasn't to me...but I didn't want to hurt anyone...I'm so sorry!"
Her words trailed off as the tears took over. Ranma looked a little less grim, and looked from Ukyo to Shampoo.
"Is same for Shampoo, Ranma. Did not think Ranma want to marry Akane, so Shampoo make much noise and stop wedding. Was mistake. Shampoo is sorry. Ranma can punish Shampoo, if that is what Ranma wants."
Shampoo was near tears, but stood straight, bravely accepting whatever Ranma had to say. He sat for the longest time, saying nothing. Then Akane squeezed his hand. He tore his gaze from Shampoo, and settled it on his wife.
"What is it, Akane? Is there something you want me to do?"
Blink.
"I wish you could talk to me."
Ranma thought hard. Akane had a hot temper, but she also had the ability to forgive. She'd forgiven him enough times for his stupidity. Is that what she wanted?
"Do you want me to forgive them?"
Blink.
Ranma smiled and kissed Akane's forehead, ignoring the gasps behind him.
"For Akane's sake, I'll forgive you. You're damn lucky she's alive to tell me what to do."
Ukyo sniffled, and wiped her eyes. She started toward Akane, then stopped and looked at Ranma.
"May I?"
"Yes. Just don't touch her."
Shampoo followed Ukyo, and they approached the bed. Ukyo stopped short when she saw the extent of Akane's injuries, and Shampoo bumped into her. They both turned white as the knowledge that they were responsible for the devastation before them sank in. Ukyo's hand went to her mouth, and she fled to the bathroom, where everyone could hear her being very sick.
[I can't go back out there. What would I say to them?]
Ukyo washed her face, and rinsed out her mouth. She looked at herself in the mirror, hating her own reflection. There was a knock on the door, but she ignored it. Then a voice came from the other side.
"Ukyo, are you okay?"
She slowly opened the door. Ranma was standing there.
"I...I"
Ranma held out his hand, and Ukyo collapsed against him, sobbing.
"Oww! Take it easy!"
She tore herself away.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean--"
"I know you didn't."
Cologne had been watching from the doorway. She came forward, and took each girl by an arm.
"It's time we left. Ranma, Ukyo and Shampoo will take turns bringing the salve to you."
"That's fine."
Ukyo made an attempt to smile. It wasn't very successful.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Shampoo's self-control finally crumbled, and she began to cry.
"Shampoo will make medicine herself. Will be very best."
She looked so forlorn that Ranma couldn't help smiling at her, and patting her arm.
"Thank you."
*****
"I don't hurt, Akane. Do you?"
Blink blink.
"Maybe you should get some sleep."
Blink blink.
"You want to stay awake?"
Blink.
But it's the middle of the night!"
Akane just looked at Ranma. He looked back, unable to think of anything to say.
[This is gonna be an awfully quiet marriage if I don't learn how to talk to Akane.]
His eyes scanned the room in search of a topic, and came to rest on the jars of salve.
"I wonder how this stuff works."
The overhead lights went on, and their nurse's voice responded.
"That's my job. I've been waiting for Cologne to arrive."
The nurse started with Akane's face. She only had a few burns there, because Ranma had pressed her face against him and protected her. Soon they were covered with a clear, reddish-tinted salve. She started to close the curtain between the beds, but Akane blinked her objection and Ranma translated for her. It was pretty evident to Ranma that Akane got agitated when he was out of her sight.
When the nurse uncovered Akane and removed her bandages, Ranma began to get embarrassed again. He couldn't tell if Akane was, because her cheeks were already tinted red from the salve. What did concern him was that she began to struggle against her restraints.
"Can't you untie her?"
"I think so. She's not violent, and she must be getting pretty stiff."
Ranma fought to keep a straight face as he watched the nurse release Akane's restraints. Akane not violent? Then he saw what Akane was doing, and his half-smile faded.
Akane was holding her arms up and looking at them. Then her hand flew to the control buttons on the handrail, and she brought herself to a sitting position. The movement brought her pain, and she winced. Then she looked down at herself for the longest time as she watched the nurse apply the salve. When she raised her head, Ranma could see that tears covered her face.
[No wonder Ukyo was sick. Why didn't they let me die?]
"Akane, don't cry."
"Miss Tendo, try not to be upset. Cologne's medicine is very effective. You should see a difference in a day or two."
Akane nodded, and her tears began to slow. The nurse gently dabbed the tears off her face. She was trembling all over.
[Please, don't let her be lying to me. I'm so scared.]
"She's Mrs. Saotome, not Miss Tendo."
"Pardon me? Her records say Akane Tendo. That's why we had to bend a rule or two to put you in the same room."
"We were married this morning. There's no way you could separate us."
[Thank you, Ranma. You may say the wrong thing most of the time, but you didn't this time. I wish I could talk to you.]
The nurse bit her lip, and continued applying the salve. She finished working on Akane and covered her again.
"You poor kids."
The nurse picked up the other jar, and moved on to Ranma.
Ranma waited until the nurse had finished treating him and left the room before he lowered both bedrails. Then he leaned over Akane and kissed her forehead. He remained in that position, with half his body in her bed, sharing her pillow.
"Try to sleep, Akane."
She blinked, and raised a hand to his cheek.
[I love you, Ranma. I'm so sorry we can't have a real wedding night.]
Akane closed her eyes before Ranma could see the tears in them. He held back his tears until he was sure she was asleep.
Ranma slept. So did Akane. The combination of pain medication, Cologne's magic and salve, and sheer mental exhaustion finally allowed them several hours of rest.
They would need it.
*****
Nabiki rushed through the automatic doors before they were fully open. She ran to the elevator and pushed the button. By the time it arrived she was so impatient that she nearly ran down the people trying to exit.
*****
Ranma didn't like spoons. He liked chopsticks. Unfortunately, he couldn't hold a pair of chopsticks with a bandaged hand. He used the spoon.
Akane watched Ranma. She could tell how frustrated he was whenever he failed to pick up what he was trying to eat. Then he laughed softly, and looked at her.
"I don't know why I'm trying so hard to eat this stuff, Akane. It's pretty bad."
He ate what he could, and pushed the tray away. A young man came in and went over to Akane. Ranma could see the words "Respiratory Department" on his ID tag.
"Mrs. Saotome, we're going to wean you off the respirator."
"What does that mean? Will it hurt her?"
The therapist looked at Ranma. "It means I'm going to adjust the machine so that for every four breaths, it will take three, and she will take one. In a half hour or so, depending on how she does, we'll make it two and two. Before the morning is over she should be breathing on her own."
The therapist was making the adjustments as he spoke, and Ranma saw Akane jump as she took a breath by herself. Then the respirator took over, and did the next three breaths. Ranma could see that Akane had become very tense. So could the therapist. He checked the equipment again, and smiled at Akane.
"Relax, Mrs. Saotome. You're doing just fine. I'll be back to check on you in about half an hour."
He exited the room as Nabiki entered it.
"Mrs. Saotome?"
"Yeah. You got a problem with that?"
Nabiki pulled up a chair, and sat beside her sister.
"Actually, I don't. I came to tell you what's going on at home, but maybe you should talk to me first."
"The priest came with us in the ambulance. We got married on the way to the hospital."
Nabiki smiled at Ranma in a way she never had before. A genuine, loving smile.
"That's wonderful, except for one little thing. It's not legal."
Akane choked. The alarms went off on the respirator, and a nurse rushed into the room. Ranma was nearly frozen with fear. The nurse ran around him and up to Akane.
"Calm down! Just relax, and you'll be all right."
After a few seconds Akane calmed down, and the rhythm of three respirator breaths and one human breath resumed.
"What caused this?"
Ranma looked at Nabiki. Nabiki looked at Ranma.
"Well?"
Nabiki cleared her throat.
"She, um, got upset."
The nurse glared at Ranma and Nabiki.
"Well don't upset her again!"
Akane grabbed Ranma's arm. It hurt her hand, but she held onto him as if her life depended on it. Ranma gently disengaged her fingers, and held them gently.
"That hurts, Akane. Nabiki, what do we need to do to make it legal?"
"Normally? You'd go down to City Hall and fill out a Marriage Certificate. Transfer Akane to the Saotome family register. With the two of you stuck here, it will be a little more complicated."
"Ow. How much is this going to cost me?"
"Nothing. I told you yesterday that I was going to make it up to you for ruining your wedding, and I keep my promises. Just leave it to me."
Nabiki paused, and looked down at her lap.
"Actually, I think getting the two of you married might be the easy part. It's just that...you have to be prepared for how the family is going to react."
"What the heck do you mean, Nabiki? They"ve been pushing us to get married forever!"
"Not any more. As of this morning your father has engaged you to me."
This time Akane managed not to choke.
"Ranma, I don't mean to upset you or Akane, but I have to tell you the whole story. This morning your parents came to the house, and explained that last night they and Daddy agreed that the engagement between you and Akane should be broken."
As she spoke, Nabiki could see Ranma holding onto his temper. When she paused, he said only one word.
"Why?"
Nabiki looked pained.
"I'm sorry. Your mother said that Akane wasn't an acceptable bride anymore, because she was 'damaged'. Daddy was upset, but he agreed. I don't know what your father thinks, because he didn't say anything. Then they informed me that I was to be your wife."
Ranma's control snapped.
"Damaged? They're making it sound like Akane's a piece of furniture!"
Akane began to cry again. She was so tired of crying. [How could Auntie Nodoka do that? I thought she liked me!]
Ranma got out of bed and began to pace, which was a little difficult with the IV pole.
"I can't believe Mom would SAY something like that! I can't believe she'd THINK something like that! I can't believe they'd DO this to us!"
Nabiki sighed.
"Why not? We've always treated you like a piece of property instead of a person. I'm so sorry, Ranma. I'm surprised you don't hate me."
"No, I don't hate you."
Ranma paused, looking grim. "I'm not going to marry you, either."
Nabiki ignored the comment, and got up.
"I'm going to get started. The sooner I get the two of you married, the happier I"ll be."
She paused, and lowered her voice.
"Do me a favor. Get the staff to stop calling you Mr. and Mrs. Saotome. Tell them to call you Ranma and Akane. If our parents get wind of this, we're in trouble. I'll handle it at home."
"You'll handle what at home?"
"Let's say they're in a hurry to separate you. I'm going to slow them down."
It had taken her the entire length of her visit for Nabiki to work up enough nerve to really look at Akane. She moved closer. The nurses had told her not to touch her sister, but she desperately wanted to. Akane looked so lost--covered in bandages, with that horrible machine breathing for her. She looked behind her into the hallway and then at Akane's face, trying to find a spot that wasn't smeared in salve.
"I'll see you soon, Akane. Just concentrate on getting better."
She kissed her sister's forehead. Akane blinked once.
"What?"
"It means yes, Nabiki. Akane's agreeing with you."
Nabiki looked from Ranma to Akane, and back again. The two were so close that they'd even worked out a means of communicating. There was no way anyone would stop her from getting them together. She ran around Akane's bed and up to Ranma, where she skidded to a stop.
"Take good care of her, Ranma. I'll be back soon."
Ranma's eyes opened wide when Nabiki kissed his cheek. She grabbed her purse and ran out the door without looking back.
*****
Ranma stood in the hallway. After the therapist had come in and changed the settings on the respirator again, Akane had made some eloquent hand gestures. She'd done so early that morning, and it had taken Ranma a minute to understand. Then he realized that something was missing from the side of Akane's bed. Her catheter had been removed. Ranma had called for the nurse and taken himself out of the room. This time he understood immediately. Some things needed privacy.
He was beginning to tire of standing there. Cologne's magic had worked for a long time to deaden the pain, but eventually, it had returned. The pain medicine he was on helped, but it also had the effect of making him want to sleep.
[Maybe I should walk.]
Ranma started down the hallway, pushing his IV pole along with him. The pajamas they'd given him were too long, and dragged on the floor. Occasionally one of the wheels on the pole would catch the hem of his pants leg and get stuck, and he would stumble. He frowned at his weakness and continued on until he reached the closed double doors at the end of the corridor. He was about to reverse direction and return to his room when they opened, and the therapist entered.
"Ah, Saotome. I'm on my way to your room."
"I'll walk with you. By the way, call me Ranma, and call my wife Akane. We like it better that way."
The door was open when they got there, and Ranma settled himself in bed while the therapist checked on Akane.
"I think you're ready to come off the respirator, Akane. I'll call the doctor."
The therapist left, and returned five minutes later with their doctor.
"We're going to take the respirator out now, Akane. It's going to hurt, but just for a moment, and you may bring up a little blood for the next few days. Don't let it scare you. Are you ready?"
Akane nodded.
A minute later she was coughing, but then she took a deep breath, and smiled. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"You won't be able to talk for a few hours, Akane. Perhaps not until tomorrow. Don't try to rush it. Whispering's okay, though."
Their nurse came in, carrying a cup and spoon. She sat in the chair next to Akane, and offered her a spoonful of what turned out to be crushed ice.
"Let this melt in your mouth. It will soothe your throat."
Akane took a spoonful of ice, and her stomach growled.
"Hungry? We'll get you something soft to eat in a little while."
The nurse gave Akane another spoonful of ice, and put the cup down.
"It's time to put some more salve on you."
The therapist left, and the doctor watched as the nurse uncovered Akane. Then he gasped, and moved closer.
"I can't believe it!"
Ranma became very concerned. He had been lying down, but the doctor's expression made him sit up.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Just look! The blisters--they're shrinking. I've never seen anything like it before. And look here--the skin on her arms was bright pink before. The color is fading."
He picked up the jar of salve, smelled it, and stuck his finger in it.
"It doesn't look any different. I wonder if Cologne has improved it somehow."
Ranma bit his tongue. He couldn't tell the doctor about the magical sand.
The doctor smiled at Akane. He unwrapped her hand to check on it, and patted it.
"Even your hand looks better, Akane. I'm very, very pleased. What about the pain? On a scale of 1-10, can you tell me how it is?"
Akane thought for a minute, and held up five fingers.
"Aha. And yesterday, when you were first brought in?"
Her other hand went up to join the first. Ten.
"Amazing, just amazing."
The doctor moved around to Ranma, and examined him.
"I see improvement here, too. Keep using the salve--use it yourself any time you feel the need. Don't wait for your nurse."
Ranma nodded.
"And your pain?"
"It was pretty bad yesterday, but nothing compared to other stuff I've had. Today it's a little better."
The doctor chuckled.
"Nothing compared to other stuff...considering your reputation I don't find that surprising. I'm going to switch both of you to pumps. Your IVs will have pain medication in them, and a timer. You can push the button when you need relief, and the timer will say when you can have it again. Don't wait until you feel terrible to push the button. Then you'll have to wait longer for it to take effect. If you start to hurt, and you can push the button, push it."
Akane nodded. "Okay," said Ranma.
The doctor left, and the nurse continued to use the salve on Akane. Then she treated Ranma, and left them alone.
*****
Akane looked at the cup of ice, and tried to pick up the spoon. She made a sound of annoyance when she dropped it.
"Here, let me do that."
Ranma picked up the spoon and fed Akane some ice. She sighed with relief as the cool liquid soothed her throat.
"Feels good?"
Akane nodded, and pointed to the cup. Ranma continued to feed her. After a little while she pushed the spoon away and placed her hand on Ranma's cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For saving my life. For staying with me."
Akane let her hand drop, and looked down. Then Ranma's hand appeared under her chin, and brought it up so that her eyes met his.
"I'll never leave you," he whispered.