Vanished
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by Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)

A fanfic inspired by the anime Ranma 1/2 created and copyrighted by Rumiko
Takahashi
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"Morning, father.  I trust you slept well." Kasumi beamed her usual
exuberant smile as her father clumsily climbed down the stairs.  "You did
sleep, did you?"  Soun Tendo could only swing his head in anguish as it
took some effort for him to answer his own daughter.  Kasumi frowned and
helped her sleep-deprived father towards the nearest chair.  "You should
have slept, father.  You know very well that my little sister and her
family will be coming over today."  Soun felt crying, but even that made
his head spin.  "Oh, my.  I should get you some tea."  Kasumi left her
father and rushed towards the kitchen.

When she came back, her father had his head planted on the coffee table,
and he was fast asleep.  Kasumi felt happy, but when he father started
snoring, she grimaced at the thought that the noise would easily wake up
her children as well as the dead.  And that didn't take long to happen, as
a few minutes later, the sound of peddling and running footfalls could be
heard.  "Breakfast is ready, children."  The kitchen was literally
swarmed with the attack of three toddlers, two girls and a boy, all
fighting their way towards the breakfast table.  "Now, don't make your
mother angry today." Kasumi scoffed off that treat serious, though she
would always doubt herself if she would even consider hurting anyone of
her little angels.  She always did felt lucky to have three adorable and
very obedient kids.  "Stop playing with your food."  Kasumi was about to
join her darlings, when she sensed the warm touch of a loving hand around
her waist.  Before she could say her usual exclaim, she was already forced
to spun around and face her husband.  "Oh, my.  You seem excited about
something, Tofu."  The kind hearted doctor didn't say a word, but only
showed his appreciation with a kiss.  "Hmm...Let's eat now, or you'll be
late for work."  Tofu didn't resist and soon the whole family was busily
enjoying breakfast.

--------

Nabiki arrived first, with her husband's own car trailing not far behind.
Though, a lot of people had always asked her why she and her husband
always travel together but on different cars, the reason is pretty simple.
"Hey, is that a new car? Or did you just got that one a new paint job?"
Nabiki asked jokingly as she waited for her husband to park his vehicle
behind her own.  Kuno stepped out of the car carrying a grin on his face.
"Don't tell me.  No!  You bought another one?"

"Of course not.  I just had it's windows re-tinted, that's all."  Nabiki
breathed a sigh of relief.  Kuno knew his wife well enough not to shock
her with scrupulous  spending.  "But, I am buying the new BMW."  That
irked Nabiki a little, but Kuno quickly calmed her down with a promise to
buy her something in return.

"Then I'll get myself a Benz." Nabiki proudly announced hopping that would
top Kuno's choice of vehicles.  Kuno laughed, readily surrendering to his
wife's wishes.  "Thank you."  Kuno kissed her before they knocked on the
gates of the Tendo dojo.

--------

"I wonder what she looks like now?  Or what her husband looks like?"
Nabiki honestly asked to everyone present inside the dojo.  Kasumi looked
at everyone, all were friends of the family.  Even the Chinese couple, who
looked very sweet and charming, with their seven children were considered
family friends.  "What do you think?"

Shampoo, holding her youngest daughter on her lap, thought for a minute
before answering.  "I'm just happy to see Akane again.  It's been what?"
She looked at her husband, still blind as a duck, Mousse, to answer for
her.

"Fifteen years, Shampoo."  Mousse looked across the room and everyone felt
the coldness and despair of the past that came along with those
revelations.

"Gosh, has it been that long?" Ukyou squeezed the hand of her husband,
Ryoga.  They all felt her sadness and knew exactly what she meant.  Ryoga
tried to comfort her, but his 10 year old son was nagging and dragging him
towards the koi pond.   Everyone then laughed, realizing the discomfort of
the curses.

"You can't blame yourself, Ukyou." Kasumi looked at everyone.  "Nor can
anyone else blame themselves to why Ranma left us."  Everyone ducked their
heads in grief.  "We all played a part in him leaving us.  Even Akane was
partly to blame."  Everyone again feared to look up at Kasumi or Soun, who
was patiently waiting for something in one corner of the room.

"I remember it so clearly.  That day came so much as a shock to all of
us."  Shampoo knew everyone agreed to her.  "I was cooking a peace
offering for Ranma and Akane that day..."  Ukyou butted in.

"I too was cooking an okonomiyaki for the two."  She cried in Ryoga's
arms.  "It's was wrong...all wrong!  We shouldn't have messed their
wedding!"  Ryoga tried his best to calm his wife.  But the truth in
Ukyou's words sent shivers down the spine of everyone present.

"Yeah, I guess it was.  I still remember how Akane almost killed herself
when she couldn't get over Ranma."  Nabiki reached for Kuno's comfort.
"Akane didn't eat for weeks, and she was bed ridden..." Nabiki couldn't
continue.

"Yes, Nabiki.  It was really a miracle that Akane, all of a sudden got
life back into her veins.  That application to that university was truly a
lifesaver."  Kuno hugged Nabiki tightly.

"We have to thank Mrs. Saotome for that.  She always was a second mother
for Akane."  Kasumi finally saw some smiles from everyone.  Recalling how
Akane finally got out of her slump, even though it took her months to get
back into shape, it was relieving to know she did got her life back up
again.

"Has anyone heard of Ranma since that day?"  All had the look of innocence
and despair.  "What could have happened to him?"

Soun finally stirred from his seat.  "His parents did get a postcard from
him once."  All looked shocked by the news.  "But that was just months
after he disappeared, and he never wrote back."  All fell into a disdain
trench of disappointment.

"So is he dead?" Ryoga all got glaring looks from the women.  "Hey, I'm
just asking."

--------

"Oh, Mrs. Saotome.  It's so good to see you again." Ukyou hugged Nodoka as
if she hadn't seen her in years.  "How is Mr. Saotome?"  Nodoka hollered
for Genma to be quick about parking the car.  When everyone heard a metal
crunching sound, the first to come out to the streets was Nabiki and Kuno.

"Arrgh!  Mr. Saotome!  How could you do that to my car!" Nabiki kneeled
down towards the front bumper and tried to inspect for damages.  "Oh, It's
not my car."  Kuno looked at his car and saw another vehicle trying
desperately to park behind his car.  "Ha Ha Ha!  Looks like you have to
buy that BMW after all, Kuno-baby."  Kuno was horrified to see the dent on
the rear fender, but when everyone saw who stepped out of the guilty
vehicle, it didn't really matter.  "Akane!"

"Nabiki!"  Akane hurriedly hugged her sister, the years they've spent
apart was only being bridged together at the moment.  "It's so good to see
you again."  Akane too hugged everyone that had waited for her.  Kasumi
was so caught up with the reunion, that she cried.  Soun couldn't stop
crying upon seeing her little baby come back home.

"My, you look wonderful, Akane."  Ukyou stepped up and hugged her long
time friend.

"What have you been doing to maintain that figure?"  Shampoo, though, was
still sexier, the Akane that had just came home after years of being away
was a ravenous beauty.  "You look so happy! Shampoo is happy too."

"Oh, I've missed you all."  Akane saw the timid expression on both Ryoga
and Kuno.  "Even you two!  And you too, Mousse."  Akane stretched for a
group hug with everyone that she had missed.  "Hello, father."  Soun
finally had the last hug, and it was the most emotional one.

"Oh, Akane.  My daughter is back!  How I missed you!"  Akane hugged back
with the same vigor.  The fifteen years she had spent detached from family
was flooding back with dividends for everyone.

"Um, Akane.  Don't you have someone to introduce?" Nodoka cheerfully asked
the youngest of the Tendos.  Genma, though, was silently creeping up to
Soun but was immediately blocked by his wife.

"Oh, yeah."  Akane motioned for someone still left in the tinted car.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet my husband."  Everyone was eagerly
anticipating who it was, and the excitement was building up.  But as soon
as the fellow stepped out of the driver's side of the car, everyone stood
motionless and shocked.

"Ra...Ranma?"  Ukyou and just about everyone else said in surprise.

"Um, hi guys.  I...It's so nice to see you again."  Ranma stepped over to
where Akane was and reached for her hand.  "Um, and this is my wife,
Akane."  Everyone was still silent and remorse.  Kasumi just had to break
the ice.

"Isn't this wonderful.  We're having double reunions."

--------

"Ranma!  You mean to tell me...you and Akane..." Ranma grinned and nodded
to confirm Nabiki's suspicions.  "Oh.  But how?"

"I don't know if it was an accident," Ranma and Akane both looked at
Nodoka, "or just plain luck.  But I saw her again in the university I was
attending."

"You actually went to school?" Ryoga and Mousse couldn't believe it, Kuno
wasn't really paying attention since he was on the phone with a car
dealer.

"Isn't it funny.  He runs away and goes to school." Akane giggled and was
eventually joined in by everyone, except Ranma.

"Hey!  What's wrong with that?"  Akane smiled and kissed him on the nose,
calming him down.

"Ranma is still Ranma."  Shampoo concluded, and again everyone agreed.

--------

"What do you mean, you didn't know?" Soun was arguing with  Genma.
"You knew he was attending a university, and that Akane also went to that
same school!  How could you not tell me?"

"I didn't know!  Believe me, Tendo."  Genma spoke wholeheartedly, "Nodoka
kept everything, Ranma's postcards, his letters, Akane's letters, from me.
I didn't know till this morning!"

"Will you two keep quiet."  Nodoka angrily glared at the two.  "You two
have ruined their lives in the first place.  You should be thankful that I
arranged that they go to the same university."

"But, Mrs. Saotome.  Why didn't you tell me? She's my daughter."

"You would have disrupted the peaceful lives they've been living the past
ten or so years."  That got the two father's thinking.

"Huh?  What happened in the first few years?" Nodoka fell silent.

"You do not really want to know."

--------


"So, where are your kids?  Are you teaching them?"  Ranma allowed Akane to
answer that.

"They're in school right now, but they have afternoon kempo training."
Akane silently announced to everyone.  "Don't tell daddy, but his two
brightest students are actually his grandsons."  That drew some smiles and
gasps.

"So, how long have you two been married?"  Nabiki expected a quick answer
but when the two fell silent, everyone felt something amiss.  "Well?"

"Actually, were not yet..." A few gasped in shock.

"Akane, what are you saying?  You two aren't married yet?"

"No, we are.  But..." Akane looked at Ranma and got his nod of approval.
"we didn't go through a wedding ceremony."

Nabiki shot a few stares at the couples sitting around Ranma and Akane.
"You waited for us, right?"  Ranma and Akane smiled.  "Thought so."

"What?  You waited for all of us to get married ourselves..." Everyone
looked concerned at Ukyou's statements, "but you shouldn't have.  We
already knew that you two were meant for each other."  Ranma was touched
by that.

"Thanks Ucchan, but we thought it would be best.  You know?" Ranma gave
his patented "goofy" look at everyone.  "And besides, without you guys on
our wedding, it won't be that much fun."

Kuno finally joined them and heard the last bit of the conversation.
"But, my sister had still not taken a husband, Ranma."  That drew some
flushed faces from everyone.  "Just kidding!  She already married Mikado,
Ranma.  You don't have to worry about her."  Ranma flinched, he got duped
by Kuno nonetheless.

"What about our weddings?  You two weren't there."  Both Ranma and Akane
laughed a bit.  "What's so funny?"  Ryoga asked.

"But we were.  Every single one of them."  That was even more surprising
to know.

"How?" Ukyou tried to recall her own wedding, but it was too long ago for
it to be fresh on her mind.

"We were guest in some, while in others we were part of the entourage."
Mousse finally recognized it.

"You're Mrs. Saotome's niece!  What's her name?"  Mousse looked at his
wife.  Shampoo tried to remember.

"You mean, Kimiko Saotome, fashion designer extra-ordinare?" Ranma proudly
stood up an hopped around in a girlish way.

"My god!  That was you?  You were one of my bride's maid!" Ukyou was just
speechless after realizing who Ranma was disguised at her wedding.

"And, me.  Kaneda Saotome, her fashionable model." Akane walked along like
a model and when the two reached for one another, Ranma and Akane just
danced a sort of mixed dance that everyone was so familiar with.

"I knew there was something fishy about the two of you!"  Ryoga was so
riled up.  "You grew your hair long again, didn't you, Akane?"  Akane
nodded.  "I knew it."

"Ah, you cut yours, Ranma?"  Ranma nodded too.  "And dyed it black too."

"Wait!  What about my wedding?"  Shampoo protested.  "I didn't invite
those stupid looking fashion freaks to our wedding."

"Heh.  By the way.  Why didn't you?" Ranma had to ask.  "It's been
bothering me ever since."

"Um, I think it's what you did at Kasumi's wedding."  Mousse told Ranma,
and everyone stared at Kasumi.  "Oops."

"Ranma!"  A hint of anger came out of Kasumi's lips.  "You were Kimiko?!"
Ranma realized his problem.

"Um, I'm really sorry Kasumi.  I really didn't realize how much I drank in
the reception."  Kasumi wasn't calming down.  Akane tried to intervene.

"Oneechan, truly it was an accident.  He didn't really mean to spill his
guts out during the reception."  Akane glared at Ranma, but she already
pounced on him years ago for that crime.

"Come to think of it.  Kimiko also ruined one of the video cameras in my
wedding." Nabiki pressed her own advance towards Ranma.  "Ranma?!"

A big sweatdrop formed on his brow.  Ranma was backpedaling but was
stopped by Ryoga.  "Huh?  Oh, oh."

"You also tried to seduce me at my wedding.  Ranma you're such a low
life!"  Ukyou was surprised to hear this from her husband.

"What?  Why would he..,"  Ukyou finally got the picture, "So you think
Ryoga's not good for me, eh.  Ran-chan?!"

"Oh, shit.  Are we going back to that again!"  Everybody then stopped and
looked at the nervous Ranma.  All then laughed.

"Don't be silly, Ranma.  We're just happy to see you, that's all."  Kasumi
sat back and so did everyone else.  Nabiki did whisper something to Ranma
that made him wince.

"Nabiki?!"  Akane pleaded.

"Hey, he still owes me for that camera he broke.  I don't care if he came
back from the dead, Akane.  He's going to pay."  Nabiki declared with a
sisterly smirk on her face.  Akane knew what her sister really meant.

--------


"So it took that long for Akane to forgive Ranma?"  Nodoka replied
affirmatively.  "I knew she could hold a grudge, but that long?"  Soun
paused to think.

"But he was always around during weddings, Tendo."

"Those fashion freaks you were related to, Saotome?"

"None other, Tendo."

"Yeash."

--------

"So what do we do now?" Ranma stared at everyone and back to his wife
before confronting Nabiki.

"I would recommend that we make plans for a wedding."  Everyone were
delighted to hear that proposal.

"A big wedding, of course." Kuno jested.

"If you would pay for it, I'll agree." Ranma added.

"Him?  He's not the one with all the money." Nabiki joked to Kuno.

"Heh?  Just a mere technicality, Nabiki."  Kuno playfully retorted to his
wife.

"So, you two are finally getting married?"  Ranma lovingly kissed Akane in
response to Kasumi's question.  A few giggles and some cheers roared
around the group.

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The End

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