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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.
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Coutuva.
Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part Six
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Ranma sighed silently as she gazed out the window of the
darkened car, still awestricken by the spectacular view. She
didn't mind, as it gave her something to do while she waited for
the others to wake up.
Nabiki meantime, slumbered against her side, and she
couldn't help but smile down at her peaceful, content face. The
girl had snuggled up after Himiko drifted out, and was still in
virtually the same position. Himiko slept soundly in the single
forward seat, emitting only a regular pattern of soft breaths.
Gently, Ranma shifted herself to rest her arm over
Nabiki's back, and hold the girl's soft form closer to her own.
As Nabiki moaned softly and cuddled in, she had to sigh once more.
She still found it surprising how comfortable and secure
Nabiki's presence made her feel, and how the physical contact
made it that much better. It was almost as if she needed it.
Her smile widening, she returned her gaze to the
crystalline clarity of the starscape, able to feel herself being
drawn into its limitless depths. She'd never realized how many
stars and features she'd been missing, simply because they'd been
hidden by the atmosphere.
"Kuso... I'm gonna hate to go back down after this," she
whispered, a soft sigh escaping her.
That was when she felt a warm hand cup her left breast,
and a thumb drag over the nipple. She shuddered.
"Hey -- stop that," she hissed affectedly, knocking the
hand away and turning to meet Nabiki's teasing smirk. "You just
can't keep your hands off those, can you?"
"Couldn't help it. When I woke up to it right in my
face, I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming," she whispered, her
eyes and smile wanton as she pushed herself up.
Ranma looked at her for a moment, taking in the starlit
picture of her kneeling on the seat, hands clenched lightly atop
her thighs. Her thin cotton nightshirt draped gently over her
smooth, nude form, offering an incredibly erotic view of her
considerable charms.
Drinking in the wonderful scene, she found her gaze
strangely drawn to Nabiki's softly shadowed face.
But when her eyes met Nabiki's, she shuddered.
An ache flashed through her chest, and she found herself
rising to bury Nabiki's lush lips in her own.
Their bodies melted together all too easily, despite the
awkwardness of their quarters - until a different urge took
advantage of the first's satisfaction.
"Uhhhnn... Iya... I have to go, and this is making it
worse," she whispered, reluctantly breaking the promising union.
"Mmmm... Me too, but I sure wasn't going to stop you,"
Nabiki smiled back, her eyes smoky. "Much as I'd like to stay
up here with you, I say we wake up the pilot there, and get that
looked after," she added, jogging a thumb at the back of
Himiko's seat.
"I thought you'd never ask," Himiko chimed in, breaking
into a yawn.
Ranma saw her own gape mirrored in Nabiki's face.
"You were awake? Why didn't you say anything?"
"What? And disturb you two? That wouldn't have been
polite," she countered, teasingly.
"And just sitting up there listening to us is?"
"Well, maybe not, but I just figured that since you
were doing it, you weren't all that concerned, anyway. I know
I wouldn't be," Himiko remarked, turning to look back at them
with a smile and a wink. "You have to take your opportunities
where you get them, ne?"
"Okay, okay... Can we get to a bathhouse or something
now?" Ranma countered, the heat in her cheeks becoming
unbearable.
Nabiki, her own face colouring, broke into a chuckle.
After ruling out a bathhouse for safety reasons, Himiko
landed the car beside a small, out of the way lake, and within
short order, all of them were in the water. Ranma couldn't
help but notice that Himiko, while otherwise rather
'uninhibited', made a point of keeping her hair and face out of
the water.
Meantime, she got a kick out of how Nabiki eyed the woman
warily, despite similar behavior on her own part. In fact, it
was that behaviour that drew Ranma's attention to a large bruise
purpling along Nabiki's side and hip.
She slid the girl a critical look, but Nabiki just
shrugged it off. She responded with a huff and a headshake.
Once everyone had bathed and changed, Ranma convened a
'meeting' over the cookies and pop Nabiki supplied, in an attempt
to sort out some kind of plan.
The fact that they'd been on the ground for over an hour,
and not yet been attacked was making her nervous. As well, the
frilly, pale green sundress Nabiki gave her wasn't helping, and the
panties kept giving her wedgies.
"I want to hear the rest of your idea, Himiko-san," she
opened, settling on a convenient rock after yet another adjustment.
"After last night, I think you might be right," she continued,
opening her legs and shoving the dress down between them, then
leaning forward.
"Not much to it," the woman sighed, pulling out a small
unit and popping it open. "About the best we can do is try to
distract it, and see if I can take it out. According to my data,
that's not going to be easy. It's not stupid, just limited by
the implant."
"Yeah... You mentioned that. What's it all about,
anyway?"
"Lots. It's a bioelectric chip that messes up certain of
your neurotransmitters, and uses them to impart whatever
instructions it carries. They've been experimenting with it for
years, and only just recently perfected it. The details of it
are complex, and closely guarded - which is why I was hacking in
their 'net. My job is to get as much info on it as possible."
"So in plain Japanese, you're a cyber-spy. Now this
starts to make sense - one thing led to the other," Nabiki nodded,
looking pleased.
Himiko nodded. "But... That's not all I discovered.
Uhm... Ranma, do you remember me telling you that I could
explain what happened to you a year ago?"
Her face darkened. "Hai... But not in those words."
"Well, I know quite a bit about it -- but you actually
know *all* about it."
"Nani?"
"Reach up and run your finger along your skull, just
behind your right ear," Himiko instructed, at which Ranma felt
her face drain.
"Kuso," she gasped, as her finger found a rectangular
impression, right under a fine scar.
"You guessed it. Only that's an earlier model, and in
fact the second type you've been fitted with. It's not nearly as
sophisticated as your assassin's, and unless I miss my guess,
you've been having weird dreams and such, right?"
"H-hai... Only I know they're not just dreams," she
confirmed, exchanging a nervous look with Nabiki.
"You're absolutely right. They're the results of a bad
memory cap. In a sense, it leaks. You'd likely be plagued by
the results for years."
She huffed, then lowered an eyebrow. "I get the feeling
you can do something about that, and I hope I'm right."
Himiko's face became sympathetic, which only made her
feel worse. "I can, but like I said, it's not going to be easy
to take. They... Did quite a number on you, and... Well,
you'd better make sure you're prepared for it."
Her eyes narrowed. "I couldn't be more ready."
"All right, Ranma. I've set the proximity warning to
maximum, but that's only going to give us a few more seconds. If
that thing shows up, I'm going to have to pull this off you in a
hurry. The shock will disorient you for a few seconds, but it
will pass with no harm done," Himiko cautioned, as she snapped
the tiara-like device on.
"So... What will this thing do again?" she asked,
fingering the unit gingerly.
"It's going to 'open' your cap. You'll get all your
blocked memories back, and until it stops, the process will take
you over completely. It will only take about five minutes real
time, but because your brain is so busy trying to deal with it,
it will feel like it takes forever," the woman reiterated, as she
stepped back and opened her small unit again. "Well, we're all
set. You ready?"
She drew a deep breath. "Hai," she confirmed, closing
her eyes.
"Okay. See you on the other side," Himiko responded,
followed by the sound of a soft beep.
The office of Doppelganger Biomedical Research was large,
bright and equipped with the latest, which brought a sigh of
relief to Joseizou Kigai's chest. She'd been afraid she'd end up
in a dingy old prison cell of a building, which would have been
the same as not getting the job - because she'd have quit.
She hadn't left her old job and gone through months of
intense upgrading for nothing.
Those thoughts moved away quickly however, as she was led
closer to a cluster of desks, and the women there all looked up
at her and smiled. She returned a bright smile, even as she
glanced down at her dress and quickly checked her hair.
The others all looked very pretty and professional, making
her hope she looked even half as good.
Her reception, however, soon allayed all of her fears.
The other girls were as friendly as their smiles, and
within half an hour, she felt like she was amoung old friends.
The morning went by quickly, and before she'd even
realized the time, the other girls were inviting her to lunch.
Delighted, she suspended her computer and grabbed her purse.
For some reason, she was as hungry as a horse.
At lunch, her new co-workers interrogated her, and were
very complimentary of her flame-red hair. She was used to that,
however, as it was an unusual colour for Japanese women. In fact,
it just made her feel that much more at ease. If they were
discussing it with her, they wouldn't be behind her back.
Her smile widened as she decided she was going to like
this job.
A few weeks later, she walked into the office at her usual
time, but wasn't able to get to her desk. Her friends had seen
the glow on her cheeks, and ambushed her in the aisle.
Her flush brightening, she finally had to come clean about
the wonderful gaijin man she'd met, and how he had spoiled her
rotten all evening. Her excited smile grew wistful as she
remembered his bright, clear, light blue eyes and handsome face,
and the gentleness in his massive hands.
In fact, she caught herself wondering if they'd even be
able to kiss, as he was extremely tall -- particularly when
compared to her.
It wasn't until her friends started laughing that she
realized how her face had echoed her thoughts.
The rest of her day was a struggle, as between her friends
and her own curious fantasies, she wasn't able to concentrate at
all. Matters only became worse after he called, and offered to
take her to supper.
As she departed the office amid the envious looks of her
friends, she couldn't have wiped away her happiness to save her
life.
On the street, he was waiting, and when he saw her, he
broke out in a smile that weakened her knees. He opened the door
to his very nice car, and held it while she stepped in. He then
flew her to an exclusive club, and treated her to an evening of
dinner, dancing, and doting attention. By the time he flew her
home, she was sure she was falling in love.
He was smart, well-spoken, funny and caring, and seemed
to delight in her presence -- almost as much as she delighted in
his.
She'd never known a man who made her feel so important, so
comfortable - so complete. In fact, as his tailights disappeared
into the deep indigo sky, she felt the emptiness start in her
chest.
And he still hadn't even tried to kiss her.
With disappointment touching her pretty face, she clutched
her purse to her chest, sighed wistfully, then turned and headed
up to her suddenly lonely apartment.
From then, her days became long, and her nights anxiously
awaited.
Her fingers lay still on the keyboard as she looked up at
the clock, counting yet again the minutes until she could see him
again.
At last, the hour dawned, and in a blurred clatter of
her conservative heels, she was gone.
She had already decided that this night was going to be
special.
As had become customary, he awaited her on the street, his
wonderful smile looking better than ever. He immediately announced
different plans for their evening, as his company had managed a
major success, and he wanted to share his celebration - with the
most important person in his life.
She almost fainted at the gleam in his eye.
She almost did again when they landed in Vancouver City,
and he told her that he wanted her to see the auroras
dance - because only that could show her what she did to his heart.
After a wonderful dinner and an aimless, laughter-filled
tour of the downtown, he finally whisked her away to his chosen
vantage -- the top of a pristine, tree-blanketed ridge.
And then the show began.
As she watched the colourful wisps of light write their
freedom on the inky darkness, she took the chance to nestle against
his side, her hand on his chest. Over time, she heard his
heartbeat faint beneath his clothes, and sighed at the strong,
hypnotically soothing rhythm.
His arm descended over her and pressed her to him, bringing
the sound even stronger to her ears. Her eyes closed and a small,
content smile grew as she heard its pace increase.
The time was right.
With all of the will she could avail, she stepped around
out of the embrace, and moved her hand up to grace his sculptured
visage. When he looked down at her with widened eyes, she responded
with a soft smile.
In a scene reminiscent of an old romance film, he gently,
wordlessly lifted her into his arms, and guided her lips to his.
And in that wonderful, silent moment, under the celebration
of the auroras - two became one.
Even in the light of the office, her ring was alive with
sparkles, rivaled only by the ones in her sapphire blue eyes. Her
friends were predictably envious, but still excited by the prospect
of her wedding.
The ceremony itself, despite all the guests, was a very
simple affair, as both she and her husband were anxious to begin
their new life.
And begin it, they did.
The euphoria of their month-long honeymoon had only just
faded when she received the news that made her life complete.
They were with child.
Her husband was so proud that he told everyone he knew,
and asked that she call him 'Papa' from then on. She gleefully
agreed, and in fact, went one step further. She called him
'Kawaii-tousan', in reference to his wide, ever-present smile.
Her motherhood was easy for her first few months, despite
fears her co-workers had raised over morning sickness and pain.
She was well into her fifth before she even began to
show, at which her husband promptly shot 72 hours of video disk.
But, her new daughter grew quickly, and by the seventh
month's passing, she regretfully had to leave work. It was the
saddest, most heart-wrenching day of her life, as she had become
best friends with all of her co-workers.
Upon arriving home after her tearful goodbyes, however,
she had been surprised to find her husband waiting, his strong,
comforting arms wide open.
Her daughter continued to grow rapidly, and by the time
they had moved to their new apartment, her once petite form had
become awkwardly parturient. She was soon after forced to spend
most of her time at rest, simply unable to do else.
Concerned by her weakness, she went to see her doctor.
He determined that her daughter was healthy, but drawing so much
from her metabolism that little remained for her. Given that,
he advised that her last six weeks be spent in bed.
At her husband's worried insistence, she complied.
But it wasn't until the trip to delivery that she
learned the true meaning of pain. Her daughter, it seemed, was
impatient to meet her father, and came screaming into the world
only three hours later.
Exhausted, sore, but gloriously happy, she cradled her
beautiful new daughter to her chest - and cried. At her side,
her husband shared her joyous tears.
Her life was not only complete, it was now more perfect
than in her fondest dreams.
As she nursed her healthy, hungry little Kayoko in the
hospital mother's lounge, she still smiled from the news that
she'd been discharged. She'd already had a shower, and was
packed and ready. All that remained was for the man that had
so blessed her to come pick her up, and take them back to her
now even happier home.
That night, she smiled tenderly as her daughter settled
into her crib, and almost chuckled at the sight of the little
one smacking her lips. She felt her husband's arm slide across
her back, and rose to nestle against his broad chest. With a
last, lingering look at her precious child, she exchanged a
proud, satisfied smile with her husband, and let him guide her
from the room.
As she settled to their bed and rolled into his embrace,
she sighed as her body succumbed to her tiring day. She looked
up to see him smile at her, and felt his hand slip onto her rear.
She reached back and laughingly deflected the advance,
though disappointed she had to deny his unspoken request. The
way his eyes saddened when she told him it would be a few weeks,
however, quickly chased away her mirth.
He seemed to notice, and moved to hold her to him. In
a soft, earnest whisper, he told her he loved her - more than
anything on Earth.
Her smile returned as she nestled against him, and
quietly told him of how she returned that love. As she heard
his heart begin to beat a little faster, the smile widened - and
graced her content visage even as she drifted into pleasant
slumber.
Ranma gasped, then her eyes slowly opened. Without a
word, she lifted the device from her head and let it fall from
her hand.
She turned searchingly until her gaze found Nabiki, at
which she rose and started toward her. As she approached,
Nabiki rose and stood, concern etched in her features.
Ranma walked up to her in silence, buried her face in
the shocked girl's top - and wept.
====================================================================
END - Goodbye Is Not Forever - Part 6 A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva
Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
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