By Bing

Part One: The Ones to Carry On

Chapter 5 - Rightful Heirs

Ranma rushed to the Kuno mansion, and informed Nabiki and Tatewaki Kuno about Soun. Without hesitation, the Kunos went with Ranma to the Tendo residence. Ranma led them inside, and found Akane and Hikaru waiting outside Soun's room.

The moment Akane saw her sister; she gave her a hug. "Nabiki!"

Nabiki hugged her back, and drew away from her. She tried to smile. "It's so ironic that we have to be reunited this way."

Akane nodded sadly. "I know." She looked up at Kuno. "Hello, Kuno."

"Greetings, Akane. How elated I am to see you yet I am also saddened by this tragic day."

Akane turned to her son, and introduced him. "This is my son Hikaru. Hikaru, these are your Aunt Nabiki and Uncle Tatewaki."

"Hello, Hikaru." Nabiki smiled. "It's about time that my sister finally brought my long lost nephew to Nerima."

"I had to convince her really," admitted Hikaru.

"I'm glad. It's so unfair that your mom is keeping you all to herself."

"Nabiki," warned Akane in a low voice.

Nabiki ignored her. "Where's Kasumi?"

"She's inside. Father asked to see her first."

"I thought so."

At that moment, Kasumi emerged from her father's room. It was obvious that she had been crying, but she made an effort to look strong for everyone. She hugged her sisters. Then she said, "Nabiki, father wants to see you and Tatewaki."

Nabiki nodded, and walked to her father's room with her husband. Kasumi immediately excused herself and ran off before anyone could stop her.

"Kasumi…" Akane looked after her worriedly.

Ranma suggested, "I think you better leave her alone for now, Akane."

Akane was about to tell him to mind his own business, but Ranma quickly whirled around and walked several feet away from her. Arms crossed, he stood by the wall without looking at anyone.

A few minutes later, Nabiki and Kuno came out. Their faces showed no emotion. It was as if they had been prepared for this event.

Nabiki announced, "Daddy wants to see Akane." Then she looked at Ranma. "And you, too."

Akane and Ranma glanced at each other. Without a word, they both went inside the room.

Soun was in bed as Dr. Tofu was standing by him. Akane stared at her father, trying her best to be brave. However, the sight of her father looking weaker than ever made her realize how scared she was to lose him.

"Akane, Ranma, please come here and join me." His voice was just above a whisper.

The two obeyed. Ranma knelt down on his left side of the bed, while Akane on the right. As the dying man took their hands, he spoke softly.

"Akane, you know that I made a decision long ago that you will be inheriting half of the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Despite of the past several years, this decision still stands. It is my dying wish that you will run the dojo with Ranma."

She started to protest. "But, Dad…"

Soun looked up at Ranma. "Many years ago, your father and I decided to open the school in order to carry on the legacy. We have agreed to work together to fulfill this. We also agreed that you and Akane would continue our duties. Our only way to secure this was to engage the two of you. This did not work, but now I ask you two to work together. It is the only way that the school will continue its legacy. You two are my only hope."

Akane was about to protest again, but Soun closed his eyes. She waited for him to say more, but he didn't. "Dad?"

Soun's hands carefully slid down, revealing Ranma and Akane's hands joined together by him. Akane stared at their hands. It was the first physical contact they had in years. She looked at Ranma only to find him staring at her. Akane didn't know what to say as waves of emotions went through her.

Tofu's voice brought her back to reality. "He's gone now, Akane."

"What?" Akane snatched her hand away from Ranma's and turned back to her father. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Dr. Tofu put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Akane hugged her father and put her head on his chest. She sobbed uncontrollably. "No! Nooo!"

Sadly, Ranma watched her. He wanted to comfort her and relieve her pain, but he could not bring himself to do it. Quietly, he stood up and left the room.

***

Later that afternoon, Akane was outside practicing her punches and kicks on the dummy. A shadow appeared behind her. Without even blinking, she turned around and raised her leg for a kick.

Ranma avoided her attack. Akane threw out a punch, and he dodged. She continued to attack, but she kept missing.

"Come on!" Akane shouted. "How am I suppose to work out my anger if you keep avoiding my attacks?"

"You never did change, did you, Akane?"

Ranma caught her fist and pushed her down, making her lose her balance and fall on the ground.

Akane sat there as she tried to catch her breath. She stood up and looked at Ranma in the eye.

"I don't want to run the dojo with you. " Her voice was sharp as a knife's edge.

Ranma was startled. He was not expecting this. "What?"

"Why do you look so shocked? Do you actually think that I can just forget what you did to me a long time ago?"

Ranma's eyes narrowed. "Look, Akane, I can't make up for the past, but how else can we go through this if we don't try?"

Akane pushed past him as she said, "I don't want to try."

"So that's it? You're quitting on me?"

She faced him angrily. "How dare you talk to me about quitting! For your information, you quit on me first!"

Ranma's face went flush.

"Oh, what's a matter? Are you too wrapped up in your world that you don't remember?"

His eyebrows narrowed. "Yes, I do remember," he snapped out. Then he took a deep breath. "I remember what I did, and I'm sorry."

"You're seventeen years too late for that, Ranma."

Ranma got furious. "Well, what the hell that you want me to say? I'm a changed man, Akane! I ain't that selfish and inconsiderate boy you once knew!"

"Well, I am no longer that naïve and foolish girl you once knew either, Ranma. I don't trust you. Hell will freeze over the moment I agree to run the school with you."

Akane turned away and ran off. She went straight up to her room, and threw herself on the bed. She cried and cried, hating everything that was happening.

There was a knock on the door, but Akane paid no attention to it. The door opened, and Akane ordered in a muffled voice. "Go away!"

The door closed, and Akane sighed with relief. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Mom?"

Akane turned around. Hikaru was now sitting on the bed next to her.

"Oh, Hikaru!" She hugged her son who comforted her.

She cried on his shoulder while he spoke. "I know that this is a tough time for you, Mom. I know how much you love him."

Startled, Akane looked at him. "Him?"

"Grandfather. Who else?"

"Oh, of course."

Hikaru told her, "I know that it's going to be tough, Mom, but hang in there. You're not going to go through this alone. I'm here."

Akane smiled through her tears and put her hand on his cheek. "You and I have always been a team."

He nodded. "The best."

***

The funeral was held the following day. Friends and other family members came to pay their respects. Even Michiko rushed back to Nerima. She and Soun were not close, but Ranma admired him. When Genma died, Soun had become Ranma's surrogate father as well as his teacher and business partner. Michiko thought of him as a good man, and she had also gotten to know all of his daughters. All of them, except Akane, that is.

Michiko caught a glimpse of Akane during the funeral. Akane Tendo. Ranma's former fiancée. She had no idea why, but she suddenly felt uncomfortable. She had met Ranma's other former fiancées, but she never felt any threat.

However, when she saw Akane, she began to feel otherwise. She was so beautiful. Who wouldn't be attracted to those big brown eyes and long black hair? All that time during the funeral, Michiko watched her. A young man was next to her, holding her hand. For a moment, Michiko did a double take. There was something strange about him, but what was it?

After the funeral, the mourners turned to the remaining heirs of Soun Tendo and expressed their condolences. Ranma and Michiko were among the last people to approach them. Kasumi hugged and thanked the two of them. The other family members also said their thanks to the Saotome couple.

Then Michiko turned to Akane. "I don't think we've met formally. I am Michiko Saotome." She bowed down.

Akane bowed down as well. "Akane Sato. This is my son Hikaru."

Hikaru bowed also, and when he stood up to his full height, Michiko saw something familiar in his eyes. She quickly disregarded this, and turned to Akane.

"So, you're married?"

"Widowed," replied Akane.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I am also sorry about your father."

"Thank you for your concern."

Silence followed until Kasumi said, "We really appreciate the two of you for being here."

Ranma told her, "Well, it's no problem. If there's anything you need, just holler."

She gave him a motherly smile. "Thank you, Ranma."

Kuno spoke up. "I hate to bring forth business on such an unfortunate event, but the duty must be performed."

"What's up, Kuno?" asked Ranma.

"It is important that I summon you and Akane in my office this afternoon."

Michiko was curious. "What's going on?"

"It is certain that to Ranma and Akane's knowledge that they are now the rightful heirs of the dojo. As Soun Tendo's lawyer and sole executor of his will, it is my duty to present documents which they must sign in order to strengthen the validity of their business partnership."

Hikaru's eyes widened with excitement. "Wow! You mean mom gets to own the dojo, too? Isn't that cool, Mom?"

"Wonderful." Akane tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice as she and Ranma looked at each other.

Kuno said, "Very well. My office at three o' clock this afternoon."

***

After the funeral, Ranma and Michiko went home. Once they reached their bedroom, they made love. When it was over, Michiko snuggled up to her husband and sighed happily.

"Oh, Ranma, that was wonderful." She closed her eyes as she rested her head on his chest, waiting for a response. She loved pleasing him whenever they made love, and loved hearing him say that he was satisfied. However, this time Ranma didn't reply. Puzzled, Michiko looked up at him. "Ranma? What's wrong?"

He looked at her for a long moment before saying, "I want a child."

Michiko was perplexed and startled at the same time. "Ranma."

He took her hands. "Can you please give me a child?"

"Ranma, what's with the change?" Before he could reply, she asked, "Does this have something to do with Soun's death?"

"Sort of. I mean you do realize that I don't have someone to pass on the legacy to. I mean I won't be young forever."

"Ranma, I…I can't. I'm at the peak of my career, and you are making a profit with your school. Things are going great. Why change?"

"Michiko, it's important that I have someone who will inherit the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts for me." He smiled at her. "Look, it doesn't matter if you have a boy or a girl. All I want is a child."

"Ranma, you know I love you, but right now is a bad time to have a baby."

Ranma stared at her for a long moment. He eased out of the bed. Michiko watched him. "Where are you going?"

"I gotta go." He started getting dressed. "It's almost three."

She kept watching him, admiring his body. She smiled slyly. "Do you think you'll be back within an hour?"

"I'm sure signing those papers won't take very long."

As he continued to get ready, Michiko suddenly said, "You never really told me that Akane was very beautiful."

He shrugged. "I didn't think that it mattered."

"I'm sure it didn't. Wasn't she your favorite fiancée?"

Ranma looked at her. "Favorite? Who told you that?"

"Oh, just your other fiancées. I also heard that she was quite in love with you. The poor girl. She must have been brokenhearted when you married me. I wonder what she was thinking when she saw me."

Ranma stared at her. It never really occurred to him before, but now he was realizing that his wife was so self-centered. Shaking his head at her, he replied, "I wouldn't know."

"You'd better go, dear. You don't want to keep her waiting."

***

When Ranma arrived at Kuno's law firm, he saw that Akane had already arrived. She was sitting outside Kuno's office, alone. Carefully, he approached her.

"Akane."

She looked up at him, giving him a cold stare. Ranma stared back at her. He had to admit that he was lying when he told Michiko that Akane's beauty didn't matter. It did matter. She always had mesmerized him in the past and she never failed to mesmerize him now.

"I have a business proposition for you." Akane spoke in a cool tone.

Ranma was curious. "Okay. Let's hear it."

"Now that we own the school, we are entitled to do whatever we want with it, correct?"

"Yeah, so?"

"I say we break up the partnership. We will divide the schools among ourselves. We can still carry on our legacy, only we will be doing it separately. I think that it's best for us to work independently."

Ranma seemed to be thinking. "Well, if you really want it that way…"

"I do," replied Akane quickly.

He nodded. "Alright. We'll talk to Kuno about it."

Moments passed, and Kuno arrived with Nabiki. Without a word, they all went inside Kuno's spacious office and settled down.

"Both of your attendance here is appreciated. It is essential that the two of here are present in order to become aware of the situation."

Ranma rolled his eyes. This guy was always making such dramatic speeches. He had tolerated it well in the past, but right now, he just wanted to get out of there. "Yeah, Kuno. Whatever."

"Let's just get this over with, okay?" Akane looked at Kuno in a meaningful way.

"Very well!" Kuno nodded. "Without further ado, let us proceed. Akane, your father has left you his own share of the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts as well as his house. However, before I hand you over the documents for you to sign, it is my solemn duty to review the terms and conditions."

Akane's eyes narrowed. "Terms and conditions? What terms and conditions? What is going on here?"

"Yeah, Kuno, why don't you tell us?" Ranma suggested.

"Well, then, allow me to enlighten you. In my possession, there is a record that Soun Tendo has documented two weeks ago. I shall read it to you as if he is present in this very room, speaking in his own voice." He began to read the paper. " ' I leave my share of the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts and my home to my youngest daughter Akane. These will be in her possession provided that she follow these conditions. She and Ranma Saotome must settle their differences and set them aside. To strengthen the partnership further, she and Ranma Saotome must teach classes together at the dojo for a period of one year. They must learn how to work together and cooperate with one another.' "

Akane was appalled and speechless at the same time. Suddenly, she stood up and burst out in anger. "What?! That's insane! You're just making that up!"

Nabiki shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Akane. It says so right here in Daddy's will." She held it up for her. "Read 'em and weep."

Akane snatched the will and read it. From the reaction on her face, she appeared like she was going to literally do what Nabiki just told her. She collapsed in her seat, looking like it was the end of the world. "No, it can't be. It just can't be!"

Ranma had a bored look on his face. "Oh, what's the big deal, Akane? It's only for a year."

She turned to him. "A year? Are you crazy? Do you think that I'm really stupid to agree to work with you? Fat chance, Ranma!"

Ranma stood up to yell at her. "Hey, look, you think I like the fact you'll be teaching along with me? You'll be just in the way! Just like you always have!"

"Why you…"

She didn't finish her sentence. Her hand quickly reached out for the nearest heaviest object she could find - an ashtray on the table - and threw it at him. Ranma quickly ducked as the ashtray flew across the room and crashed against the wall.

"You missed," Ranma pointed out with that same bored look on his face.

"Ooh!" Akane clenched her fists as she turned red in anger. Then she looked at Ranma and screeched out, "I HATE YOU!"

Nabiki clapped her hands. "People, people, let's not get too crazy here. A bit of decorum might help. Please let's just sit down and settle this." As soon as Ranma and Akane were calm, she continued. "Okay. What Kuno has in his hot little hand are agreements that the two of you must agree to set aside your differences and work together for a year before you are officially considered as partners. The reason for this is that Daddy and Uncle Saotome had a very strong partnership, and they ran the school smoothly. They want the same thing to happen for you guys. The future of the school all depends on the two of you, so if I were you, I'd start signing now."

"Over my dead body!" Akane stood up. "There is no way that I could ever run the school with such a person!"

"My sentiments exactly," said Ranma.

Nabiki shook her head and rubbed her temples as if she had a headache. "Why do I suddenly get a sense of déjà vu here?"

Kuno said, "Come now. There is no need for this. Let us not squabble. Look deep into yourselves and search for a rational answer."

"There is no need for that, Kuno," Akane told him. "I'm not signing anything."

Akane stormed out of his office, leaving everyone stunned.

***

Later that afternoon, Akane made a quick decision that she and Hikaru were leaving Nerima. As a taxi waited for them, she said goodbye to their families.

"You know, Akane, if you change your mind, Kuno still has the papers," Nabiki reminded her.

"Thanks," Akane said. Then she shook her head. "But no thanks."

Kasumi asked, "Akane, won't you even consider?"

"I made up my mind, Kasumi. My answer is no."

Dr. Tofu told Akane, "You know in a way, you are going against your father's wishes."

"I have a dojo. My own dojo. I am carrying out my father's wishes…in my own way."

After a series of hugs, Akane and Hikaru went inside the taxi. They waved goodbye as the taxi went on its way.

From a house across the street, Ranma watched Akane's departure. Somehow, he felt strange seeing her leave. Have I lost her again? He shook his head to himself as if he was to answer his question. Don't kid yourself, Saotome. You lost her seventeen years ago. The memory of it suddenly opened the wound he had in his heart as he remembered it. Remembered it all.