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As always, C&C is anticipated, accepted, and appreciated.
All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.
Please Enjoy!
Coutuva.
A Wish Made - Part One
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ailen!" the familiar voice exclaimed, sending a cold chill
down his back. He had been moments away from the Tendou home and
sanctuary, only to end up smothered in exuberant Amazon.
"Arrgh! NO! Sham-pooo!" he protested vigorously,
attempting to extricate himself from her iron-like grip -- before
his protests were heard by a certain someone.
His efforts were in vain.
"RAAANNNMMMAAAA!!!" the cry of the vengeful Akane echoed
across the street, followed by stars, pain, and the distinctly
unsettling and annoyingly familiar sensation of being airborne.
As he began his VFR approach to the empty field several
blocks away, he regained enough composure to keep the wheels-up
landing from breaking something other than his pride, although he
did end up creating a significant crater.
When he finally did sit up, he looked about himself and
sighed. The ground within sight was pocked with his previous impact
craters, and suddenly, the letters from the city fathers group
made sense; he was contributing to the aeration of the soil, and
the new growth actually was quite attractive.
That, however, did little to relieve his frustration. It
had happened again, and he was getting more than a little tired of
being launched into LEO for things that weren't even his fault. And
it never mattered how eloquently or how loudly he tried to state his
case, it always fell on deaf ears.
Fuming, he wished it would all just stop. The entire
situation was beginning to give him a complex, and worse yet was
beginning to rub off -- these days, even Uuchan would blame him
first and ask questions over his mangled remains.
He already knew what awaited him back at the Tendou home.
Akane would glower at him all night, perhaps being civil enough by
bedtime to say a quick goodnight. His father would likely lecture
him on the inadvisability of upsetting his fiancee, and Soun would
either be crying or on the verge of it. Kasumi, of course, wouldn't
seem to notice, and Nabiki would be arranging side bets and laughing
at the show.
Huffing at his lot and deciding that self-pity was exactly
that, he picked himself up, tenderly checked his aching skull for
signs of fracture, then stepped up the three-foot bank carefully.
The ground always tended to be a bit unstable after an impact like
his.
He spent the entire trip home looking over his shoulder for
various and sundry fiancees, challengers or Amazons, only relaxing
when he finally passed through the gates of the Tendou home.
Walking in the door and slipping off his shoes, he trudged
into the family room, wondering how long it would take for 'the eyes'
to find him. To his dismay, it didn't take long.
No sooner had he entered the hall to make his way to the
bath, he came face to face with the withering glare of Akane.
Groaning, he rolled his own eyes and stepped past her, not wanting
to engage in the argument that simmered in her condemning gaze.
After washing up joining the family for supper, he made
sure he kept his gaze down and concentrated on his meal.
Unfortunately for his hopes, the ploy didn't work. Akane waited
exactly 26 seconds before firing the first volley.
"So you have nothing to say for yourself?"
"Is there any point, Akane? You won't listen anyway,"
he groaned, tiredly.
"I don't care! I turn my back on you for a second, and
you're getting all smoochy-faced with that Amazon! And right in
front of the house, no less!!" she bellowed, leaning into his face.
"Is that... True, son?" Soun blinked, his face already
starting to quiver.
Ranma's shoulders dropped. "Why won't you ever give me a
damned break, huh?" he responded, glaring back at her. "I'm outta
here," he growled, then simply rose and walked out the side door.
Akane was speechless. Soun was blubbering, and Genma was
in the process of picking up his jaw. Nabiki shook her head, and
Kasumi only smiled and offered everyone dessert.
Ranma, meantime, had stormed into the Dojo and ripped away
his shirt, immediately taking out his mounting frustrations on one
of the practice dummies. Within moments, he had it reduced to
splinters, and moved on to the next without breaking stride.
He was beyond angry. To him, it seemed nobody cared about
his side; in fact, as per all too usual, nobody had even bothered
to see if there was one. Even after all this time, he still
couldn't believe that his input -- his *feelings* mattered so
little to the people that professed to be his family. Making it
worse was the fact that it was the woman that he was supposed to
marry that was at the core of the problem.
He was *not* a bad person; his input was *worth* something.
At least, that's what he kept telling himself. What annoyed him
most however, was the sad fact that he was the only one who ever
did. His face darkened as he realized that, and in turn, he
increased the ferocity of his attacks on the hapless dummies.
As he reduced the last one to sawdust, he heard someone
approaching him from behind. They were trying to be quiet, but
they were not quiet enough.
"Don't bother, Pop. I know you're there," he announced,
turning to face his surprised father.
Genma, apparently realizing that he was lethargic from
overeating, immediately smiled disarmingly. "Ranma, m'boy...
I got the idea you want to talk," he blustered, broadening his
smile.
"No. You talk first. Then I'll decide if I want to,"
he responded, starting a kata to burn off the adrenaline still
coursing through him.
Genma's face fell, then sobered. "Ranma; that wasn't a
very smart thing to do. Soun is so upset he's hyperventilating,
and Akane destroyed the table -- before I finished eating! Making
your fiancee mad is *not* the way to inherit a School, boy. And
the sooner you learn that, the sooner you two can get married!"
he growled, light rolling off the lenses of his oversized glasses.
Ranma hit his breaking point.
Faster than Genma had ever seen him move, his hand shot
out and grabbed the old man's gi, then snatched him from his feet
and slammed his back into a nearby wall.
"Is *that* all you care about? What about *me*, Pop?
Does *anyone* in this god-damned house care what I think?" he
screamed into Genma's horrified face, the blood vessels in his
forehead bulging. "NO!! Not even my own damned father!!" he
added, tightening his grip.
A long heartbeat of angry silence passed, then Ranma
simply dropped him to the floor. "I knew it," he glowered, then
turned and walked toward the door. "Anybody ever tell you you're
a selfish *bastard*?" he snarled, then walked out without looking
back.
Half an hour later, he found himself sitting on the
slanted concrete of the aqueduct, watching the shadows grow long
as the sun gradually sank in the sky. His mind was basically in
neutral, refusing to entertain the thoughts he found so painful.
Sighing, he picked up a small rock and tossed it into the gently
rippling water, then watched with great interest as the ring-like
waves expanded into nothingness.
He had no idea how much time had passed, but when he
finally allowed his mind to form a coherent thought again, he
noticed it was getting fairly dark. His next thought was that he
had better get home and showered, since he had school in the
morning. However, just as he went to rise, he suddenly puffed a
laugh and shook his head.
"That's just what they'd expect me to do. Go mope for
a while, then come home and take whatever abuse they feel like
handing out," he thought to himself, bitterly. "And then it'll
start all over again tomorrow. Kuso, this'll never end if I go
back there now," he noted, his face darkening.
As he pondered his next move, he was unaware of the
activity behind him, and didn't hear the soft footfalls
approaching from the roadside. In fact, he didn't hear them
until they were almost right up beside him.
"Okay, stop screwin' around..." he blurted, snapping
his head around to see who was coming, then felt his words catch
in his throat as he saw a familiar face.
"Ano... Kagome?!?"
"Hai!" the girl replied, bowing as he scrambled to his
feet. "I just had to come back -- I missed you too much!" she
blurted, stepping forward and snaking her arms around him, then
nestling her face into his bare chest.
Ranma, in a gesture born as much in reflex as in need,
returned the hug and held the small woman to him tightly. Within
moments, he could feel hot liquid dripping on his skin, and soon
running down the deep channel between his ab muscles.
"Uhm -- Kagome? Are you... Crying?"
Kagome lifted her gaze as high as she could from within
his embrace and sniffed delicately. "Hai -- I am crying...
Because I am finally back in your arms -- as I have longed to be
for the past two years," she smiled, closing her eyes and
nestling her face again. "Ranma -- please forgive me. I
thought I was strong enough -- to be able to say good-bye," she
sniffed again, voice wavering. "But I am not. I'm weak. I
was unable to stand another minute of being without you!" she
sobbed, her tears becoming a full-fledged cry.
Attracted by the green flash they had seen from a distance,
the eyes that now peered through the bushes narrowed as their owner
counted her lucky stars. Here was the perfect opportunity to have
Ranma for herself -- and he was handing it to her on the proverbial
platter. And making it even better was that he was with the *same*
girl.
Giggling to herself, the girl carefully stepped back in
order not to alert Ranma or his 'friend', and then broke into a run
for the nearest phone.
Ranma looked down at Kagome, now nestled against his side
as they sat on the concrete slope, her head resting against his
shoulder as she wiped the last of her tears. He couldn't help but
notice that having her there felt good -- too good, actually.
"I am sorry, Ranma. I did not intend to cry like this.
But seeing you again... Simply overwhelmed me," she smiled
sheepishly, tightening her grip on his arm.
"It's okay, Kagome-chan," he dismissed, diplomatically.
"I'm really glad to see you again, but I'm kinda surprised. I
thought you had to go back to your planet for good or something.
They send you back?" he redirected, trying to avoid a 'stickier'
conversation.
"No. I am here... For you, Ranma," she replied earnestly,
rising from his side and scooting over to face him. Upon
arranging her knees under her, she reached out and took his hands
in hers, and looked into his blinking sapphire blues. "I came to
your planet with my parents when I was but a child, to prepare for
my eventual role in my System's political structure. My father's
intent was to give me a broader base of experience to take back to
my position," she began, all the while watching Ranma's eyes.
"However, with their... Untimely passing, my exposure was...
Limited. I wandered this island for the rest of my time here,
waiting until my grandparents came to retrieve me, as had been
prearranged. I also fervently hoped I would find you again, which
I did -- but sadly, it was just at the time that I was to return
home," she continued, her voice carefully steady.
Ranma smirked. "So you came back to finish your homework?"
he remarked, flashing a wry grin.
Kagome smiled brightly, surprising him a bit. "In a manner
of speaking, yes," she responded, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"My 'role' is to assume the governorship of a minor planet in our
sector. I was to arrive there in a few of your days, but I left
slightly early, that I would be able to come here... To see you
again," she stated, her eyes shimmering once more.
Ranma couldn't help but smile. He had missed her in the
days after her departure, and had often thought of her over the
slow passage of time. She was an attractive girl, and he could
sense within her an almost earthy genuineness that seemed to be
absent from most of the people he knew. In fact, it was that same
genuineness that led him to notice that she had another shoe
waiting.
"And..." he prodded, half-seriously.
Kagome instantly flushed, then gradually, her face took on
the look that he remembered so well from their last meeting -- the
one that seemed suspended between smiling and bursting out in tears.
"Ranma... I came... Because I still love you," she began,
quietly. "In the time after I left, I came to realize that I loved
you so much... That I could no longer be without you. You gave me
my strength -- my direction -- and even my love of life; as long
as you were in it," she explained quietly, the emotion in her eyes
actually bringing a lump to his throat. But not the kind he would
have expected.
"I found I was... Incomplete without you. And I knew...
I could not do those who were about to become my responsibility any
justice... As long as we were apart," she continued, lowering her
eyes slowly.
Ranma felt his stomach tighten. Somehow, he knew what was
coming next.
Kagome, meantime, kept her gaze lowered, appearing to be
gathering herself. Taking a long breath, she then raised her eyes
to meet his once more, and he could tell she was blinking back
tears.
"I have come to ask you to come with me... To help me
guide my people, and to share with me the strength and wisdom I
know you to possess," she stated, choosing her words carefully.
Ranma, however, saw right through her 'diplomacy'.
Looking back into her eyes, he frowned slightly. "What
are you *really* asking me, Kagome-chan?" he countered firmly,
despite the butterflies in his stomach.
Kagome sighed, then closed her eyes. "I want to be your
wife, Ranma... I want to spend the rest of my life with you; if
you will have me," she finally stated, her hands tightening around
his as she bowed forward and rested her forehead on them.
Ranma was all at once euphoric -- and horrified. Not
because of what Kagome had said, but because of how it made him
feel. The words, instead of turning his emotions into an uncertain,
paralyzing mix of panic and fear, filled his heart with a kind of
happiness he had never felt before.
Just as he began to enjoy the new sensation, it suddenly
disappeared, replaced by a sinking feeling of hopelessness as he
suddenly remembered his 'predicament'. The unexpected despair of
it sobered his face, which Kagome noticed immediately. Before she
could react however, Ranma made his feelings known.
"Dammit!" he snarled, suddenly rising and walking a few
paces up the sloped wall.
Kagome looked after him blinking, then rose and went to
his side. She took hold of his arm and stepped around to see his
face, only to gasp at the pained expression that contorted his
strong features.
Ranma huffed and lowered his face. "Kagome-chan... I
have... Something to tell you," he began, the tone of his voice
indicating his great frustration -- and sadness. "I'm honoured...
More than I can put in words... That you think I'd be a good
husband. That means a *lot* coming from you. But, my parents...
Kinda... Arranged for me to marry someone already," he confessed,
bitterly. He then braced himself for the expected reaction --
which never came.
Kagome, much to his surprise, only sighed with great relief
and flashed a weak smile. "That... Does not surprise me. You are
a man that any family would desire for the most precious of their
daughters," she stated, earnestly. "I would have been far more
surprised to learn that you were unbetrothed," she added, her smile
widening. "This only tells me... That my heart has been right all
along," she almost whispered, her face once again displaying her
mixed emotions.
Ranma was dumbstruck. No screaming, no mallets, no tears.
The concept was so foreign, he didn't know how to react.
All he could do was blink in disbelief.
Kagome, not really sure what to make of the reaction,
quickly stepped back and lowered her eyes. Clasping her hands in
front of her, she cleared her throat gently and spoke.
"Ranma... Please... Forgive me. It was not my intent...
to hurt you. I don't... Want to force you into choosing between
your fiancee and myself... " she began, but didn't get to finish.
"Good!! Because he hasn't got any choice!!" an angry voice
shrieked, as a figure dropped out of the darkness to land beside
Ranma.
"Akane?" Ranma gasped, jolting violently at her presence.
"Shut up, Ranma -- I'll deal with you later! First, I
want to teach 'Miss Priss' over here to keep her nose out of other
people's business!" she growled back at him, taking a stance
between him and Kagome.
Kagome's eyes narrowed angrily. "Do *not* speak to him in
such a manner -- and do *not* threaten him," she glowered, her
voice cold.
"You shut up, too!! He's *my* fiancee! I'll talk to
him however I damned-well please! And you're in no position to be
giving me orders, koneko!" Akane shot back, indignantly.
Ranma immediately grabbed her shoulder, about to warn her
not to anger Kagome, but only ended up buying himself an unexpected
shot to the ribs.
"Don't touch me, hentai!" she shrieked, as her elbow sank
into his rib cage. Kagome's eyes instantly flashed.
"You will *not* harm him!!" she shouted, raising her deadly
fist and pointing it directly at Akane. Ranma gasped aloud as he
saw it charging on the way up to firing position, and in the few
milliseconds he had, reacted the only way he could.
The entire scene seemed to go into slow motion. He dove
toward the flabbergasted Akane, shoving her aside just as the
burst erupted from Kagome's fist. As Akane crumpled to the ground,
Kagome realized what was happening, and desperately tried to
dissipate the blast. She was too late, as it had already left her
hand.
Ranma, his body still in the air, closed his eyes and braced
for the impact. The burst hit him squarely in the side, knocking
his body back several yards and sprawling it in a twitching heap.
Kagome, eyes streaming with tears, was at his side before
Akane even realized what had happened. Lifting his head gently
into her lap, she cradled it worriedly as she assessed his injuries.
"Ranma... I'm so sorry. Please... Forgive me," she
sobbed, as she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I couldn't
stop it in time," she breathed, straightening his hair tenderly.
"Ooohhh... S'okay... Kagome-chan... Didn't want... Her
to get... Hurt..." he strained, his now very sore ribs making even
breathing painful.
Akane, having shaken off her shock, was finally coherent
enough to have heard his words. In spite of all that happened, they
only served to make her more indignant.
Picking herself up, she strode over to Kagome and snarled
at her. "Get the hell off of him. Now."
Kagome's response was concise. "This is *your* doing," she
snapped angrily, and raised her already charging fist again. Ranma
stunned them both by suddenly grabbing her wrist and bleeding off
the charge.
"No, Kagome," he gasped through clenched teeth, as he
discovered that the charge was about twice as powerful as the
first one.
Kagome, stunned at Ranma's act, looked down at him in
disbelief. "Ranma... Why?" she gasped, lowering her arm.
"Because I'm his fiancee, koneko. Deal with it!" Akane
snapped, smugly.
Ranma, hearing Akane's taunting remark, instantly growled
at her. "No, it's because Kagome could kill you as soon as look at
you, you idiot!" he retorted, angrily.
Akane was rocked back on her heels. "You mean...?" she
stammered, her eyes widening.
"I mean she's too powerful for you to be jerking around
with, that's what I mean!!" he continued, slowly rising to a sit.
The motion made his head abruptly throb, and as he raised his hands
to it and grimaced, Kagome moved beside him and touched his
shoulder, looking into his face worriedly.
Akane, still reeling from the outburst, noticed the quick
nod and smile he flashed at the girl before returning his gaze to
her. Suddenly, her face contorted with rage. "You bastard! You
*like* her, don't you? FINE! If you like her so damned much,
then take her!! I never wanted to be engaged to a hentai baka like
you in the first place!!" she screeched, her face almost purpling.
"Akane, will you give it a rest, already? That's not what
I..."
"Right!! Sure!! I see it all, now! You two down here
by yourselves, you half-naked! Ranma, you're so full of shit!
If you didn't want to marry me, then why weren't you man enough
to say it?" she screamed again, her fists clenching at her sides.
"See? There you go again! Not even listening to me!!
You just make up your mind and freak out, no matter *what* the
truth is!! Why the *hell* can't you ever take the time to just
*listen*?" Ranma shouted back, rising unsteadily to his feet.
"Kuso, I swear you *like* getting mad -- it's all you ever
damned-well do!!"
"Shut up!! Don't you *dare* try and make this *my* fault!!
I caught you red-handed!! The *least* you could do is be a *man*
about it -- but I guess that's not possible for someone who's
half-woman, is it?" Akane retorted, her eyes flashing.
"*That* was unnecessary, Akane," he growled, his own
fists clenching as his eyes narrowed. Akane almost smiled as she
realized she had drawn blood.
"But it's the truth, isn't it? Go ahead, Ranma -- take
her! I'm sure you two will have a bunch of healthy hermaphrodites
together!!" she snarled, unloading a mallet shot to the side of his
head. Seeing it coming for once, he tried his best to avoid it.
But, as he dodged it, his still unsettled condition made him lose
his balance and fall into the water.
"Hentai bastard!" Akane sneered, then turned and stomped
back up the aqueduct.
As she stormed off into the darkness, Ranma picked herself
up out of the water, cursing. "Damned bitch," she snarled, shaking
the water off of herself.
Kagome, meantime, after lifting her dangling jaw back into
place, dashed to the water's edge and gaped at the dripping redhead
in disbelief.
Ranma noticed her reaction and sighed heavily. "Surprise!"
she attempted, weakly.
"Ahhh... Ranma? Is that... You?" she gasped finally,
blinking and shaking her head.
"Hai. It is," she responded, sadly. "Well, I was gonna
have to tell you eventually, anyway," she puffed, shaking her
head. "Remember back when my old man dragged me off to China?
Well, he took me to some cursed training ground, and I... Had
an accident. Now, I got this curse that turns me into a woman
when I get nailed with cold water," she lamented, sighing again.
"And it's permanent," she added bitterly as she stepped from
the water. "Ahh... Can I borrow your sweater? It's kinda
cold..." she asked sheepishly, indicating her nude chest.
Kagome bit her lip and looked at her pityingly as she
handed over the garment. "That must be horrible," she gasped,
then suddenly leaned forward and hugged the damp redhead tightly.
Accepting the surprise embrace, Ranma looked back at her
with a sad smile. "Huh... You're the first person that's ever
felt sorry for me," she noted, huffing. As she pulled the sweater
on, she smirked again. "Y'know, I've known Akane for just over
three years, and I had no idea," she noted, looking up the slope.
"No idea?" Kagome echoed, helping adjust the sweater.
"Hai; that she's so... 'Freaked' by my curse," she
replied, frowning. "I change back to 'me' when I get doused with
warm water, so it's not like I'm always a girl. And no matter
what, I'm still a guy underneath all this crap," she went on,
looking back at Kagome for a response.
Kagome's eyes said it all. It was obvious she felt for
his predicament, but it was also obvious that she was -- proud of
him.
Noticing how Ranma was looking at her, Kagome flushed
slightly, then smiled. "Ranma -- you must be the strongest, most
patient man in this entire System," she smiled, her eyes almost
sparkling in the dim light. "What you have been enduring in the
course of simply living your life would destroy most men. But
instead, it has made you stronger. I sensed a great, yet quiet
strength within you when we first met... And now, I see my
impression was not merely infatuation. It was the truth," she
stated, her voice soft with emotion.
Now it was Ranma's turn to blush. "Ano... Stop it...
Yer gonna give me an ego," she flustered, unused to accepting
compliments.
Kagome only stepped forward and hugged her once more, but
this time, it was different. For some reason she couldn't
explain, Ranma felt her heart melt. It seemed as if she could
feel Kagome's love through the embrace, and it felt very, very
good -- and very right. Slowly at first, then deliberately,
her arms rose and encircled the brown-haired girl, pulling her
closer and holding her tight.
"Arigato, Kagome-chan -- for believing in me," she
whispered, feeling her own eyes start to sting.
"Ranma, I always have. From the moment you first
introduced yourself," she breathed in response, tightening her
hug. "All I have seen this night -- has only convinced me that
you are even more the perfect choice than I at first thought,"
she whispered, breaking the hug hesitantly and stepping back a
pace or two. "I would consider it the greatest of honours to be
your wife... But I know that to *ask* such a thing of you would
not be right," she continued, a weak, obviously forced smile
crossing her face. "But I do not want to leave here -- without
you by my side. I need your strength, Ranma. As without you...
I have none," she implored, her eyes conveying her desperation.
Ranma looked back at her wordlessly, her face an
unreadable mask. Inwardly, her heart pounded, screaming at her
to say yes, but her thoughts argued that she was honor-bound to
stay and carry on the School -- no matter the personal cost.
Adding to the mix was a voice repeating Akane's hateful words,
the ferocity of which still shocked her.
Locked in indecision, she lowered her gaze and turned
toward the water, looking for an answer on the lapping wavelets
below her.
On the street above them, Akane strode purposefully back
toward the aqueduct, fuming that Ranma hadn't come running after
her. She couldn't understand what had happened to him, but had
already sworn that if he was still with that girl, he was going
to know the wrath of mallet-sama. There was no way she was
going to let anyone make her look like the second string.
Approaching the edge of the duct quietly, she took a deep
breath and moved in to look over it. She stifled a snarl as she
saw onna-Ranma standing alone facing the water, and that 'girl'
standing behind her, demurely waiting with her hands together in
front of her.
Just as she was about to leap over the low guard and
light into Ranma again, she saw her suddenly turn and say
something to the girl. The girl stepped up to Ranma and took
her hands, then seemed to say something back. Ranma lowered her
head for a moment, then looked up and nodded.
Deciding she'd seen enough, Akane moved up to step over
the guard, but as her foot touched the concrete on the other
side of it, she was startled by a bright green flash. Swinging
to see what it was, she gasped out loud as she watched Ranma
and the girl disappear into a growing ball of energy. The ball
slowly lifted up, moved out over the river, and then shot
upwards on a steep angle. By the time Akane realized what had
happened, it was gone.
She stared after it numbly for several seconds, then
settled heavily to her butt, still straddling the guardrail.
Finally, she blinked, shook her head in disbelief -- then
smiled.
===================================================================
END - A Wish Made - Part One A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva
Comments Welcomed - Flames Extinguished!
coutuva@gmail.com
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