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All original Ranma1/2 Characters and Backstory Copyright
Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without permission.

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Coutuva.


The Princess Bride - V1P6
------------------------------------------------------------------



	Even now, as Yue stripped off to bathe away her morning
workout, she was still considering pinching herself to ensure she
was not in the midst of some wonderful dream.  The last three days
had been filled with such excitement, fun and wonder that she had
barely noticed their passing.
	Lin had shown her so many new and marvelous things, taught
her so much, and made it all so enjoyable that she found herself
thinking less of her lost past -- and even looking to the future.
The strangeness of the age was now exciting; filled with new
discoveries and limitless possibilities.
	Making it all the much better was the incredible man that
was Kuan.  Every evening since their first walk together, they had
met for the supper meal, and spent the rest of them in each other's
company.  He had taken her through quiet, picturesque parts of the
neighbourhood that only he seemed to know of, and they had enjoyed
a wonderful, moonlit walk along the river that reminded her of her
childhood -- and doing the same with her father.
	But those events paled in comparison to what they had done
just the past evening.  She flushed slightly as she recalled what
had happened as they spent their time watching the sunset, perched
on the roof of the Neko-hanten.
	As they had talked quietly of their dreams and aspirations,
she had shivered unconsciously against the chill in the late
summer's air.  Kuan had noticed, and produced from nowhere a wrap
to cover her shoulders.  He moved to place it over her, with no
other motive than just being the caring, chivalrous man that he had
long-since proven himself to be.
	She, however, felt no such obligation to propriety, and
promptly nestled in under his outstretched arm, resting her head
against his chest.  To her great delight, he smiled, shook his head,
then wrapped his arm over her shoulders, which in turn pressed her
to him.
	The act had sent a wave of ecstasy through her entire being.
It had also brought a delirious smile to her face as she melted
sighing against him, reveling in the delicious sensations.  The
quiet strength in his arms, the feel of his solid chest against her
face; the beat of his heart.
	There, in his arms, she had finally found the place that she
had been seeking without realizing so -- the one place where she
felt truly protected; truly safe.
	She had never known such contentment in the company of any
other man, despite the number of suitors she had entertained in the
weeks before her 'incident'.
	They had remained in the exquisite embrace until the cooling
night air overcame even the warmth she felt, forcing them to
grudgingly return to the indoors.  She could still see the sparkle
in his eyes as they gradually parted, finding herself again wishing
he had been less the proper gentleman, and attempted a good-night
kiss.
	Looking into the eyes of her image in the mirror before her,
she smiled as she resolved that he would not escape unscathed
this eve.





	After spending the day exploring an unbelievable,
overwhelming place Lin called the 'Mall', Yue sat quietly in what
had become her usual corner of the Neko-hanten, putting the
finishing touches on a lanyard while she awaited Lin's return.
	The first one she had completed now adorned the hilt of her
sword, tied securely just behind the finger guard.  It had felt so
good to have finally put it there, as its presence truly made the
weapon hers; to the point that it even felt better in her hands.
	The one she was just completing, however, was to be even
more special, born of the unexpected happiness and acceptance that
she still counted her blessings for.
	Just as she finished teasing out the last tassel, Lin
returned from the kitchen carrying their supper.
	"" she observed, setting down the array of plates and
bowls.
	"" she responded, smiling.  "" she
asked innocently, holding it up as Lin settled to her seat.
	"" Lin smiled, taking it and examining it happily.  "" the
girl added, her voice abruptly fading off.
	"" she smiled back, pleased that her friend appeared
to recognize it.
	Lin's jaw dangled.  "" she gasped, her eyes
widening.
	"" she nodded, watching
as Lin's face melted from a shocked gape to an incredulous smile.
	"" she stated, almost reverently.  "" she continued, her voice beginning to waver as
her eyes welled with tears.
	Yue had to clear her throat of the lump forming in it
before responding.  "" she smiled, reaching
across the table and resting her hand on Lin's.  "" she continued, fixing
her gaze on Lin's moistening eyes.
	"" she
sniffed, wiping at her eyes.  "" she added, tying it into her hair over one of her ribbons,
then removing the ribbon itself.
	Yue smiled as she watched, remembering her mother's
stories of how the Amazon women used the Tie in a like manner to
a blood-bond between men.  But, unlike the male ritual, it was
only truly accepted by the recipient if she wore it on her person;
and if she wore it in her hair, she regarded it as a high honour.
	"" Lin then asked, turning her
head to show it.
	"" she stated, bowing slightly in her chair.
	Lin smiled warmly.  "" she responded, her voice soft as she reached across
the table and took Yue's hand.
	Yue couldn't prevent the embarrassed flush that lit her
face.  Before she could respond in any other way, however, she
heard a familiar rustle behind her.  A moment later, Kuan appeared
at the table side, smiling approvingly.
	"" he grinned, looking down at the
union of their hands.  Yue expected Lin to snap at him as she
usually would, but instead, she nodded happily.
	"" the girl then indicated proudly,
pointing to the tassel hanging from around the bun in her hair.
	Kuan's eyes widened as he looked at it, then, almost too
fast for one's eye to follow, a satisfied smile flew over his
features.  "" he commented, nodding.
	""
Yue smiled embarrassedly, hiding her deepening flush.
	"" Kuan replied, slipping
her a knowing, albeit discreet look.
	"" the Elder
chimed in, seeming to appear from nowhere.
	"" she
explained, noting how the Elder nodded.
	""
the old woman then asked, a glint appearing in her eye.
	""
she responded, wondering where the conversation was headed.  The
Elder seemed to notice.
	"" she then smiled, nodding
again.  "" she concluded, then
pivoted on her stick and started back toward the kitchen.
	"" Yue bowed quickly, then turned her
attention to the plates before her.  "" she smiled, inhaling deeply.
	"" Lin grinned, starting to
open the serving dishes.
	"" she asked, looking across the table at Lin
questioningly.
	""
	""
she smirked, baitingly.
	To her surprise, Lin rolled her eyes.  "" she huffed, shaking her head.
	Kuan, who had taken his seat a few moments earlier, nodded
his agreement.
	Yue had to chuckle.  ""
she stated, snapping apart a set of sticks.
	Lin smiled a somewhat unusual smile.  "" she stated, her smile
brightening.





	Once the meal was finished, Yue helped Lin clear the dishes
back to the kitchen, then excused herself to prepare for a certain
prearranged rendezvous.   As she had decided that this evening
would be one of special significance, she felt that her usual dress
of the layered tops and pants was far from appropriate.
	For tonight, she needed to be a Princess -- or as close to
one as she could manage.
	Closing the door behind her as she entered the bedroom, she
went immediately to the place that Lin stored her nicer garments,
and looked over the impressive selection.  Lin had long ago offered
their use to her, should she ever happen upon the need.
	She carefully leafed through the collection of formal gowns,
minis, two-pieces et al, having a hard time coming to a decision.
Before too much longer, however, long, she happened upon a beautiful
long dress, high-necked and sleeveless, and made of fine jade-green
satin.
	It also sported a surprisingly understated dragon motif,
illustrated richly in red and gold, that started at the waist and
reared up over the bodice.
	"" she smiled to
herself, laying the garment out neatly on the mat.  Upon selecting
a few complimentary trinkets and some appropriate shoes, she set
them out with the dress, then nodded happily and headed for the
bath.

	



	Kuan stood silently in the light of the streetlamp, his
large cuffs together in front of him in the usual manner.  He had
arrived a few minutes early, mainly to allow himself a much-needed
opportunity to calm down.
	Despite his efforts to maintain a proper, gentlemanly
exterior in Yue's presence, he was finding that his heart was
yearning for more.  He knew it was only a matter of time before he
would find the nerve to act on that desire, as he very nearly had
on their previous encounter.  The only thing that concerned him
was Yue's 'Royal' background; from her own stories, he knew she
was used to being entertained by gentlemen, Princes and other such
types, and he worried about putting her off by appearing boorish
and crude.
	He knew that if that were to happen, he would never recover
from it.  Already, she filled his thoughts by day, as well as his
dreams by night, which he still found slightly ironic; especially
when he recalled how he first met the fire-haired girl.  Back then,
he had actually thought she was a woman, and when he finally
learned the truth, it had left him saddened for days.
	The occasional glimpses he caught of her over the time that
followed would inevitably bring back that sadness, which, for some
reason he couldn't pinpoint, had never diminished.  Now, however,
since he had come to know Yue, the reason was apparent.
	With her bottomless, liquid, sapphire-blue eyes,
goddess-like beauty and abundant, easy charm, she seemed to be able
to reach into a man's soul; lodging herself there and becoming the
reason for that man's existence.
	And yet it was not something she did deliberately, which
only made it even more effective.
	He huffed to himself as he thought over just how effective
it had been on him.
	His huff gave way to a widening smile as he heard a quiet
sound in the near distance; a soft, carefully measured, yet
confident pattern of clacks.  He turned toward the sound, wondering
why it was not the usual, almost inaudible footfalls that he was so
familiar with.
	A moment later, out of the darkness came his answer.  His
carefully assembled composure utterly shattered as his eyes boggled,
and his jaw cracked the concrete of the walk.
	Before him had appeared a vision that paled even the beauty
of the aforementioned goddess.
	She stood demurely with her hands folded before her, the
light of the streetlamp lending a soft, almost surreal glow to her
attractive, tentative face.  The colour of her close-fitting dress 
seemed alive as it reflected the same light, appearing to shimmer 
and sparkle as it moved with her every breath.  A delicate, hopeful
smile decorated her visage, and her incredible eyes seemed even 
more riveting.
	As his thirsting gaze drank in her lovely form, he noted
with interest the open-toed red heels she wore.  They were just high
enough to accent the flawless, yet unmistakably feminine tone of
her slender leg -- the one that peeked teasingly through the long
slit of her dress.
	It was a scene torn straight from his most secret, fervent
fantasies, and to see it before him, living, breathing and looking
at him like that...




	Yue held her breath.  The dress was perfect; her hair was
perfect; the shoes were perfect.  The looks she had attracted as
she walked to her rendezvous had assured her of that.   But he
hadn't said a word.  He was only gaping at her, his expression
one of either wordless, appreciative incredulity -- or stunned
disbelief.
	She prayed it was the former.
	In the interim, her heart was pounding against her
tightening chest in anticipation of his response.  She felt his
eyes upon her, and fought to keep the thrill that ran up her spine
from making her giggle, or worse yet, collapsing her already
trembling knees.
	Several thudding heartbeats went by.  He said nothing.
She bit her lip -- and slowly lowered her face.  Her heart sank to
her feet as she realized things had not gone as she had hoped.
	Drawing a breath, she prepared to apologize for her
presumptuousness -- until she felt her hands being gently taken by
larger, much more powerful ones.
	"" the most wonderful voice in
the world breathed, sending a shiver down her spine.
	With a quiet gasp, she raised her eyes to find those of
Kuan looking back, an unspoken plea dancing in their simmering
depths.
	Her heart leapt as she answered by wordlessly parting her
lips -- and slowly raising her chin.
	His eyes flashed; he moved his face toward her.
	She tilted her head slightly and closed her eyes -- then
felt his arms gently yet urgently encircle her shoulders.
	As they drew her to him, she slipped her own about his waist.  
	His lips pressed against hers.
	Time stood still.




	Several yards away from the tender scene, Cologne smiled with
great satisfaction.  "At last!  Our time in this dreadful place is
almost behind us; we finally have what we came for," she thought to
herself, drawing a relieved sigh.
	Despite the fact that it wasn't as she had originally
envisioned, she was still looking forward to returning to her
homeland in triumph.  "And not a moment too soon; I wasn't getting
any younger," she lamented inwardly, shaking her head.
	As she continued to watch the young couple, a different sort
of smile began to cross her face.  She could feel the building
intensity of their melding auras, and as it grew, it literally
washed over her, widening her aged eyes.  "Time for me to
leave -- I'm definitely too old for this," she smirked, fanning at
her face as she turned and silently hopped into the night.





	The only sounds she heard as the ringing in her ears
subsided were the soft, feathery pecks of their parting kisses,
followed by the quiet tap of her heels touching down on the walk.
Sighing luxuriantly at the glow settling over her like a warm
blanket, she melted against Kuan's broad chest and smiled
deliriously.
	"" she breathed, at an utter loss for words of
more substance.
	"" he responded, rearranging his embrace so that
he held her head gently.  "" he began, then paused as if to
gather his thoughts.
        She sucked in a breath -- and held it.
	"" he finally
stated, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.
	Yue did the only things her rejoicing heart would allow;
she tightened her embrace, nestled her face into his
garments -- and wept.
	"" she sniffed a few moments
later, trying desperately to compose herself.  "" she
added, at which a few more tears managed to escape.
	She felt his arms tighten in response, followed by him
drawing a long breath and moving his face closer.
	"" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear.  "" he added, his voice wavering.
	She gasped, then started to laugh through her tears.  "" she chuckled, squeezing for all she
was worth.  "" she swore, lifting her face to look
hard into his eyes.
	He smiled the widest, most beautiful smile she had as yet
ever seen him display.  "" he confirmed, running his fingers through her
unbound locks.  After a long moment of what seemed thoughtful
reflection, he stepped back, took her hands and appeared to set
himself.
	Yue felt her entire body tense.
	"" he asked, his nervous, hopeful smile seeming
to light up the night as he produced a band of gold, topped with a
single sparkling diamond.
	"" she cried out, leaping into his arms and hugging
for all she was worth.  ""
she sniffed, her tears of joy returning even as she laughed out
loud.
	



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END - The Princess Bride - V1P6         A Ranma1/2 Fanfic by Coutuva

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coutuva@vecdev.com