Many Roads, One Path Epilogue

Fearing for her father’s well being, Akane did not break the news to Soun or her sisters immediately when she returned home a few days later. Instead she let them assume that Ranma and her were seeing each other once again. If only they knew how much they were seeing of each other.

As Soun took over more of the classes to allow his daughter to spend more time with her ‘boyfriend’, bit by bit, clothes began disappearing from her room. No one noticed since Akane was the only person who entered her room, save Ranma who only entered her room when Akane’s friend ‘Ranko’ came by to spend the night. That was nothing knew since Akane did have sleepovers occasionally from her friends. Kasumi did not know that Akane redhead friend spent the night so Soun remained in the dark about what was really going on.

Nabiki finally found herself busy when she had been given a newly created division of the company to manage. Even she found herself too overworked. Plus, the trainers had taken the habit of leaving annoying messages on her phone when she missed their sessions. Apparently she had to obey them to keep the job so grudgingly she had to make time for those daily sessions. Nabiki came home those days to eat and sleep. She barely saw any of the other household members. She had no idea what was going on.

Soun never suspected anything either. Since he had taken over the classes, he began to show more life and began to sleep at more regular hours. After the late class, he would go to sleep then rise for the morning classes. He did not want to put more pressure on his youngest. Then came the surprise announcement that Ranma was opening a Dojo of his own a week after Ranma and Akane had reconciled their differences. That meant the school now had two Dojos. Soun wanted to visit the place but with so many classes he vowed he would visit some other time. Of course Soun demanded that Akane help with the other Dojo stating that he could hold his own at home. Thus officially, Soun had given Akane the freedom to live at the Saotome house with Nodoka’s promise that she would watch over the two to make sure nothing untoward happened. He often wondered why the woman was giggling when he asked that of her.

Kasumi had seen Akane and Ranma on and off, but it was Tofu who had discovered their secret a week later. How did he know? Well, let’s just say that there was going to be another Saotome when Akane asked him for a check up. Under Akane’s insistence though, he kept silent until Akane broke the news that she was married to Kasumi the day after. Akane had almost been killed by the resulting hug Ranma wasn’t that far behind after his. Having enough for one day, Akane forgot about the other thing she was supposed to mention as Kasumi had a Tofu like daze. The following week though, Akane told Kasumi the good news and was surprised to see Kasumi weeping.

Soun and Nabiki heard about it last on a late Friday night. Soun immediately began bawling and Nabiki groaned as she would have to make plans to support two more people in the family. She still had the notion that Ranma would not be able to support his family. Everyone had been invited to a party at the Saotome house to celebrate.

It was there that Nabiki was amazed at the house that Ranma lived in and the Dojo that he had built. She was not impressed until she was introduced to an elderly couple who had been busily chatting with Ranma and Akane. When she asked their names, she almost fainted. Sitting before her were the fabled CEOs of the company. She did faint when they told her that they were Ranma’s grandparents. As for Ranma’s job? She didn’t know that he was vice president in charge of employee acquisitions and personnel management.

The happiest person at the Saotome house was Genma who at Ranma’s marriage was put on parole by Nodoka and could once again live at the Saotome house. Nodoka was a close second followed by the grandparents.

Years later, Nodoka sat at the fireside telling stories to her grandchildren who were all listening attentively to her. She had expected grandchildren but Akane outdid her expectations. Five children on the trot and after a break, another in the making. The children were making good use of their fully haired grandpa-panda as a pillow. Soun was already asleep on the sofa, having already been worn down by the children. Ranma and Akane were having a sparring session in the bedroom. It was a good thing she had the forethought of soundproofing that room. Hopefully they remembered to lock the door, she didn’t want a repeat of the last time when she had to explain to the second eldest that her parents were wrestling in the bed.