The Insanity Continues

Volume 0 - Ever Changing World

Chapter 1 - Voyage of Thoughts

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are 
used without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I 
can't afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on. Translation of 
volume 38 taken from the Ranma Project. I did not ask permission to 
use it.

Scenes with * at the start of it are copied from Manga volume 38 final 
chapter. The entire section starting and ending with 
********************** is direct from volume 38 with no additions (a 
couple deletions, but no additions.)

-----------------------------

Ranma looked over the railing as the land slowly disappeared from the 
slow boat from China he was on. He had lost his chance to get a cure. 
Jusenkyo had flooded as a result of his battle with Saffron, and it 
may take months, if ever, before the pools would be usable again.

Ranma sighed.  

Ranma looked at his hands. 

Ranma hugged himself. 

-----------------------------

Akane woke below decks in a hammock. She saw Ryoga sitting off to the 
side. "Hi, Ryoga. You didn't have to watch over me." 

"You're still weak from your ordeals. I just wanted to make sure 
you're all right."

"You don't have to worry about me."

"You're my friend. Of course I'm going to worry about you."

Akane sighed. "Where's Ranma?"

"Probably still on deck watching China disappear."

"Why isn't he here? If you're worried about me, why isn't he?"

"He asked me to watch over you," Ryoga admitted sadly. "He has a lot 
to think about right now."

"What is he thinking about?" Akane asked. She thought he might be 
thinking about what he said to her while she appeared to be dead.

"Akane, do you know what happened around you while you were 
dehydrated?"

"Not really. I was aware of things, but it's like trying to remember a 
dream."

"Well, Ranma did some things during this trip he must sort out. I 
think it'd be better if he tells you."

"I see. I'd like some time alone to think about some things myself."

"I understand," Ryoga sadly got up and left the room. 

Ryoga sighed. 

Ryoga made his way on deck and looked at Ranma. 

Ryoga walked towards the front of the boat. 

-----------------------------

Akane was resting in a hammock, staring at the ceiling. 

Akane shut her eyes. 

Akane opened her eyes. 

Akane sighed. 

Akane looked around the room. 

Akane sat up in the hammock. 

-----------------------------

Ranma continued to stare towards China, despite that, it had long 
since disappeared over the horizon. He was lost in thought, thinking 
about Akane, Saffron, life, death, and the murder he believed he 
committed.

"Ranma?" asked Akane, nervously, as she approached him.

"Akane, you should be resting," Ranma said.

"You don't have to worry. I'm fine."

Ranma opened his mouth to deny he's worried, but it died in his 
throat. "Just take it easy. You shouldn't be up."

"What have you been doing all day?"

"Thinkin'."

"Thinking about what?"

"Lots of things."

"Care to tell me about it."

"No."

"Will you tell me?"

"Maybe later."

"It might help if you talk to me."

"Doubt it. Can you leave me alone for a while? I need to think."

Akane heard the pain in his voice and wanted to say no. She decided to 
do as he wished and nodded. She turned around and walked towards 
Mousse, who was standing at the railing, midway down the port side. 
"Hi Mousse."

"Hi," Mousse returned her greeting.

"Can you tell me what Ranma's thinking about?"

"I'd say he's probably thinking about how he was forced to kill 
Saffron to save you."

"What?" Akane shouted, shocked. "Saffron was reborn as infant, he 
didn't die."

"He may not have died, but he should have. Ranma didn't know Saffron's 
phoenix-like powers extended to that point. Saffron stood between 
Ranma and the means to save your life, so he attacked him all out. 
Ranma attacked him, willing to kill to save your life, and the fact 
Saffron was reborn is of little comfort for him."

Akane stared at Mousse blankly. "He was driven to the point of killing 
someone, just to save me?"

"Yes. Do you know why?"

Akane remained silent.

"You may not notice it, but he loves you. When we found out Kiima had 
your body as a cursed form, he was deathly afraid they drowned and 
killed you. To keep his hopes, up I suggested they used their 
knowledge of Jusenkyo curses to assume your form and that you were 
still safe at home. When he thought you died, when you got dehydrated, 
he died inside too. He didn't move on his own until we discovered you 
were still alive. After he cured you and you appeared to be dead 
he..."

Akane interrupted, "He said he regretted the things he's said and 
said..." She was now blushing.

"And when he screamed your name..." Mousse shivered.

"It was loud enough to wake the dead, literally." Akane sighed. "He 
really does love me, doesn't he?"

Mousse nodded. "A while ago I realized he didn't see Shampoo as 
anything more than a friend. I'm not too sure about Ukyou, but he 
would throw a party if Kodachi was out of his life."

"I'd be partying along with him."

"Do you love him?"

Akane looked around, making sure no one was eavesdropping. "Yes," she 
whispered.

"When are you going to tell him?"

"I want him to say it first."

Mousse shook his head. "Do try to make it easy for him to say it."

"Do you know why he doesn't do something about the other girls?"

"I don't know," Mousse said, thinking, 

-----------------------------

The trip continued with rarely anyone talking. Ryoga wanted to avoid 
Akane. Akane was lost in thought, thinking about her realization of 
how Ranma felt about her. Mousse ended up flying back to Japan after 
approaching Shampoo midway through the trip. Genma played shogi with 
the captain of the ship for most of the trip. Everyone avoided Ranma 
except Akane, but neither of them rarely said anything. Shampoo didn't 
want to socialize with anyone but Ranma, but he was being extremely 
anti-social to everyone.

Akane was happy to get home. She hoped Ranma would come out of it and 
rejoin the rest of the world. While he did start talking, he still 
wasn't acting like himself.

Akane was starting to get desperate a couple days after they returned. 
 


Akane made her way through the house searching for her father. She 
couldn't find him, and she didn't see Genma and Nodoka either. She 
then heard voices from Happosai's room, but it couldn't be him, since 
he was on a panty raid. She approached to investigate. 

Pressing her ear to the door, Akane heard Nodoka's voice, "... to the 
altar, how do can we convince them to say 'I do?' They may not feel 
they're ready."

"I overheard Akane admitting she loves Ranma and there is plenty of 
evidence that he loves her," Genma answered.

"I also got a plan that will insure they will agree," Soun added.

Akane flung the door open violently. "Just what do you think you're 
doing?!?" she screamed.

The three scheming parents started to sweat nervously.

"Now Akane, Dear," Soun began. He stood up and exited the room, 
shutting the door behind him. "We are planning your wedding with 
Ranma."

"Aren't I suppose to at least have some say in this?" she snarled.

"This is for the betterment of our clans that you two marry. And, to 
stop all the troubles Ranma has concerning fiancees and such. We felt 
it would be best to get you two married."

"How about how I feel?"

"Akane, you can't hide from me that you love him. And if you want 
assurances that he'll marry you..." He then whispers into her ear, 
"...my present to you two is a case of Nannichaun the Jusenkyo guide 
has sent. He'll only get it once you two are married."

Akane stood there fuming. 

Akane closed her eyes tightly. "Fine. I'll marry him," she said 
angrily. She stomped off.

Nabiki had overheard Akane. She wondered how her father got her to 
agree.

-----------------------------
**********************

Ranma walked into his room and felt a large blunt instrument impact 
his skull.

Ranma awoke to a shock. "Wh... what the!!!" He was wearing a white 
suit.

"Well, Akane approved the marriage," Soun said.

"Huh?" Ranma uttered.

"We swear it's the truth," Genma added.

"You look so handsome, Ranma," Nodoka cried with joy.

Ranma ran into Akane's room. "Hey, Akane!!"

"Ranma," Akane said, looking more beautiful than Ranma ever thought 
she could. She was wearing a western wedding dress.

Ranma stared at her in shock. "Ah... um..."  He started shaking.

"Maybe a Japanese dress was better," Akane said, wondering at his 
reaction.

"N... no. I think in either... you're... cute," Ranma said blushing.

"Really? Thank you."

----------------------------
*

"A wedding invitation? Hm..." Ryoga sighed sadly.

"Akane, I'm going on a journey now." He looked up to the sky. "I will 
pray for you to be happy."

Ryoga started to wander away. "I'm sorry, Akari. My gifts for you have 
passed their expiration date." He pictured how Akari looked like in 
his mind.

----------------------------
*

Neither of Ranma nor Akane could think of something to say. They were 
both extremely nervous. After a long moment, they knelt on the floor 
as their legs grew tired.

Ranma broke the silence as he stammered, "Uh... um..."

"Yes..."

"Why did you... all of a sudden want to marry me?"

"Well... Ranma... you love me."

"Huh?" Ranma uttered, shocked. "Wh... what are you talking about?"

Akane was a little shocked at his reaction. "But while you were crying 
at Jusendo..."

Ranma thought for a moment trying to remember if he did say it. "I 
didn't say that!!!" he shouted.

"You practically did!!" Akane yelled back.

"What!? You wanna go at it!!" Ranma said, wanting to start a fight to 
stop the wedding.

Akane calmly said, "Fine, you don't have to go through with this if 
you don't want to, but you'll regret it." She finished glaring at him.

"Huh?" Ranma emitted, shocked.

----------------------------
*

Nabiki saw her father hide what looked to be a case of sake. "Do you 
really need to hide that from Ranma?"

"Ha... the Jusenkyo guide sent enough Nannichaun for one, so until the 
two are married, I won't give Ranma the Nannichaun!" Soun elated.

"So that's how you convinced Akane," Nabiki said.

"Now Tendo... why did you hide it from me too?" Genma asked.

Life drained from Soun's face as he sensed trouble.

"Did you think I would take it? It's mine!" Genma ran off with the 
case of Nannichaun.

The case flew out of Genma's hands as the wall next to him exploded.

"Where am I?!" Ryoga shouted from the new doorway.

Hearing the commotion Mousse went to make sure nothing would go wrong. 
"Hey, Akane and Ranma! Hurry up and get married before you change your 
minds."

"Nannichaun!" Ryoga shouted seeing the flying case.

----------------------------
*

Upstairs Ranma ran out of Akane's room. "What! There's Nannichaun! Why 
didn't you tell me, Stupid!!!" Ranma shouted.

Akane glared angrily at him as he left.

Ranma found his way blocked by Shampoo and Ukyou as they threw 
exploding food at him.

"Aiya! I was aiming for Akane!" Shampoo said angrily.

"I still have lots of special celebration Okonomiyaki for you!" Ukyou 
shouted, looking ready to kill.

"Darling, are you all right?" Kodachi asked, wearing a black wedding 
dress.

"Aiya! Kodachi!" Shampoo said.

"She's got some nerve!" Ukyou snarled.

Ranma quickly jumped from where he lay as Kuno attacked with a katana. 
"How dare you proceed with this wedding without Kuno Tatewaki's 
permission!?" Kuno wave a paper fan with reject written on it. "I will 
not allow it!!"

"You idiot!! I don't have time for this." Ranma dodged Kuno's attacks. 
One of his dodges caused him to trip on a bucket filled with water, 
splashing him.

"Pig-tailed goddess! You must marry me this instant!" 

Ranma replied by punching him in the face.

----------------------------
*

"Nabiki! You sent out all the wedding invitations, didn't you!!" Akane 
shouted angrily.

"But look!" Nabiki held a large stack of envelopes.

"My! Look at all the celebration money!" Kasumi said.

----------------------------
*

Mousse, Ryoga and Genma continued to fight for the Nannichaun. It flew 
away from them as the seal broke. The Nannichaun threatened to spill 
all over the ground.

Ranma arrived in time to see it starting to fall. "Nannichaun!" she 
shouted.

"Ooh! Sake!!" Happosai shouted as he downed the Nannichaun in one 
large gulp.

The cursed men looked at the sight in shock and horror.

"What the hell!! It's just water!!" Happosai smashed the empty case in anger.

"He drank it... all," Ranma said in disbelief.

The cursed men attacked Happosai, trying to get him to induce 
vomiting.

"Cough it up!" Ranma said angrily.

"Where is it!!" shouted Genma.

"Happo Dai Karin!!!!" Happosai shouted, releasing his fire bomb 
attack.

The blast left Ranma unconscious, which Ukyou and Shampoo moved to try 
to help him.

Ryoga sat to the side, crying.

"Tendo Akane! We must be wed!" Kuno shouted earning Akane's foot into 
his face.

"Hehe! My young bride!" Happosai gleefully said, clutching onto 
Akane's wedding dress.

"Ranma-sama! Someday!" Kodachi shouted.

"My how busy!" Kasumi said.

With the Nannichaun gone, the groom unconscious, and several people 
violently opposed to the wedding present forced Soun to do something 
he really didn't want to. He called off the wedding.

----------------------------
*

Soun sat at the dinner table talking to Ranma and Akane. "Well, 
because of all this... we're putting off the wedding until we can get 
all of our affairs in order."

"You know if you just..." Akane said.

Ranma interrupted, "This is all your fault."

*********************
----------------------------

Ranma lay on the roof of the Tendo home, staring into the night sky. 
He didn't want to be reminded about his fiancee problems, and yet they 
came roaring into his face. He wanted to sort out his guilty conscious 
concerning his actions at Jusendo and they just wanted him.

 Ranma wondered. 

Ranma balled his hand into a fist. 

Ranma counted on his fingers. 

 Ranma sighed. 

Ranma rolled over and looked towards where Akane should be. 

----------------------------

Akane sat in her bed curled up into a ball. She didn't know what to 
feel or who to be mad at. Today she almost got married, but everything 
went wrong and nothing went right. 

 Akane wondered. 

Akane sighed. 

Akane cracked her knuckles. 

Akane's face took on a look of determination. 

----------------------------

Ukyou lay in her bed thinking over the day. 

Ukyou shut her eyes tightly. 

"I'm sorry Ranchan. Please forgive me," Ukyou said tearfully.

----------------------------
Author's notes: 

Why a volume 0? I already wrote a volume 1 of this series that occurs 
a month later, but some characterizations needed to be explained. Also 
Manga volume 38 caused a lot of changes in the Ranmaverse, shattering 
the status quo. Ryoga giving up on Akane and Akane believing Ranma is 
in love with her being the biggest changes. 

The translation of the wedding scene is close to being accurate. I do 
own a copy of manga volume 38 so the action described is correct. (I 
really wish I could read Japanese.)

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/fuji/9061/TIC