Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Across the Stars ❯ Happy, Helpful Sora ( Chapter 9 )

DBZLover: I know I haven't really addressed you in the reviews, only because you never have anything that needs clearing up or a question.  Your reviews are really nice though and I thank you for them ^_^  Just thought I should throw out a thank you to you since you've been a devoted reviewer since I started this crazy fanfiction *Grins* Thanks a lot. ^_^

A Disappointed Fan:  Yeah Tenchi is a great guy, he is noble, honest, kindhearted, and he does all he can to help any of the girls.  He even does have a bit of a naughty side, but what do you expect he is a guy after all haha.  But on the subject of Sasami and Ryouga. *Sigh* Alas it seems like I can not please everyone, but I'm not trying too either.  I'm simply writing what I think is in general a great idea and story.  Sure there are pairings where people don't agree with like my Sasami/Ryouga pairing, which is only the secondary love pairing it's not really the main focus, the ones that are the main focus is that of Ranma/Akane and Tenchi/Ryoko. ( There will be quite a lot of Tenchi/Ryoko and the other Tenchi girls in chapter 9.) And what makes you think that Ryouga and Sasami would be so terrible?  I think she is just the person to show Ryouga exactly what he is capable of, and help break him of his habit for blaming Ranma for every little thing that goes wrong in his life not to mention calm him down when he goes crazy, he only goes crazy which is usually Ranma's fault since he always disguises himself as a girl to trick Ryouga or do something else to the poor guy.  You have to admit Ranma teases Ryouga way too much that sometimes he deserves what he gets haha.  But back to the point here, Sasami still has a long way to go, she thinks she has broken through some of his ideas concerning Ranma, but she really hasn't.  I don't know if you'll want to continue reading this if I pair up Sasami and Ryouga, but I really do like that pairing.  I think they are exact opposites which is good to pair up; judging that pairing right now so early on in the fanfiction, it seems like you haven't even given it an honest shot.  Perhaps by some fantastic writing you might change your ideas about the Sasami/Ryouga pairing, who knows.  Wow that was long haha.

Dennisud:  Oh don't worry I have not forgot about Tenchi and his problems.  Trust me, ^_^.  Kuno and Mihoshi that is hilarious!!  And in a way it does sound rather appealing, heck who knows if I'll do anything with those two like that.  I might throw it in cause now my interest is peaked, and if I do it I won't have to rethink any of my plot at all.  It's definitely a thought in my mind now.

Annoymous: heehee, you always seem to say things that I am going to clear up in the next chapter.  The thing about the killing suitors that Sasami explained, and that is in the law books is a lot different then they make it sound.  The Earthlings were just given a brief synopsis of the law, it will be explained further because Akane hasn't read everything about the law, she missed a very important detail, which she will find out just how much worse Ranma's situation is, not to mention hers in this chapter 8, the title of this chapter 9 is called The Jurai Power, so you'll see Tenchi becoming more powerful, and well Akane's power…*Bites tongue* I can't say anything about it yet, it will be interesting to see her in full power that's all I'm gonna say on that. ^_^

a: Sasami knows a lot, I have not included anything from Tenchi Muyo in this, only stuff from Tenchi Universe, I think it would be confusing if I added stuff from all of the different storylines the Tenchi saga takes on.  Sasami has spent a lot of time consoling everyone, even Ranma at times even though I didn't go into it much, maybe I should have, because he would have gone into most of his problems with Ryouga and Akane with her.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews, I am so happy that well most of you are enjoying this wonderful story.  It's gonna be long one, I'm thinking like 25 chapters and up.  Yep definitely novel length, unlike my Ranma fanfiction: A Simple Wish, which will only be like 10 chapters, maybe 11.

Now on with the show!! ^_^

*****

Disclaimer: Not mine at all, too bad though. But I can still do horrible humiliating things to the characters for awhile. But don't worry, I'll give them back the way I borrowed them.

Summary: Akane Tendou has always wanted to be stronger than her rivals, she does not know the potential she actually has to be even better. Another marriage arrangement comes back to bite Soun in the behind. He's got some explaining to do.

Across the Stars

Episode 8-Happy, Helpful Sora

Having only twenty minutes till dinner Tenchi was reading quietly in the room that is used for Study Hall, he was checking the law books that were available to the students on the shelf.  It was times like this he wished he could enter the back sections of the library to search for a way out of the marriage arrangements.  Why was it that Sora was allowed in there but Ayeka wasn't?  And why wasn't he?  Perhaps Ayeka really had no idea why he and Ayeka weren't permitted to enter the back sections, but she just sounded like she did.  Of course what they were looking for could possibly be right under their noses.

Tenchi yelled in alarm when Ryoko phased up through the table, he was so startled that he fell backwards, landing on his back on the carpeted floor: "Ryoko!"

"Did I scare you?" She hovered over him grinning.

Groaning Tenchi sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "Ryoko, how many times have I told you not to do that?"

She shrugged. "I forget." And then Ryoko threw her arms around him.  "What are you doing in here?"

Tenchi, whose cheeks were tinged red with the closeness, tried pushing her off him, but the more he tried, the harder she held on so he just gave up.  "I was reading, it is what most people do in their spare time."

Ryoko looked over Tenchi's shoulder at the book that was now lying in his lap. "Juraian laws huh, sounds boring."

"It might be boring Ryoko, but perhaps I can find something in here that will help in the situation."

"I don't think that what you are looking for will be in these books, a way out probably doesn't exist."  Ryoko said letting go of Tenchi, he looked up at her slightly confused, she usually hangs all over him and nothing would tare her off of him.  He never liked to admit it but when she would let go, he would miss it, her warmth.  "You might have to marry that girl you know, and I don't think I could stay and watch that.  Even if you're allowed many wives and other types of women." She looked away from him and held her head slightly downcast. "What I said to you before you went to battle Kagato and rescue Ayeka was…well I meant what I said, if it came down to it, I would just steal you away." 

Tenchi smiled a little. "Yeah I remember that."  He pushed himself off of the floor. "Ryoko, I know that you-"  He was interrupted as someone had cleared their throat from the doorway, both Ryoko and Tenchi turned to find Kamadake standing there.

The red headed Juraian knight had a tiny smile on his face. "I am sorry to interrupt but dinner is about to begin."

"Thanks," Tenchi said as he bent a part of the page back marking his place, he closed the book and held it in his hand.  He was going to take it with him, there was something that he really needed to show to Akane.  Ryoko hovered following after Tenchi as he left the room. 

Upon stepping out in of the room Tenchi saw Akane coming down the hall looking irritated walking just ahead of Ranma who had Shampoo on his left side and Ukyou on his right.  Akane was dressed in a dark green kimono with a yellow tunic over it, tied around her waist was a peach colored sash.  Tenchi hurried and as she started to pass him, he lightly grabbed a hold of her arm; Akane stopped in her tracks and looked at him wondering what was wrong.

"Tenchi, what is it?"

He looked back at the three that had been following after Akane, he could see a slight irritation on Ranma's face and he knew it was directed towards him for having taken a hold of Akane's arm.  Both Shampoo and Ukyou seemed to be curious, Tenchi cleared his throat turning back towards Akane. "There is something you need to see."  He gestured to the book in his hand.

"All right," Akane turned completely around, facing Tenchi as he let go of her arm.

"Kamadake, would you take Ryoko and the other guests to the dinning hall?  We'll be along in a moment." Tenchi asked.

Turning to the three Earthlings, Kamadake said.  "Follow me please."  He noticed that the Earth boy was a little hesitant.  "Lord Tenchi and Lady Akane will be along momentarily. 

"Ranma, come on." Ukyou grabbed a hold of his arm. "That guy wants to talk privately with Akane, let's give them a little space."

He tried to pull his arm from Ukyou's grasp, Ranma did not want to go with her or Shampoo, but when he looked at Akane, she seemed to asking him to go with the other girls for now.  He wondered what they were going to talk about that was so secretive that he had to leave.  Ranma decided that he would let Ukyou drag him off after this Juraian knight for now and find out later just what Akane talked to that other guy about.  It was hard for him to see this, he knew the guy felt nothing but friendship for Akane, but still, he couldn't help but wonder if Akane would like Tenchi more than himself, after all this Tenchi guy seemed to be a lot nicer to her than he was in the past.  'But that was the past, his mind said, 'she likes you, she does or she wouldn't have kissed you in the bathroom.'  He mentally shrugged to himself, thinking 'perhaps she just got swept up in the moment.'  But his mind continued to argue as he moved along with Shampoo and Ukyou.

As soon as Kamadake and the group left the hall, Tenchi opened the book to the place he marked.  "Akane, this is something that I found, I think it's important that you know."  He handed the book over to her.

She began to read silently to herself, then with her eyes narrowed in thought she shifted her gaze to his.  "It has to do with that insane suitor law, you know the one right?"

Tenchi nodded.  "Yes I do."

"It goes into much more detail then our law book that we are learning for study hall, why is that?"

Tenchi scratched the back of his head. "I think it's because they had to summarize it since we only have three months to learn all this."  He took the book back from her and cleared his throat to read it out loud to her.  "It is often said that an ex suitor would be executed if found within a certain distance of it's once intended after a marriage contract to another suitor has been signed.  That is correct in all cases regarding female intendeds.  If the once suitors were but acquaintances with said female intended then the law of execution does not hold."  He saw Akane's eyes brighten with hope.

Akane liked where this was going, perhaps Ranma being here wasn't as dangerous for him as she thought.  Although what happened in the bathroom earlier, probably would not have been a wise decision since that is not what acquaintances do.

He hated to be the one to bring down her happy mood, but Tenchi had no choice.  "Sometimes a suitor is bitter after he or she no longer has the opportunity for that particular marriage and therefore seeks out their lost intended. And if the suitor has forced the once intended into going against their new arrangements with anything from a kiss to intercourse then if that happens then capital punishment applies, for more information on capital punishment see page thirty four."  Tenchi felt the need to roll his eyes, thinking that even Juraian textbooks were annoying.

Tenchi looked up at Akane and noticed her looking a little uncomfortable right now, but he still would continue, it would be to hopefully fill her in on some information that she might find confusing.  "With royal arrangements this law is bit more strict to insure the protection of the crown.  Often with suitors who are not of Juraian nobility are permitted to court the intended, until such time when a suitor of nobility makes a claim or signs a marriage contract, after that has happened the previous suitor must give up all ties to the intended, and coitus is no longer permitted.  If this is not followed the suitor will face serious prison time and castration whether not they are female or male."  Both Tenchi and Akane cringed at hearing that. 

"From time to time there is often a chance of feelings being formed between the suitor that was not born of nobility and the intended, after in which the intended has been promised to another, if the former suitor and the intended still engage in secret meetings, intercourse and anything of that nature, capital punishment for both parties applies."   

Tenchi closed the book. "I figured that it would be wise to tell you about this, not that anything like this will happen."

Akane let out a deep breath. "Uh…right.  Nothing in that book has happened."

Feeling that she wasn't exactly being one hundred percent honest, since she chose her words carefully, Tenchi shook his head.  "Akane, I can not stress how important it is that you don't do anything to break these laws if you can help it; this is your life on the line here.  Remember that."

She shrugged.  "I have nothing to worry about since what you're warning me against is not going to happen." 

Tenchi looked at her with that do-you-think-I'm-stupid look, "Akane, honestly if you're going to sneak around at least be honest with me, I won't betray your trust.  And you need to be more convincing; you're a terrible liar you know."

Her face flamed with embarrassment. "Oh as if you're a better liar than I am, Tenchi, come on now.  We both are weak in that area.  But I've never really had to tell lies and trick people before."

"That might be true, but I don't have to worry about loosing my head over something like this," He patted the book's cover. 

"That is totally and completely unfair, how can they expect women to follow these lame rules and not men?"  Akane crossed her arms over her bosom in annoyance.  "It should be that way for both sexes."

He shrugged. "Well it was like that way on Earth in several places for a very long time until within the last two hundred years, and still today in some countries a man can have as many wives as he can afford, so I guess most of Earth is just more modern in the way they treat women, just not in technology." Tenchi started walking down the hallway towards the staircase, which would lead to the dinning hall.

"I do not want to live in a world where a woman will be second to a man, it is so unfair."  Akane said.

Tenchi scratched the back of his head. "I wouldn't want that for any women here."  He then smiled. "You know if there is no way out of this arrangement, we can always pass a law that all sexes are equal."

"Yeah," Akane sounded upset.  "I know I don't seem very optimistic these days, but how can I be?  Each day that passes, well it just gets harder to keep hope that there will be a way out of this.  You know I learn new things, which I hate about this place everyday.  Too many rules, I was not raised to have this much responsibility, maybe if I had been raised here it would be different."  She folded her hands in front of her and her tone dropped to an even more depressed one. "But it is not, and me having to conform like this, it's so hard."

"I know exactly how you feel, Akane."  Tenchi stepped down off the last step onto the bottom floor, and walked next to her as they approached the archway that would lead into the dinning hall; he could hear the sounds of chatter and laughter from inside. "My grandfather and I both feel that way, which was why he ran away from Jurai and landed on Earth in Japan during the fifteen hundreds.  But with his problems he could leave them, he didn't have a marriage contract which kept him bound here unlike the two of us."  Tenchi sighed. "I really disagree with those as well."   He stopped her by taking hold of her arm again. "We'll talk more about this later, right now we've got to make everyone think that our marriage contract is a good idea."

Akane shook her head, but plastered a small fake smile on her face as the two of them stepped into the dinning hall.  There were people standing all around, some she had only seen at meal times.   A few of them were holding glasses of different kinds of wines and liquor; there was a sweet wine that was made from fruits that was heavily sold throughout the universe which the wineries of Jurai had created.  Akane and Tenchi smiled at Ambassador Oyama who walked their way and bowed politely.

"Ambassador Oyama," Tenchi nodded politely.

"I see that you two finally made it down here, we were all wondering what kept you."

Clearing her throat, Akane covered her mouth lightly with the touch of her fingertips. "I don't think that something like that should be brought up in polite conversation."

Oyama's brow arched and a small smile curved against his lips. "Of course not my lady, forgive my rudeness." He then turned and headed back to the group he was conversing with before Akane and Tenchi walked in.

There was a loud clanking sound and everyone turned to find Lord Jin standing there with no emotion evident on his face. "Now that our future rulers have joined us I think it is time we start dinner, it was quite rude to keep everyone waiting." He looked right at Akane as if it were her fault they were late.

Akane could feel her temper spark but she had to maintain her control of her anger at this, this horrible, rude, arrogant, stupid…man!  

"Hey Akane," Ukyou said from behind her.

This was just perfect as if her day couldn't get any more aggravating, she really did not want to deal with Ukyou or Shampoo.  But being able to keep hidden any such dislike for the Shampoo, Akane didn't really hate Ukyou, in fact if people looked at them they would look like actual friends.  It was Shampoo that was Akane's true enemy.  Of course being upset and annoyed already Akane couldn't help but be a little cold towards Ukyou, so she spun around to talk to her.  "Yes, what is it?"

"This is a nice place here, I'm sure you're enjoying your time.  Right?"

Akane let out a deep breath. "Ukyou, I am in no mood to talk about this right now, all right?"

She shrugged. "Whatever Akane, if I were you, I wouldn't want to leave here.  At all."

More than irritated, Akane clinched her fist tightly by her side. "Well you're not me Ukyou, and I really don't want to talk about this."

"Why no Akane want talk about new home?" Shampoo said from Akane's other side, knowing that Akane didn't not notice her come up.

That was the last straw, Akane was beyond angry.  "Because I hate it!!" She bellowed so loudly that dishes were dropped and she could just feel everyone's eyes upon her.  "Damn you stupid airhead!  I hate this place!  You two don't even have one idea what living here is like, so don't you dare try and tell me that you would rather live here.  But if that is what you want too go ahead, be my guest, you can take my place for all I care!"

"Whoa Akane, mellow out hon, we were just trying to be civil here." Ukyou said patting Akane on the shoulder.  "I didn't mean to upset you."  She really didn't, she was just trying to make conversation.  She had no idea that Akane would react like that.

"Hmm, you should not keep such feelings inside you." It was Yosho's voice also coming from next to Akane, she hadn't even heard or seen him stand next to her. "It might cause you to have a nervous breakdown, and at your young age, that is not a good thing."

"Hoo," Akane's posture slumped and she hung her head. "I try to make the best of this situation, but it's so different and I just can't do it."

Jin cleared his throat feeling he better interject into this conversation. "Akane, I really had no idea that this change was really weighing heavily on your mind."  He turned to the other people waiting patiently to have their dinner.  "You may all begin, I am going to speak with my daughter."  He missed, Yosho's eyes narrowing slightly at him as he ushered Akane from the room and out onto the terrace.  Jin was also not aware that Ranma had followed the two of them and stood by the wall hopefully to hear what it was that was being said.  Akane was unhappy, and she looked rather beat up and not from her training but her whole spirit seemed to have been squished down.

Jin and Akane looked out on the widespread landscape of Jurai, the green grass, different kinds of trees and ivy wrapping its limbs about their trunks.  And now they seemed to look out even further than that.  "Akane, what do you see?  I know you spend more time outside than you do inside.  So when it comes for your quiet time out here, what is it that you see?"

Akane grabbed the iron railing lightly, her fingers curling around the cold metal.  "I see beauty, its hard not to.

"I see that too, but that is not all I see.  I see Jurai for what it really is.  Power, beauty and stubborn.  Its people, Akane, are one of the most important aspects of our world.  You need to think of others over yourself, Akane.  Jurai needs you, it needs you to protect it."

She shook her head. "I don't see how I am able to do anything, I read how women are treated, much like second class citizens.  What I see is a merely a world for power hungry men, that is it.  Rules are so strict for females, they can't do this, they can't do that.  They must remain obedient and do what a man says no matter what.  Plus more, it's not the way I want to live my life, I just want to leave."

Jin closed his eyes, she was not allowed to leave.  He would have to put a bit more thought into what he says to make it sound like it is her decision to stay here rather than be forced to.  "But Akane, you will be Empress of Jurai, queen.  That is a big responsibility, you are not a peasant woman you do have some power.  Like making decisions that will be right for this planet's people, you have the ability to change laws, to change ways of life if you wanted too."  He also grabbed a hold of the iron railing.  "It is difficult at first if you were not raised here to conform to our ways, but it does become easier.  It won't always be like this for you.  You my dear Akane have a bright future ahead of you."

"I do?" Akane was confused, how can she have a bright future here?  She wanted to go back home, back to Earth. Back to…she just didn't want this kind of life.  "It seems to be more responsibility than I can handle."

"So will you just abandon Jurai and hope that someone better will come along and take your place?"  He saw her eyebrows crinkle, she was definitely thinking about what he was saying.  "Are you willing to bet Jurai's people and future on it, people that will always support you and who you give hope to?  You will be more than just a queen Akane, you will become a symbol of all that is great about Jurai, and not showing weakness in the first sign of difficulty.  I know you are not a coward Akane.  Its time you stood up for something if not the people of Jurai but for yourself, instead of just bowing out when things get too hard."  Jin could see her eyes close, "Please, if you abandon Jurai by running away now, who knows what can happen."

"I have never heard you talk this way before." Akane said quietly.  "I had no idea that I meant so much here."

"Akane you mean everything to the people of Jurai," He knew he was guilting her into remaining here.  If she ran away, things won't fall into place.  "Think about what I said."

Akane nodded, "I will."

Jin turned and a devious smirk crossed his features, one that Ranma saw.  Something was not right here, he could feel it down into the tips of his toes.  Seeing Jin heading in his direction he moved to the side and hid behind the navy blue drapes.  When Jin had his back to the curtains, Ranma peered out to make sure he wasn't spotted, so while watching Jin and the other guests he carefully slipped out onto the terrace.

"Akane," He said and she turned around.

"Ranma, what are you doing out here?  You should be having your dinner." Akane turned around facing the Jurai landscape once more.

He shrugged. "I'm not really all that hungry," He plunged his hands into his pockets while walking towards her.  Then coming to stand right next to her.  "So…Akane that guy's your pop huh?"

She nodded. "I wish he wasn't, at times he is so heartless and cold and then he starts talking with such passion about Jurai, and it's like he's a whole different person."

"He doesn't look old enough to be your old man you know."

"I know that, Juraians age at a different rate than Earthlings, because of their two suns."  Akane leaned on her elbows upon the railing.  "Did you know that Princess Ayeka is over eight hundred years old, and so is Princess Sasami."

"Really?"  Ranma was surprised but he didn't show it.  "Hell they look good for their age."

Akane kept in a small giggle.  "I know, and Tenchi told me that when Sasami came to Earth she was a little girl and in only two years she looked like a teenager.  I think when you are on Earth your age speeds up.  According to the books I should still look around five years old.  But I don't really understand all that stuff." 

"I heard what your dad talked to you about." Ranma finally confessed.  "I don't know much about him or this place, but it seems like he was trying to get you to want to stay here."

"Yeah, but he's right on some accounts.  But just how much of what he said is true? How do I know I should remain here, and if I don't find a way to sneak off or run away from here, what terrible person will I leave in my place?"  Akane buried her face within her hands.  "There is so much pressure on me here, I can't take it."

Ranma wished he could touch her, to help to feel a little better but he knew she would not have it, especially if there were prying eyes and ears around.  "Akane I don't know what to say to help you.  Only that I want you to come back home, to not stay here."  His face flamed; confessing something like this could mean rejection.  "So why don't you just wait to see what develops when they find a way out of that marriage contract of yours."

She tilted her head to the side and glanced up at him.  "What if they don't find a way? You realize that there might not be anyway out of this."

"I know that." He rocked back and forth on his heels.  "But we just have to take things a day at a time."

"Hmm, I don't think this kind of meeting is permitted." Sora said from behind them, and Akane stood up straight and Ranma twirled around.

"Hey, we weren't doin' nothin'." Ranma glared hard at Sora.

Sora chuckled and approached the two of them. "So you're the one in the report."

"Report, what report?" Ranma asked and looked at Akane who merely shrugged.

Folding his hands in front of himself, Sora said.  "A report was filled out about you and your entire family and friends by Ambassador Oyama's sniveling little idiot of an assistant Ishi Tomo.  I really hate that guy, he's such a little rat."  He waved his hand in the air.  "The report said something about you, your name, your title, where you were born, your history."

"I don't have a title." Ranma said.  "And he was able to gather that much information in only one day?"

"You'd be surprised what a Jurai official can do in only an hour.  But he simply just put commoner on there as your title, so basically you're a nobody.  I read the report myself." Sora sighed dramatically.  "But they did say you were the worst kind of threat, and to watch out for you.  Believe me Ishi would have written everything about you, even things that might be hidden like feelings and stuff.  He's very observant, it's his job to be."

Akane finally turned, facing Sora. "Why did you come out here?"

"So that lover boy here doesn't get the death penalty, what did you think I was going to do out here?" Sora said with a slight arrogance in his voice, in which he knew what Akane was going to insinuate.

"Oh I don't know, try more of your useless perverted tricks and ways."

Sora gasped and put his hand to his forehead dramatically.  "My dear Lady Akane, I would never."  

"Uh huh, right." Ranma said crossing his arms over his chest.  "I know what you did, I saw it too."

With a shrug of his shoulders, Sora grinned.  "It's just all in good fun, I'm not serious when it comes to flirting with Lady Akane here.  If I were serious I would be in more trouble than I can take on."  He looked so very smug.  "And besides, I think you are going to need my help, I will be a valuable asset to your operation here.  So perhaps I should be given a bit more trust.  What do you think?"

"Are you really going to be able to get into the back library?" Akane asked taking a step forward.

He nodded.  "Yes I am."

Akane leaned against the railing, thinking about this.  "Why can't Tenchi or I go into the library, he's going to be Emperor.  So shouldn't it at least let him in there?"

"It is true that Lord Tenchi will become Emperor but the reason he can't get into that part of the library yet is because he is only one quarter Juraian, I am full Juraian and a full member of the royal family."  Sora sat down on the stone bench, "Ayeka can not get into that part of library because she is only half Juraian and a female, same with Sasami. Well unless they had permission from their husband to go inside. So the only way they will be able to get into that part of the library is if they marry someone who can, like me."  He grinned.  "But after Tenchi is emperor he can do whatever he wants even go into the back sections of the library."

"That is so stupid! Things should not be limited because we have a vagina!  This planet is so backwards." Akane spat out harshly, not noticing the blush that stained Ranma's cheeks at her choice of words.

  Sora chuckled lightly. "This might come as a shock or not, but I too have a marriage contract with one of princesses."

"Oh yeah, which one?" Ranma asked humoring this guy.

Sora grinned.  "I have a marriage contract with Sasami, her parents and mine decided it long ago."

"I don't even think she knows about that." Ranma though out loud.

And Sora laughed hard. "Oh she knows about it, but she hates me.  So there's another reason why she wants to find a way out of marriage contracts, besides wanting to help you two.  Unlike Lady Akane here who gets along with Lord Tenchi, Sasami and I do not get along, at all." 

Ranma growled.  "Well I don't want Akane to get along with Tenchi."

"Well of course you don't." Sora said, his tone light and easy, full of humor. "I think that Sasami at one time wanted to marry Lord Tenchi, man all those girls did.  When they all came here when Kagato was pretending to be emperor, the girls that came along with him seemed to want him.  Lucky guy, and here Akane is the one that snags him, I bet the girls are just hating her."

"I don't want to sound rude," Akane started to say.  "But I don't want him, not like that.  He's nice and all and I do think of him as a friend."  She looked over at Ranma who wasn't showing any expression at all, which wasn't normal for him.  But he is a friend, a good one, mostly because if it wasn't for him I don't think I would have lasted this long here.  I am glad to have met him.  And if I do have to marry him, it might not be so bad."

"Are you kidding Akane?  That would completely suck." Ranma said, finally showing what he was keeping inside.  "You don't want to be with that guy, I certainly don't want you too.  So there needs to be a way out of this, there's got to be.  People must have escaped marriage contracts before.  In history books, some where.  Nothing ever goes smoothly, life is just not that way, whether it is on Jurai or Earth.  There is always conflict."

"Well if there is a way, it will be in there." Sora answered.  "And I will hopefully find it in time to stop the wedding."  He looked at the both of them, "Now, its probably best if Ranma here goes inside with me and then Akane come in after,  that way it doesn't look so damn suspicious.  Dinner is just about over you know, and the servants will be showing the Earth guests to their rooms for their stay ."  And after saying that he and Ranma walked back into the dinning hall with Akane following after them. 

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Well that's it for episode 8, Just what is Jin up to?  If you want to take a guess go for it.  Heehee, it is truly devious.  Anyway stay tuned for episode 9, until then viewers ^_^

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Thanks,

Ryoko Blue