Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Seasons out of Time ❯ Homecoming ( Chapter 7 )

 

 

Chapter 7: Not just another day.

 

 

Ranma woke slowly to unaccustomed warmth, wrapped still in Akane's arms. He pulled her tighter into his embrace and kissed her forehead. He decided immediately that he liked waking up this way, with his beautiful love snuggled against him. As though she heard his thought, which seemed likely, she woke slowly to find him watching her. He leaned in and kissed her deeply letting his thoughts about her run on the surface of his thoughts.

 

Akane smiled warmly to hear Ranma's thoughts telling her she was beautiful and amazing. They made love again in the patch of sunlight across her bed. Taking their time to explore each other better they finally lay sated and warm wrapped in loving arms.

 

They finally went to have breakfast, finding it under the silver cover as usual. They ate like new lovers, feeding each other little pieces of food. smiling and laughing the whole time.

 

After breakfast they went out to their yard to practice while waiting for Lani, wondering why she hadn't shown up yet. They got in over an hour of practice before she put in her appearance.

 

"I came to ask if the two of you wanted a day off or if you were up to continuing, but it seems I have my answer." She smiled almost sadly. Ranma and Akane both nodded, eager to learn, and over the next few days Lani began teaching them the basic katas and stances for their new style. At the end of every day Ranma and Akane would retire to the room that had become 'theirs' and even if they were to tired for anything else they fell asleep holding each other.

 

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After a week or so of the new training, Akane suddenly couldn't stand the smell of food, the slightest whiff and she ran for the bathroom to throw up. Ranma in a state akin to panic began calling for Lani.

 

Lani had Akane lie in her bed with a cool damp cloth over her eyes so she could take a look at her.

 

"I was certain there wasn't any diseases for you to pick up on the island." She mused a moment before her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, well you should be fine, you're just pregnant." Ranma and Akane both went very pale and then very red. "I guess I should have told you there were condoms in your nightstands but it doesn't really matter now."

 

"Oh my god!" Akane exclaimed, panicking. "What are we gonna do now?" Ranma was lost in his own head space, Akane pregnant with his child. As shocked as he was, as much trouble as he was likely in, somewhere down deep inside of him he felt a giddy little thrill of pride and wonder.

 

"You have several options really." Lani told them. "You could go home to have them, and then come back to finish training. You could have them here and then finish your training, though going home after an hour with a pair of toddlers that look just like you might make things more than a little exciting for a while."

 

"A pair?!?!?!" Akane wheezed, going very pale again.

 

"Twins." Lani said. "A boy and a girl, it looks like they've picked up what's left of their fathers curse too. Don't worry they wont be able to use it until they're older, probably just after they hit puberty. I think though that the best possible solution would be a stasis field. That way it would be like you weren't pregnant, you could finish your training, go home and have them when you're ready."

 

They both looked at her in surprise. "You can do that?" They asked in stereo. When Lani nodded they looked at each other and conferred in their minds.

 

Akane was surprised how pleased Ranma seemed to be deep down, it made her feel a little better that the thought of them having children together made him happy instead of terrified. She smiled at him, feeling that maybe it was okay after all. After thinking about it together they agreed that pausing the pregnancy was a good idea since it was available. The mental image of going home with toddlers made them both laugh only because they wouldn't need to. They could both only imagine everyone's reaction.

 

It didn't take long and Akane didn't feel a thing. After a few minutes Lani had her try to eat again and this time she didn't feel any nausea at all.

 

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Two years and seven months later Ranma and Akane stood on the practice field with their chi-blades ready for their graduation fight. They had learned to work as one and they were very good at being a double edged sword. Lani and Wolf looked on proudly as the two faced off against Caffeine and Jolt. The match was over in less than a minute, Ranma and Akane stood victorious. Caffeine and Jolt laughingly showed off the two shades of blue stripes they had picked up. Ranma and Akane were lifted onto the shoulders of their friends and carried off to their party. They saw Lani's new trainees when they came over the hill and they smiled at each other remembering Wolfman telling them it seemed like only a few months since it had been him that was new. They agreed with him now, it seemed like they hadn't been here very long but they had learned so much and made so many friends.

 

Ranma and Akane introduced themselves and told them the time would pass quickly and when they came to where they were finished they would be suprised at how far they had come without noticing. The new pair, Stephanie Kuriyami and David Misuteri smiled and nodded. In the warm thought passed between them Ranma and Akane knew they wouldn't really understand until they stood in their place.

 

They laughed and partied all night with the friends they had made. Nightblade and Wolfman showed up toward the end to ask what their plans were now that they were finished.

 

Looking at each other they replied in stereo. "It's time to go home to our family. We're a little sad though, to leave all our friends here when it seems we only just met them." Wolfman nodded smiling at the memory of his own graduation.

 

"You'll still be allowed to come visit you know, Lani and the rest of them can all get you all you have to do is call for them. It's weird to go home though, so much has happened here, and at home it really is like you were never gone. How do you explain to your friends how much you've grown inside when you look the same and you were really only gone an hour?" Ranma and Akane nodded having been brooding on the subject together for the last few days. "I notice you two picked up the stereo thing too. That will be fun to explain if you can't control it, though if you're feeling mischievous you could simply refrain from explaining and watch people go nuts." Wolfman continued scratching his chin thoughtfully. Ranma and Akane grinned.

 

"We've tried to stop but we gave up. Though if we're asked a question specific to one of us it doesn't happen. We're not looking forward to telling our fathers we're married already, they're going to go nuts. We decided it can wait until they try to make us again."

 

After Wolfman left them they sat together drinking the vodka punch and sharing all their memories together. They had gotten used to the vodka at other parties throughout the last couple years. Akane had been reluctant at first to drink when she was technically pregnant but Lani assured her that with the stasis field it would never touch them.

 

Lani came and sat next to them. "You know you're going home tomorrow." She began. "I have some things to send with you, you'll find them in your bags when you get back to the cottage. There is a case of ofuda looking papers, they're the cure for Jusenkyo curses. touch one to someone with the curse and they'll be stuck in whichever form they're in until you tell them how to change. Even knowing how yours works won't help them unless you tell them how. There's also a couple extra's one has eyes on it and will correct mousse's eyesight. The other has the directions on it and will give Ryoga a sense of direction. I know its late but I've gotten you a wedding present too." She handed Ranma a doll that looked just like him. "Put this in your bed when you go to sleep, it will create an image of you sleeping there and transport you to Akane's room. If someone tries to wake it it will bring you back in the position the doll was lying in, and just in case I've made sure it will dress you the same as the doll too so you don't have to worry about coming back naked. I've sound proofed and spy proofed Akane's room. Also if you go into Akane's closet, there will be a door only the two of you can see in the back. It leads to your own deserted island, with your own beach house."

 

Ranma was speechless. Akane had tears in her eyes at the thoughtfulness of Lani's gifts, she had given them so much more than they had ever expected and they were going to miss her. She through her arms around her teacher and thanked her.

 

"Now now, you'll make me cry. Just remember you can call me whenever you want to visit, or if you want me to visit too."

 

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That night when they finished the last pit of packing they had to do they lay together for the last time in their bed and made love slowly to each other.

 

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When Lani took them back she decided it would be better to drop them off together someplace different than where she had picked either of them up and hopefully lose their spies. Standing behind their old high school Ranma and Akane looked at it like they had never seen it before. It was evening here, everyone had left already. It was really hard to think that it was the same day they had left. Lani had sent their things straight to Akane's closet so they could introduce them slowly and no one would wonder too much. Looking at them both one last time she smiled and disappeared.

 

Taking Akane's hand Ranma started walking back towards the home they had left so long ago. Akane squeezed his hand and pulled away reminding him they had to act as if nothing had happened. She felt his sadness mirroring her own but they both knew it was just until they straightened out their lives.

 

They walked slowly side by side down familiar streets under a beautiful sunset until they came to the huge gate in front of their home. Standing there about to go in a noise made them turn.

 

Xian-pu stood there looking upset.

 

"You say you have to train and can't take Xian-pu on date but you come home with Akane! Why you choose that violent girl over Xian-pu?" She demanded furiously.

 

Akane knew what was coming next, and smiled to herself as she went inside, leaving Ranma to deal with Shampoo. She headed upstairs to her room after announcing she was home to her family. It was so strange to be home, she wanted to change before going to help Kasumi with dinner and see if she could compose herself a little more first.

 

However when she opened the door to her room she saw P-Chan sitting on her desk. For a moment she was startled but she vaguely recalled closing him in her room before she left. She smiled brightly then, realizing she had something for him in her pocket. two something's actually. She pulled the two pieces of paper from her pocket and walked over to him. "Hey P-Chan, I brought you something." She walked over to him and held them out as if to show them to him. Ryoga was confused, his little piggy nose told him there was something different about her sweet scent, and why would she bring him funny looking pieces of paper? Playing the part of her obedient pet he sniffed the papers. When he woke up Akane was sitting at her desk looking at him. He shook his head wondering what had happened.

 

Akane smiled at him but it held only traces of its previous warmth. "Are you feeling better?" She asked him. He nodded hesitantly. "Good, I knew it might knock you out but it didn't hurt when I learned something that way." He looked at her confused. Learn? What was he supposed to have learned.

 

"You and I need to have a little talk I think. You see Ryoga, Someone finally told me why Ranma couldn't stand my little P-Chan." Ryoga's eyes widened and he felt faint. "Now before you go off and attack Ranma I think you should know it wasn't him. It was the person we've been seeing for training in a new technique and she gave me those little pieces of paper for you. The one that knocked you out gave you a sense of direction." Ryoga couldn't believe that, how could a little piece of paper keep him from getting lost? "The other, well I think it will be easier to show you what the other one did than to tell you." She picked him up and tucked him securely under her arm and took him to the bathroom. She hung him on a hook to keep him from getting away and ran a cup full of hot water into a cup. He started squirming when she came toward him with the hot water but he couldn't get loose. She through the water at him and he fainted again. When he woke he was still a pig.

 

"Hot water won't change you back anymore." Akane told him with a smile. "Only Ranma can tell you how. Before you go to find him though I want to give you a bit of an update. When we left earlier, our new friend took us to her world. We've been gone almost three years, Ranma and I got married two and a half years ago." Ryoga's heart was ground to dust with this information, but Akane had one last surprise for him. "I want you to think long and hard before you start begging Ranma to tell you the secret. because if any of this gets out I'll know exactly who told. Oh, and because you're one of my best friends P-Chan I wanted to tell you first, I'm pregnant, with twins."

 

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Ranma invited Shampoo into the yard to talk, leading her to the pool he sat and she sat next to him. She leaned in close hoping for a kiss and he splashed her the moment her eyes closed. Nabiki walking by the open garden doors stopped to watch. It was funny, she thought that Ranma was afraid of cats. Why would he splash her intentionally? She decided to stay and watch how this played out.

 

Ranma leaned in and placed the paper on her nose, trapping her in her cat form. "You're trapped in that form, and only I know how you can change back. I'll tell you how to change back for good if you'll stop trying to get me to marry you, it's just not going to happen. Go find Mousse he loves you and will worship the ground you walk on. If you send him by later I can cure his curse and fix his eyes."

 

He stood and walked away from the heartbroken cat. Nabiki watched suprised, what was going on? She decided to go find Akane and see if she knew what was going on with her fiancé.

 

Before she found Akane though she came across the piglet, P-Chan, who looked as heartbroken as the cat had. She bent and picked him up.

 

"Why do you look so sad piggy?" She asked mystified. The little pig made a noise like a sob and struggled to get away. Nabiki put him down and watched as he ran away. What as going on?

 

Akane wasn't in the dojo, or her room. Nabiki finally found her out behind the kitchen talking to Kasumi.

 

"Please Kasumi? I really want to cook dinner tomorrow but no one will try it if they know I made it. You can stay and watch me the entire time and I'll clean up after! I'll get all the groceries on the way home too." Kasumi finally agreed when Akane said she would pay for food delivery if it didn't turn out good. Nabiki frowned and decided to see if Kuno wanted anything she could make him treat her to dinner for. She smiled and went to find her camera, Ranma pictures always sold well.

 

She found him laying out by the pond in the sun. Shampoo was no where to be seen, Nabiki wasn't suprised, if she had just been so completely dumped she would have left to figure out a way to get back at the jerk. She knelt down beside him and decided the direct approach would be the most distracting.

 

"What did you do to shampoo?" She asked quietly dipping her hand in the water.

 

"I told her to leave me alone." He answered, strangely unflustered. Nabiki frowned as he continued to lay there with his eyes closed, unconcerned that she had seen him do something odd. She splashed him suddenly with the cold water but nothing happened. He didn't flinch, or change into a girl.

 

"Y'know Nabiki, that water is really cold." He said calmly. "Thankfully the people I went to train with were able to cure my curse. No more girl. It's strange actually not having to worry about getting splashed, but it's kind of nice." Nabiki decided to try one more thing hoping for just one normal reaction from him.

 

"Akane just talked Kasumi into letting her make dinner tomorrow and not warning anyone." One of his blue eyes opened to look at her, unconcerned.

 

"I met the lady who taught her to cook, it might actually be edible this time." Nabiki felt a chill go down her spine, something very strange was going on she decided. She stood and left to go talk to Akane. She resolved right then to let nothing, not even threat of Akane's cooking to distract her this time.

 

She found Akane in her room, wearing a new dress Nabiki had never seen before. It looked really good on her and she realized her sister had lost the tiny bit of extra weight she had always had. Somehow it made her look older.

 

"Hey sis, you won't believe what I just saw your fiancé do in the garden." Akane looked at her calmly over her shoulder before turning back to the mirror.

 

"Did he tell Shampoo to get lost finally?" She asked disinterestedly. Nabiki got that chill again, if she wasn't as realistic a person as she was she would think they had been replaced by pod people or something. "Nabiki does this look okay?" She asked turning to look at her profile in the mirror. Nabiki could only nod dumbly, something was going on. She turned and walked out of her sisters room into her own. She just needed to think. What could the two of them be up to?

 

Kasumi called them all to dinner shortly after and Nabiki went down to see if they would do anything else out of character that would give her a clue. Everyone sat in their regular places and dinner began. The first thing that came up was Ranma suddenly had no problem with his father stealing his food. It didn't matter what Genma tried he simply couldn't do it. The third time or so he tried it she caught Akane steal a glance at her fiancé and a tiny smile quirked her lips before she controlled it. A few minutes later she caught them glance at each other at the same moment, it was a speaking look. Nabiki was beginning to get a headache from trying to figure this out. If she didn't know better she thought to herself, she could almost think they had finally teamed up. She felt the chill in her spine again and suddenly began to suspect that that was what had happened. As impossible as the thought was the tiny glances at each other were starting to make her believe it.

 

"How did you enjoy your training today?" She asked them hoping for some kind of reaction that would confirm or demolish her theory. No one was expecting what happened next though.

 

"It was great." They answered in perfect unison. Everyone at the table looked at them in suprize. They went back to eating as if nothing odd had happened. After a moment of confused looks shared around the table the others went back to eating too.

 

Nabiki was intrigued though, since when were these two on the same wavelength? She took another bite and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. It could have been a fluke, maybe they had both just had a good day. She caught another glance between the two, this one carried a faint trace of consternation. Suddenly she noticed they had been eating in unison too, and they had suddenly changed so that they were taking alternating bites. Curiouser and curiouser.

 

"What kinds of things did you learn?" She asked to see what they would do. Akane's mouth happened to be full, Ranma answered.

 

"I learned a great new technique." He said before taking a bite of his food just as Akane swallowed her last bite.

 

"Actually The lady who offered to teach me turned out to be married to the guy that was training Ranma, after my cooking lesson we went out to join them and I've picked up a few new moves too." Soun looked at his youngest daughter with pride and his next request played right into Nabiki's plans.

 

"You'll both have to give us a demonstration after dinner. I would love to meet this couple, will one of you invite them over for dinner tomorrow?" They nodded in unison and Nabiki was almost certain that they had finally teamed up.

 

After everyone had finished dinner Ranma and Akane went out into the yard and began a series of katas to warm up. Nabiki noticed they managed these in perfect unison too. When they had finished stretching they moved as if to spar with each other but before they could Happosai came out of nowhere and flung himself at Akane's chest.

 

"Akane!" He had barely managed to finish the familiar greeting when suddenly they moved together to beat him to a pulp. It only took a couple seconds, even their fathers barely saw them move, but suddenly Happosai was unconscious on the ground.

 

Nabiki was shocked, sure Ranma was really fast but her sister had never been close to matching his speed. She hadn't had any trouble keeping up just then though. Their fathers eyes were wide almost dismayed at the sudden progress of their heirs. Ranma and Akane moved to take their sparring stances and began.

 

Again it was obvious that Akane's speed had improved dramatically, she wasn't having any trouble at all keeping up with Ranma. Watching them spar something about their movements bugged her and after a moment she realized what it was. They weren't actually touching each other. It was like watching a really well choreographed fight on a movie, like they always knew where the other would be. The two of them finished suddenly, and Akane left ostensibly to go have her bath.

 

Ranma's father took her place, wanting to really get a feel for how much his son had improved. Nabiki sat down with her father to watch but Kasumi went to tidy up her kitchen. This sparring match went much differently. Genma couldn't touch him, but Ranma was getting in hit after hit. Finally Soun went to his old friends side, but even together they couldn't touch him, it was like they were moving in slow motion.

 

Ranma stopped it when it began to look like the two old men were going to collapse. "When Lani and Wolf come over for dinner tomorrow you'll get a better demonstration." He told them just before he went in to find his own bath, though from what Nabiki could see he hadn't broken a sweat. Just what kind of training had they been doing?