Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The War of Two Families ❯ Chapter 4: Seven Red Roses ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Seven Red Roses

It was four years ago when Jusoun received news of the Duke of Royen coming to visit with his wife and sister-in-law. Because Ryoga Hibiki's father was a personal friend, ally and consul to Genma, Ryoga grudgingly continued the alliance when his father died. The Saotomes outdid themselves preparing Jusoun for the Duke's visit. It was supposed to be a routine visit, just a two day stay with the Saotomes before Ryoga and his companions left for a vacation up north. But the minute Ryoga's sister-in-law walked into the room, everyone knew Ranma wasn't going to let her leave.

She was Ukyo Kuonji, the 16-year-old younger sister of Ryoga's wife, Akari. With a shining mass of black hair and a pert face with large, doe-like brown eyes, 18-year old Ranma was captivated from the start. She knew it, he knew it, and everybody else knew it. By the time drinks were served and done, everyone watched with a burning curiosity as the two disappeared into the garden.

To Ranma, Ukyo was like a breath of fresh air. She was vivacious, charming, and shared Ranma's interest in martial arts. Ranma, not knowing what lay beyond Jusoun borders at the time, was lost in the magical worlds Ukyo spun for his psychologically weak mind. And lost in his fantasies about Ukyo. He dreaded the day after the next when Ryoga would take her away.

But that day never came. At the banquet the night before, Ranma made an impetuous proposal with a ring and seven red roses. A classic Jusonian tradition, the seven roses symbolized Health, Happiness, Fertility, Success, Fortune, Faith and Power. Ukyo accepted. Not because she truly loved Ranma, but because she knew of the power that lay in such an opportunity. Ranma was the heir to the Jusonian throne; by marrying him would make her Empress. And all the beautiful things she dreamed of when she was a young girl would become reality. Ryoga, her stupid brother-in-law, was nothing but a poor church mouse compared to Ranma, a crown prince. Besides, Ranma was so in love with her that he was practically wrapped around her finger! If anyone did find out about her scandalous extracurricular activities, her word would override theirs. It was such a perfect plan! Genma and Nodoka, those stupid parents of Ranma's, were growing old. They couldn't last much longer. In a matter of months, the marriage would be consummated and then, everything would be hers. The thought of owning one of the most powerful empires in the world almost brought Ukyo to an orgasm.

Six months later, the entire Jusonian court left their landlocked empire to sail to the island of Majorca. The wedding between the Crown Prince of Jusoun and the Princess of Royen sent shockwaves through the western Mediterranean. Now Royen was formally allied to Jusoun, it was impossible to attack the tiny country without bringing upon the wrath of Jusoun. But Royen's enemies needn't have worried -- the Crown Princess herself destroyed all political alliances between the two.

Ukyo had never had a problem satisfying her sexual libido -- there were more than enough men that wanted to do the job on the attractive, available younger sister of the Duchess. But when she married Ranma, Ukyo found that he had a low sex drive and couldn't keep up with her insatiable appetite. Resorting to her old ways, Ukyo sought solace in various young men around the palace, particularly the cook's assistant, Konatsu Kenzan. Every night when Ranma fell asleep, Ukyo quietly snuck out to the gardens to meet with Konatsu.

It was one night when a maid named Korin happened to look out her bedroom window and witness a scandalous scene: the Princess' body intertwined with someone who wasn't Prince Ranma. Shocked beyond belief, the gossipy maid told her fellow workers of the act she saw. By noon, the entire palace knew of Ukyo's unfaithfulness to her husband. Ukyo's sister Akari broke it to Ranma. At first, he refused to believe that his beloved wife was cheating on him. But as the evidence poured in, people coming in to report that they witnessed the princess exchanging forbidden kisses and touches with other men, Ranma couldn't deny it. Enraged, he stormed to Ukyo's private room. But Ukyo, sly and cunning as she was, heard the news that her husband found out about her affairs and quickly ran away from the palace. All that she left behind was her wedding ring, all gold and valuable gems hacked from it. The seven roses were scattered across the floor, the heads sliced viciously from the stems.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Author's Chatterbox:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I just let the island be Majorca because I don't want to be making up more countries. Anyway, I was arranging seven red roses in a vase before I came upstairs to type this chapter so I thought it'd be a fitting detail. Anyway, I'm thinking about turning this fic into a dark one but I don't know because I'm planning on writing a completely dark fic for my next work -- what do you think? R&R please! Thanks for hanging with me!