Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Trust ❯ Chapter 2
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: dennisud 
The Tendo Home feels the after affects of Kodachi's plan. They lose a family member as the ramifications start to become reality.
The NWC wioll never be the same.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.28.2005 | Updated On: 12.28.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 355 | Status: Work In Progress
The Tendo Home feels the after affects of Kodachi's plan. They lose a family member as the ramifications start to become reality.
The NWC wioll never be the same.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.28.2005 | Updated On: 12.28.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 355 | Status: Work In Progress
"Trust"
By
dennisud
A RANMA 1/2 FAN-FICTION
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2 nor any of the characters.
AN: Set two years after the failed wedding, starts a week before Akane and Ranma's graduation. Akane and Ranma were getting along better, except when Ranma leaves w/o telling her. I will try to update this story as much as possible, but I can't guarantee when.
Pre-read by Datexan, Threadweaver
Chapter 2: Realization and commitment
Akane found herself in a daze. She was walking towards a home she knew of but now was her home. She was leading Ryouga Hibiki, her husband as they followed the streets and sidewalks leading to the Hibiki home. She looked down on the scrap of paper which had her new home's address, quickly written by her sister Nabiki. Oh thats right she wasn't a Tendo anymore, she shamed the clan so much by her actions she was kicked out of the clan and the only home she knew. She tried to remember how she came to be on the street married and now a wife of a boy she only considered a friend, while the one she really loved was now engaged to both her sisters.
Oh yeah she remembered former sisters. She silently cried as she led her new husband to their new home and lives.
She thought back to earlier where she was in her room, planning out a scheme to get Ranma jealous, with the boy who was her friend and now was married to. Akane remembered finalizing their plan when a glass ball flew into her room breaking on contact with the closet door.
Then her memories become dull and foggy. But she remembered hugging, kissing, fondling by her and to her which was quickly followed by a need and then a flash of pain between her legs. After that, a constant movement made her both ecstatic and thrilled to her core, yet there was an emptiness and pain in her heart all the same.
Still, she trudged through the street and her mind trying to remember the foggy memory. She remembered the water shocking her out of her stupor and finally knowing what she had been doing. And with whom as right in front or more like under her Ryouga quickly shrunk from a boy, to P-chan.
Again she didn't remember the next few minutes much other than bouncing her former pet around her room and using anything to add more punishment to her now pig sized lover. Then in painful clarity she remembered again what they had been doing which prompted Akane Tendo to start screaming. It took Nodoka and Kasumi holding her tightly between them for her to finally lose consciousness.
After getting her downstairs away from her bloodied and cured lover as well as the shambles of her room, Kasumi returned to her sisters wrecked room. She being the woman of the house since her mother's passing could feel the "Wa" of the house and knew there was a disturbance still within that room. Her Martial Arts training her ceased the day her mother died, but she was trained by Kimiko Tendo to feel the "Wa" of the home and in that she was an expert.
So with that she entered the room and started to check each and every paper, clothing, and splinter that was left of Akane's bedroom. She then found pieces of oily glass which she recognized as not belonging to the home. 'Mmmm" she said and put the pieces in a zip-lock baggy. She knew nabiki could help here and Ranma after he had calmed down. She shook her head at the whole incident, and knew what will probably happen now. She sighed for herself, Nabiki, and Ranma. But even more for Akane There was trouble ahead but she knew the family will pull together even with the bumps that were coming. Kasumi made her way downstairs to help Nodoka tend to her sister.
She awoke to her living room with her on the couch. After removing a cool wash rag from her had she sat up and noticed a few things. First Ryouga who was back in his human form was in the corner bandaged up and sulking. Then she noticed Kasumi sitting next to her tending to her with the wash rag. She kept moving her head and saw the Saotomes sitting away from her talking quietly to Soun who looked stern and contemplative. Finally she noticed two who should have been there but weren't.
"Where's Ranma... and Nabiki?"
"Ranma... ran off after he saw you... and Ryouga..." Kasumi sighed and then added, "Nabiki after she had heard what had happened went after him." Akane nodded looking down to her hands which were on her lap.
"What are they talking about, Kasumi?" Akane asked. Noticing her father talking quietly with Ranma's parents.
Kasumi's face turned sorrowful, "They're talking about you little sister. You know what happened; even if it wasn't your doing. It still has consequences." Though the warmth in tone didn't change, Akane could feel the disappointment in Kasumi's voice.
"I'm... so... sorry. I am soo... " A crying Akane sunk into Kasumi's embrace seeking the comfort before the storm that was surely to come.
_______________________________________________
A few minutes later in the Tendo Dojo, Akane now uncomfortably sitting next to Ryouga facing the Shrine to her mother while sitting in front of it was her Father Soun Tendo. To the right was the Saotomes and to the left sat Kasumi. Behind and to Kasumi's back were two men one clearly a Shinto Priest dressed in formal robes, while the other seemed to be a salaryman since he was in a dark gray business suit.
A tapping of the floor by Nodoka got everyone's attention. Slowly Soun got up facing the two teens. He took a sharp breath and spoke. "Due to the actions taken by the two of you," He held up his had to quell the protest about to come from both Akane and Ryouga, "I have no choice but to follow what honor dictates." He gave a firm glare to them then sat back down. He sighed, Soun truly seemed more sad than angry, as if a dream was dying within him. but he straightened up and continued.
Closing his eyes then gestured to the two men behind Kasumi. "As you see the Local Priest and Notary are here." He gave the two teens, and especially his youngest daughter, a hard look. "You will get married and take the Hibiki name, then you will live in the Hibiki home. For some reason Kasumi believes that the two of you were not in your right minds, but I will not have my daughter or my family dishonored like this." 'Dishonored' he thought. Yes they did besmirch the Tendo clan, but enough to send her away from the only home she had even known. 'Yes it would be better with her away, then we can get to the bottom of all this and bring her back...' Soun swallowed knowing that Ryouga would be with her. Not what he wanted but still there were Nabiki and Kasumi. He nodded to himself as everyone was ready to begin.
As the ceremony commenced the dojo's door opens wide as Nabiki and Ranma start to enter before coming to a complete stop as they stare at the proceedings. For a moment Kasumi thought that he was about to run away again; so she quickly, and faster than anyone had seen her move before, took one of Ranma's arms. Her quick action alerted Nabiki and she took his other arm. Slowly the two of them sat him down where Kasumi had been with the two of them taking position on either side of him.
All there knew that Ranma could easily dislodge himself from the two Tendo sisters but it seemed that the knowledge of what was happening was hitting him like a brick wall. For the rest of the Ceremony he sat there with watery eyes seeing Akane married to his biggest rival and sometime friend.
Everyone says that weddings are joyous or even with arranged marriages somewhat happy. But it seemed that many in the dojo felt more like a wake than a wedding. The parents had talked briefly with Kasumi showing then the small shards of broken glass she found. So even though they were going along with the ceremony they had decided that keep Akane away even for a few weeks would make it easier to find the one responsible. While the teens there were all sad for various reasons.
Ranma was losing his love , Akane was losing Ranma while knowing she didn't love Ryouga.
Ryouga was happy to marry Akane and was reveling in Ranma's defeated look, but he was feeling guilty in how this had happened, Plus he knew Akane still cared for Ranma
Nabiki and Kasumi knew that with what had happened, they would be affianced to Ranma which normally would bother either one, but the fact of the other Fiances and Rivals made them sad, but more so they wanted to comfort Ranma as both knew how much he loved their sister. A sister about to marry another.
So it was a somber mood that permeated the dojo as the marriage ceremony concluded.
The parents agreed to have Nodoka take Ranma out near the Koi pond as the girls slowly made their way up as a now stern Soun made Ryouga gather his things and told him to wait at the front gate until Akane was ready to go. The cursed boy simply nodded and headed towards the furo. after Soun walked him to the gate and had him put his hand on the gate he turned around and headed back to the house leaving his new son-in-law holding onto the front gate waiting for his wife.
Later as the sisters were helping Akane pack the newly married Hibiki then asks Nabiki;
"So how'd you get Ranma to... come back?"
"Well," The middle Tendo sister said, "I pointed out to him that neither you nor Ryouga would have been doing what you were doing normally, especially with your view of 'boys' in general and Ryouga's nose-bleeds and fainting spells... though that last part didn't make a much of a difference." Nabiki winced as she didn't mean to say that, quite that way. So she almost missed it when Akane's head dropped. Almost, but seeing the look on her little sisters face, Nabiki put an arm around her comfortingly. "Sorry,
didn't mean it that way." She smiled slowly as Akane's head lifted a little before the middle Tendo began to describe her Talk with Ranma.
Nabiki had hit three of the four places that she knew Ranma would use to be alone. The high school's roof was the first, followed by the water tower, and the hidden spot at Nerima Park. Finally as she walked back towards home, she looked under the bridge near their home. She slowed her gait as she spotted a now female Ranma sitting in the bridges shadow crying into her arms which were wrapped around her legs. Quietly Nabiki made her way towards and sat next to the distraught martial artist.
She knew Ranma would be upset at what had happened, but she also knew that she could talk to him even now. Ever since she had graduated from high school they had come to a truce of sorts.
Nabiki had made enough money from all her schemes to pay for her collage and invested the rest of the money wisely. Which kept the Tendo home solvent and allowed Ranma and Akane the dream of college as well.
As she started college, she and Ranma had begun to simply talk. At first it was mainly about an interest that they had in common, advice on the Fiance Brigade. As much as she had enjoyed the profits over the mess that was Ranma's life, it was trying on ones patience. He actually gave her some lessons in basic defense given that she had to go to Downtown Tokyo, and Nabiki had to deal with the occasional pervert and hoodlum. She even smiled occasionally with him. Akane at first was wary of this but was assured by both they were only being good in-laws.
But now she was there as his friend as it was Akane who had both screwed up and been a victim. Nabiki had to calm Ranma down enough to point that out. So she waited quietly and sometime during that wait put an arm around Ranma. That helped to calm her down enough to stop crying but then Ranma started to berate herself on not being man-enough to do anything more than running away and crying her eyes out.
A slap literally broke his mood and stopped his self debasing comments. Ranma then looked at Nabiki and asked, "What ya do that for?" as he rubbed the hand print developing on his cheek.
"Because it got you out of your funk and because I need you to focus on what I'm going to say to you." She then grabbed the smaller red-head into an uncharacteristic hug and added, "And because I care for you you dumb jock." Ranma stiffened for a few moments before she melted into Nabiki eventually returning the hug.
"Thanks Biki-chan I needed dat." was all Ranma said a few minutes later.
"You're welcome Ranma-Kun. Now will you listen to me as we go over what we know of this so far without you going ballistic so we can analyze this like normal people." Ranma reluctantly nodded. "Ok let see Kasumi told me you came running into the house and right up the stairs. Why?"
"Mom & I heard Kodachi's loony laugh, and I knew something was wrong." Nabiki stopped him with a single finger.
"So, we know Kodachi's somehow involved. Do you agree?" Ranma nodded. "So what happened next?"
"Well... I ran up the stairs probably scaring Kasumi with my crazed look and pulled Akane's door open and..." Ranma's head hung low, so Nabiki hugged the redhead to herself, and waited until she could continue. Ranma nodded. I saw Akane... on top of Ryouga." She stopped then.
Nabiki then asked, "Ranma, remember that porn movie you told me that Hiroushi and Dai had you watch?" At his reluctant nod she continued. "Was Akane or Ryouga yelling in ecstasy? Like those people did in that movie? Think carefully Ranma, I know its difficult but you need to see what was really happening." She assured her.
After a couple of minutes a confused look came to Ranma's face. "Ya know Akane was cryin allot , and P-chan' was... well he looked like he was knocked out, like he had fainted like when he sees a girls well ya know."
"Exactly Ranma. You saw Akane crying as though she didn't WANT to be doing what she was doing, and as you said Ryouga was passed out so he didn't know either. I have the feeling that Kodachi has something to do with this. Tell you what, lets go back and check Akane's room and then we'll see what we can do to fix this. "She said to reassure Ranma but she knew the actions that happened made that even finding out the truth might not matter. But she had to get Ranma back, and seemed to have succeeded. With a reluctant nod, Ranma stood up and went with Nabiki back towards their home, picking up some hot water on the way so he'd be back to his male self. But when they returned they found the home deserted and then heard Soun in the Dojo.
"And the rest you know." Nabiki sighed, finishing her explanation while helping Akane pack.
"So, he doesn't believe I wanted to... you know with Ryouga?" Akane asked hopefully
"Well he knew it when he entered the Dojo, but I'll have to talk to him some more now, with what's already happened." Nabiki said while Akane nodded morosely.
"Well, we're done Akane, I will also talk with Ranma-kun and see what I can do to sooth him." Kasumi added.
"Thanks sis... both of you." She hugged them both. "Please... keep an eye on him for me as this news might make the others try to marry him." She said shakily.
"I was thinking about that sis, If Kodachi did this to you to eliminate you as a 'fiancee' I bet she's done this to the others as well." Nabiki said with conviction
"You know, She might at that. She's screwy enough to do it too!" Akane added, now seeing more clearly what had gone wrong today.
"Oh my, you might be right." She said then sighed, "As much as I agree that might have been what happened, daddy won't forget what's happened." At seeing her younger sister's droop their heads in sadness, Kasumi came up with a hasty plan. "I know, let me make some tea before... you embark on your life with Ryouga," even as she said it, her brilliant plan failed. Kasumi did care about Akane very much, but she also could not forget about how things had changed so fast and so permanently with Akane's future. "Akane, I will promise you that Nabiki and I will get the the bottom of this. I'm sure when Ranma recovers he'll find out who's responsible." Kasumi said to her departing little sister as Nabiki agreed.
She nodded her thanks. "I guess its time for me to go to my new ... home." Akane stated despondently.
Then all three sisters hugged each other one final time. Nabiki then said. "Don't worry Akane I'll find out what happened and you will be back here soon." Akane nodded and smiled a sad smile.
She know knew that even if they found out the truth the dye had already been cast in her life and now that of Ryouga. She was still furious at him for hiding his curse and at herself for what had happened. But at least it allowed her to have hope enough to be brought back into the only family she knew and loved.
So with that she followed her sisters downstairs where Ryouga was waiting outside the front gate.
Her father, Ranma's parents and a clearly upset Ranma were there to see her off.
Akane Hibiki then slowly walked up to each of them, Her father still had the stern look on his face reminding her of how he looked before her mother died, So she simply bowed and started to move to Genma when she was caught up in an immense hug from him. "Never forget that I still love you my daughter... but honor demands this." He whispered in her ear. "We will get to the bottom of this and I expect you back soon." He then let go of her and stood tall and rigid as before.
"I... Understand Tendo-san." Akane nodded once and smiled at him, both had a single tear trance down each of their cheeks.
She then stepped in front of Genma who was as normal having his gruff and staunch look and simply inclined his head, which Akane reciprocated. "Keep your practices up and learn from Ry... um your husband. Remember you are still apart of the 'Anything Goes' school."
"Hai Saotome-san, I will." She answered but then was caught up in another hug hug from a blubbering parent. She had thought it might have been her father not not the proper Japanese wife Nodoka Saotome. "Dear, you just keep Ryouga company and I'll come by to help when his mother's not there.
"Huh, Why when she's not there Auntie?" Akane questioned?
"Well I don't want to interfere when she is there and you do need to get to know her Akane-chan."
Akane nodded knowing Nodoka's right. She'll have to get to know her now.
"Thank you Auntie. I will but I will also think of you as my... second mother if you'll allow..."
She was cut off my another wet hug from the Saotome Matriarch which was an answer as well.
After the finished they left her with Ranma, while Ryouga stood at the open gate waiting and watching.
There was a minutes worth of silence as both teens stared at each other saying so much but not uttering a single word. Then they embraced tightly, hugging each other like there was no tomorrow. While outside Ryouga was squirming like a ... well... pig. Then they broke their minutes long embrace looking like newlyweds until the tears started to stream down Akane face.
Then they mouthed to each other the phrase Ryouga had wished he could have heard from Akane. "I... love... you." For a brief moment they kissed; their first real kiss, as well as their last. Smiling sadly at each other, Akane picked up her suit case before slowly turning around and walking out of the compound through the old creaky gate, grabbing Ryouga's hand along the way and started their walk to her new life.
She never turned back as tears continued to stream down her now sad face. Ryouga simply walked along not knowing what to do. He loved her, but she didn't love him. a slight green aura now surrounded him.
If Akane had turned around she would have seen Ranma barely standing up being supported by Nabiki and Kasumi silent tears running down his face while he stared at the retreating forms of hie former fiance' and love and his sometimes rival/ sometimes friend walking down the street hand-in-hand knowing it was not for their love but for circumstances beyond their control.
The three ended up on the living room. Ranma holding their hands as they both held him between them shoulder to shoulder. Both trying to calm the sad and distraught boy.
Both seemingly making up their minds to help Ranma through this as they both did witness his and Akane's good bye. The sisters saw the love that Ranma and Akane had finally shown each other yet knowing it would not continue. Kasumi & Nabiki were as sad for them and their lost love. So they determined to be there for Ranma and Akane. What they didn't know how far this would take them!
_______________________________________________
Kodachi had finally made it to her street when she made that one in a thousand mistake and slipped on a wet roof tile, and was launched into a random window of a home not far from her own. When she landed her final glass ball broke spreading the potent gaseous potion that had victimized so may before throughout the room, claiming the instigator of it all. As she shook her head trying to see who's room she had landed on a gulp was heard right behind her.
There staring right at her was one Hikaru Gosunkugi! (Thanks, Wharpt!)
"Oh SHIT!" was all Kodachi could say when his lips met hers and her long night of ecstasy with Nerima's number one Geek began! (Oh the Irony-!!)
Chapter 3: Repercussions
Kodachi's action affected more than Ranma, Ryouga and the Tendo sisters. Here we'll see more of what a whacked out Gymnasts actions had done, including her own misstep.
By
dennisud
A RANMA 1/2 FAN-FICTION
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2 nor any of the characters.
AN: Set two years after the failed wedding, starts a week before Akane and Ranma's graduation. Akane and Ranma were getting along better, except when Ranma leaves w/o telling her. I will try to update this story as much as possible, but I can't guarantee when.
Pre-read by Datexan, Threadweaver
Chapter 2: Realization and commitment
Akane found herself in a daze. She was walking towards a home she knew of but now was her home. She was leading Ryouga Hibiki, her husband as they followed the streets and sidewalks leading to the Hibiki home. She looked down on the scrap of paper which had her new home's address, quickly written by her sister Nabiki. Oh thats right she wasn't a Tendo anymore, she shamed the clan so much by her actions she was kicked out of the clan and the only home she knew. She tried to remember how she came to be on the street married and now a wife of a boy she only considered a friend, while the one she really loved was now engaged to both her sisters.
Oh yeah she remembered former sisters. She silently cried as she led her new husband to their new home and lives.
She thought back to earlier where she was in her room, planning out a scheme to get Ranma jealous, with the boy who was her friend and now was married to. Akane remembered finalizing their plan when a glass ball flew into her room breaking on contact with the closet door.
Then her memories become dull and foggy. But she remembered hugging, kissing, fondling by her and to her which was quickly followed by a need and then a flash of pain between her legs. After that, a constant movement made her both ecstatic and thrilled to her core, yet there was an emptiness and pain in her heart all the same.
Still, she trudged through the street and her mind trying to remember the foggy memory. She remembered the water shocking her out of her stupor and finally knowing what she had been doing. And with whom as right in front or more like under her Ryouga quickly shrunk from a boy, to P-chan.
Again she didn't remember the next few minutes much other than bouncing her former pet around her room and using anything to add more punishment to her now pig sized lover. Then in painful clarity she remembered again what they had been doing which prompted Akane Tendo to start screaming. It took Nodoka and Kasumi holding her tightly between them for her to finally lose consciousness.
After getting her downstairs away from her bloodied and cured lover as well as the shambles of her room, Kasumi returned to her sisters wrecked room. She being the woman of the house since her mother's passing could feel the "Wa" of the house and knew there was a disturbance still within that room. Her Martial Arts training her ceased the day her mother died, but she was trained by Kimiko Tendo to feel the "Wa" of the home and in that she was an expert.
So with that she entered the room and started to check each and every paper, clothing, and splinter that was left of Akane's bedroom. She then found pieces of oily glass which she recognized as not belonging to the home. 'Mmmm" she said and put the pieces in a zip-lock baggy. She knew nabiki could help here and Ranma after he had calmed down. She shook her head at the whole incident, and knew what will probably happen now. She sighed for herself, Nabiki, and Ranma. But even more for Akane There was trouble ahead but she knew the family will pull together even with the bumps that were coming. Kasumi made her way downstairs to help Nodoka tend to her sister.
She awoke to her living room with her on the couch. After removing a cool wash rag from her had she sat up and noticed a few things. First Ryouga who was back in his human form was in the corner bandaged up and sulking. Then she noticed Kasumi sitting next to her tending to her with the wash rag. She kept moving her head and saw the Saotomes sitting away from her talking quietly to Soun who looked stern and contemplative. Finally she noticed two who should have been there but weren't.
"Where's Ranma... and Nabiki?"
"Ranma... ran off after he saw you... and Ryouga..." Kasumi sighed and then added, "Nabiki after she had heard what had happened went after him." Akane nodded looking down to her hands which were on her lap.
"What are they talking about, Kasumi?" Akane asked. Noticing her father talking quietly with Ranma's parents.
Kasumi's face turned sorrowful, "They're talking about you little sister. You know what happened; even if it wasn't your doing. It still has consequences." Though the warmth in tone didn't change, Akane could feel the disappointment in Kasumi's voice.
"I'm... so... sorry. I am soo... " A crying Akane sunk into Kasumi's embrace seeking the comfort before the storm that was surely to come.
_______________________________________________
A few minutes later in the Tendo Dojo, Akane now uncomfortably sitting next to Ryouga facing the Shrine to her mother while sitting in front of it was her Father Soun Tendo. To the right was the Saotomes and to the left sat Kasumi. Behind and to Kasumi's back were two men one clearly a Shinto Priest dressed in formal robes, while the other seemed to be a salaryman since he was in a dark gray business suit.
A tapping of the floor by Nodoka got everyone's attention. Slowly Soun got up facing the two teens. He took a sharp breath and spoke. "Due to the actions taken by the two of you," He held up his had to quell the protest about to come from both Akane and Ryouga, "I have no choice but to follow what honor dictates." He gave a firm glare to them then sat back down. He sighed, Soun truly seemed more sad than angry, as if a dream was dying within him. but he straightened up and continued.
Closing his eyes then gestured to the two men behind Kasumi. "As you see the Local Priest and Notary are here." He gave the two teens, and especially his youngest daughter, a hard look. "You will get married and take the Hibiki name, then you will live in the Hibiki home. For some reason Kasumi believes that the two of you were not in your right minds, but I will not have my daughter or my family dishonored like this." 'Dishonored' he thought. Yes they did besmirch the Tendo clan, but enough to send her away from the only home she had even known. 'Yes it would be better with her away, then we can get to the bottom of all this and bring her back...' Soun swallowed knowing that Ryouga would be with her. Not what he wanted but still there were Nabiki and Kasumi. He nodded to himself as everyone was ready to begin.
As the ceremony commenced the dojo's door opens wide as Nabiki and Ranma start to enter before coming to a complete stop as they stare at the proceedings. For a moment Kasumi thought that he was about to run away again; so she quickly, and faster than anyone had seen her move before, took one of Ranma's arms. Her quick action alerted Nabiki and she took his other arm. Slowly the two of them sat him down where Kasumi had been with the two of them taking position on either side of him.
All there knew that Ranma could easily dislodge himself from the two Tendo sisters but it seemed that the knowledge of what was happening was hitting him like a brick wall. For the rest of the Ceremony he sat there with watery eyes seeing Akane married to his biggest rival and sometime friend.
Everyone says that weddings are joyous or even with arranged marriages somewhat happy. But it seemed that many in the dojo felt more like a wake than a wedding. The parents had talked briefly with Kasumi showing then the small shards of broken glass she found. So even though they were going along with the ceremony they had decided that keep Akane away even for a few weeks would make it easier to find the one responsible. While the teens there were all sad for various reasons.
Ranma was losing his love , Akane was losing Ranma while knowing she didn't love Ryouga.
Ryouga was happy to marry Akane and was reveling in Ranma's defeated look, but he was feeling guilty in how this had happened, Plus he knew Akane still cared for Ranma
Nabiki and Kasumi knew that with what had happened, they would be affianced to Ranma which normally would bother either one, but the fact of the other Fiances and Rivals made them sad, but more so they wanted to comfort Ranma as both knew how much he loved their sister. A sister about to marry another.
So it was a somber mood that permeated the dojo as the marriage ceremony concluded.
The parents agreed to have Nodoka take Ranma out near the Koi pond as the girls slowly made their way up as a now stern Soun made Ryouga gather his things and told him to wait at the front gate until Akane was ready to go. The cursed boy simply nodded and headed towards the furo. after Soun walked him to the gate and had him put his hand on the gate he turned around and headed back to the house leaving his new son-in-law holding onto the front gate waiting for his wife.
Later as the sisters were helping Akane pack the newly married Hibiki then asks Nabiki;
"So how'd you get Ranma to... come back?"
"Well," The middle Tendo sister said, "I pointed out to him that neither you nor Ryouga would have been doing what you were doing normally, especially with your view of 'boys' in general and Ryouga's nose-bleeds and fainting spells... though that last part didn't make a much of a difference." Nabiki winced as she didn't mean to say that, quite that way. So she almost missed it when Akane's head dropped. Almost, but seeing the look on her little sisters face, Nabiki put an arm around her comfortingly. "Sorry,
didn't mean it that way." She smiled slowly as Akane's head lifted a little before the middle Tendo began to describe her Talk with Ranma.
Nabiki had hit three of the four places that she knew Ranma would use to be alone. The high school's roof was the first, followed by the water tower, and the hidden spot at Nerima Park. Finally as she walked back towards home, she looked under the bridge near their home. She slowed her gait as she spotted a now female Ranma sitting in the bridges shadow crying into her arms which were wrapped around her legs. Quietly Nabiki made her way towards and sat next to the distraught martial artist.
She knew Ranma would be upset at what had happened, but she also knew that she could talk to him even now. Ever since she had graduated from high school they had come to a truce of sorts.
Nabiki had made enough money from all her schemes to pay for her collage and invested the rest of the money wisely. Which kept the Tendo home solvent and allowed Ranma and Akane the dream of college as well.
As she started college, she and Ranma had begun to simply talk. At first it was mainly about an interest that they had in common, advice on the Fiance Brigade. As much as she had enjoyed the profits over the mess that was Ranma's life, it was trying on ones patience. He actually gave her some lessons in basic defense given that she had to go to Downtown Tokyo, and Nabiki had to deal with the occasional pervert and hoodlum. She even smiled occasionally with him. Akane at first was wary of this but was assured by both they were only being good in-laws.
But now she was there as his friend as it was Akane who had both screwed up and been a victim. Nabiki had to calm Ranma down enough to point that out. So she waited quietly and sometime during that wait put an arm around Ranma. That helped to calm her down enough to stop crying but then Ranma started to berate herself on not being man-enough to do anything more than running away and crying her eyes out.
A slap literally broke his mood and stopped his self debasing comments. Ranma then looked at Nabiki and asked, "What ya do that for?" as he rubbed the hand print developing on his cheek.
"Because it got you out of your funk and because I need you to focus on what I'm going to say to you." She then grabbed the smaller red-head into an uncharacteristic hug and added, "And because I care for you you dumb jock." Ranma stiffened for a few moments before she melted into Nabiki eventually returning the hug.
"Thanks Biki-chan I needed dat." was all Ranma said a few minutes later.
"You're welcome Ranma-Kun. Now will you listen to me as we go over what we know of this so far without you going ballistic so we can analyze this like normal people." Ranma reluctantly nodded. "Ok let see Kasumi told me you came running into the house and right up the stairs. Why?"
"Mom & I heard Kodachi's loony laugh, and I knew something was wrong." Nabiki stopped him with a single finger.
"So, we know Kodachi's somehow involved. Do you agree?" Ranma nodded. "So what happened next?"
"Well... I ran up the stairs probably scaring Kasumi with my crazed look and pulled Akane's door open and..." Ranma's head hung low, so Nabiki hugged the redhead to herself, and waited until she could continue. Ranma nodded. I saw Akane... on top of Ryouga." She stopped then.
Nabiki then asked, "Ranma, remember that porn movie you told me that Hiroushi and Dai had you watch?" At his reluctant nod she continued. "Was Akane or Ryouga yelling in ecstasy? Like those people did in that movie? Think carefully Ranma, I know its difficult but you need to see what was really happening." She assured her.
After a couple of minutes a confused look came to Ranma's face. "Ya know Akane was cryin allot , and P-chan' was... well he looked like he was knocked out, like he had fainted like when he sees a girls well ya know."
"Exactly Ranma. You saw Akane crying as though she didn't WANT to be doing what she was doing, and as you said Ryouga was passed out so he didn't know either. I have the feeling that Kodachi has something to do with this. Tell you what, lets go back and check Akane's room and then we'll see what we can do to fix this. "She said to reassure Ranma but she knew the actions that happened made that even finding out the truth might not matter. But she had to get Ranma back, and seemed to have succeeded. With a reluctant nod, Ranma stood up and went with Nabiki back towards their home, picking up some hot water on the way so he'd be back to his male self. But when they returned they found the home deserted and then heard Soun in the Dojo.
"And the rest you know." Nabiki sighed, finishing her explanation while helping Akane pack.
"So, he doesn't believe I wanted to... you know with Ryouga?" Akane asked hopefully
"Well he knew it when he entered the Dojo, but I'll have to talk to him some more now, with what's already happened." Nabiki said while Akane nodded morosely.
"Well, we're done Akane, I will also talk with Ranma-kun and see what I can do to sooth him." Kasumi added.
"Thanks sis... both of you." She hugged them both. "Please... keep an eye on him for me as this news might make the others try to marry him." She said shakily.
"I was thinking about that sis, If Kodachi did this to you to eliminate you as a 'fiancee' I bet she's done this to the others as well." Nabiki said with conviction
"You know, She might at that. She's screwy enough to do it too!" Akane added, now seeing more clearly what had gone wrong today.
"Oh my, you might be right." She said then sighed, "As much as I agree that might have been what happened, daddy won't forget what's happened." At seeing her younger sister's droop their heads in sadness, Kasumi came up with a hasty plan. "I know, let me make some tea before... you embark on your life with Ryouga," even as she said it, her brilliant plan failed. Kasumi did care about Akane very much, but she also could not forget about how things had changed so fast and so permanently with Akane's future. "Akane, I will promise you that Nabiki and I will get the the bottom of this. I'm sure when Ranma recovers he'll find out who's responsible." Kasumi said to her departing little sister as Nabiki agreed.
She nodded her thanks. "I guess its time for me to go to my new ... home." Akane stated despondently.
Then all three sisters hugged each other one final time. Nabiki then said. "Don't worry Akane I'll find out what happened and you will be back here soon." Akane nodded and smiled a sad smile.
She know knew that even if they found out the truth the dye had already been cast in her life and now that of Ryouga. She was still furious at him for hiding his curse and at herself for what had happened. But at least it allowed her to have hope enough to be brought back into the only family she knew and loved.
So with that she followed her sisters downstairs where Ryouga was waiting outside the front gate.
Her father, Ranma's parents and a clearly upset Ranma were there to see her off.
Akane Hibiki then slowly walked up to each of them, Her father still had the stern look on his face reminding her of how he looked before her mother died, So she simply bowed and started to move to Genma when she was caught up in an immense hug from him. "Never forget that I still love you my daughter... but honor demands this." He whispered in her ear. "We will get to the bottom of this and I expect you back soon." He then let go of her and stood tall and rigid as before.
"I... Understand Tendo-san." Akane nodded once and smiled at him, both had a single tear trance down each of their cheeks.
She then stepped in front of Genma who was as normal having his gruff and staunch look and simply inclined his head, which Akane reciprocated. "Keep your practices up and learn from Ry... um your husband. Remember you are still apart of the 'Anything Goes' school."
"Hai Saotome-san, I will." She answered but then was caught up in another hug hug from a blubbering parent. She had thought it might have been her father not not the proper Japanese wife Nodoka Saotome. "Dear, you just keep Ryouga company and I'll come by to help when his mother's not there.
"Huh, Why when she's not there Auntie?" Akane questioned?
"Well I don't want to interfere when she is there and you do need to get to know her Akane-chan."
Akane nodded knowing Nodoka's right. She'll have to get to know her now.
"Thank you Auntie. I will but I will also think of you as my... second mother if you'll allow..."
She was cut off my another wet hug from the Saotome Matriarch which was an answer as well.
After the finished they left her with Ranma, while Ryouga stood at the open gate waiting and watching.
There was a minutes worth of silence as both teens stared at each other saying so much but not uttering a single word. Then they embraced tightly, hugging each other like there was no tomorrow. While outside Ryouga was squirming like a ... well... pig. Then they broke their minutes long embrace looking like newlyweds until the tears started to stream down Akane face.
Then they mouthed to each other the phrase Ryouga had wished he could have heard from Akane. "I... love... you." For a brief moment they kissed; their first real kiss, as well as their last. Smiling sadly at each other, Akane picked up her suit case before slowly turning around and walking out of the compound through the old creaky gate, grabbing Ryouga's hand along the way and started their walk to her new life.
She never turned back as tears continued to stream down her now sad face. Ryouga simply walked along not knowing what to do. He loved her, but she didn't love him. a slight green aura now surrounded him.
If Akane had turned around she would have seen Ranma barely standing up being supported by Nabiki and Kasumi silent tears running down his face while he stared at the retreating forms of hie former fiance' and love and his sometimes rival/ sometimes friend walking down the street hand-in-hand knowing it was not for their love but for circumstances beyond their control.
The three ended up on the living room. Ranma holding their hands as they both held him between them shoulder to shoulder. Both trying to calm the sad and distraught boy.
Both seemingly making up their minds to help Ranma through this as they both did witness his and Akane's good bye. The sisters saw the love that Ranma and Akane had finally shown each other yet knowing it would not continue. Kasumi & Nabiki were as sad for them and their lost love. So they determined to be there for Ranma and Akane. What they didn't know how far this would take them!
_______________________________________________
Kodachi had finally made it to her street when she made that one in a thousand mistake and slipped on a wet roof tile, and was launched into a random window of a home not far from her own. When she landed her final glass ball broke spreading the potent gaseous potion that had victimized so may before throughout the room, claiming the instigator of it all. As she shook her head trying to see who's room she had landed on a gulp was heard right behind her.
There staring right at her was one Hikaru Gosunkugi! (Thanks, Wharpt!)
"Oh SHIT!" was all Kodachi could say when his lips met hers and her long night of ecstasy with Nerima's number one Geek began! (Oh the Irony-!!)
Chapter 3: Repercussions
Kodachi's action affected more than Ranma, Ryouga and the Tendo sisters. Here we'll see more of what a whacked out Gymnasts actions had done, including her own misstep.