Ranmachat.com

Warning cliffy ahead and implied lemons; merely implied, still PG 13.

Hope everyone’s enjoying the story and I wish to say thank you for all the kind reviews that you have been bestowing upon me. Considering I start these with no idea in mind for the ending, it’s very generous of you. Hence why sometimes at the end I’m scratching my head and saying “how the heck did that come about?”

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Kuno and Ukyou

Ukyou napped a bit after Kuno left and woke up feeling one hundred percent better. She got out of bed and took a bath, she could feel the body pains associated with sickness melting away in the hot water and groaned happily. Then got up and washed the sheets from both their beds. She brushed out her hair while she watched them spin round and round. She made up their beds and then went into the kitchen and pulled out the food that Kuno’s kindly chef had been bringing over so that his charge wouldn’t starve and went to heat it up for Kuno’s return. She heard the door open and footsteps on stairs and realized how much she welcomed the sound. It made her realize how much she missed the foibles and habits of someone living with her; her father’s death had left a large void in her life that she’d assumed that marriage to Ranma would fill.

“I’m in here Sugar, soups on” she cried in a friendly tone of voice. Despite their rough start, she’d come to care deeply about the kindly kendoist with a heart of gold. She gasped when he walked in, his kendo uniform was torn, his exposed chest bruised and he had a black eye. Taking in his haunted expression, she quickly led to him a chair. “Kuno what happened?” she asked him.

“Did you know that Ranma could turn into a girl?” he asked in a dead sounding tone of voice.

“Yes, everyone knows that” she replied as she gingerly moved his torn shirt aside to search for injuries.

He finally met her eyes, she flinched at the naked pain there “I didn’t, I had to have a fellow kendoist mock me to find out. Then I brawled with him like a common school boy; after I fainted like a girl” he explained.

She put her arms around him “hey Ranma makes a cute girl, its no big deal” she soothed.

“No big deal?” he said with a humorless laugh “Here I thought I was the big man on campus, but instead I’m a laughable fool in pursuit of a guy. I’m an idiot, now I finally understand all the subtle jokes made at my expense” he said miserably. “Does this make me gay?” he speculated.

“Of course not Sugar, you like females too much for that” Ukyou assured him. She felt so sorry for him; his self-image had been shattered. “Besides, even Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen, Blue Thunder of the Kendo club of Furinkan High School is allowed to make mistakes once in a while” she said in fine imitation of him to cheer him up.

It failed, he swiveled his head towards her and sorrowfully said “I really do sound like that don’t I? Akane doesn’t like me?” he stated.

“No she doesn’t, you set an entire school of perverts on her. I’m not saying that she won’t forgive you, but for now she regards you as an enemy and sometimes ally when it comes to martial arts” Ukyou told him honestly.

“So I talk strangely, and try and force myself on females who don’t desire my attention? One of whom is a male in real life. Have I just about summed it up what a misguided lothario I am?” he asked.

“You’re not, there’s nothing wrong with you other than you like pretty girls and don’t really know how to go about trying to date them. Your methods are a little extreme, but you have the best of intentions” she said cuddling his closer.

“Tell that to Akane Tendo” he said in an ironic voice, he’d been given a rude awakening and was in shock. “This entire time I’ve been mocking Kodachi for her ways of trying to trap Ranma, when I’m far worse”

“Look Sugar you just need a hot bath, to get into some clean clothes and then you’ll feel much better” she said forced cheerfulness. “I’ll even run the bath for you” she volunteered.

Kuno turned his anguished eyes her way and said “I guess so, if you don’t mind.” While he took a bath, Ukyou looked over his kendo uniform to see if there was someway to repair it.

“Just throw it out, I won’t be wearing them anymore” he told her upon his return.

She noticed that he was wearing a red sweatshirt that read Furinkan High School and a pair of black sleep pants “What you do mean?” she said in surprise.

“I’m wearing normal clothes from now on and resigning as President of the Kendo club, my fellow kendoist don’t deserve the reputation of having a lunatic for President” he replied with his face tight and unreadable.

“But you love kendo!” protested Ukyou.

“Obscurity is better suited to the mad” he replied. “If I’m lucky from hereon in, I can end my high school career being completely forgotten” he explained.

“You shouldn’t give up because of some silly misunderstanding. You’re a great martial artist and a decent guy” she chided.

“You don’t have to pretend to like me, tomorrow’s the second last day that you’ll have to spend as my fake wife and then you won’t have to see me anymore. You can resume your real life in pursuit of my ex-love” he said sourly.

Ukyou leaned forward and kissed him. His eyes went wide with shock then kissed her back. “If this is going one of our last few nights spent together as husband and wife, then let’s be that for real tonight” she suggested.

His eyes went as wide as marbles and he said “you can possibly mean THAT? I thought you were saving yourself for marriage?”

She looked into his blushing face and admitted the truth “after my father died, I went a bit mad. I attended an all boy’s school and tried rid myself of anything feminine about me. Well, that’s the most feminine thing a girl can have. It only happened once; I requested a male friend to help me and he did. I wasn’t thinking about becoming anyone’s wife at the time” she said smiling somewhat bitterly. “I’ve never been with someone I care about and I care about you. Besides, you said that family takes care of family and for now at least, you’re my family. Now will you be my husband in truth for tonight at least?” she asked and held out her hand. He hesitated and then took it and allowed her to take him into her bedroom and into her bed. That night Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen, Blue Thunder of the Kendo club of Furinkan High School became a man.

Ryoga and Kodachi

Kodachi smiled while she watching Ryoga, her boyfriend, play football with his younger brother. He looked happy and relaxed to be back home with his family, not a trace of his normally morose self appeared to be present. Shinji was an adorable smaller version of Ryoga, with the same medium set body and was very strong for his age. That’s where the similarity ended, personality wise he very outgoing and a naturally flirty child. He’d already proposed to Kodachi ten times within a two day period. Her friends would laugh if they saw the normally trendy Kodachi wearing an old pair of black pants the Ryoga had outgrown, with dirt under her nails from helping his mother in her garden.

Their entire house could fit into Kodachi’s formal dining room, yet she felt envious of his loving closely knit family, they reminded her of happier times spent with her own. It reminded her of the way hers would never be again. She sometimes regretted that her brother and herself had drifted apart, but they had little in common other then their strong need to conquer those they loved.

“Catch it” yelled Shinji, startling her out of her contemplation. With forward flip, she caught the ball in mid-air. “That’s awesome! Can you teach me how to do that?” he cried.

Ryoga put his hand on his shoulder “Shinji, we’re leaving tomorrow. We have to go back to make a report to someone important to Kodachi” he said gently.

“You’ll be back right!” Shinji demanded.

“It depends on whether Ryoga invites me back or not” she responded.

“You’d better!” he declared and then when inside.

“It’s almost over isn’t it?” Ryoga asked.

“You mean the fake marriage challenge that Ranma set out for us?” Kodachi asked.

“I mean us. You’re going to return to chasing Ranma around and forget all about me” Ryoga stated.

“I don’t know. I won’t know until I see Ranma again. It’s hard to focus on him when you’ve been my entire world for weeks. I love him and I think I......” she looked at him in confusion when he covered her mouth.

“Please don’t say it if you aren’t sure you mean it” he requested.

“I like you a lot” she said honestly. “As for anything else, it’s too soon for that”

“I’m fine with that” he said with a smile and drew her onto his lap “come watch the sunset with me, wife?” he requested.

“Of course” she said, settling into his arms and they watched one of the most beautiful sights in the world together. Each sunset bringing them closer to the time they must be divided.

Shampoo and Mousse

Mousse had closed the Nekohanten and went outside for a breath of fresh air. “What Airen doing?” he heard someone say and smiled at Shampoo.

“I’m just enjoying my last few days of being your Airen and wondering if Ranma deserves a medal for suggesting this idea” he said in an ironic tone of voice. “I never thought that I would be thank Ranma for anything”

“You enjoy being with Shampoo?” she asked

He laughed “my only dream in life is marrying you” he pointed out.

“Yes, but that only is fantasy of little boy. How you like reality?” she asked.

“Well, your grasp of Japanese is horrible and you have quite the temper” he teased her.

She pretended to swat him without even half of the force she had in the past “Well, you look like geek with thick glasses” she replied, “I prefer your pretty eyes” she said taking off his glasses and kissing him. He kissed her softly back. “So Shampoo not perfect like used to think?” she asked.

“Hell no, you may be able to cook, but you give Akane run for her money when it comes to temper” he said affectionately.

She sagged at her rival’s name “You know that Shampoo must marry Ranma? No getting around law” she said, more annoyed by this idea then she thought she would ever be.

“I know, you don’t think I can beat you or him. I just wanted to thank you for allowing me this time, I’ll pack my bags and go home if you want” he offered.

“No leave Airen, will you take walk with Shampoo?” she asked.

“As long as you want me to” he replied.

Akane and Ranma

It was Akane’s seventeenth birthday and Ranma was taking her on a date.

“About time you man up Ranma my boy” chided Genma.

He was surprised when his tuxedo clad son grabbed the collar of his gi “you will not attempt to interfere with this date in anyway got it!” Ranma snarled. “Now send in Nabiki” he ordered him.

“You wanted to see me Ranma?” she asked.

“Yes, I am going to warn you that should you try to disclose the location of our date to our other suitor, you’ll not find them very receptive. They’ve been assigned to other tasks and that does include your best customer, Kuno Baby” he threatened.

She looked offended “do you actually think so little of me?” she asked. He answered her with a glare. “Okay but you can’t blame a girl for wanting to make so cash. Besides, Kuno’s acting a little strange. I tried to sell him a picture of girl-type you in a bikini and what he told me to do with it isn’t worth repeating” she said with a frown.

“Whatever, this day’s about Akane, not about your pocketbook” he snapped.

“Okay, I promise” she said.

Ranma adjusted his tie and reached into his pocket to make sure that the ring was there. It was his mother’s engagement ring; she’d insisted that he take it when he told her of his plans. He’d buy Akane her own one later on, so this ring was strictly symbolic. It was still pretty and pleasing; it was small princess cut diamond in a rose gold setting. He hoped that she would like it and understand that he’d made his choice. No more playing the fiancées off each other, no more taking up every challenge, no more treating her like a trophy to be won or insulting her. She was his choice and tonight he would prove that to her. The only game he was playing tonight was to win her heart.

He’d originally planned to take her to a mountain top with a picnic lunch and propose there, as it would have been all that he could afford to do.

However, an anonymous person had sent him a hotel package that included his tux rental, two rooms for the night and dinner at the nicest place in town. Ranma had thanked everyone that he could think of (outside of the suitors) and accepted his benefactor’s kind generosity.

He brushed an invisible hair off his jacket and went to meet Akane, his jaw dropped to find her wearing a demure, yet sexy black dress. It was plain and her only adornments were the blue highlights in her hair and her soft brown eyes. “You look beautiful Red” he whispered.

“You look great too Ray” she said, Ranma smiled and carried their overnight bags to the waiting taxi. Akane gasped when they pulled up to the fanciest hotel in town. “Ranma how can you afford all this?” she asked in wonderment.

“I got a little help from a friend” he replied and took her arm to lead her inside. Akane turned red when they were shown to one luxuriously appointed room and then was relieved when they were shown to the one that Ranma would be sleeping in.

“You had me going there for a second” she said with a nervous laugh.

“I know you better then that; you’re waiting for your wedding night” Ranma said shrewdly, causing Akane to blush. “So am I” he whispered, causing her to blush even deeper.

They were escorted into a private room that featured lots of plants a small fountain situated close to their table. Everything was done in tones of burgundy with cream coloured walls with recessed lighting. Soft music played on hidden speakers, the over all ambience was rich and elegant, but not stuffy. Akane allowed the waiter to push in her chair.

“Seriously did you win the lottery or something?” she whispered.

“Relax, I can afford this” he assured her.

“If you say so?” she said in amusement. “I certainly hope you’re not planning dine and dash because I’m wearing high heels”

“Of course not” he assured her.

Ranma was so nervous about the fact that he was going go ask Akane to marry him that he barely noticed the well presented food that he’d eaten. Not even when Akane kept pressing him to sample each one of her dishes. He mainly remembered the soft look in her eyes when he held out his own fork to be sampled, how her tiny, sharp teeth would nip each morsel from it and how she would close her eyes and say “ummmm” after each bite.

Finally with a signal to the waiter, he faced the biggest challenge of his life. Swallowing nervously, he waited until the violinist was led in and started playing one of her favourite songs “Unchained Melody” Akane gasped in surprise when Ranma got down on one knee and held the ring up to her.

“Akane Tendo, you’ve accused me of not caring for you and hating being forced into a marriage with you. That’s not true, I love you. On the day of your seventeenth birthday as you head towards womanhood, I want you to know that I want to be with you now, forever and always. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

Akane’s eyes filled with tears and she sniffled a bit, but didn’t say anything.

“Akane, will you?” Ranma prompted gently.

Suddenly she started to laugh and said “no,” but not in a voice of rejection, but of gentle amusement.