Heres 8. 9 to come later tonight. See ya then.
Characters are Takahashi's.
Matthew Trotter, ...and out come the wolves.
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Escape From Nerima
--------------------------
Part eight: On Through The Night
--------------------------
She asked me if I
would stand by her side
Like glue that I would
till the end of the night
-Rancid
--------------------------
"Come on, Kuno baby, lets take that walk before those two love birds
get out of control."
The look that Ranma gave her could have frozen hydrogen in the sun,
Ryoga just looked even more miserable than before. Ranma's mother was
really pushing for those two to get together, and she couldn't help but
tease them.
Tatewaki held out his arm to her. Grinning at Ranma and Ryoga she
slipped her arm into his and headed for the door. As Tatewaki opened
the door, a blast of icy air rushed in, she shivered in spite of her coat.
"Nabiki, are you sure you would not rather delay this walk until
tomorrow afternoon? It will assuredly be warmer then."
"What's wrong, Kuno baby, don't you think you can keep me warm?"
As Tatewaki smiled at her like a Cheshire cat, all she could think to
say was, "Oh my."
--------------------------
The wind howled across the pond. OK, it didn't so much howl as blow
hard. You know that special middle of winter breeze that can gently drift
right up your...coat. You know that wind that makes...uh...I seem to
have gotten side tracked...sorry about that[1].
The wind blew across the pond in that special way that wind has when it
wants to tell you to go back inside and clean up your room like your mom
told you to. Shampoo pulled her jacket tighter and wished she could go
back to the shop and wait. Unfortunately, great grandmother had recently
decided that it was time to stop chasing Ranma and pulling stupid tricks
that would only backfire bringing Ranma and Akane even closer together.
She had told Shampoo to leave Ranma alone and wait for him to find out
what was wrong. When he did she was supposed to act a little more
rational and not force herself on him like some sex crazed nympho. Great
grandmother told her that Ranma was sure to see that she was a much
better person than he had believed. Shampoo was more that a little
irritated about the sex crazed nympho comment, she wasn't THAT
crazed...well not really, but her main argument with the theory was not
that it wouldn't work in a sane and rational universe. In fact, it might
even work here, but it would probably take a long time, and she had a
sneaking suspicion that the author was one of those people who wanted
Akane and Ranma to end up together[2].
--------
[1] Operating System not found, please place a valid brain in skull A:
and then bang on the keyboard until the author reboots.
[2] She was right, but it was even worse than she had ever imagined. The
author was also one of those people who didn't like Shampoo as a
character, and thought that her return from China after her first defeat
had been a really big mistake. Not that this long non-sequitur had
much bearing on the story, but it did serve to tip off most readers to
the conclusion of the fifth scene.
--------------------------
Akane decided Ranma looked miserable enough. It was time for her to
rescue Ranma from her mother. It really was too bad that Ranma was a
guy[1] she and Ryoga did make an interesting couple...Akane smiled and
stood up.
"Hey, Ranko, lets go outside and talk...woman to woman."
"I ain't .. ...uh..."
"Unless you and Ryoga want some more time together..."
"I...we....urk!"
Ryoga picked up Ranma and set her on the opposite side of the couch,
"Go on Ranko, I'll survive without you. I was thinking about turning in
early today anyway...."
It was cold, but it wasn't the icy cold you get with a good wind, it
was just that keeping-the-snow-around kind of cold. They walked in
silence, Ranma looked like she was having some kind of internal word war
with herself...she was probably losing, words never were Ranma's strong
suit. Akane wondered if Ranma was thinking about what to say to
her...she was kind of hoping for "Akane I love you lets get married and
stay together forever." Akane swallowed the lump in her throat and tried
to put that out of mind. Ranma always said the wrong thing at times like
these. She was bound to come out with something like...
"Akane?"
Akane closed her eyes and prepared for the worst, "Yes, Ranma?"
"Did...when you...I mean..."
OK, this was a change of pace, so far Ranma had managed not to...
"Doyouloveme?"
The words came out all jumbled together, like Ranma had been spitting
out hot coals, but she heard each and every one of them. They were like
thunderbolts crashing inside her skull. When had she ever told her she
loved her?! Why did she think that she was so wonderful that all women
should love her?!?!!! Why was her heart beating like a kettle drum? She
needed to be mad at Ranma, she...why did Ranma look so helpless and
scared? That wasn't making this easy. How could she get mad about Ranma
if she looked . ..like. . ...she ... .meant...it? The world started to
narrow down. Akane knew the rest of the world was there, she could hear
the wind creaking in the branches of the tree across the frozen pond, but
it was all in the background. Everything was in the background except
Ranma. Akane could see every detail of Ranma's body...the loose strand of
hair that was hanging in her eyes, the broken thread on the third button
on her blouse, the curve of her jaw line...Ranma was beautiful. Akane had
never realized it before, but standing here staring at her, the jealousy
was melting away...Ranma wasn't her competition...she was her...husband?...
Akane wondered if it was healthy to feel like this about another woman,
even if she was really a man. She had never felt like this before...well
except with Kodachi....
--------
[1] I can't believe you're thinking that! This isn't that kind of a story.
--------------------------
For the sheer convenience to the plot, the ski lift had still been
working. It seemed odd to him, but he guessed the author was banking on
not too many people noticing. Tatewaki Kuno did not care why, he was
glad that the lift was operating. Last year he had found what he
believed to be one of the most beautiful spots on the mountain, and it was
there that he planned to take Nabiki Tendo. Perhaps she would enjoy the
view, perhaps she would just enjoy his company, he hoped she would enjoy
both.
The cliff overlooked the valley that held the lodge. The view was
more than just picturesque, it was the distant tranquil view found only
in movies with good set design and stories. They stood there arm in arm
with a full moon looming giant behind them. They must have looked like
gods to the people walking by the lake. The analogy suited his mood, he
felt like the king of the world, standing holding Nabiki's arm.
He looked into her eyes, they were full of stars and reflections. She was
looking out at the landscape in wonder. He could read her expression,
she found this place as mystic and wonderful as he, yet it could never
hold the same beauty for him again...now there was one thing, one person
who overshadowed even this great beauty...
Tatewaki reached out and turned her chin toward him. She looked into
his eyes and smiled. He could feel the air on his skin, he could hear
her heart beat (or was that his?), there was only one thing in the world
he wanted...he pulled her toward him and she leaned into his embrace...
--------------------------
I'm not going to throw myself at Ranma, she'll just use it against me
later. Akane could feel her heart beating like a drum, god Ranma was
beautiful . . . out under the stars she...Akane turned away, this was
going to get to serious to quickly.
"I... I'm sorry Akane.. . .its..I . ..just....Akane I love you."
She finally said it...there was no way it could be forced, Ranma had
actually said it and meant it. Akane looked up at the sky, it was...?
There was a couple standing on the mountain, they were silhouetted against
the rising moon. As she watched they embraced, their kiss seemed to go
on forever...it was so beautiful. She turned away, Ranma was waiting.
Ranma was still looking at the couple on the mountain, Akane stepped
forward putting herself inches from Ranma...Ranma's eyes widened as her
attention was drawn back to Akane.
"Ranma, I . ..we've been engaged before....but I never meant it," the
pained look on Ranma's face almost stopped her, but she had to say it, "I
always thought you would choose someone else. I...Iwasafraid. . ...I
never wanted to fall in love. .. ...until I met you..." the words were
getting stuck in her throat. She could barely breath her throat was so
tight...she...Akane realized that she was crying, just as Ranma reached
out and took her into her arms.
"Akane..."
Akane leaned forward and kissed Ranma full on the mouth, there were no
more words to say...and that was all right...
Now the wind was really howling, but it wasn't howling outside, it was
howling in her heart. It felt like there was a frozen wasteland growing
inside her....Akane always got mad at girl-type Ranma. She couldn't be
there by the shore kissing her. They couldn't be telling each other they
were in love. They couldn't be doing this. but they were. They
were and she was frozen in a tree wondering if Ranma had ever cared for
her at all. They broke the kiss and talked for a moment...she couldn't
hear the words, her rage was screaming in her ears like the emptiness
howling in her heart. The only thing left was death, theirs or hers, it
didn't really matter now...she would welcome the chance to escape the pain
she was feeling. As they turned away from the pond, she launched herself
out of the tree. She would land in the middle of the pond and rush over,
the plan was to hit Akane first, she ought to be able to kill her without
much....as she reached the top of her arc she noticed how oddly
discolored the ice in the center of the pond was. She knew what that
meant...new ice. Even the author was betraying her damn it.
<CRACK, SPLOOSH!>