[Ranma] "Eternal Scarlet"
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: eternal_scarlet.txt,v 1.2 1997/03/18 14:45:12 hcobb Exp $

The Ranma 1/2 characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.  No infringement of her copyrights is intended.

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"Kei, can you stay a while after class?"

"Yes Sensei.  What is it?"

The other students left the Dojo, leaving behind the old master and the
young student.

The two walked into the house.

"Akane, could you bring us some drinks please?"  The master addressed a
girl in her late teens, wearing a married woman's kimono.

"Yes dear."

"Akane is your daughter?"

"No, my wife."

"You naughty old man.  When did this happen?"

"Let's see..."  The old master thought for a while.  "Our 40th
anniversary is in a few weeks."

"Impossible!  She can't be more than seventeen!"

"Why are you hanging around an old fogey, like me Dear?  Go find a man
your own age!"

"I'm fifty eight, the same as you Baka!"  Akane hugged the master.
"Though, I will be fifty nine soon..."

"That's right, we got married on your birthday, so I'd only have one
date to forget.  We'll have to do something special."

"Y - You're serious!  How did this happen?"

"An enemy of mine gave Akane a horrible curse.  She turned into a
K-K-K..."

Akane leaned over to whisper into Kei's ear. "A Cat."

"Thank you Akane.  Fortunately, we had a cure.  You see, there was this
spring that gave Akane's true form, so we dunked her in it.  The odd
thing is that it erased the months she'd aged since the spring was
formed and she hasn't aged a day since then.  That's not what happened
to me, I'm an old woman."

"You mean, an old man?"

"Well, most of the time.  But, that's not what I wanted to talk about to
you Kei.  I must pick the next master of the school.  You're the most
promising student I've seen in while.  You remind me of myself at your
age.  What do you think?"

"Why haven't you chosen one of your children?"

"We don't have any."

"Yes, it's my fault."  Akane bit at her lip.  "I'm stuck in time.  I
can't change enough to have kids."

"There dear, it's not your fault.  I don't care about that, as long as I
have you."  The master turned back to the student.  "What do you think
of the offer?"

"No thanks Sensei.  Martial arts is just a hobby for me.  I want to be a
doctor."

"I'm sorry to have wasted your time then."

"No, the pleasure was all mine."

After Kei left, Akane turned to her husband.  "You don't need to try to
fix me up like that."

"You'll need a partner in the Dojo, after I'm gone."

"Ranma no Baka!"  She hugged her husband tightly, glad for the moment,
afraid for the future.

	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb