Love Letters from the Edge

A Ranma 1/2 Elseworlds by the Scriviner

Foreword:

What actually set off this story was an episode of Kinyo Chui Ho Wapiko-chan, I saw a couple of months back, where one of the characters hit her head and had a long elaborate dream sequence where everyone was acting the opposite of how they normally acted. I figured it was a great idea for a fic... but then I figured, it'd be more intriguing to see if I could make a single change which would result in a cascade of events which would lead to the resulting opposite personalities/behavior in people.

This is already part 9, and the final part, Part 10 is in the works. I'd also like to thank everyone who's sent in c&c so far, you folks have been a big help and an encouragement.

In any case, rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi, and I wouldn't dream of trying to steal em. C&C (ebon@i-manila.com.ph yes, my old account is back)always welcomed. And now... on with the story...

Chapter 9: Memories of family...

For what must've been the quietest and perhaps most pleasant week since the return of Ranma and Akane, the Nerima district settled down into quiet routine. Akane and Nabiki had more or less established an undeclared truce and neither had so much as sniped at the either in all that time. Accordingly, Kasumi didn't need quite so many lie downs. Ranma and Kodachi were spending a lot of their time together. Ryouko who was now staying with the Kuno's also spent a lot of time sleeping over at the Tendos. Well, at least as far as everyone else was concerned. Of course Ranma knew better, after all Akane kicked him out of her room every so often when Ryouko dropped by and he'd started getting suspicious when she'd sneak hot water bottles into her room. He wasn't too happy about having to sleep alone, but then again, he was getting used to it. He did promise Kodachi after all. Nabiki and Tatewaki seemed to be getting along better. She didn't lose her temper at him more often than once every few days now, and both Soun and Kochou both felt very hopeful about the future of their engagement.

Ryouga... or as everyone in the neighborhood had come to know him (or rather her)... Ryouko, had disappeared again. Lost, obviously. Akane wasn't too worried. She'd bought him a global positioning doohickey and a cell phone with international coverage, so even though he wasn't there per se, she could still reach him. She'd actually even used some of her own money to buy the items, but then again, she'd managed to talk the rather surprised dealer into letting her have the phone connection free for the first couple of weeks.

It was after this week that Nodoka Kuno had dropped in on the dojo unexpectedly. It was largely unexpected but Soun seemed to be ready for her and had actually gone to the extent of putting on his best gi as he greeted her at the door.

"Hello, Nodoka-san," Soun said gravely.

She bowed formally, "Hello, Tendo-san... are you ready?"

"Yes. It seems that the year has gone by so quickly..." he mused.

Nodoka nodded... then noticed Ranma and Akane peeking at them from around the corner. There was a bit of wry amusement in her eye, despite her formality. "I believe, we have some eavesdroppers, Soun."

Soun turned, and Akane ducked back quickly. Ranma less alert to his father's movements was caught like a deer in the headlights. He tsked quietly at Ranma and said, "Well, son... If you're so curious why don't you come with us? I think it's past time you got a chance to meet your namesake..."

Ranma blinked as he emerged fully from around the corner, Akane having taken the time to duck around to the kitchen, "Erhm... what do you mean dad?"

Nodoka nodded and gave him a gentle smile, "Yes, I think you should come along as well..."

Before Ranma could muster up any sort of excuse or a request for an explanation, he was already ushered into the limo. Akane watched them leave through the kitchen window, still curious.

"Kasumi," Akane asked, "What was that all about?"

Kasumi looked up from her cooking and glanced at the calendar, "Oh my, is it that day already?"

"What day?"

"Today is the death anniversary of one of father's friends. He and Aunty Nodoka always visit the grave today."

"Oh," Akane said.

- - -

The limo pulled into the gate of the graveyard and Nodoka and Soun disembarked in grave silence. Kodachi apparently had also come with them, and she and Ranma had stepped out of the limo, following their parents respecfully. Kodachi wore a formal, conservative black dress and held Ranma's hand as they wove their way through the graveyard's path. It was a short walk until the four of them reached a pair of graves. Ranma was burning with curiosity, but the attitude of his father and Aunty Nodoka made him defer his questioning for much later.

Ranma noticed a young woman tending to one of the graves as they approached. She was beautiful in a certain understated fashion, but there was a deep sadness to her brown eyes. She had long brown hair, tied off in a long ponytail and she was dressed in a formal kimono.

She noticed Nodoka and Soun arriving and smiled briefly, standing up from her washing of the grave marker.

"It's good to see you again, Kuno-san, Tendo-san..." the girl said bowing formally to her then to Soun. Soun gave a nod and a small approving smile.

Nodoka returned her smile briefly, and said, "It is good to see you again too, Ukyou-chan. I'm sorry we're late."

"Its alright... I was just finishing with the cleaning..." she noticed Kodachi standing off to the side and favored her with a slight smile as well, "Kodachi... I didn't expect to see you here."

"Mother invited me," Kodachi replied, smiling back.

The girl, Ukyou gave Ranma an odd look... there was something about him she couldn't quite place, but he looked very familiar.

Nodoka placed the two bundles of flowers she'd brought with her at each of the graves, as Soun quietly busied himself with lighting the incense.

Kodachi and Ranma stood respectfully to one side. Neither of them had much of an idea as to what was going on, but there was a palpable feeling of being asked to share something which had heretofore been a very private affair. Before long, Nodoka knelt before the slightly larger grave marker and the girl knelt before the smaller one, both deep in prayer.

Soun stood next to Kodachi and Ranma, his head bowed in silence. The young couple looked at each other, then their companions, and after a moment, bowed their head quietly as well.

Before long, Nodoka and Ukyou both stood up. Nodoka caressed the grave marker one last time, a tear trickling down her cheek as she did and said, "I will see you next year, my darlings," before she turned and walked away.

Soun nodded, also wiping away at his own tears, "We'd best be going home."

Nodoka nodded and turned to Ukyou, "Would you like a ride to the house?"

"No, ma'am. If you don't mind," Ukyou replied, "I'd like to stay here for a little while. I'll follow."

"Oh, alright then," Nodoka nodded.

"Um... mother, Mr. Tendo?" Kodachi asked.

"Yes?" the two asked simultaneously.

"Would it be alright if Ranma and I stayed a little while? I can walk back to the house with Ukyou, if she doesn't mind..." Kodachi said. Ukyou stared a little at the boy again, as Ranma's name was mentioned. Her face seemed pained."

Nodoka nodded, "Alright. But don't be too late coming home. Your father will worry."

Kodachi gave her a small smile, "I've got Ranma with me, it'll be okay."

Soun nodded, "Make sure you take good care of her, son."

"Sure thing, dad," Ranma replied as Nodoka and Soun walked back to the car.

Kodachi smiled a little at Ukyou, "You'll be staying with us this weekend, Ukyou?"

Ukyou gave a small nod, "Yes. Just like every year," she glanced at Ranma again who looked back at her. Ranma also felt a little strange. There was something odd about this girl which made him feel... he wasn't certain. She was certainly attractive, but it was more than that. There was something comfortingly familiar about her.

"Um..." Ukyou glanced at the smaller grave, then at Kodachi again, "I don't believe I got an introduction..." as she looked at Ranma.

Kodachi for her part did not see to much amiss, but she couldn't help but notice the looks the two were exchanging... she felt another brief stab of jealousy as she often did when other women would look at him but this seemed worse, because Ranma seemed to be looking at her the same way...

"Oh, Ukyou Kuonji, this is Ranma Tendo," Kodachi said, gesturing to the two of them, she entwined her arm with Ranma's, "My boyfriend."

"Oh," Ukyou said, looking faintly puzzled, and perhaps a little jealous at the two. Then the name hit her, "Ranma... Tendo..? I didn't know Mr. Tendo had a son."

"Well, I've kind of been away for a while," he looked at the graves, they were for a Genma Saotome... and the smaller one was for a Ranma Saotome. He gulped nervously, "So... this is the guy dad named me after, huh, Ko-chan?"

Kodachi nodded, "I guess..."

Ukyou looked both puzzled once more, and slightly relieved, "Named after?"

Kodachi smiled a little at Ukyou, "He was adopted by the Tendo's, I guess after the Saotome's died... Mr. Tendo named him after his best friend's son, because he didn't know what his own name was..."

"Oh. I see," Ukyou nodded.

"Um..." Ranma ventured, "Were you related to them?"

Ukyou seemed to sag a bit, "You could say that... I... Ranma and I... I mean, Saotome... we were best friends when we were little. I was engaged to him."

"When you were six?" Ranma sputtered a little.

"Well, it was an arranged marriage of sorts, but both of us wanted it." Ukyou added sadly.

"I see..." Kodachi nodded.

"Um... I still don't see though, why Aunty Nodoka came along..." Ranma asked.

"Oh, didn't you know?" Ukyou said, "Genma Saotome was Mrs. Kuno's first husband."

"I know she was Kodachi's stepmom, but I didn't know she'd been married before..." Ranma blinked.

"I only found out about it recently, myself," Kodachi nodded.

Ukyou nodded and smiled a little, "Just let me say a last prayer for Ran-chan... and I'll join you."

Kodachi and Ranma both nodded as Ukyou turned back to the grave and began to pray silently once more. Ranma felt mildly disturbed that the dead boy had also been called Ran-chan by this girl... there was something the kept nagging at him, which he couldn't quite put to rest. Some feeling of nameless, uncertain conviction that he'd met this girl before...

Ukyou managed to control her breathing. Her chest felt tight and she didn't know what was wrong with her... there was something about the boy Kodachi was with... something so incredibly... irresistible? Was that the right word? She didn't know what it was but his face kept flashing through her head... especially those eyes... but she'd made a promise at Ranma's grave when she'd first began to visit it, years ago... she would have no one but him... she'd resolved never to love anyone else... ever. But here was another boy... named Ranma too... and there was something about him... she felt torn and more than a little disgusted at how she was betraying her Ran-chan like this... and to make matters worse, the boy already had a girlfriend... and it was Kodachi too, one of the few friends she had... she chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip as she tried to sort her thoughts out and calm herself...

- - -

Ranma nodded and smiled at Ukyou, "So your family does okonomiyaki?"

Ukyou nodded, "Yes. I'll be inheriting the family business someday... but I usually help out at the family restaurant after classes. Actually, that's how I met the Saotomes."

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.

"Well, every day, Ranma would challenge me, we'd fight and if he beat me, he got to have his okonomiyaki for free," Ukyou smiled wistfully.

"So the Saotome's did martial arts?" Ranma asked.

Ukyou nodded, "Yes."

Kodachi finally came back, "Okay, I called home and told mother not to hold dinner for us," she gave a little chuckle and added, "And it would seem that my bother has invited Nabiki to dinner."

The three of them were in a small local restaurant. It wasn't anything particularly fancy, but the food was good and the service wasn't bad. They'd spent the past hour or so becoming better acquainted. Ukyou and Kodachi had known each other for years, but they usually met only once a year or so, whenever Ukyou would stay the night at the Kuno household, after her yearly visit to Ranma's grave. Even then, more often than not, their conversation was never anything particularly personal and they hadn't known each very well before this day.

Ukyou and Ranma nodded to Kodachi at the same time. There was something going on and Kodachi couldn't quite put her finger on it. Ukyou and Ranma had simply started talking as if they'd known each other for years. They shared a lot of common interests and to Kodachi's surprise, she found herself being drawn into the conversation too. Yet Ukyou seemed a little uncomfortable around him, and would often flinch when Kodachi called him Ran-chan.

Ukyou smiled easily at Ranma, "So... I hope you guys don't mind my asking, but have you guys known each other long?"

Ranma smiled back then at Kodachi, who's lips had been pursed slightly, "Well, we were playmates back when we were a lot younger... we only got serious recently," he noticed Kodachi's look and his own face seemed mildly concerned, "Something bothering you, Ko-chan?"

"Hmmm? Oh, nothing. Just lost in my thoughts I guess," Kodachi replied.

Ukyou sighed, looking at the two of them, "You know, you two are really lucky. I hope you remember that."

Kodachi and Ranma both shot Ukyou a puzzled expression.

"I mean... not everyone gets a chance at love... and you two are obviously very happy," Ranma and Kodachi both blushed slightly, but exchanged glances.

Ukyou turned silent and looked at the table uncomfortably, "A chance at love..." she murmured softly.

Ranma reached a hand out to Ukyou, "Hey... there, there... come on..." he gave Kodachi an awkward glance his eyes begging for help.

"There's always second chances, Ukyou," Kodachi said gently, "I mean look at my dad and my stepmom... they were both pretty sure they'd never love anyone else after their first marriages ended... but look at them now. They're very happy together."

Ukyou glanced up at her two new friends, a small brave smile on her lips, tears staining her cheeks, "Yeah, I guess... but I've sworn on Ranma's grave, I'd never forget him... ever," her voice was intense, "I've raised myself to become the best bride he could ever hope for... I wanted to be as perfect for him as possible... to honor his memory."

Kodachi looked sympathetically at Ukyou, she felt she had to say something to the girl... about not living her life in the past, about not trying to confuse the wishes of the six year old boy she loved, and the man he could've been. There was a lot Kodachi wanted to tell Ukyou, but it would've been very rude to say such a thing. Especially to someone you practically just met. Kodachi had no idea Ukyou still held a torch for her long lost fiancé... her stepmother's son... Kodachi wished she could say more, but there really wasn't anything to be said.

Ranma looked worriedly at Ukyou... he didn't understand why he was feeling this way, but something about her was calling to him. He tried to fight the feelings back by glancing at Kodachi, but while that seemed to help a little, but another glance at Ukyou just seemed to overwhelm it...

Ukyou took a deep breath, calming down slightly. She dabbed at her tears with a napkin sniffling slightly, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do that... it... it just happens to me sometimes. I just start thinking about it... and I remember and the next thing I know, I'm crying again..."

Ranma smiled weakly at her, doing his best not to look, but at the same time unable to resist, "It's okay..."

Kodachi caught his tone of voice and glanced at him... her brow creased in a slight frown. She didn't understand why he was acting like this towards Ukyou. And she couldn't help getting a little jealous at how Ranma was looking at the other girl. But then again she couldn't really fault Ukyou either, who by the looks of things wasn't at all interested in any man but her dead fiancé... or was she? Kodachi sighed. She had to give her boyfriend the benefit of the doubt... that's part of what the relationship was about right? Although if he did try anything he was dead meat. Sweetness and light were all very good, but she was a handy woman with a pair of gardening shears.

"Would you like to see a photo of him?" Ukyou asked.

Ranma nodded immediately. He was rather curious about his namesake.

Ukyou reached into the sleeve of her kimono and pulled out a wallet. She opened it to the only picture which was there and passed it over to Ranma and Kodachi to let them have a look.

It showed two children, about six years old standing in front of an okonomiyaki cart. One was dressed in a blue short coat and tights whose hair was in a long ponytail, while the other was in an old gi and had his hair tied off into a short pigtail. They were holding hands and waving happily to the camera. At first glance, it seemed to be two boys, but a closer look at the child who was in the tights showed features which would eventually blossom into Ukyou's, but the boy... the boy... Kodachi reeled back slightly in shock as he studied the photo. It was surprisingly clear for its obvious age. By the way it looked, it seemed as though Ukyou had kept this picture near her all the time.

"That's the only photo I have of both of us," Ukyou said, smiling slightly. She pointed at the child in tights, "That's me... and that's Ranma... my Ranma."

Kodachi was struck dumb...

Ranma looked at her, "Ko-chan..? What's the matter?"

That smiling face in the photo... she'd seen it before.

Without another word, Kodachi reached a hand into her purse and pulled out her own wallet. Unlike Ukyou's, hers had quite a number of photos. Friends and family. She flipped through the photos until she found one in particular which had been taken nine years ago... she took a nervous gulp and showed it to them. It was impossible. It was incredible. She couldn't believe it and couldn't bring herself to say it.

The photo showed the Kuno family garden, and a smiling seven year old Kodachi in a pretty black dress. But next to her and holding her hand, dressed in a child's version of formal clothes was an uncomfortable looking boy who was tugging at his collar impatiently. The face of the boy was almost exactly like the boy in Ukyou's photograph. Right down to the pigtail.

"Wha... that looks like..?" Ukyou started to speak.

"This is a photo of me and Ranma... this Ranma..." she added laying a hand on Ranma's shoulder, "When the Tendo's first adopted him..." Kodachi said in a flat tone.

Ranma blinked, "But... my picture looks exactly like the other kid's picture! That's impossible! I mean the other Ranma died right?!"

Ukyou stared at Ranma, her voice dead, "Mr. Saotome and Ranma Saotome were sideswiped by a car when we were on a seaside road... Mr. Saotome got hit and died instantly... Ranma Saotome fell off the side... into the sea. All we ever found was his tattered gi..." her voice beginning to grow louder and faster as she kept talking, "But we never found his body... that grave we visited earlier is empty... what if... he survived..."

Kodachi continued, "... and maybe got hit on the head, so he didn't remember anything about himself, but still knew martial arts, and wandered around Japan until eventually he found his way to Tokyo... then to Nerima... then to the Tendo Dojo..."

"That's crazy!" Ranma sputtered.

"No, but it all fits!" Kodachi said excitedly to Ranma, "Ranma Saotome was a martial artist, like you were when the Tendos found you... the timing and the ages are right... and the photo's Ran-chan! The photos! It's you!"

"But... but..." unbidden tears began to flow down his cheeks, "You mean I know who my parents are now? I'm... I'm not just some nameless orphan?"

Kodachi nodded and embraced him, happy for him, her own eyes beginning to water in sympathy as well, "And that means..." she gasped as she realized the implications.

"Your step-mom is my real mother?!" Ranma blurted out in shock as it occurred to him as well.

Ranma turned to look at Ukyou, whose eyes were full of tears... she was visibly tense, but her eyes were happy... without warning she suddenly lunged across the table, embracing Ranma tightly, "It IS you! It has to be! I've prayed! Oh, how I've prayed! You're everything I hoped you would be!"

Ranma was beyond hearing, after all these years he knew who he was now. He knew who his parents were and he could be proud of his lineage... he hadn't been abandoned, it had just been circumstances outside his control.

He hugged Kodachi and Ukyou back tightly, not thinking clearly anymore, laughing crying, sharing the moment with both women. He kissed them both in his happiness, first Kodachi then Ukyou. Kodachi reeled from his kiss, not noticing he was doing the same to Ukyou, who while she didn't faint, certainly looked like she was ready to die happily in his arms. Ranma realized little just how complicated his life was about to become.

Especially when one considers that they were in a public restaurant... and as is often the case, word got around.

- - -

An hour later, at the Kuno mansion, Kodachi walked into her mother's sitting room with a bounce in her step. She was happy, both for Ranma and for her stepmother...

Kodachi opened the door tentatively, "Mama?"

Nodoka sat in a rocking chair knitting something idly. She saw her stepdaughter peeking into the room and smiled slightly. Despite the bittersweet memories the day had dragged up for her, she was satisfied and happy with her life as it was. But she was melancholy, as this day always made her.

"Oh, Kotchi," Nodoka greeted her as she stepped the rest of the way in, "How was dinner with Ranma and Ukyou?"

"It was fine mother," Kodachi replied, eager to get the preliminaries out of the way, "Ukyou's already asleep in the guest room, she was rather exhausted."

Nodoka nodded absently, concentrating on her knitting, Kodachi stood impatiently, trying to work out precisely how she was going to tell her stepmother...

"Um..."

"Nabiki and Tatchi seem to be getting along very well nowadays," Nodoka spoke, "You were right, Kotchi... they do seem to like each other."

"Ahh... that's wonderful, mama, but I need to tell you something--" Kodachi began to say but was interrupted.

"Kotchi... did I ever tell you why I was opposed to the arranged marriage Soun and your father tried to set up?" Nodoka asked, her hands busy.

"Um... no..." Kodachi, despite herself was curious. She loved her stepmother dearly, but there were times when Nodoka could be very tight lipped about her reasons for things, and it was a rare day when she explained herself to her daughter.

"There's two reasons actually," Nodoka said, "The first was because my first husband, Genma, engaged our son to Akane, for the continuation of the Anything Goes School, even before they were born..."

Kodachi blinked in surprise, "Akane Tendo? You never mentioned THAT."

"It was a rather moot point," Nodoka continued, "I didn't find out about it until he'd died. But when I look back on things... you see, Genma took my son with him on a training journey when he was no more than three years old... and he'd promised to return with Ranma Saotome a man among men..."

"Three? That's horrible!" Kodachi said, feeling sorry for Ranma.

Nodoka nodded, "I agreed to it, eventually, but... I'd always worried that the reason he took our son with him was to make sure that my son would be a worthy groom for Akane... but they died before I ever had a chance to see them again..." her voice sounded bitter and hurt...

"That's horrible..." Kodachi murmured, then remembered why she had come here in the first place, "But..."

"The second reason," Nodoka continued, seeming not to have heard Kodachi at all, "Is Ukyou."

"What does Ukyou have to do with anything?"

"Poor girl... she's so young, beautiful, intelligent... I'm certain she could find a husband easily, but she still mourns her fiancé... my son to this day. She's dedicated her life to becoming his perfect bride, even though he is gone. I've often wished I could help her overcome it, but she refuses to even think of other men, fearing that if she were to be with someone else, she would forget him, and that would be the greatest of betrayals," Nodoka spoke slowly, her voice till pained by memories as she spoke to her daughter, "Arranged marriages, keeping these impossible standards, it warps people, doesn't help them be who they wish to be or want to be, but what they think other people wish of them... I did not want such a thing forced on either you or your brother, but since your brother does seem to be genuinely fond of Nabiki, I think perhaps this could work out for the best..." she gave Kodachi a gentle smile.

"You seem to be getting along quite well with Ranma yourself, so I hope that works out well too..." her face broke into a pleasant grin, "I want plenty of grandchildren you know."

Kodachi blushed beet red, "Mom! We haven't even discussed that!"

Nodoka laughed slightly at her stepdaughter's discomfort, "I'm only joking. I do hope you two will wait til you've graduated from college."

"Yes, mama..." Kodachi smiled back.

"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about, Kotchi? Here I've been prattling on and on..."

"Oh, it's alright mama, I have wonderful news! Ranma is..." then she caught herself... Ranma... her Ranma, Ranma Saotome... Ranma Tendo, whatever you choose to call him was engaged to be married to AKANE?!

"Yes dear? What is it about Ranma?" Nodoka prodded.

"I'll... um... I'll get back to you on that in a moment, mama... excuse me!" Kodachi managed to say as she retreated. Ranma was engaged to Akane? His sister? No, his adoptive sister... and to Ukyou... and to her, provided Tatewaki and Nabiki don't work out, but they seem to be doing alright, so... she was terribly confused... on the other hand she was still his girlfriend... so that gave her claim better legitimacy right? Or did Akane's take precedence... but she was his sister for goodness sake... and this Ukyou girl who they knew very little about... she need some expert help for this...

Kodachi poked her head quickly into the sitting room once more, "Um... mom? I' going to go to the Tendos for a little while okay? I just need to get something from Akane..."

"Isn't it awfully late young lady?" Nodoka said pointedly.

"I'll have Satsuke bring me in the car..."

"Alright, but don't take too long," Mrs. Kuno said.

- - -

Ranma walked happily along the railing next to the waterway on his way home. On the ground watching him in confusion was Nabiki.

"So what're you so happy about?" Nabiki asked him, slightly bemused, as he skipped over a railing post, flipped to a handstand, then flipped forward, back onto the railing, without breaking stride.

Ranma flashed a grin back at her, "Just got some great news! I'll tell you... I'll tell everyone about it when we get home."

They were already only a few blocks away from the dojo when the pair spotted Akane slouched against a lamppost, her arms folded and a rather annoyed expression on her face.

Ranma leapt forward the last couple of feet, snatching the surprised Akane up in his arms and spinning her around laughing merrily, as he sent her skirts flying. Akane blinked in surprise at him and almost smiled back in return, his obvious joy seemed quite infectious, but she'd spent the past couple of hours building up a good head of annoyance.

Ranma continued grinning as Akane said sharply to him, "Where've you been? If Nabiki hadn't called the house to say that you two were going to be walking home together, I'd still be worried sick!"

But not even Akane's sour expression could begin to dent Ranma's mood, "Really sorry, sis. But I guess I kinda lost track of time!"

Akane, undeterred, began to harangue him, "I mean you're old enough to know how to use the phone for goodness sake... will you put me down, you're messing up my concentration here!"

Ranma merely grinned at her and spun her around some more.

Nabiki stood near them, just outside the range of Akane's helplessly flailing feet and gave a wry smile, "He's been like this ever since we left the Kunos..."

Akane reeled dizzily as Ranma spun them to a stop. He still hadn't stopped smiling, which meant he was really, really happy. She poked him sharply in the chest, "Alright buster, spill your guts, what happened?"

Ranma said, "Nah, I just got great news..."

Akane smirked, "So did Kodachi agree to sleep with you already?"

Ranma sputtered, "Wha--? Where'd that come from?!"

"Or it could be that new girl who's staying a couple of days with the Kunos," Nabiki remarked half idly.

Akane raised an eyebrow, "Really?" she snaked her arms around Ranma's neck, "Is that it? You've got another new girl, brother-dear?" she said in silken tones, "Keep this up and I'm going to have to get really jealous."

"Er... ahh..." Ranma tried to speak.

Nabiki flashed the pair a meaningful look, "Hey, you two, stop that, we're outdoors... what'll people say?" she sounded scandalized.

Akane winked back at her as she managed to free herself of Ranma's limp grap, "So, tell me sis... what was this new girl like?"

"Well, she did seem kind of pretty," Nabiki said in measured tones, "And she was hanging all over him when they arrived. Kodachi didn't seem too jealous come to think of it, which is really strange..."

Akane smirked, "Oh, really?"

Nabiki nodded mock seriously.

Ranma managed to recover somewhat, "It's not like that at all!"

"Do tell..." the two Tendo sisters said more or less simultaneously.

"You know I liked it better when you two were fighting," he grumbled.

The Tendo sisters exchanged glances, "Who?" they asked simultaneously, "Us?"

"Fighting?" Akane asked, projecting obvious scandal from her face.

"Wherever did you hear that from?" Nabiki asked, feigning severe emotional distress.

"Har-de-har-har," Ranma grumbled back at them, "What a pair of comediennes. I could bust a gut laughing."

Akane and Nabiki both giggled at him as he replied. Before their laughter had ended however, the black limo of the Kuno family pulled up next to them on the curb. The three Tendo siblings stared at it in surprise...

The rear window opened and Kodachi popped her head out, "Hi, guys!"

"Ko-chan?" Ranma said incredulously, "I thought you were already home?"

"Yeah, but we need to talk about something... um... privately." Kodachi said.

Ukyou also popped her head out of the opposite window and waved to them, "Hello again, Ran-chan," she said sweetly.

Akane raised an eyebrow and Nabiki elbowed her brother, "Well, well, well... quite the lady killer aren't we, bro?"

"Is it about..." he left the last few words hanging.

Kodachi nodded once and beckoned him over.

Ranma nodded back, confused and opened the door.

"Hey, Kodachi... where are you taking him?" Akane asked worriedly.

"We'll just drive around the block while we talk..." Kodachi chewed her lower lip for a moment as though considering things then nodded, "Akane would you please come along as well? This concerns you too..."

It was Nabiki's turn to be surprised... she had no idea what this was about, but if she had to guess... she's say it was that all of the women Ranma had been sleeping with (she assumed this Ukyou person had slept with Ranma, considering how physically intimate she'd acted towards him those brief moments before they'd left), and they had decided it was time to figure out who got to sleep with him, when. Oddly enough, the image that thought conjured up both repulsed and amused her. Just as well she wasn't part of that...

"I'll head on home and tell Kasumi you guys might take a while, alright?" Nabiki waved to them.

"Er... right." Kodachi said, giving a small worried smile, "See you."

Nabiki laughed to herself. Served him right for having so many lovers... it certainly didn't shock her as much as it used. She must be getting used to them...

- - -

"Wait, wait, wait!" Ranma shouted, "Let me get this straight. So you mean to tell me that my girlfriend is my stepsister, which I already knew about, and that my adopted sister is actually my fiancé?!"

"Let's not forget your childhood friend who is your real fiancé," Ukyou interjected.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, Ukyou," Kodachi said with a bit of an edge to her voice.

Akane was almost laughing, "This is too incredible to believe."

"Sis, it's not funny!" Ranma snapped.

"It is from where I'm sitting," Akane said doing her best to keep from sniggering.

Kodachi shot Akane a fierce look, "Don't tell me you WANT to marry your brother!"

"No one's marrying him but me," Ukyou declared flatly.

"Ukyou, one problem at a time, alright?" Kodachi glared. She was beginning to get annoyed at Ukyou's one track mind on this matter. She was also getting annoyed at how Ukyou had her arms wrapped around one of Ranma's arms, as though to make sure he would never leave her side again.

"Um..." Ranma tried to say something, but was interrupted by Akane as she gave a playful grin at the other two girls in the vehicle.

"Well, I don't know... I mean i never really considered him marriageable material, I mean he IS my brother, adopted or not, but I really wouldn't mind marrying him. I mean aside from his obvious sterling qualities, he's a good kisser and he's very considerate in bed. Wouldn't you agree Kodachi?"

"AKANE!" Ranma and Kodachi both shouted at her scandalized.

Ukyou's jaw dropped in shock, "You mean you... and..?"

"That's not what she means!" Ranma sputtered.

Ukyou's grip tightened on Ranma's bicep, "So what DOES she mean, Ran-chan?" it was a tone Ranma had long since learned to recognize as jealous female glower number three. Usually reserved for the moments just before violence occurs.

Kodachi was generally a very mild mannered woman. It took a lot to set her on edge. Ukyou's possessive streak towards Ranma was testing her patience, "Look! Will you stop trying to look like you own him?! He sleeps with his sister! Just that! Sleep!"

Ukyou glared back at Kodachi, "I asked him, not you, alright?"

"Well, I'm answering for him, alright?" Kodachi snapped at Ukyou, "And would you kindly keep your hands off my boyfriend?"

"Your boyfriend or not, he's my fiancé and you keep YOUR hands off," Ukyou shot back.

Ranma squirmed uncomfortably as the two women glared across his chest. As both high voltage gazes met across his lap, the sparks flew and made it a most uncomfortable and highly dangerous position to be in. Across from the three of the, Akane lounged easily, her feet entangled somewhat with Ranma as she dominated the entire rear facing seat of the limo.

"Um... girls? Girls... this isn't really the place or the time..." Ranma wondered how he was going to get out of this one.

Akane clapped her hands loudly, calling their attention, "People, people, settle down, there's more than enough Ranma for everyone, I'm sure we can work something out..."

This seemed to help calm everyone down, but the metaphorical temperature between Kodachi and Ukyou plummeted... or to put it another way, by all rights, Ranma should've been flash frozen.

"First things first," Akane said, smiling smugly, "Let's sort this little debacle out... girls, let's be reasonable... you've both got my brother's best interests at heart don't you?"

Kodachi and Ukyou traded glances once more across Ranma's chest, but this was less a dagger stare, and more a reasonable exchange. Despite themselves, they couldn't help but notice the same look behind one another's eyes. There was some basis for understanding between them...

They both dropped their gazes to their laps and both said meekly, "Yes."

"Good. Now, Ranma... do you still remember Ukyou?" Akane asked.

"Um... yeah, bits and pieces... now that I know who she is... plus some stuff about my dad too..." Ranma said slowly, "But mostly I remember what it was like when Ukyou and I used to play together..." he smiled a little. Kodachi winced slightly, but forced her face to be impassive. She remembered spending long lazy afternoons with Ranma herself when she was smaller...

"So you believe that she IS really your fiance from when you were little?" Akane said.

"Erhm... I don't remember that!" Ranma said, mildly embarassed at the thought, "But it sounds kinda... possibly... like it's probably true..."

Akane forced a smile, "Well, bro... looks like you've got a fiancé AND a girlfriend on the side."

"I am not on the side," Kodachi snapped irritably.

Akane smiled pleasantly, "Alright, sorry. But let me put it another way... Ranma, do you think you could make a decision about who you'd rather be with now?"

"Umm... ahh... err..."

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Akane said smugly, "Now, I just hope you ladies can discuss this between yourselves in a civilized manner."

Ukyou and Kodachi exchanged glances once more.

"I suppose we can do that," Ukyou conceded. Kodachi merely nodded.

"Of course I expect to be told all the juicy details," Akane grinned at them.

Ranma blinked as he realized something, "Hey! Don't go blabbin about this in school! I've got a bad enough reputation as is!"

Kodachi glanced at Ranma then at Akane, "She wouldn't... would she?"

Akane fluttered her lashes innocently at her brother, "Moi? Brother dear whatever would give you the impression that I would spread something as... interesting as this little bit of info around campus."

"Cause I know you too well," Ranma replied.

Akane chuckled, "Alright, you got me."

"Name your price," Ranma said in grim voice.

Akane held up two fingers, "Two backrubs and the next week's worth of cleaning out the dojo after practice."

"Sold," Ranma grumbled.

Ukyou merely blinked.

"But we've still got the other situation..." Kodachi interjected.

"And as for the other problem... look, Ko-chan, you might be worrying yourself over nothing," Akane said soothingly, "It's highly unlikely that your stepmom... Ranma's mom... how weird that sounds..." she murmured to herself, "Is going to uphold an engagement between me and Ranma."

"I don't know... mama can be very progressive sometimes... but other times, she's depressingly old fashioned," Kodachi said doubtfully.

"Yes," Akane replied, holding up her finger as she took a lecturing tone, "However, let's keep the relevant facts in mind. You said that she mentioned that she objects to arranged marriages on principle. And there doesn't seem to be all that much point to the marriage other than to originally unite the original two Anything Goes Schools... which is now going to be done with Tatewaki and Nabiki's betrothal... do you see what I'm saying? I really think she'd be so happy about finding out that her son is still alive, this old stuff won't matter."

"I suppose you're right..." Kodachi conceded.

Ranma nodded, "And I want to tell Aunty Nodo... I mean mom about me."

Ukyou smiled, "This sounds very good to me."

"Great," Akane said, sitting back and crossing her arms, "Another problem solved. And we hardly had to resort to a plan."

Ranma grumbled, "Yeah like your plans always work..."

"Hey, it worked for Nabiki and Tatewaki," Akane replied with a sly grin.

Kodachi and Ranma looked at her, "You're kidding!" they said in unison.

"What about Nabiki and Tatewaki?" Ukyou asked.

"Sis had this allegedly brilliant plan that would keep everyone happy and make sure that my other sister Nabiki, and Kodachi's brother Tatewaki don't have to marry against their will... I guess it kinda flubbed out, cause we were expecting her to somehow break the engagement of the two without making either family too unhappy..." Ranma explained.

"Well, that's what I told them of course," Akane grinned, "I mean the way things are going now, they're not going to marry against their will. They'll probably be pretty happy to do so. I mean they go out practically every night."

"You mean that was your plan all along?" Kodachi asked incredulously.

"Of course! I throw myself at Tatewaki and make Nabiki so jealous that she'd start seeing Tatewaki as a potential significant other. You didn't REALLY think I was interested in him did you?" Akane smiled mockingly.

Ukyou blinked, "Wow, that does sound like a good plan."

"Thank you," Akane winked at Ukyou.

"You've GOT to be kidding!" Ranma sputtered.

Akane shrugged negligently, "Believe what you will," She mentally congratulated herself on being able to maintain her reputation... it was just as well... but somewhere... deep inside her, she couldn't help but recoil at what she'd just said.

Kodachi called to the chauffeur, "Satsuke! Kindly drive us back to the Kuno mansion... there is something Ranma needs to speak to my mother about."

"As you wish Mistress Kodachi."

- - -

There are certain events in people's lives which should by all rights remain private. Some things better not shared with people not so close us... Ranma's reunion with his mother was one such event. Let's simply say it was very touching, and heartfelt... and a great deal of very sincere emotion was poured out... but it was an event reserved for them.

End of chapter

To be concluded...

- - -

Author's notes:

In answer to some of the more commonly asked questions I received as C&C here are the following:

Will Ukyou, Shampoo and Mousse show up?

Well, you just met the new Ukyou, as for the Amazons, Possibly, but probably not.

Why does Akane wear glasses?

Well, she used to read a lot while she was still on the road with Ranma, as a result, her vision suffered, hence she wears glasses. The other reason was I needed some sort of visual cue to differentiate Akaru from Ranma. And then my final and more personal reason, I find an attractive woman with glasses very sexy... especially if she has the self confidence to back it up, which is partly what I'm showing with this version of Akane. She has a very forceful personality, and isn't afraid to well... vamp it up even if she does wear glasses.

Are Ranma and Akane in fact making the beast with two backs... doing the vertical mambo... performing acts of a hideously perverse and pleasurable nature?!? <Stop that heavy breathing, I know you're out there, calm down...>

Heh. Good question. I ain't answering. Next.