This has the same setting as "The way out" mini-fic, "Autumn Leaves" and
"Keeping Up Appearances".
This is set on the night of Kimiko's return.
What has gone before:
Ranma's better nature and a Chinese-Amazon artifact have combined to
return Akane's mother to life - in Ranma's body.
Such things as Dreams are made of.
An air of unreality hung over the group. Genma had gone, who knows
where. Nabiki was clinging to her mother in full Shampoo glomp mode.
Soun had retired early after soaking the room. Elsewhere Kasumi was
cleaning the counter top, again. The ritual movements serving to bring
some measure of calm to her spirit.
Kimiko sighed, it had been a long day and it wasn't over yet. "Are you
sure you are OK Akane? I've heard how much Ranma meant to you."
"Just great mom. I've got rid of that girl chasing idiot and have you
back as well! I couldn't be happier," She said brightly.
Kimiko was worried about her daughter; Kasumi seemed to be doing well -
even if she was taking things too calmly, Nabiki's sudden change of
character was odd but she seemed to be genuinely happy, Akane ...
Well, she would worry about it in the morning.
She tucked Nabiki into bed, remembering how cute she had looked when she
had last been able to do that. She wasn't cute now, she was beautiful.
When she looked in on her husband he was still fast asleep - she decided
to leave Soun in peace. He must have been very tired after being so
emotionally overwrought.
There was an unused room, of course. An erie feeling crept over her as
she looked around, there wasn't much in there. Some black and white hair
shed on one of the beds, men�s clothing - Chinese shirts, gi's etc. She
picked up a school textbook from the floor and dropped it with a shiver -
It felt like she was grave robbing. Only for one night, she told herself
and undressed for bed.
Akane turned restlessly in her sleep. "mmmphhmmm," she mumbled, "mmMmm
Nmmmph!" An pillow took the force of her nocturnal frustrations and she
slipped deeper into sleep as feathers gently fell across the room cloaking
it in innocent white ...
Kimiko couldn't sleep the quiet sounds of the house sounded strange to
her ears. Had it always creaked like that? The wind gusted, and a tree
brushed it's twigs on the house wall. It hadn't been large enough to
touch, she realised, when she was last sleeping here. The building
sounded old, she thought, battle-worn and weary. Enough! She thought,
I'm just getting twitchy thinking like this. She took a deep breath and
exhaled slowly, letting her tension lea- *Bump*
Akane stepped back from her closed bedroom door, then walked
determinedly forwards again *Bump*
What was that?! Kimiko worried, fully awake once again. The noise came
again. It must be a window left off the hook, banging in the wind ...
"mmph mumble must tell mmm..." Akane's hand came out and fumbled the
door open, she walked out into the corridor. The signals from her glassy,
half-open eyes being re-interpreted into her dreaming mind.
Someone else had woken up, Kimiko realised, recent events didn't make
for peaceful sleep. She started a little as the bedroom door opened, but
recognised the moonlit figure as her baby daughter - all grown up. "Did
you have a nightmare? Come to mommy."
"I love you." Akane said quietly.
"Mommy loves you too dear."
"...ove you Ranma." the silhouetted figure repeated, clumsily starting to
pull her nightie off over her head.
"AKANE! What do you think you are doing?"
Like a puppet with it's strings cut she collapsed to the floor. "Oh! I
guess I must have been sleep walking, I'm sorry if I woke you up."
"That's alright dear, try to get back to sleep Akane." Kimiko managed,
deeply concerned over what her daughter's actions had revealed - but
trying to hide that worry for her sake. "Good night."
"Good night, Ranma."
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