Somehow, he'd come to the ocean. The gentle waves lapped over the tips of his shoes.
It had been a week since Ryoga had walked out of the Tendo home needing some fresh air to clear his mind, and he hadn't been able to find his way back.
He remembered the kiss. Even now, the thought of it filled his eyes with tears. Akane *did* love him. They'd be so very happy together once he found her again. That is, if she didn't think that he'd run off because he didn't want her. The joy threatened to ebb a bit, but he stubbornly refueled it. Akane would understand. She was the one person who would always understand him.
He shouted an oath to the sky. "Akane, I *will* find you even if it's the last thing I do!" Then he turned and walked back the way he had come.
***
Ukyou watched Mousse as he cleaned the last table. It was the end of another long working day, and they were both ready for a break.
Watching him made her smile. Who'd've thought the kid was such a perfectionist. He meticulously scrubbed each tabletop as if he were expecting the emperor himself to come in and check the place out. She supposed that it came from working for Cologne. She probably demanded nothing less.
Speaking of the old Ghoul, it was weird how she had taken Ranma's marriage so calmly. No poisoning attempts or violence. She and Shampoo had just disappeared suddenly. They'd closed their restaurant and departed for China without a word to anyone.
It was too bad about Mousse's glasses. Maybe she'd get him a new pair as a bonus. He was a good worker and she was really glad to have his help, especially now that the Nekohanten was closed and much of its business was now hers. He deserved a nice surprise, and it would probably keep him from running into things so much while waiting tables.
Besides, he'd always looked so darned cute in his glasses.
Ukyou smiled slightly. Heck. He was cute no matter what.
More importantly, though, he was her friend. He listened to her and respected her, and that was what really mattered. The last week had been the hardest of her life, but he had been there the whole time supporting and helping her in her sorrow. Once or twice she'd caught him looking at her (or at least in her general direction) with a soft pleasant smile on his face, but that was all. The pain of love lost was still too fresh for both of them. Maybe someday they'd be more than friends. For now it was enough. She was content.
He'd finished the last table and was looking around trying to find her. She decided to help him out.
"Hey Mousse! You wanna go see a movie? My treat."
"Yes, I'd like that." He frowned a little. "As long as you don't mind telling me what happens on the screen."
Her soft laughter filled the restaurant. His joined it soon after.
***
The forest of Ryoganzawa was as beautiful as she had remembered. The young girl looked around and tried to smile, memories of her vacation here with her grandfather many years ago washed over her. The smile faded. _I miss you Grandfather. I'm so sorry that I let you down_.
She sighed, then called to her pet. "KATSUNNISHIKI! DON'T GO TOO FAR!" She heard her prize pig snort a happy reply. He, at least was enjoying this trip. At nearly 2,000 kg and a height of 2.5 meters, he was hard to miss as he charged through the vegetation. Watching him took away the pain... for a moment... and then the image came into her mind again. The man she loved, and had hoped to marry with another woman in his arms. Over and over in her mind she saw his head move towards Akane's, watched their lips meet. She shook her head to drive out the image as the despair washed over her again. _Oh Ryoga, how could you do it? Why didn't you tell me?_
Akari walked deeper into the forest, wallowing in unhappy memories. She had dared to hope that her loneliness had come to an end. Now here she was, orphaned and abandoned. Alone.
She was brought out of her mental prison by a sound in the distance. Charging hooves and Katsunnishiki's squeal of challenge. He had found an opponent. Akari ran towards the sound, her brown and pink hair flowing behind her. If he were fighting one of the forest animals, he could get hurt. Berating herself for her inattention, she crashed through the underbrush until she could see the huge black pig. He lay on the ground, knocked unconscious. His opponent stood nearby.
Looking up, Akari saw the young man from behind. He was very tall, with soft brow hair tied up in a stub of a ponytail. He wore black trousers and a dark blue gi top with a white kanji in a circle on it's back. The broom that he held in one hand like a bo was old and scarred, as if it had seen many battles over many years. He turned.
A strangled sound came from Akari's throat when she saw his profile. Strong cheekbones and large dark eyes gave him a beauty that was almost painful to look at. He was the most handsome man that she had ever seen. Even more handsome than...
The noise brought her to his attention. He looked at her. "Who are you? You shouldn't be here. It's very dangero..." The words died on his tongue as he saw how she was looking at him. He swallowed hard. "Are you alright miss?"
"You... You defeated Katsunnishiki!" she stuttered. Shocked and thrilled at the same time. _He must be very strong. I wonder if he has a girlfriend._
The youth looked surprised, then sheepish. "Is this your pig?" A nod from the girl. "I'm sorry. I thought he was one of the forest animals." He mistook her expression for one of sadness, and tried to reassure her. "Don't worry. He'll be fine in a moment." Smiling shyly, he bowed. "My name is Shinnosuke. I'm sorry about your pet, but I've never seen such a large pig before. Are you sure he's not from around here?"
Akari bit her bottom lip happily. "Quite sure." A sudden shyness made her look down and play with the dirt with the toe of one shiny white leather dress shoe. "Our family breeds pigs. Katsunnishiki is our best."
Shinnosuke frowned. "I didn't know."
"Oh! Don't worry. He's trained to fight. It's not often that he's beaten by a human. You must be a strong fighter." She looked up from her shoes and smiled fetchingly.
"Uh... well, um."
Her smile broadened. He was so cute. "My name is Akari."
He looked at her more closely then. "A...ka...ri?"
"Yes."
His head shook. "There was a girl here. A-ka..." No use. The memory was gone. But there had been a girl. A very special one. He was sure of it. Could this be her? Had she come back? "Have you been here before?"
"Yes. I came here once with my grandfather."
He shook his head again. "There was a grandfather I think." The memories slipped away again. _Whose grandfather? Hers?_ He smiled. It must be her. "And now you've come back!"
"Yes." Akari was puzzled, but pleased that he was warming up. He seemed sweet. Perhaps he was the husband she was looking for. He was strong and kind, surely grandfather would have approved.
Walking up to her, Shinnosuke stood very close. "Will you cook dinner for me, A-ka-ri?"
Akari looked at her pig once again. He looked dazed, but he would be back on his feet soon. She shook her head at him happily then looked deeply into the beautiful eyes before her. "Of course." she whispered. "Whenever you want."
***
In all of Cologne's years, the beauty of the sea had never failed to amaze her. It was a humbling feeling to be surrounded by ocean further than you can see in any direction, the tiny ship rising and falling with the waves.
The metaphor seemed apt for the situation she had found herself in, riding the waters at the mercy of sun and storm, helpless against the forces of change that she'd felt that day in the kitchen. It seemed like years ago.
It was a shame really. Ranma would have made a fine Amazon husband.
After they'd broken him of that stubbornness and trained him in the proper subservience befitting a man in a matriarchal society, that is.
Still, Tarou had beaten Shampoo fair and square. And in a formal battle no less. He was strong, and skilled. He didn't have Ranma's creativity in tactics, but his stamina and endurance had allowed him to best Ranma on a few occasions. Great-granddaughter could have done much worse. They'd be married as soon as they caught up with him and convinced him that he must abide by the law.
It was a good thing he'd convinced Happosai to change his name. It just wouldn't do to have a "Pantyhose" in the family.
***
"Hmm... What was that?" Nabiki mumbled sleepily, stirring against Ranma's shoulder.
"Shh. It was just some turbulence. Go back to sleep."
Nabiki nodded, not really hearing the words, but put at ease by the sound of his voice and the feeling of her head resting against his wonderfully solid chest and of his arm around her. She murmured something too soft to be understood, and then fell back into the wonderful dream that she'd been having.
Ranma shifted to support her weight more comfortably. The wedding had been surprisingly uneventful. Then again, he remembered looking into her eyes as she'd promised to be a good wife. He wasn't sure what else had been going on around him. He probably wouldn't have noticed if Ryoga or Kuno or *Godzilla* had tried to cause a disturbance. Ranma smiled down at his new bride as the plane made its way towards Hawaii. He hadn't really thought much about a honeymoon, but Nabiki had insisted. She hadn't told him yet how they were going to pay for it, but he had to admit that it was a very good idea. Things could get pretty insane in Tokyo, and while he didn't mind a little excitement now and then, he realized that it was really no way to start a marriage.
Besides, this would spare Nabiki the pain of having to meet the girl who was coming for him while they were away. Ranma and his father had had a little "discussion" on the matter and after much "persuasion" Mr. Saotome had admitted responsibility for the situation and had agreed to take care of it by himself. Ranma hoped that this time, he'd keep that promise. Of course, he wasn't counting on it. Still, he had behaved himself during the wedding.
He frowned slightly, then decided that he wouldn't let it worry him. He had just gotten married to the most wonderful girl he'd ever known, and they were going on a trip together. Nothing else was so important that it couldn't wait until they got back. For now, he would focus on that wonderful happy glow that he felt whenever he thought about Nabiki.
And those other wonderful feelings he felt whenever she touched him. He'd probably spend some time focusing on those as well.
Quite a bit of time in fact, if she was agreeable.
From the way she clung to him now even in her sleep, he suspected that she wouldn't object.
It was funny. All these years, he'd cursed the pain, the confusion and the chaos of his life, but now, out of that same pain and chaos had come this... relationship, this revelation, this marriage. Somehow, that made it all worth it. He couldn't find it in himself to hate or resent the hectic way he had been brought up, or the numerous enemies/ fiances/ curses that had become such an integral part of his identity. It could go on for the rest of his life, and he wouldn't complain, as long as he had Nabiki to help him through it. Even if she was the only good thing that ever happened to him, it was enough.
_When did I become so philosophical?_ he mused as he gave her another soft squeeze. He looked out the window of the airplane and was amazed once again by how bright the stars looked from so far above the Pacific Ocean. He sighed, then put that thought out of his head along with all the others. Nothing would spoil the peace of the next few weeks. Closing his eyes, he went to sleep.
Three rows behind him, an angry looking man watched with glaring eyes. _Finally I've found you Ranma Saotome._ The short blonde man gloated silently. _And now after all these years, you'll pay for humiliating me._ He chuckled quietly to himself as the plane sped through the night.
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