Seijitsu no Kesshite Ai Shiniai Nakunaru
[ True Love Never Dies ]
Chapter 1: Past and Present Die to make the Future
FanFic based on Ranma ½
By Kris Thompson

This is a work of fiction based on Rumiko Takahashi's 'Ranma Nibun no Ichi' a.k.a.
Ranma ½ and was created for the author's personal enjoyment.

[Note!  This is an alter-verse fic!  You have been warned!]

Ranma sat meditating in the dojo.  It had been several years, almost four in fact, since 
Akane had left the dojo.  Six years after the very *last* failed wedding between the two 
teenagers.

Ranma squinted his closed eyes.  'Concentration,' he thought.  'Don't think of *her*.'  

He and Akane hadn't parted on the best of terms... actually, yelling and screaming at 
each other.  Ryouga had jumped in, defending Akane of course, so he and Ryouga had 
taken the whole ordeal out side.  Ranma had beaten Ryouga in their fight, although 
Ryouga had come very close at some points.  Akane had watched from the porch, her 
small hands in fists up to her mouth, her eyes wide as she watched them.  Who she 
was actually concerned for, Ranma never could figure out *after* the fight, but at the 
time, he assumed that it was for Ryouga.

That fight... the one with Akane... it had been so stupid.  If he had only admitted the plain 
and obvious fact that he *did* love her... well, he might not be here now, without her.

Ranma sighed in the quiet dojo.

~*~

She sighed and looked up at the house.  Same old gates that one had to walk through 
to the entrance of the house.  She had come back for several reasons; one, to see her 
family again, two, two face her past, and three, to have her wedding here.

With the man who really loved her.

She smiled and entered into the house.  "Kasumi?  Dad?  It's me, Akane!  I'm home!"

Kasumi peaked around the corner of the kitchen.  "Akane!  When did you get here?  
Come in and sit down.  Where is Ryouga?  Did he get lost again?"

Akane laughed.  "One question at a time, Kasumi!  I just got here, Ryouga's still at the 
airport getting our bags and no, he doesn't get lost anymore.  He is pretty much over 
that.  Ryouga will be here in about ten minutes."  Akane sat down on the sofa.  "How 
have you been Kasumi?  You and Tofu doing all right?"

Kasumi smiled.  "Oh yes, we're doing just fine.  Father and Mr. Saotome decided to 
open up the dojo again!  Isn't that wonderful?"

Puzzlement came over Akane.  "But, onee-chan, who is running the dojo?  As in 
teaching?  Father and Mr. Saotome are too old to do it now."

"Oh, well Nabiki works with the financial part of it, and Ranma teaches."

"Ranma?  He still lives in Nermia?"  Akane asked, surprised.

Kasumi stood to go back into the kitchen.  "Why, Akane, he still lives *here*."

Akane's eyes went wide once more.

~*~

"Ranma!  Dinner time!"  Kasumi's voice rang through his brain.

He opened his eyes and noted how dark the dojo was.  Ranma jumped up and walked 
out the doors and into the house.  His eyes met a pair of dark brown ones that he hadn't 
seen in quiet some time.

"Akane."

"Ranma."

"Akane, dear, what did you do with the-"  Ryouga walked up behind Akane to see 
Ranma.

Ranma's attention turned to his old enemy.  ' *Dear*?  What the hell...'

"Ah, Ryouga, I didn't hear you come in.  Please, sit down, both of you.  Akane, would 
you go and get father?"  Kasumi turned back to the stove.

"Y-yes, onee-chan."  Akane turned and bumped into Ryouga.  That was when Ranma 
noticed something sparkling on her ring finger.  She backed up a step and went around 
Ryouga and left the room.

"Oh dear, I forgot to call Ono-chan.  I'll be right back."

Ryouga and Ranma stood, glaring at one another.

"Whaddya doing back here, P-chan?"  Ranma asked, venom in his voice.

"Stop callin' me that.  And for your information, I'm here for my wedding."  Ryouga said 
with a smirk.

"Oh really?  Who's gonna marry ya?  Akari?  Ucchan?"  Ranma asked, not really 
interested.

Ryouga grew serious.  "No, neither of them.  Akane and I are engaged."

Ranma's world shattered.  Akane was going to marry... *Ryouga*?  What the *hell* had 
just happened?

~*~

Everyone surrounded the table.  Soun sat at the head of the table, with Ranma to his 
left, then Kasumi, then Ono, Nodoka, Genma at the end of the table, the Ryouga, Akane 
and Nabiki on the other side of the large wooden table.

"Ryo-chan, have you told the family the good news?"  Akane asked cheerily.

"Ah, no, I haven't."  Ryouga stood and faced Soun.  "Mr. Tendo, with your permission, of 
course, I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."

Soun looked at Ryouga for a moment before speaking.  "You, Ryouga Hibiki, wish to 
marry Nabiki?  I had no idea you were interested in her."

Nabiki almost choked.  "Not even if hell froze over!"

Ryouga face-faulted.  "Wah?!  No, not Nabiki!  Akane!  I wish to marry Akane."

"With your blessing Daddy."  Akane said.

"Well, I don't see why not.  The engagement between Ranma and Akane has been 
severed for six years-"  Soun stopped as he looked over to find Ranma gone from his 
place.

"Ara, where did Ranma go?"  Kasumi asked.

~*~

Ranma sat on the roof.  Soun's words echoed in his head.  ' *I don't see why not.  The 
engagement between Ranma and Akane has been severed for six years... six years... 
severed for six years...* '

So Ryouga hadn't been lying.  It was true then.  Akane had chosen Ryouga over him, 
and Ryouga had won the most important battle ever.  Who would win Akane's heart.

He held his breath as he heard the shogi open and close.  He peered into the dark yard 
as two figures walked over to the koi pond.  Akane.  And that bastard, Ryouga.  Ranma 
managed to catch some of their conversation.

"-believe we're really getting married, Ryo-chan!"  Akane gushed.

"I know...-dream come true."  Ryouga said.  "I love you, Akane."

"I love you, Ryouga."

Ranma turned away as the two kissed, a tear rolling down his face.

Author's Notes

What possessed me to write this?  well, several things.  #1, the plain and simple fact 
that I haven't written *anything* since... well, 'Matsunori' really.  #2, this idea came to me 
in the middle of being half awake/half asleep and down with a slight flu or 
something.o_O;;

^o^  I hope everyone likes it!  I'll try to have the next chapter out soon (when I'm not doing 
lovely English essays and getting blamed for plagiarizing my *own* works!  >.< some 
English teachers... go figure.) and I'm still deciding on if I'm going to finish 
'Oyasuminasai, wakai Ai...'... I like the idea I had for it, but as far as completing it, it 
might never happen.  
oh well. ~_~

Email me at cartoonpaperclips@email.com.  Flames with be dealt with in kind. ^_^

Krissy

www.geocities.com/kuroi_hoshi