Part 3: "Tales of a Near Future"

Ranma was confused. First, he has a daughter that Akane is pregnant with, and Mr. Tendo was very disappointed at Ranma. "Intercoursing my daughter before marriage?" His words came back to Ranma. He was also confused at the fact that Akane could get pregnant. Sure there were some...quiet moments, but the chances of Akane getting pregnant was one to five. Still, the 'one' is still there. And weather he liked it or not, Akane was pregnant.

Ranma is a father. Akane is a mother. Nodoka, Ranma's mother, is a grandmother, and she didn't even know it. Sadness filled Ranma's heart, as always when he thinks of his mother, but never like this. It was like a feeling ripping his heart. Oh, his baka father! How could he take him away from his mother?! He needed his mother desperately in some points of his life, but he is very forbidden to see her.

Ranma looked over at Nodoka, his daughter, sleeping on the couch. He loved her so very much. He wondered how she got there, why she was there, and where were her parents. What kind of father is he in the future? Is he a good father? He has GOT to be a better father than his own! At least he didn't take her away from Akane!

He also wondered if they were able to support themselves, plus a growing daughter, in the future. He felt like waking Nodoka up, but it was her nape time. Then Ranma realized something; What happened to all his fiancées, at least the ones he knew, in the future? He couldn't have kept them all. After all, he decided to choose Akane for his wife. But how would a six year old know what happened? And Ranma was only eight teen, and Akane was only seven teen.

Nodoka stirred, and woke up. She glanced around as if trying to remember where she was, then looked at Ranma. "DADDY!" She yelled gleefully, and jumped into his arms, and he opened them to her. So, she is 'daddy's little girl' in the future. "Um, Nodoka, I have a few questions, ok?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"One, what happened to all my fiancées in the future."

"You can only have one, and you chose mother. They continued their lives, with much regret. You never heard from them again, a few are dead."

Ranma's eye went wide. "How-How did they die?"

"I don't know, but I only know which one's did die."

"Ok, then. Which one's did die?"

"Only Shampoo, and I think she died in difficult childbirth, father unknown. And Ukyou, from what or how, I don't know."

Ranma felt a deep sadness come over him. Shampoo, the one always after him. Ukyou, his dear friend both ways. Guy and girl. They died! While he didn't love them like he loved Akane, he cared about them deeply, like a true friend. Then he wondered what happened on the other end.

"What happened to Ryouga?"

"He left and wandered the world once more, but tried to avoid Japan in piticular."

Once more, Ranma felt bad. He didn't realize how much it would hurt other people at the fact that he choose Akane out of all of them (no! Ryouga is NOT excluded for all of you henati's out there!). It hurt his friends, it hurt Ryouga, and hurt Akane at the fact that if he didn't marry her soon, and she went around town with a big stomach showing, she would be viewed as a slut.

"How do you know so much?"

"I listen in to yours and mother's conversations."

"What about her friends at school?"

"Mother's friends avoided her after they found out she was pregnant, and the teachers regarded her with extreme harshness."

That did it! Ranma was NOT going to let Akane be shamed like that! He was going to marry her! ...even if it did hurt other people...

******************

Akane sighed and put down her pencil she had in her hand. She looked over her homework and was satisfied by the way she worked it out. She sighed once more and put a hand to her flat stomach. She still couldn't believe she was pregnant! She still had one question that wasn't answered; How did her future daughter, Nodoka, get here?

Akane got up and laid down on her bed. She was very scaried about giving birth at her age. What if something goes wrong? Akane laid down on her stomach but then jumped back up and laid on her back. She also keeps forgetting that she is pregnant. Then she started to wonder, did Ranma really love her? He hadn't asked for her hand in marriage. And if she keeps getting bigger people are going to find out! Worst part is, she wasn't even married, and THAT is shameful.

Akane didn't want to shame her family. Oh! Why couldn't she just control her hormones! And why did it have to happen in the kitchen?! She could still remember that night Nodoka was conceived...

"Akane, I need to talk to you." Ranma said to Akane as she was boiling rice. "I'm busy right now Ranma!" Akane half yelled. "But...But it's important." Akane turned to him. "What can be more important that me making YOUR dinner!" Ranma shifted nervously. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Akane sighed and put down her carrot.

It was just them. Just those two. All alone in that one little house. "Well?" Akane snapped. "I just thought take out would be best, because I don't want you to slave over a hot stove. Look! Your sweating already!" He reached out and brushed the beads of sweat from her forehead. Suddenly Akane's hormones began to pull her one way and another. She closed her eyes due to disiness.

She opened her eyes back up just when Ranma's lips pressed against her's. He kissed her! Not the first time, but a kiss where it didn't involve tape! Their lips actually naked and free against eachother's! A kiss that was meaningful to them both. Next thing Akane knew was Ranma's hand sliding up her shirt.

Akane shook her head and snapped back to reality before she remembered anything graphic. She did notice her heart pounding and her breathing quickening just by the thought of their wild night. She can still feel herself in his arms. Where they even married in the future? Nodoka did say her maiden sir name.

They almost got married too. Maybe if they actually did, she wouldn't feel so ashamed right now. There was a knock on the door. Akane got up to answer it. "Oh, hi Ranma." Ranma looked down at Akane. "Um, I need to ask you something." Akane nodded and let him come in to her room for once, and she closed the door behind him.

Akane sat down on the edge of her bed and supported her head in her hands, and her elbows on the knees. Ranma began to pace the room like a wild animal. He took a deep breath and got down on his knees in front of Akane. Akane slightly jumped in surprise. Ranma NEVER did that!

"Akane. I know I can't offer you much of anything, but I will do my best to make you happy." He sighed and tried to clam down. "Ranma. I feel ashamed..." She trailed off as her eyes began to fill with water. 'Stupid tears!' she thought. Ranma began again.. "I don't want you to feel ashamed, Akane, that's why I want to ask you if..if...if you will marry me." He took a long, deep breath and exhaled. He finally said the speech he had been practicing for hours on!

Akane leaped in his arms and laughed when they tumbled down on the floor. "Ranma!" Akane laughed. Outside, Nodoka smiled at her past parents and took her ear off the door. So they will finally get married sooner instead of latter. Nadoka tried to imagine her parents married. She wanted to laugh. Her mother never could cook! Not now, not in the future, not ever! But Nodoka knew that her daddy loved her mother more than her cooking. She is the proof of that fact.



By: Laichi
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