Child of Innocence
By Lord Overon
Part VI
The letter was dropped without a care as Akane screamed a gut wrenching 'no' that echoed throughout the house and Dojo. The two teens bolted upright and ran to the house but Akane exploded into them as they rounded the corner and sent Sano and Nodoka sprawling.
Akane ran and fell to the dead body on the floor, ripping off the hood covering the face. Then she wept. She wept into the thick mass of red hair that she knew would be there.
"Why…" she sobbed. "Why couldn’t you tell me when we were together?" she pleaded as she caressed that face she once hoped she would see again. That face she once hoped she would have the pleasure of seeing for the rest of her life. The one face she could stare at for hours on end. She could stare at those eyes that never changed no matter what form he was in. Those eyes had always drawn her in and now they would never open again for her to see the iridescent blue eyes awash with emotion as they always were. She would never be able to see that smile, that cocky grin or hear those words she longed to hear from those lips. She would never taste those lips again as she had for those few precious moments a long time in the past. She would no longer hope against all hope that he would return for he had returned. He had returned to die in her arms.
He had tried she realized to talk to her while he was dying. He had died in her arms. Why did he have to die? Why did he have to let her know? She could have gone on hoping against all else that he was still out there. She could have lived the simple life she had planned out. But he had to come back; he had to destroy that hope. He had to die.
Even as the body grew colder she clutched it even tighter to regain at least some of what she never had to share with him. To regain a past that she would never have with him. To regain a love that she would never share with him. She would never have him with her again and the tears flowed freely.
Nodoka regained her senses and seeing Akane over her mother, she knew what she had first thought was the truth. Sano was puzzled but then boys usually were. Seeing them together wanted to make her cry again but she had shed her tears on Sano and even though she wanted to cry more, her mom told her that crying made you feel better but it never solved anything. She was feeling better but at the moment she needed to make Akane feel better. She had a humble idea of what Akane was going through from the snippets of her life that she had been told by others and by the radiance she saw on her mother's face when she talked of the old days. She knew she had to do something. She had to say something too…more because she wanted to say it than it having to be said.
"Akane…" comforted Nodoka as she laid a hand on her shoulder. "Mom didn’t say it but I know who you are."
Akane still held Ranma tightly and still cried, paying no attention to Nodoka so Nodoka did the only thing she could do. She sat behind Akane and hugged her. In that brief moment Nodoka wondered how wise her mother had become over the years and in that instant she knew she had been set up. Her mother had planned this from the beginning. Her mother had planned for her to meet Akane.
Nodoka pried Akane from Tiempara forcing her to stare into her eyes.
"Akane-san…" punctuated Nodoka, "you are my father."
Akane still did not seem to hear her words and Nodoka kept repeating softly to her that she was her father until it seemed to seep through to Akane somehow.
"But I can't, Ranma…I…" stuttered Akane without thinking.
"You are my father, mom said you were here and I would find you. She was right. I know its you."
"How…what…"
"Did you…did you die at the hands of a phoenix?" asked Nodoka finally.
From Akane's facial expressions Nodoka realized the question had confused her.
"Saffron, did Saffron almost kill you?" she asked correcting herself.
Akane nodded.
"Then you are my father…" intoned Nodoka with a smile and with certainty in her voice. In her mind Akane pieced together all those litle whispers she had heard of how Nodoka reminded them of how Nodoka then of someone. Akane knew who that someone was. Nodoka resembled Ranma. She had Ranma's eyes and Ranma's attitude but her face and her body, resembled her more than Ranma. Watching the curves of Nodoka's face, Akane saw a piece of herself and then she knew. She knew for sure that Nodoka was her daughter. "My daughter…" whispered Akane and grabbed her in a Fierce embrace. Fresh tears dropped freely from both.
"Every time I come to the mortal plane I wonder why you humans like to cry so much," noted someone as they scratched their head. "Ah well. I'll never understand you mortals. Always running from me or trying to hide or doing something or the other. Sometimes I think you all hate me for some reason. Maybe I should try to get transferred…I think I could make a good wish-bringer or a fairy godfather…"
"Maybe I could become a patron or something better," the person reflected while rubbing its chin. "Nah…too boring at least this way. I get to see all the action."
By the time the little self involved conversation was over three pairs of eyes were watching the figure materialize.
"Death?" whispered Akane fearfully.
"What! Is there something on my cowl? Never will understand mortals. At least demons welcome me. Well they're afraid of me too but that's another story…"
The Death Akane saw was not the Death she had imagined. She had seen on all the American movies a dark figure with a scythe. Death had no face, and said nothing. According to superstition, its sole job was to ferry and guide souls to the underworld. The Death in front of her held a staff made of light brown wood and the robe it wore was a slightly darker brown. It was not the least menacing. Plus it talked, Death talked! No face could be seen but at least the ghostly or skeletal form that had always been portrayed did not seem true.
Death walked also, and he was approaching Tiempara. Akane's eyes glanced from one to the other and in less than a second Akane had closed the distance and fell into a defensive posture between Tiempara and Death.
"You're not going to take Ranma without getting through me first!" she told Death sternly.
"Akane-san!" exclaimed a shocked Nodoka. No one ever tried to stop Death. Death was death!
"I've waited five years just to see his face. There is no way you are going to take him away."
"Oh? And what are you going to do?" he asked with a hint of interest.
Akane did not answer. She just held her ground. Death stared at her and smiled and in a millisecond he disappeared from in front of her to reappear next to Ranma. Akane tried to compensate when she saw him reappear but Nodoka held her as she quickly intercepted.
"Let me go!" commanded Akane as she struggled unsuccessfully against Nodoka's hold.
"No dad. You can't interfere with Death. I've already lost mom. I 'm not going to lose you too," she whispered as she held back Akane with renewed effort.
Death held a hand against the chest of the fallen woman and as it rose, the body rose with it. Sparks of light began to dance around the body as a dim halo diffused out of the body. The halo grew stronger until the whole body glowed brightly. Then the light began to condense around Death's hand swirling into a bright incandescent mass. With a few low intoned words, Death shot his hand through the body carrying the swirling ball with it. His hand reappeared but the ball had disappeared completely. The body that hung in the air slowly descended until it touched soundlessly on the floor.
The body did not move again and Akane knew that Ranma had been taken from her forever. She began to weep again and her knees buckled as she felt helpless to prevent the loss of the one true love she ever had. Just like her mother, she could not stop Ranma's passing. Just like before she felt pain at the loss and at the helplessness of the situation. Nodoka held her as she sagged to the ground.
Death turned towards Nodoka as she held Akane. "Child never play poker with T'hania or the one from below. I can't believe they actually made me do this. Oh well tell your mom hi for me." He phased out of existence or rather to another plane of being.
Nodoka tried to help comfort Akane and Sano stood there in indecision wandering what he should do when they all heard a sudden gasp of air. All heads swiveled to the source of the sound and three pairs of eyes were shocked beyond belief. Tiempara was gasping for air. Before Nodoka could react, Akane was at Tiempara's side raising her slightly and cradling her body as Tiempara coughed lightly.
"Akane…No-chan…" she whispered, a faint whisper barely audible.
"Shh…Ranma. Shh…" comforted Akane as she rocked Ranma's body that was cradled in her arms and as the tears of joy freely flowed from her. She was soon joined by Nodoka and for the first time, Akane felt her family was complete.
"Keep her warm and she will be alright," advised someone in the room.
"Auntie!" exclaimed Nodoka.
The young looking T'hania only smiled. "Take care of Ranma and remember she needs rest and she needs to be warm. Having your soul returned does that to you at times. I will return when she's felling better." Then as all deities had a tendency of doing she vanished from sight.
Sano tried to help carry Tiempara but the glare he got from the women made him stand down quickly and return to the position of outside observer. However, Nodoka did give him a chore for which he was very grateful. Every second that had passed he felt even more out of place. He wanted to help her too but for some reason he knew they had stronger claims to his aunt.
Akane carried the body into her room and lay Tiempara on her bed, piling the covers on her. She moved the chair from the dressing table and placed it right next to the bed. She sat softly on the chair and continued to gaze at the woman as she slept, wiping her cheeks every few seconds.
Nodoka sat and watched. She was relieved to have her mother back but she had always felt that her mother was never totally gone and her friends could help her see her mother now and again. Visiting the realm of the dead was a tiring thing but she knew that she could ask someone to help her see or talk to her mother for a few minutes. But now her mother was back, her father was back, her family was back. She would make sure it would stay that way. A tap on the shoulder told her that Sano was back.
She took the glass from his bewildered face and walked towards the bed. Carefully she approached her mother and smirking at Akane, she poured a little on her mother's head. The shift was instantaneous and Nodoka smiled as Akane and Sano gasped.
"Well you had better get under the covers," notioned Nodoka.
"Huh...what?"
"You heard the instructions. Someone has to keep my other dad warm."
"The blankets can do that. I'd rather stay here."
The answer did not leave Nodoka a happy camper and being as stubborn as her mother had at first pronounced, she threw a packet of powder at Akane. Akane was just too preoccupied to quickly react. The little packet hit the back of her hand releasing a fine spray of dust. Nodoka smiled as Akane slumped to the ground seconds later. She clapped her hands in glee and headed over to Akane and began undressing her. As she was unbuttoning Akane she whipped her head around to find Sano staring at her unbelievingly.
"Are you a pervert!" she shouted at him, throwing the nearest object which happened to be a shoe. The shoe impacted, sending him out of the doorway and he did not reappear afterwards. He apparently had learnt his lesson.
Nodoka continued with her task and after dressing Akane for bed, she shifted the covers and slid Akane under. Then she scolded Akane belatedly. "T'hania said to keep him warm so that's you're job dad," she smirked while wagging her finger as she walked over to the other side of the bed. There she found the small pendant on her other father's chest. She smiled as she pressed it slightly. Enchanted clothing had its advantages and as the clothes faded from existence, Nodoka contentedly smiled to herself. Father and mother were sleeping where they should. Now it was time for her to exact her own vengeance.
She met Sano downstairs. He was sitting as before in a lotus position seemingly not bothered by anything around him.
"What are you going to do now?" he asked without opening his eyes.
"I am going to get those bastards who did that to my mother!"
"Are you?" he asked. "And how are you going to do that?"
"I am going back to that place. A date with certain people can get me a trip to a lot of places."
"Then let me offer my assistance," he replied and rose to meet her. Then when he was close enough his hands blurred. Nodoka had no time to react as she fell into his hands.
"What! What have you done!" she shouted indignantly. She wanted to smack him then found out to her dismay that she could not move any of her appendages.
"Your mother asked me to take care of you," he replied "And that means keeping you out of trouble too."
"Why you!" she shouted. "I'll get you for this!"
"I'm sure you will," he replied as he held her. "But today you (he pressed his index finger to her forehead emphasizing the word) are staying here."
He took her in his arms and headed back upstairs.
"Where are you carrying me?" she commanded.
"To your room."
"Your not going to…you pervert!" she cried.
He stared at her for an instant and then laughed.
"You're very good. I would've fallen for that if it hadn't been used so many times when I was travelling. Your dad's really sneaky."
Nodoka found that her bait had not worked but what he said had her intrigued. "You met Akane there?"
"Eh…no your other dad, Hitoshi…"
"Call him Ranma..."
"Ranma then. Your mom set me up. She would leave me alone but I never thought that he and she were the same. She would send me on these adventures and he would appear once in a while to give me some advice or train me. He would be there when she wasn't but he and she were the same and I never figured it out."
Nodoka smirked. "Yep…that sounds like my mom. She wasn't that smart when she was younger but she says dealing with gods and demons has made her much wiser."
"Do you…do you think she planned this?" he asked genuinely interested.
"Could she…nah. Mom doesn't plot. She hates playing with people's feelings."
"Hmm…"
Sano reached her room and softly lay her on the bed and turned to leave the room.
"Wait!" shouted Nodoka an idea popping into her head.
"What?" he asked.
"Could you….well am…could you scratch my nose?" she asked and blushed lightly.
Sano shrugged and came towards the bed approaching her. Closer, just a little bit closer she called in her mind as his finger approached then as he touched her, she shot a beam of ki through his arm. As he froze above her she continued the attack for as long as she could until she could no longer muster any more energy and let it go. Sano stood there for a second and then consciousness left him and he slumped down onto the bed.
Normally that would not have been a problem except Nodoka had left herself in an impossible situation. He had frozen her movement for the time being and she had sent him into la-la land. The only problem was that presently, he was slumped over the upper part of her body. And neither of them could move. It also didn’t help that she could feel his hot breath against the side of her face even though it was quite a distance away. What also didn't help was that the attraction she had felt earlier for him was returning as she felt his weight pressing down on her body and it was difficult for her to continue suppressing those emotions.
She would have screamed but she knew that that would accomplish nothing. Instead she tried to hold her fragile mind together as the only boy she had had any attraction for lay on top her body, unconscious and blissfully unaware of their situation. She tried to meditate but found the torment of his musky scent. She tried to sleep but this time the bridge of her nose started to scratch her. She gritted her teeth intent on lasting through this.
A single red flower pierced her vision and fell towards her nose. It fell and touched just the right spot on her nose to scratch the itch and she murmured a brief thanks to the kami in appreciation. She did not even wonder who had sent the rose before the perfume in it sent her to sleep.
The next time Nodoka awoke, the room was pitch black. In the interim while she tried to regain control of her senses, Nodoka noted that she couldn't move freely and one of her hands was trapped under something. When she tried to pull it out, the thing trapping it also moved and pulled her closer. It was then that two facts struck her. One: she was sleeping with a guy and two: the said guy was barechested. When she moved two other facts appeared in her mind. One: she wasn't wearing any pants and two: the person was Sano.
Unfortunately as she struggled, he pulled her closer until she could see the outline of his face in the darkness. She hadn't realized they were so close. Then it happened.
She moved forward slightly and all of a sudden his head jerked forward at the same time. For a moment their lips touched. She froze, shocked at the contact and momentarily she lost all thought. Then after a few seconds she blinked. She blushed then she touched her hot lips with her fingers, then for some unknown reason, she forcibly threw Sano against the wall.
Sano awoke with a start and the first thing he saw was Nodoka and a huge mallet. He did not ask questions. He just flipped as she swung causing her to miss, bringing him face to face with the door. He exited the room and flew down the stairs with Nodoka in tow still running with that mallet of hers. He turned into the kitchen and then froze. Nodoka had not expected him to do that and barreled into him. The two went sprawling into a wall in a heap.
When Nodoka cleared the stars away, she saw both parents staring at her and Sano.
"No-chan, don't you think it's too early for you and Sano to be having that kind of relationship?" asked Ranma.
Nodoka was totally confused for a second until she realized where on his body her hands were and where his hands were and how far up her chest was only other piece of clothing besides underwear she was wearing at the time. Both Sano and Nodoka had the decency to blush furiously and Sano tried his best to apologize. However, in her embarrassment, the handy mallet appeared once again and Sano was quick to evade and run.
As soon as they were out of the room Akane and Ranma burst out laughing.
"Oh dear, were we like that when we were younger?" asked Akane.
Ranma sighed as he took a seat in the kitchen. He still felt extremely tired. "Yes I guess we were."
Akane saw the tiredness marked all over his face and decided to go keep him company. That consisted of her sitting on his lap.
They had awoken sleeping next to each other. Well actually, Akane had been smothering Ranma. Fortunately for Ranma when she woke up next to him, the first thing that came to her mind was not why she was clad only in her underwear or the thought of a mallet, but was this real and was the person next to her really Ranma. After literally shoving him awake. She was ecstatic when he opened his eyes and then the embarrassment began. That was before Ranma with considerable effort caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and smiled. For some reason the embarrassment that she had used as a shield for the greater part of her life melted like butter on a hot plate. She did not feel embarrassed anymore and when their lips touched as she lay down once again, she reprimanded herself to bed warming duties for the rest of the day.
When they finally decided to leave the warmth of the bed, Akane helped Ranma to the bathroom but before they got there, they peeked into Nodoka's room and saw the two teens lying in the bed with radiant red flowers surrounding them. Akane moved to enter but Ranma held her arm.
"Leave them, that's T'hania's work. If you go inside you won’t get up for a few days," advised Ranma when he recognized those peculiar red flowers.
That said, the two of them had a few days to themselves. Those were spent trying to help Ranma recuperate. Ranma was now past where he needed her for most things but she didn't mind pampering him too much. She still had her classes and she excused Nodoka from school for the week but all the other time was spent fussing around Ranma who had today tried to help her cook. It had been successful to a small degree. The food was bland but edible.
Akane kissed him lightly on the lips and he responded in kind, then he held her with some difficulty as he stood up. "Let's go stop our daughter before she really causes Sano some pain."
Akane giggled and jumped from his hands as she helped him move around. They easily found the two in the Dojo where Sano was busily trying not to get himself imbedded into the floor.
"No-chan," called Ranma. "Please stop trying to kill Sano."
"But daddy!"
"No-chan!"
"Fine…" she growled and put away the mallet. Sano sighed in relief and slumped to the ground. "Thanks uncle, I owe you one."
"Actually I think I owe you one," replied Ranma. "After that stunt No-chan pulled, Akane and I couldn't resist pulling it on both of you," grinned Ranma.
"Daddy!" she shouted indignantly at Ranma. Then Akane giggled.
"Dad, not you too!"
"Now Nodoka, you should not be pulling pranks on your parents. Besides don’t you feel a draft in those clothes."
Nodoka then remembered that she was only wearing that shirt over her underwear. She tried to hide herself in front of Sano but it was to no avail and she ended up running frantically into the house.
"Uncle you owe me…" replied Sano. 'That is one feisty daughter you have there."
Ranma just laughed at him. "San-chan you'd better get a shirt on and remember, take care of my little girl."
"Take care of her! I think she'll kill me first."
Ranma just chuckled. "Give her time, after all, you are her first boyfriend."
Sano did not have time to react to that statement since that was the time Nodoka chose to return. This time she had a bo and she knew how to use it. She readied herself to attack Sano when Akane simply plucked it out of her hand. One minute it was there, the next minute it was not. It was all very puzzling to Nodoka.
"How did…?" she was beginning to ask.
"Oh…well, while you were not looking I decided to take this away from you," replied Akane as she hefted the bo in her hand.
"Dad!" Nodoka glared at both her fathers.
"Who me?" asked Ranma. "I think she's angry at you," Ranma told Akane.
"Don’t blame this one me," defended Akane. "You taught me how to do that."
Nodoka glared at them with even greater intensity. "You're mom," she pointed at Ranma. "And you’re dad," she pointed at Akane.
"Are you sure No-chan?" asked a smirking Ranma, "I mean I don’t think I look like a girl. What do you think Akane?"
Akane smiled and gave him the once over with her eyes as he leaned against the wall. "Uh uh. Nope," she replied as she leaned against him, "definitely not a girl."
"Fine then," replied Nodoka. "You're dad," she pointed at Akane, "and you're daddy," she added pointed to Ranma.
"I don’t get it," muttered Sano. "Isn't that the same thing."
That however attracted unwanted attention.
"Listen you, did I ask for your input. Well did I?"
Sano gulped and cowered. "Uh…no?" he replied in a meek voice.
"Then keep out of this!" she exploded.
"Ah…right…" acknowledged Sano meekly.
"Don't worry San-chan, she's only like this for a few hours," noted Ranma.
Sano ears perked up for a second.
"What!" thundered Nodoka.
"Oh No-chan. That brings back memories of when I teased your father," noted Ranma.
"Did I look like that?" Akane asked Ranma as she regarded Nodoka.
Ranma nodded and the two began to speak in hushed tones. Nodoka tried to interrupt them but no matter what she did she could not get a word in edgewise. Frustrated, she grabbed the nearest available person.
"Come on. Let's go outside and spar," she urged.
"I thought you hated me," responded Sano.
"That was then, this is now…"
"Oh?" he replied. He did not follow that logic but he followed nonetheless. He didn't favour more running but he didn't mind sparring.
When they left, Ranma and Akane began their own warm up exercises though Ranma kept his to basic exercises and more stretches.
"You're devious you know," Akane mentioned as an afterthought.
"Me?" he answered, as he played innocent.
Akane giggled. "You set them up from the beginning," she replied as she wagged her finger playfully scolding him.
"Nope, she decided for herself."
"What do you mean?" asked Akane. Generally interested in her daughter's well being.
"San-chan and No-chan were both pleading with me to find someone on their level who could spar with them and I mentioned separately the others reputation. After that they were hooked on wanting to fight, but after meeting each other for the first time I saw something…"
Akane listened even more closely.
"They didn't go all out."
Akane looked at him strangely.
"I taught No-chan and San-chan some of the tenets of the Anything Goes style without teaching them the Anything Goes and they use everything when they fight. When they did though, it was pure technique. There were no taunts or jibes and no special techniques either."
"Well that doesn't tell you anything," replied Akane.
"No it doesn't. But after that first fight they kept taking surreptitious glances at each other when they were in the same room and for the next two weeks they always asked for each other."
"That's still not conclusive," mentioned Akane.
"Maybe not," replied Ranma wryly, "but Nodoka told her friends about how she met a cute guy with nice eyes the same day of the fight, and one of Sano's teachers mentioned to me a day about some girl with red highlights in her hair that Sano thought was exotic."
"Still…"
Ranma shushed her quickly. "They told them months after they had met. And they had only met that one time."
"Oh…" answered Akane, as the truth revealed itself.
After a few seconds Akane asked Ranma a question.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"About what?"
"Nodoka and Sano."
"Me? Nothing. That's the father's job," remarked a smirking Ranma.
Akane mock glared at him. "You still haven't told me how that's possible."
"It is the truth," answered Ranma simply. "But I can't tell you as yet. Not even No-chan knows and she won't ask me until I decide to tell her."
"When will you tell me?" asked Akane pleadingly.
"Soon," he replied. "But I promised someone I wouldn't say a thing to anyone until she said I could."
"She…" replied Akane and a voice rose a notch then she caught herself. "Sorry Ranma, force of habit."
"S'okay," he replied and smiled, "but you owe me something for that."
"Oh? And what is it?"
"I think you know," he replied as he caressed her cheek.
Akane reached up and touched his lips tenderly with hers.
After a good sparring session which wasn't dominated by either of the two teens, they sat down to relax. Nodoka was breathing heavily but she was happy. At least she had a sparring partner this time who was not leagues better than her. Plus, he was cute.
Why had she thought that?
Well it was true. He reminded her a bit of her dad in the red shirt and black pants. But he wore his hair in a short ponytail that barely passed his neck. He was also broader than her father but as well defined. He was strong too. She had been the recipient of a few of his punches and kicks. She idly wondered how it would feel to pass her fingers over his firm chest and taut abs. She remembered that she had felt them through the fabric of his clothes when she had hugged him and this morning she remembered every crevice her fingers had passed over. She stepped out of her reverie for a second and realized that Sano was watching her. She turned as she blushed and started back for the house. She did not want him to see that he could make her blush.
She returned to the Dojo still trying to hide her blush and wondered where her parents were. She had to get back at her parents somehow; she wanted the satisfaction of having one up on them. She cupped her chin with her hand and tapped her cheek lightly with her fingers as she tried to think of something to get them together.
Finally her mother had found her father, no it was the other way around; her father had found her mother, or was it? Anyway, she did not know why her mother couldn't go and seek him out but there had to be a reason. Mom did not do things without a reason. Now that they were together Nodoka wanted to keep them together and to do that she had to do something fast. She knew what kind of life her mother and father lived and did not know if Akane could live with that. She had to make them make a commitment before her mom had to leave again. She knew the next time her mother left, it would be as the Lord of Chaos to go back to where he had almost died. Nodoka almost grinned as she thought of the amount of destruction her father would probably accomplish. She had to work quickly. She of all people knew how quickly he could heal.
Sano saw her thinking there and not wanting to leave without saying anything he decided to interrupt her for a second.
"Nodoka, I'm going out. I'll see you later…bye." He told her in front of her face
"Yes, going out…" she muttered then her eyes lit up. "Going out! That's it!" she exclaimed. In her excitement she gave Sano a kiss on the cheek as she bounded into the house leaving him blushing.
By the time he had regained his senses, Nodoka was harassing her parents for something when Sano found them in the kitchen preparing the final touches on lunch.
"Ah, San-chan. Nodoka has a very good idea for what we could do tonight."
As Nodoka turned around Sano wondered if he should run or listen. Running might cause an appearance of that mallet. Uncle had told him that a mallet was hard to dodge, especially when the woman in question was angry. He decided against running for the time being but gave himself enough space for an escape.
"Well Sano," drawled Nodoka. "I think we should all go out for night of dinner and dancing."
Sano thought it best to keep quiet.
"Well?" encouraged Nodoka almost pleading for him to give a comment.
"I…I…think that maybe uncle should rest, he's only been back for one day," replied Sano.
Nodoka frowned but Akane answered.
"I think a night out would be good for Ranma plus, he's been back for four days, not one."
"Huh?" replied both Sano and Nodoka.
"You were both sleeping for three days," informed Ranma.
"What! I was sleeping with him for three days!" exclaimed Nodoka.
"So!" retorted Sano. "What's wrong with that?"
"I case you haven’t noticed, you’re a boy and I'm a girl."
"And…I've slept with other girls before…"
"You've what!" Nodoka spat out then the mallet appeared.
"Hey they were my cousins…" Sano shouted to the wind as the space he left open was used.
"You come back here. How dare you sleep with another girl besides me,"
"She didn't just day that, did she?" asked Akane thinking she might have heard it wrong.
."Uh huh, told you I was right."
"Baka…" muttered Akane softly.
"Tomboy," replied Ranma.
"Oh?" replied Akane deviously. "Pervert!"
"Really. Then since you're my daughter's father, then you're a pervert too."
What followed was a series of loaded taunts and jibes, all backed with smiles.
After Nodoka calmed down without bashing Sano, the evening passed quite quickly as lunch was finally served. Ranma's condition had vastly improved since the first day and deservedly he was relaxing and watching television.
In the afternoon though, Nodoka and Akane disappeared into Akane's room leaving Ranma and Sano in the living room watching television.
"Uncle, you are a very sneaky person," noted Sano.
"Why would you say that?" asked Ranma.
"Well, you and Auntie are the same person and you never told me," he countered.
"You never asked," informed Ranma. "And I thought you would train harder if I beat you up when I was a guy."
"Well. That's kinda true."
"So then I'm not sneaky at least not a sneaky as No-chan."
"Huh?"
"Oh yes, she's very sneaky. Inherited it from her aunt I guess."
"Really…tell me more."
"Maybe tomorrow."
Ranma gave him the once over. "You need something to wear tonight."
"Well I could wear this, I mean its not like we're going anywhere fancy right?"
"Trust me on this Sano. You want to look good."
"Okay Uncle…whatever you say."
"Call me Ranma."
"I can't call you that!" exclaimed Sano.
"Why not?" asked Ranma.
"Well, you're my uncle!"
"I don’t get ya…"
"After mom died. It was either you or well your…you know…woman side who would help me."
"So what do you want to call me then?"
"I've…I've never had a father. Can I call you dad?"
Ranma clasped him on his shoulder. "Well then dad it is. Now the first thing I'm going to show you is how to dress for your date."
"What date?"
"Your date tonight with No-chan."
"But we're not dating!"
"That's what you think."
Sano was confused and his face showed it.
"San-chan, when my daughter puts her mind to something nothing can stop her. And in her mind, you are hers."
"But I haven’t even asked her out yet."
"Do you want to ask her out?"
"Well...uh…"
"Yes or no?"
Sano blushed slightly. "Yes," he replied meekly.
"That's good, cause you're gonna ask her tonight."
"I am?!"
"Well if she's anything like Akane 'cause she doesn't take after me, then she will fight you and keep on fighting you unless you ask her to go out with you. Believe me, asking her straight out will solve a lot of problems."
"But how?"
"That, is up to you. It's as far as I can take you."
"But where should I ask her to go?"
"Keep it simple. Ice-cream is good, or pizza."
"Hmm…okay."
They had reached the spare room where Sano was supposed to stay for the time he was there.
It was Ranma's old room and had not been touched.
Ranma started digging around in the back of the closet then tapped against the wooden side until he heard a hollow.
"Ahh…there it is…"
He slid his finger down the side of the panel and after a soft click the panel fell forward.
He reached in and pulled out a sealed bag. He opened the bag and some of the silicon-coated paper to reveal a black suit and a midnight blue shirt. He handed them to Sano who started to put them on. The trousers fit well enough, as did the shirt although it was slightly tight around the shoulders.
"Good now lets go take a bath I think the girls should be finished." On checking, Ranma was right.
About an hour later, Ranma had primed Sano from rogue-ish handsome to stylish handsome. Shampoo and a herbaceous conditioner had his hair shining and Ranma had cut the ponytail evenly. The suit fit Sano almost perfectly if not a tad small and Ranma handed him a green tie to offset the midnight blue underneath. It shone when the light caught it and Ranma knew his daughter would be impressed.
"Ah…um…dad…?"
Ranma smiled.
"Ah…where did you get all of this?" asked Sano.
"Oh this? This was a present from my mother when I was still here. I had to hide it from my pops in case he tried to sell it. That's how come no one knows about it."
"Oh okay, but what are you wearing."
Ranma chuckled. "You of all people should know better than to ask me that."
Ranma held the little pendant that hung around his neck and closed his eyes for a second before pressing the small blue amulet in the middle. A soft glow enveloped him and in less than a second, Ranma was wearing a stylish three-piece suit with a blue tie to offset his eyes.
"Cool huh?" smirked Ranma
"You've got to get me one of those."
"Maybe…" Ranma replied and left it hanging as he exited to go downstairs. Sano followed.
While waiting the two men wondered what could have been taking the women so long. Reservations had been made and the taxi should be arriving in thirty minutes. It would be another twenty minutes before they heard the distinct sound of heels striking a wooden floor.
Naturally they went to investigate and found two angels staring back at them. Akane wore a long flowing yellow dress that hugged and widened in the right areas as it clung tightly to her body. Nodoka chose a red dress with a slit on one side that ran right up her left thigh. Sano could not take his eyes off her and Nodoka off him. Strangely enough Ranma and Akane smiled and walked closer to each other. Ranma extended his hand towards her. She accepted graciously and the two of them virtually glided to the door.
"No-chan? San-chan? Are you coming?"
Both broke out of their trances at the same time and both responded, "Yes dad."
Akane and Nodoka stared at Sano who put on an innocent face. Ranma did not give either of the women time to ask questions as he ushered them out of the house. Akane shrugged and allowed Ranma to lead her out into the night. Nodoka did not want to leave it at that but when Sano offered his arm as he replicated his father's gesture, she accepted it without question.
It felt strange holding her so close to him and he was a bit scared but he would never tell her that. It was a bit thrilling holding her so close. He had held other girls in his hands before but he had not really been interested in them. They wanted him to be some kind of knight in shining armour. He didn't want a weak housewife who was totally dependent on him. Who would listen to his every command and just live to please him. He wanted someone more like Nodoka, fiery and independent.
Fiery. That was what she was, definitely fiery.
While Sano contemplated the taxi arrived and the four of them were on their way to the restaurant. Sano was elected to sit in front while the women sat in the back with Ranma. When they arrived Ranma was truly impressed with the establishment.
"Akane how do you know about this place?" asked Ranma.
"Well it's Kasumi's idea. She said to go here the first time I go out with a guy so here we are."
"You don’t go out?" asked Ranma incredulously.
"Well once or twice but no one could match up to you."
"That's because no one could ever match up to me," replied Ranma cockily.
"Still a super huge ego as ever," sighed Akane.
"Would you have me any other way?"
"No, I guess not," she replied as she smiled.
Ranma smiled too as he opened the door for them to enter.
Inside was not what they expected. The walls were decorated by tasteful pictures and from the ceiling, chandeliers hung providing just the right touch of light. The tables were arranged not too close to each other and a large dance floor decorated the center of the room. There were other levels to choose from also. From just the first impression Ranma could tell that it was a high-class establishment.
"Are you sure you can afford this?" asked Ranma.
"Yes, we get a 35% discount. Tofu is the doctor for the owner."
"Oh?" replied Ranma. He would have to remember to bring money the next time he dropped into Nerima. The ascended the stairs until they found a table secluded enough from the rest of the crowd.
Almost immediately, a waiter came with the menus.
"How come we weren't given a table?" asked Nodoka.
"I don’t know?" replied Akane.
Ranma just shrugged and returned to the menu.
After ordering the four fell into some idle chatter until the food arrived. They sat eating and talking until the waiter approached them again.
"Honoured customers, just a humble reminder that the tables will be put away in ten minutes."
"What was that all about?" asked Sano.
The others shrugged.
"I guess we'll find out soon," replied Nodoka.
When the tables were cleared and the chairs arranged towards the periphery the lights were toned down a bit and the music began to play. The room began to fill as other guests started filing in from downstairs.
Sano and Nodoka were not standing very close to each other and both were watching those who were entering as they were accustomed doing to see who was a threat and who was not. This however, in that setting could be taken for something else.
"Hello," greeted a girl from Sano's right, "would you like to dance?"
That was unfortunately for Sano, just within Nodoka's hearing range.
"Sorry, he's with me," she replied as she grabbed his arm and pulled him to the dance floor.
When they reached there they stood there looking at each other.
"What wrong with you?" she asked him. "Aren't you going to dance with me?"
"Uh yeah, there's just this one problem though…I don’t know how."
"That's not a problem. Here, let me show you…"
She took his arm and showed him what to do.
"That's all? It looked more difficult."
"That's just one dance…now stop being so irritating and dance with me."
Sano nodded and took her hand as she showed him to do. One arm was outstretched and the other curved around her waist as they danced. He could not see her face as she stared beyond his shoulder but he wasn't enjoying this too much. It was as if they were holding each other off for some reason. Looking around he sought to learn a few more styles of dancing and after watching the people around him for a minute. He released the hand he had held out and slowly moved it to eventually rest against her back. It had the dual effect of causing them to come closer and bringing her gaze into his vision. She was staring at him uncomprehendingly but he did not say anything. That though was when it happened. She lay her head against his chest and entwined her hands around his back.
He could smell the fragrance of her perfume and his battle awareness began to wane as his mind began to be filled with thoughts of her. Briefly he sought to break free then Nodoka unclenched her hands and held him ever tighter as they swayed. That was the turning point in Sano's mind and he lay his head against hers as they danced, a soft smiled framing his lips. If he could see Nodoka's face, he would have been greeted with closed eyes and a contented smile. They never noticed when the song changed.
Akane and Ranma smiled when they saw those two dancing peacefully; embracing each other.
"Care to dance?" Akane asked Ranma.
"Yes, but not here."
"Where then?"
Ranma led her to a door he had been eyeing for quite a while. It opened and led them to a small balcony. Then Ranma held out his hand for her and she accepted. He brought her close and then they danced slowly to the music, just the two of them.
They danced for some time and it was not clear to anyone watching if they were holding each other or clinging to each other in the hope of never letter go. They danced quietly and for no reason whatsoever, Ranma brought his hand to caress her cheek. She looked up into his eyes and almost as if they were being guided, their faces came slowly together and they kissed as they danced and all was right with the world for that night.
After some time, a small breeze picked up and Akane shivered a little as the wind cut through the material she was wearing. She frowned as the two hands around her loosened but the soft warmth of a jacket on her shoulders had her smiling again, as did the hands around her waist when he hugged her from behind.
They watched the visible part of the Tokyo skyline from where they were. They were wordless for a few minutes. Akane's thoughts drifted on him, on her, on them, on her newfound daughter, on the future…
Suddenly Akane whirled to face him, eyes ablaze.
"Ranma, when are you going?" she asked, her mind troubled.
"Going?" he asked surprised.
"I know this won't last forever. Something always goes wrong."
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well look at our past. I have you and then I lose you soon enough. Something always happens," she sighed and bowed her head
"You're not going to lose me Akane-chan," he assured her as he placed a finger under her chin causing her to face him once again.
"How do you know?" she asked quietly
"I just…I guess I don't," he replied while scratching the back of his head. He couldn't lie to her. He couldn't see the future.
"Then promise me you'll stay," she pleaded softly.
"I can do that!" exclaimed Ranma. "I have other promises to keep."
Akane could see the sincerity in his eyes. He did have promises to keep and just like the old Ranma she knew, he would try his best not to break them.
"Then there is something else…"
"What's that?" asked Ranma, a bit cautious from the last question.
"Marry me," Akane stated fervently as she grasped his shirt tightly.
"Marry you? But Akane, you don’t even know me. We haven't seen each other in five years!" contemplated Ranma.
"The old Ranma would have said 'yes' without thinking," replied Akane a bit harshly.
"The new Ranma thinks for himself," defended Ranma, "And he thinks that he might end up ruining your life," he continued in a very soft voice.
"Oh Ranma," whispered Akane as she touched his cheek. "You could never ruin my life. For five years, all I could do was think about you and what we had and what I lost." She clung to chest. "Everywhere I went, I saw you on the roof, or on the rail running, or smiling at me…" then she broke down into sobs and he held her and comforted her. She fought of his hands and stared into his eyes.
"The last three days I have felt more alive that for the last five years. I love you Ranma. It took me a long time to be able to say it without denying it but I do love you." She lay her head against his chest and sighed when she heard something.
"Yes," he whispered.
She perked up at that and stared into his eyes.
"Yes, Akane. I'll marry you," he repeated. Immediately her face transformed and radiated pure happiness. She did not hesitate then to grab him and kiss him passionately, drowning herself in her euphoria.
While they watched the skyline sitting on the balcony railing Ranma thought of something.
"Akane-chan, isn’t the boy supposed to ask the girl to marry him?"
"Not in my family," replied Akane as she smiled while holding his hands and they embraced her. "Tofu tried to ask Kasumi a number of times but he would always go crazy when he saw her and ask some random object. I remember when Kasumi asked in that innocent voice she has 'Tofu-sensei would you like to marry me?'. He had been trying to ask her and nodded before he fainted. I think dad had them married off within the week, Tofu's mother was also pushing them too. And Nabiki, she proposed to her hus…"
"Nabiki's married!"
Akane nodded and smiled. "Shh…don’t tell anyone. She married this guy a couple of months ago and she's trying to keep it a secret for a little while."
"He must have a lot of money."
"Actually no. He's in a bit of debt from university fees and teaches for a living."
"Then how?"
Akane shrugged. "Nabiki said she just couldn't get him out of her mind. She knew him from university and he used to help her in some of her classes."
"So Nabiki the Ice Queen fell in love," summed up Ranma.
"Nope. If she fell she would have got up and walked away," Akane quoted from one of Nabiki's more common musings. "She was captured."
Ranma chuckled and Akane giggled and they continued to pivot on the narrow railing as they watched the lights and the stars until they saw the time on the billboard. Akane tugged Ranma's shirt.
"Let's get the children and go."
"Go where," he asked.
"To the shrine to get married."
"What! What about your family and friends?"
"That's sweet but that's too long for me to wait."
"Akane you've waited five years, what's a week."
Akane was miffed. "Ranma," she growled slightly. "Are you backing out?"
"No," he replied as he hugged her. "I just wanted to make sure you don't regret having your family there."
Akane smiled and kissed his hand. "I have no regrets."
Inside, their hunt for Nodoka and Sano did not take them long.
"Do you think they want to get married too?" quipped Ranma.
Akane punched his arm. "They're too young," she told him. Ranma chuckled. "Good, then it's your job to convince your daughter when she makes up her mind. I'm staying away from that one."
Akane mock glared at him before they pushed through the crowd to make it to Sano and Nodoka. Akane was reluctant to disturb them. They were dancing slowly in each others arms and their closed eyes and tranquil contented smiles reminded Akane of some things she wished she had the guts to do with Ranma when she was still a teenager.
"They look so peaceful."
"Yes," he replied. "We'll have to do this another time."
Akane murmured her agreement as she tapped Nodoka on her shoulder.
"Nodoka time to go…"
"Mmm…San-chan…"
Akane and Ranma glanced at each other then simultaneously shook their heads. They did not want to know.
Then Ranma raised a finger.
"Nodoka! Sano! I challenge you!" he shouted in their ears. Both jumped and settled in fighting positions. When they looked around, they found their parents laughing at them.
"What's so funny?" asked Nodoka.
Ranma smiled. "Come on No-chan. Its time to go."
"I want to stay longer."
"Don’t worry. You and your boyfriend can come another time."
"He's not my boyfriend," she added with little conviction behind it.
Ranma just chuckled and led them out.
The taxi pulled up and they exited to the outer wall of the shrine. It was only when Akane and Ranma entered the shrine holding hands did Nodoka ask the most pertinent question of the whole afternoon.
"Ah…what are we doing here?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing much. Just getting married," replied Akane.
"Oh… What! … You're getting married!"
Ranma and Akane nodded.
"Yes!" shouted Nodoka happily as she punched the sky. "I finally get my parents hitched."
Then she found three pairs of eyes staring at her. "What?" she asked. They rolled their eyes and entered the shrine.
Inside the priest was at his station meditation when he felt someone enter. He felt the aura of his old friend Miss Tendo and some other people one of whom was…he whirled around knowing that he would see her there but when he turned around she was not there. Instead, there was a man there with the same aura. It could be her though. He had heard stories of them taking the shape of others.
"Akane-san, what may I do for you?" he asked while still keeping an eye on the man she was holding hands with.
"Tekeui-san, I'm here to get married. This…" she brought Ranma to the fore. "…is the man I was taking about. This is Ranma."
Tekeui peered at him.
"Do I know you?" he asked Ranma.
"I don't think so," replied Ranma. "But I'm not that good remembering people. Why do you think you know me?"
"You have the same aura of a girl that helped me five years ago. I was going to end it all then she showed up and asked me if I wanted some lunch. We talked for a long time about my life and she let me hold her little daughter. After that, I couldn't do it, so I became a priest."
Ranma's smile broadened.
"Well then I'll let you thank her."
A soft light enveloped Ranma's body and another body took his place: a person with long flowing red hair and deep blue eyes.
"It was you…"
"Hai, and this is the little girl you were holding."
"She's so grown up. She's even more beautiful than I thought she would be but how…"
Tiempara wagged her finger and he stopped the question.
"Enough questions, I think someone wants to get married," noted Tiempara as Akane's focus shifted between her and the shrine.
Tekeui smiled and Ranma returned as they made their way into the shrine.
The ceremony proceeded quietly and without a hitch until Ranma kissed Akane as Nodoka celebrated this with a loud whoop and Sano with whistles.
Ranma turned to his daughter while holding Akane tightly. "No-chan, do you think that you and Sano can make it home without us."
"Oh I think we could. Don't you Sano."
She jabbed him in the ribs.
"Huh…" she gave that look that meant he should say yes, so he did.
Ranma chuckled and then a little white portal opened to his side.
"Ranma do you think you should be doing that?" asked Akane with concern. "You're supposed to be resting."
He smiled. "Don’t worry. This doesn't require as much energy as you think." Then he held her in his hands and jumped through the portal.
"Where did they go?" asked Sano.
"On their honeymoon," replied Nodoka. Then she grabbed his hand and began running. "Come on. I want to be back in the Dojo before they return." Sano was forcibly pulled along before his feet caught up to his mind and he began running with her.
They had run a couple of blocks before Nodoka stopped suddenly causing Sano to slam into her. Luckily they did not land in any compromising situations.
"Hey watch where you're going!"
"You're the one who stopped," retorted Sano. "Why'd you stop anyway?"
"Uh…well I was just looking around…"
"In other words, you don’t know where we are."
"I do too," she defended.
Sano folded his arms and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Where are we then?"
"Uh…a couple of blocks from the shrine," she replied with a little confidence and a little blush.
Sano grinned.
"What are you grinning at!"
"Well if you say that you're lost, I'll tell you exactly where we are."
Nodoka fumed for a few minutes but Sano ignored her and sat on the pavement, falling into a meditative stance.
"Oh…alright…I'm lost. Now can you tell me where we are?" she asked impatiently.
"Well," replied Sano as he dusted off his clothing. "We are standing near to a 24 hour ice cream shop and someone in there will know where we are. Care to join me?" he asked as he extended an arm towards her. So far all the help dad had given him had paid off. Be patient, try a little kindness and her out. Well he'd done all of it and hopefully he'd be able to sit down with her for a little while and get to know her better.
Nodoka glared at him for a second before grudgingly accepting his arm.
Entering he smiled at old man. "Two sundaes please?" he ordered then ushered Nodoka into a seat.
"We don’t have time for this. I don’t why I even bother with you," muttered Nodoka but unfortunately Sano overheard her.
"Well I'm sorry for asking then," snapped Sano without thinking. He just wanted to treat her to some ice cream and that was the response he got! Well if she wanted to go they would go. Before Nodoka could even react he had approached the elderly gentleman behind the counter. He had only made one sundae by that time.
"I'll just have that one," ordered a bristling Sano. "Sorry," he apologized to the man seconds later. "Say do you know how to get to the Tendo Dojo in Nerima from here?"
"That's quite alright young man. I'm very glad that some teenagers still have respect for the elders. Tendo Dojo eh? Hmm…I think if you take the next right going that way, it should lead into Nerima. There you could probably ask someone."
"Thanks," replied Sano before bowing to the man. "Are you coming?" he asked a little less apologetically to Nodoka opening the door and exiting before she even responded. As Nodoka left she could almost see the old man's eyes following her as she left. She felt so…dirty, as if she had done something wrong.
She did not walk very fast but she met him by the corner where he was waiting for her. The sundae was almost finished.
"Go down that road," he pointed with his finger. "It should lead to Nerima."
Nodoka glared at him and waited for him to start walking when he didn’t she just started walking down the street. She steely continued facing forward, not wanting to give him the pleasure of seeing her turn back to look for him but as she was about to cross the road her conscience kept nagging at her to turn around. She briefly decided that she would turn around glare at him and wait for him to catch up. When she turned around though, he wasn't very close to her. In fact he was walking in the opposite direction.
"Hey! Where the hell do you think you're going!" she shouted after him.
He stopped for a second and then continued on his way.
Nodoka was stuck in a rut. Either she left him to go his own way and have to answer to dad, daddy or mom. She shuddered to think who would be worse mom would be worse… She would want to know what happened and Nodoka knew when her mom wanted to know something she would find out. The other option was to run after him and get him to come back. If she did that she would lose to Sano. She clenched her fists. Mom or Sano… Then she remembered her mother making her do those chores for that woman who pinched her cheek as punishment. Ugh…Sano was definitely better.
"Sano wait up!" she called as she sprinted after him. He wasn't walking very fast so she caught up to him quickly but he kept on walking.
"Sano wait!" she shouted as she tugged on his arm but all that did was make him drag her. "Sano wait please?" she pleaded though she didn't realize that she had.
"Why?" he asked as he threw his arms in the air in a gesture of frustration. "I mean I'm not worth bothering about right?" he replied
"I…I didn't mean it that way!" she defended.
"Oh then how do you mean it?" he asked sarcastically. "First you insult me, then you want to fight me then you want to blame me for everything. I'm tired of your childish games. Just go home. Dad'll know where he can find me."
The short soliloquy lasted a few fleeting seconds but the impact it had on Nodoka struck a chord in her conscience. Sano spared her the slightest glance as he took a step forward again. This time though a hand grasped his arm stopping him.
"I'm not leaving without you," she stated emphatically.
"Why?" he asked. "It's not like I have any reason to be here. I just came to make sure dad was okay, and he is, so I can leave."
Nodoka's resolve melted a little.
"Well go then! Just keep thinking about yourself for all I care. You never think about me anyway!"
"Why should I think about you?" he asked quizzically.
Nodoka brought a hand to her mouth. Did she just say that? Now what should she say?
After a couple of seconds of silence Sano's temper had lost all its steam and he became his usual mild tempered self. His mind also began to plot. He knew Nodoka would never answer the question directly so he had to come up with something else. He couldn't let her have a victory of any sort. No, this was his turn to win.
"I'll come with you on one condition…"
"What's that?"
"You have to wear boys clothes for the next week when I'm at home."
"What!"
"Yep. No skirt or blouses just pants or are you just chicken…"
"I'll do it!" she grumbled, she never backed out of a challenge although she wondered if she had sounded a bit too hasty accepting this one. She then grabbed his hand. "Come on we'll be late!"
Sano smiled deviously. One thing he did know about he was that she despised wearing boys' clothes and loved to wear dresses and accessories. He wondered if she would be able to do that successfully. He also noted that she had not waited or bargained with him. That could mean a few things…
They were huffing and puffing by the time they returned to the Tendo Dojo but when they entered the house they realized they were already too late. The parents were already lying on the settee watching television. The first thing Sano noticed when he caught his breath was that Akane looked a bit more mature and a bit older. Plus, she seemed to have grown that young looking sheen that auntie always had. That and a few other things that were also more noticeable. Like the fact that her aura was contaminated…well not really contaminated but…he smiled. He wondered how long that 'honeymoon' had lasted.
"Daddy! Dad!" you could have waited for me to get back scolded Nodoka.
"We wanted to surprise you," replied Akane.
She had barely got out the last few words when in a shimmer of light a short girl appeared.
"Nodoka, I asked you once if you would helped when I needed you. I need you now," announced T'hania as she appeared.
"What!" exclaimed Ranma. "What do you need her for?"
T'hania approached her and whispered into her ear something that shocked Ranma.
In seconds Tiempara replaced Ranma and she was holding onto T'hania's cloak as if for support. It was clear to all that tears were forming in her eyes.
"She is my only daughter," Tiempara whispered. T'hania just hugged her. After the hug, Tiempara changed again but this time into the Lord of Chaos. He in turn reached into his dark cloak and pulled out an instrument used sparsely over the last few hundred years. It was a brightly polished sword and Nodoka recognized it immediately.
"No-chan, you must use this on your quest. Sano, go with her."
Sano nodded his head as T'hania opened a gateway.
Before she left Nodoka ran and hugged her father. "I'll be back."
"You'd better be, otherwise I haunt you," replied Ranma in his full regalia.
Nodoka smiled and unconsciously held Sano's hand as she jumped through the portal. Akane had not been part of the exchange but she caught Ranma as he almost sagged to the floor.
"Ranma, what's happening?" asked Akane full of concern.
"My baby's fulfilling her destiny and I can't help her," whispered Ranma, frustration and despair evident in his voice. Akane just held him tighter.