karaohki@my-dejanews.com (KaraOhki)


"Breaking Free", a Ranma 1/2 fan fiction, by KaraOhki, 1997-98.
Send comments to karaohki@snet.net

Ranma 1/2 and its characters were created by Rumiko Takahashi, and are
used here with apologies to her, and without permission.

This fiction was written for my enjoyment, and for the enjoyment of
others who love Ranma 1/2.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Prologue


        The view outside the window was of night, and snow falling.  The
faint outlines of other buildings in the complex could be seen through
the blowing snow, and after a while, Soun Tendo tired of watching it
fall, and turned around.

        There were three other occupants of the room, and all of them
were asleep.  Kasumi and Nabiki were together on a couch.  Kasumi had her
arm around her sister, and wore a worried expression on her usually
serene face.  It was obvious from the tears on Nabiki's cheeks that she
had cried herself to sleep, and Soun wiped away his own tears.

        At the far end of the room a small blanket-covered figure was
curled up in an armchair, and Soun hesitantly approached her.  Akane was
sleeping, her face no longer showing the fury it had an hour ago.  As her
father observed her, Akane stirred, and the blanket slipped to the floor.
Soun picked it up, covered her gently, and went back to his own chair, to
await the return of his friends, the Saotomes, who had gone downstairs to
have a cup of tea.


                             ===============



                                Chapter 1

                            It's My Decision


        "Mrs. Saotome?"

        Akane woke, and opened her eyes.  Ranma's doctor was standing
before her.  Her expression changed from weariness to fear.

        "Yes?"

        "Please come with me.  We need to talk privately."

        Akane nodded, and tried to stand up.  The doctor could see that
she was having difficulty, and helped her out of the chair.  Without
sparing a glance for the sleeping occupants of the room, Akane followed
the doctor to his office.

        The doctor poured Akane a cup of tea, and waited for her
patiently while she sat with the cup between both palms, watching the
steam rise.  Eventually, Akane squared her shoulders, and looked up.
Ranma's doctor had sent her out of the room while he examined him, and
she had been waiting impatiently for what had seemed years for some word.

        "I'm ready.  What did you want to tell me?"

        The doctor smiled.  "Your husband has improved, Mrs. Saotome.  My
colleagues and I believe that it's no longer necessary to keep him on
life support, but the final decision is yours.  You must understand that
there is some risk, but it's very small."

        Akane nodded.  "Go on, please."

        "Do you want to go back and wake up your family, so that you can
discuss this with them?"

        Akane smiled faintly, and shook her head.  After what the doctor
had witnessed of their last "family discussion", she couldn't believe
that he'd asked.

        "No, let them sleep.  Ranma is my husband, and it's my decision.
Is it all right to go back to his room yet?  I'd like to sit with him
while I think."

        "Go ahead, and take your time.  When you're ready, use the phone
in his room to call me.  Here's my extension number."

                                  *****

        Akane entered Ranma's room, and quietly closed the door behind
her.  The equipment surrounding her husband was making the same quiet
whirring noises as before, and Akane looked around at all the read outs.
She didn't understand them, but at least none of the alarms were ringing.
She'd been present when the man across the hall died, and every alarm in
his room went off.

        Akane leaned over, and kissed Ranma's forehead, avoiding the
large bruise on one side of it.

        "I'm back, love.  Can you hear me?"

        Akane studied Ranma's face intently, but could see no change of
expression on it, or any indication that he'd heard her.  She touched the
bruise with her fingertips.  It felt hot--a contrast to his hands, which
were ice cold.

        Akane watched Ranma's chest rise and fall, in rhythm with the
machinery that controlled it.  The rest of his body was still.

        A shiver of fear ran through her, and she looked once more at the
readouts on the monitors.  Nothing had changed.  If so, what was wrong?

        Akane closed her eyes, trying to determine what was disturbing
her.  She began to see very clear images of her husband, all of them in
motion.  Akane could see Ranma running along the fence, accompanying her
to school.  She remembered him sparring with his father, and with her.

        Ranma was always in motion, it seemed.  Even when they lay in
each other's arms late into the night, talking, he was always caressing
her, or tangling his fingers in her hair.

        Akane opened her eyes, and looked at Ranma again.  Normally when
he slept she could still see the life under the surface, his vitality.
This was not sleep, this was like death.

        Coming to that realization was enough to help Akane make her
decision.  She started to rise, and fell back into the chair, one hand to
her stomach.  Akane raised Ranma's hand to her cheek, holding it there
while her tears fell onto it.

        "Please come back to us, Ranma.  We both need you.  I don't want
to raise our daughter by myself."

        Akane placed Ranma's limp hand flat against her stomach, hoping
he would feel the movement within.  There was no reaction from him, and
she released his hand and reached for the phone.

                                  *****

        The wind whistled in Ranma's ears, and the darkness around him
was impenetrable.  He wanted to raise his arms and feel around in the
dark to find out where he was, but his muscles wouldn't respond.

        What kind of place was he trapped in, and why couldn't he move?

        Then Ranma stopped struggling, because he heard a faint voice
calling to him.  He recognized the voice, and tried to answer.

        "Akane?"

        The word never reached his lips.  Ranma felt something blocking
his throat; something that prevented him from speaking, and even from
breathing.  He struggled against it.

                                  *****

        Genma strode down the hallway, and spotted Ranma's doctor ahead
of him.  He increased his pace, and soon pushed his way through the crowd
of medical personnel accompanying the doctor.

        "How is my son, Doctor?  Has there been any change?"

        "He's improved, Mr. Saotome.  I'm on my way to disconnect the
respirator, so that he can start breathing on his own."

        "How dare you do such a thing without consulting me!"

        "Excuse me, sir, but the decision was his wife's."

        The light of battle in Genma's eyes was enough to make the doctor
back up a step, but before he could respond a piercing alarm came from
Ranma's room.  The door flew open, and Akane emerged, and grabbed the
doctor's arm.

        "Help him, help him, please!"

        Genma started to follow everyone as they ran into Ranma's room,
but one of the doctor's assistants closed the door, and stood in front of
it.

        "I'm sorry, sir, but you can't go in right now."

        "But if Akane can go in..."

        "There isn't enough room, sir.  Stay nearby, and I'll keep you
informed."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 2

                            A Look Backwards


        Akane moved her chair close to Ranma, so that she could hold his
hand.

        When the doctor had come into the room, he'd discovered that the
alarm was ringing because Ranma was trying to breathe on his own, which
was impossible with the tube going down his throat.

        Akane had been close to panic, but once the tube had been
removed, she was relieved to see him stop struggling, and breathe
normally.  She was concerned though, that he hadn't woken up.  The
doctor, though, reassured her.

        "Give him time, Mrs. Saotome.  He's been through a lot.  I'm sure
he'll be waking up within the next few hours.  I'll send up something for
you to eat, and you should get some rest."

        "I'm not really hungry, Doctor."

        The doctor folded his arms, and frowned at her.

        "You may not be hungry, but you need to eat for your child's
sake.  And after the scene in here with your family, you need some rest."

        Akane flushed.  Her father and father-in-law had burst into the
room.  They'd berated Akane for making the decision to stop the life
support without consulting them, and accused the doctor of trying to kill
Ranma.  The doctor's response (with Akane's full agreement), was to have
them tossed out of the hospital.  Akane, however, was not about to leave
Ranma's side.

        "Please don't tell me to leave."

        "I wouldn't.  Someone will bring in a cot for you."

        Akane turned back to Ranma, and leaned over to kiss his cheek.
His hands were warmer than they had been, and he looked more comfortable.
She was determined to stay awake until he opened his eyes, and decided to
keep herself alert by talking to him.

        "Has it ever been easy for us, love?  Remember what happened
after the wedding everyone spoiled for us?"

                                  *****

        Akane sat beside Ranma, fidgeting, while her father lectured
them.

        "...so we'll have to postpone the wedding for now."

        Soun finished talking, and left the room.  Ranma and Akane looked
at each other uncomfortably, and got up.  Ranma started to walk away, but
Akane put her hand on his arm to stop him.

        "I'm sorry about the water, Ranma.  You deserved to be cured."

        "Yeah, Akane.  I'm sorry, too."

        Ranma looked like he wanted to say something else, but turned
around and left.  He went outside, and sat down by the pond.  Akane was
sorry he wasn't cured, but was she sorry they weren't married?  She
couldn't tell.

        Akane looked at Ranma sitting by himself, and resisted the urge
to go sit beside him.  If he'd wanted her company, he could have asked
for it.  Perhaps he was relieved that their wedding had been interrupted.
She had to put it behind her, and go back to school as if nothing had
happened.

        That was easier said than done.  First of all, Ranma had left his
usual perch on the fence, and walked beside her all the way to school.
He hadn't been very talkative, but having him so close made her nervous.
Akane would have been more nervous, however, if she'd had any idea what
awaited her at the school gates.

        When they turned the corner, all of the male students were
waiting for Akane.  They shoved Ranma aside, and surrounded her.

        "Akane, you're free again!  Date me!"

        This and other similar demands were hurled at Akane, and she
began to react the same way she had in the past.  Ranma pushed his way
towards her, past flying bodies and books.

        "Leave me alone!  Go away, all of you!"

        Ranma's voice stopped them.  Without shouting, his quiet question
made them all pay attention.

        "What gives you guys the idea that Akane is available?"

        One of the seniors stepped forward, a sneer on his face.

        "You didn't marry her, did you?"

        The boy stepped towards Akane, reaching out his hand, but Ranma
stepped between them.  Akane jumped, looking at Ranma in surprise when he
took her hand, and held it firmly.

        "Don't even think about it.  Akane is still my fiancee."

        Before Akane could recover enough to respond to Ranma's
statement, an unwelcome voice chimed in behind them.

        "Is that so, Saotome?  An honorable man would have married her.
You failed."

        Akane yelped as Ranma's grip tightened involuntarily.  He let go
of her hand, looking apologetic, and turned around to face Kuno.

        "I can't believe you have the nerve to talk about honor, Kuno,
after what you did."

        For the first time, Ranma actually heard Kuno stutter.

        "I, um, um, had..."

        "Would you spit it out already?"

        "I had to, Saotome.  How could I allow my precious Akane Tendo to
make such a horrible mistake, and ruin her life?"

        As Ranma's foot connected with Kuno's chin, he felt a wave of
searing heat, and saw a small fist beside his foot.  Kuno sailed away,
leaving a small trail of smoke in the blue sky.

        Ranma quickly stepped away from the source of the heat.  Akane
was glowing with anger, both fists tightly clenched.  The glow slowly
faded as she calmed down, and Ranma then stepped forward and took her
hand.  The crowd parted before them, and they walked into the school.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                              Chapter Three

                              The One I Want


        Akane took another sip of her soup, and yawned.  The light coming
through the window was getting brighter, though the snow still fell.
Despite her determination to stay awake, Akane had fallen asleep sitting
next to Ranma.  When she'd awakened, she'd found herself on the cot in
his room, covered with a blanket.

        Akane lost interest in her soup, and put it aside.  She stroked
Ranma's cheek, and smiled at him.

        "You need a shave, love."

        Ranma didn't respond, and Akane kissed his cheek.  The stubble
tickled.

        "Where were we when I fell asleep?  Let's see..."

                                  *****

        If Akane thought that the worst was over once she'd left the boys
behind, she was mistaken.  The girls were waiting for her inside.  Akane
was surrounded by her friends, some of whom expressed sympathy, and some
of whom congratulated her on a narrow escape.  Akane wasn't sure which
viewpoint reflected her own, and kept quiet.  She was unable to maintain
that silence; however, when Toshi approached her.  She and Akane had
never gotten along, and Toshi couldn't help but rub her nose in what had
happened.

        "Oh poor, poor, Akane!  It's bad enough that you hate your
fiance, but to be rejected by him like that!  You must be devastated."

        Akane flushed, and stood up.

        "You are mistaken, Toshi.  We were interfered with."

        Toshi smiled in a way that made Akane want to slap her.

        "And if you hadn't been, Akane dear?  Would Ranma have married
you, or would he have run for his life?"

        Akane just stood there, unable to respond.  Across the room,
Ranma was surrounded by his friends, who were alternately teasing him and
sympathizing with him.  He wasn't paying too much attention, because he
was observing Akane.  Ranma could see that she looked very unhappy.  He
wasn't too concerned, since he knew that she was capable of taking care
of herself, but when Akane turned white he left his friends behind and
crossed the room to her side.

        "Akane, what's wrong?"

        "Nothing, Ranma."

        Refusing to take that for an answer, Ranma grabbed Akane's arm
and dragged her out to the hallway.

        "Don't lie to me, Akane.  Tell me."

        "I can't.  Not here."

        "Then we're leaving.  Go get your sweater, Akane, and meet me
behind the building."

        Akane was halfway to her locker when she stopped, and looked
behind her.  She and Ranma had missed so much time from school because of
their trip to China, and he'd just asked her to cut class with him.  Why
was she listening?  It was too late to say no, though, and she continued
on her way.

        Ranma re-entered the classroom and gathered his and Akane's
things together.  When he left the room and headed for the back door, he
was unaware that he was being followed.

                                  *****

        Ranma left the school and headed for a small stand of trees
behind the building.  This would be a good place to talk to Akane
privately.  He sensed the presence of someone behind him, and spoke
without turning around.

        "That was fast, Akane."

        "It's me, Ran-Chan."

        Ranma whirled.  Ukyo stood behind him.  He hadn't seen her since
she'd help break up his wedding.

        "Go away, Ukyo.  I have nothing to say to you."

        Ukyo looked rather disappointed, and came closer.

        "Not even a thank you, Ranma?  After all, I helped save you from
a fate worse than death."

        Ranma's anger toward Ukyo, which had been simmering for days,
exploded.

        "How dare you!  Do you expect me to thank you for what you did?
You might have killed Akane!"

        Ukyo's face fell.

        "You mean you would have married her?  But I thought you cared
for me!  Please, Ran-Chan..."

        Before Ranma could react, Ukyo had thrown herself onto him,
kissing him passionately.  He put his hands on her arms, to try to push
her away, and heard a gasp.  Akane had arrived.

        Ranma forcefully pushed Ukyo away from him, and held out his
hands to Akane, who was backing away.

        "Akane, wait!"

        Akane was looking at him with wide eyes, and was even paler than
she'd been previously.  Se let out a strangled sob, turned, and ran.
Ranma started after her, but Ukyo grabbed his arm, trying to restrain
him.

        "Ranma, don't leave!  Please, you must have felt something just
now.  You can't say that didn't mean anything to you."

        Ranma slowly turned to Ukyo.  He saw that she was trying not to
cry, and knew that what he was about to say wouldn't help.

        "I did feel something, Ukyo.  I felt sick.  Don't touch me
again."

        As he'd expected, Ukyo burst into tears, and Ranma hesitated for
a second.

        He was stuck once more in the position he hated most--caught
between two women.  Only, for the first time, his choice was clear.  He
knew who he wanted to be with.  Ranma retrieved his and Akane's bags from
the ground, and left Ukyo behind.

        Ranma ran all over town, looking for Akane, but no one had seen
her, and she wasn't in any of the places he'd usually found her before.
He finally concluded that she'd gone home, and started toward the dojo.

                                  *****

        Akane ignored Ranma's plea for her to wait, and ran.  They had
become so close over the past few months, and even more so in China, and
to see him kissing Ukyo was too much to bear.

        She ran blindly, not looking where she was going, and found
herself at home.  Akane stopped before going inside to compose herself,
and wipe away her tears.  It obviously wasn't enough, to judge by her
sister's reaction.

        "Akane, what are you doing home?  Is something wrong?"

        "No, Sis.  I just don't feel well.  Excuse me, I think I want to
lie down."

        Akane locked her door, and sat down on the bed.  Sooner or later
Ranma would come home, and she didn't know what she was going to say to
him.  Her usual response, which would be to hit him, didn't seem to be an
option.  Akane felt too miserable to hit Ranma.

                                  *****

        Kasumi wasn't surprised to see Ranma arrive home a few minutes
after Akane did.

        "If you're looking for Akane, Ranma, she's upstairs.  Did you
have another fight?"

        "No, Kasumi, but I'm sure she's mad at me.  I'd better go up."

        The house was quiet, and Ranma was grateful that his parents and
Akane's father were not at home.  They'd been spending a lot of time away
from the house lately.  At least they'd miss the explosion.  He went
upstairs, and knocked softly on Akane's door.

        "Akane?  May I come in?"

        "Go away, Ranma."

        "No, Akane.  Let me in.  Now."

        Something in Ranma's tone made Akane get up and unlock her door.
She opened it for Ranma, and returned to the bed.  Ranma closed the door
behind him and sat down in Akane's chair.

        "Akane, please let me explain what you saw before."

        "Why, Ranma?  I'm tired of your excuses.  I know what I saw.  You
were kissing Ukyo."

        "No, Akane, she was kissing me.  It's not what I wanted."

        "Ranma, don't bother.  I'm tired.  I'm tired of having to compete
for your attention.  I'm tired of listening to this over and over again."

        "Damn it, Akane, would you please listen to me!"

        Ranma hadn't meant to shout at Akane, and seeing her eyes fill
with tears and overflow increased his guilt a hundredfold.  He pulled her
into his arms, and let her cry on his shoulder.

        Akane tried to withdraw from Ranma's arms, but he wouldn't let
go, and she gave up and sobbed into his shoulder.  When she finally
calmed down, he let go, and she pulled back and looked up at him, rubbing
her eyes.

        "Akane, don't you know by now that you're the one I want?  I love
you."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 4

                               Hard Times


        The wind had stopped its roaring, leaving Ranma alone in the
darkness.  He could still hear Akane calling to him, and he tried to
answer.

        "Akane?"

        Ranma's faint whisper made Akane jump.  She stopped her
narrative, and leaned toward him.  Had she imagined it?

        "Ranma?  Ranma, can you hear me?"

        Ranma thought he heard Akane again, but was unable to answer.  He
was overpowered by the need to rest, to sleep...

        Akane waited for some time, hoping Ranma would speak again.
After a while she sighed, found a more comfortable position in her chair,
and started her story again.  She was so sure that Ranma was listening.

                                  *****

        Ranma could feel his face turning red.  No, not just his face.
The blush was spreading down his neck, creeping toward his chest.

        Ranma couldn't believe that he'd blurted out the words "I love
you" to Akane.  After all the planning he'd done, waiting for the perfect
moment, to tell her in the middle of an argument?  He knew she was going
to clobber him, and waited.

        To his surprise, Akane froze, and then smiled.  Taking the smile
as an encouraging sign, Ranma gathered Akane back into his arms, and
tilted her chin up with one hand.

        Akane had wanted to hear Ranma say he loved her for such a long
time that at first nothing else mattered.  She melted into his embrace,
and turned her face toward his, waiting to be kissed.

        Then an unwelcome vision came before her eyes.  Ranma, kissing
Ukyo.

        Ranma was almost pushed off the bed by the violence of Akane's
shove.

        "Don't touch me!"

        "What?"

        Ranma inched further away from Akane, who looked like she was
going to breathe fire.

        "You liar!  How do you expect me to believe you, after what I
saw?"

        Akane expected Ranma's usual reaction.  Anger.  Shouting.  That
wasn't what she got.  Instead, Ranma's entire body sagged.  For one
uncomfortable second, she thought he was going to cry.  Then Ranma
visibly controlled himself, and spoke in a quiet, sad voice.

        "Just once, Akane, I wish you would trust me.  I guess it's too
much to hope for."

        Ranma got up, and walked toward the door.  In those few seconds,
their entire relationship flashed through Akane's memory.  How many times
had she trusted Ranma with her secrets, even with her life?  Akane ran to
him, threw her arms around him from behind, and rested her cheek on his
back.

        "I'm sorry, Ranma.  Please tell me what happened today.  I'm
listening."

                                  *****

        Kasumi hummed to herself as she worked.  She set the teapot on a
small tray, and added the sandwiches and fruit.  At first, she had been
worried when she heard Akane shout at Ranma, but she hadn't heard any
further outbursts.  Perhaps her sister was finally coming to her senses.
She picked up the tray, and started upstairs.

                                  *****

        Ranma finished his story, and waited for Akane to speak.  She
hadn't interrupted him once, but had sat there quietly, letting him talk.
The only strong reaction she'd showed was to gasp and turn pale when he
told her what he'd said to Ukyo.

        When Ranma stopped talking, Akane looked down at her lap, and
clasped her hands together.  She didn't know what to say to him.  Because
of her jealousy and lack of trust in Ranma, she had nearly chased him
away.  Finally, she managed a whisper.

        "I, I'm sorry, Ranma.  I do believe you."

        Akane wanted to continue, and was very impatient with herself
when the tears began again, especially when she heard the concern in
Ranma's voice.

        "Akane, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to make you cry."

        Akane finally looked up, shaking her head.  Ranma couldn't
believe it when he saw that she was smiling.

        "Baka.  You don't know anything about girls, do you?  We cry when
we're happy."

        "That has got to be the most kawaiikune thing..."

        Ranma found Akane's hand over his mouth, and was unable to
complete his statement.  Then Akane leaned closer, and whispered into his
ear.

        "Be quiet, Ranma.  I'm trying to tell you that I love you, too."

        Akane started to withdraw her hand from Ranma's mouth, but he
grabbed her wrist, pressed a kiss into her palm, and then released it.
Once more, he leaned forward, closed his eyes, and

        Missed.

        Akane had closed her eyes, but they flew open when Ranma's kiss
landed on the side of her nose.  She tried to suppress it, but couldn't
help giggling.  Soon they were in each other's arms, laughing helplessly.

        Ranma's second attempt was more successful.  First kisses are
often clumsy and awkward, and this was one of them, but it was intriguing
enough for them to try a second, a third, and a fourth.  They'd lost
count when the door opened, and Kasumi came in.

        "Oh my."

        Ranma immediately released Akane, who turned bright red.  Kasumi
walked in, set the tray on the desk, and walked back to the door.  She
started out of the room, turned back, and smiled.  Then she left, without
a word.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 5

                             Leave Us Alone


        Akane got up to stretch, and walked to the window.  In the early
morning light she could see the traffic slowly making its way through the
snowy streets.  Akane watched for a while as a crew of hospital employees
came out to clear the sidewalk and paths, and then left the window to
return to Ranma's side.

        "Everything was so perfect when it was just the two of us, Ranma.
It was the rest of the world that wouldn't leave us alone, not even our
own families."

                                  *****

        Even though Ranma and Akane made no direct announcement to their
families about the resolution of their differences, their obvious
contentment in each other's company was evidence enough.  Soun and Genma
positively swelled with pride, claiming all of the credit, and began
quiet preparations for another wedding, without the knowledge or consent
of the prospective bride or groom.

        At school, however, things were anything but quiet.  The young
men at Furinkan High could not accept or become accustomed to the sight
of Ranma walking into the schoolyard every day holding Akane's hand.
Whether the individuals concerned were among the group of disbelievers or
those who were intensely jealous, the results were the same for Ranma.
He wasn't left alone for a minute.  Ranma had too much pride to feel the
need to explain his relationship with Akane to the disbelievers, and as
far as the others were concerned, if they wanted to challenge him for
Akane's affection, they knew what kind of treatment they'd receive.

        After a few of them were carried away unconscious, the challenges
stopped, with the exception of Kuno, who insisted that Ranma had used
some sort of enchantment on Akane, and demanded that he release her.
Ranma took great pleasure in keeping Kuno off balance, with words and
fists.  Since Kuno's ego was so large that he believed Akane cared for
him, he refused to believe that she was lost to him until Ranma made his
claim on her evident to the world.

                                  *****

        Akane was writing a report when Ranma knocked on her door.

        "Akane, are you busy?"

        Akane finished jotting down the rest of her sentence, and closed
her book.

        "Just finishing my homework, Ranma.  Why?  Aren't you doing
yours?"

        "I'm done, Akane.  Meet me in the dojo."

        Akane quickly finished what she was doing, and ran down to the
dojo.  She was eager to have an opportunity to be alone with Ranma.  It
seemed that every time she tried to be with him, someone or something was
in the way.  When she slid the door open, Ranma was sitting on a pile of
mats, waiting for her.

        "Akane, please lock the door."

        Akane raised her eyebrows at the request, but locked the door and
joined Ranma on the mats.  Ranma hugged her briefly, and then just sat
there, looking at her.

        "Is something wrong, Ranma?"

        Ranma shook his head, and reached out to touch Akane's cheek.

        "No, Akane.  Not as long as the door is locked and no one can
bother us."

        "Do you mean what's happening at school, Ranma?  I'm getting
tired of it, too."

        "Not just at school, Akane.  Our families, too.  I wish they'd
stop trying to run our lives.  Our fathers started when we were babies,
and they're still at it."

        Akane stared.  What was Ranma saying?  She began to speak, but
Ranma hushed her.

        "Don't, Akane.  Let me finish.  What I'm trying to say is, we
should make our own decisions, and I need to know what you want."

        "What I want, Ranma?"

        Ranma's previous words had come out in a rush, as if he'd been in
a hurry to get them out.  Now he spoke haltingly.

        "Akane, I mean our engagement.  Um... because... I need to know
- is it because your father said so?  Becaause I don't want that.  I love
you, Akane.  Will you marry me because YOU want to?"

        Akane's answer was so soft it was nearly a whisper.

        "I want to, Ranma."

        Akane found herself in an embrace that was so tight she couldn't
move.  Her cheek was crushed against Ranma's chest, and she felt his
heart thumping.  Then Ranma abruptly released her.

        "Close your eyes, Akane."

        Akane obediently closed her eyes, and felt Ranma pick up her
hand.  She had a hard time keeping them closed as she felt something
slide onto her finger.

        "Okay, you can look now."

        Akane looked into her fiance's eyes before she looked down at her
hand.  He was smiling, the lines of tension that had been there earlier
gone.  Then she looked down at the ring on her finger, which was gold,
holding a small pearl.

        "How beautiful, Ranma."

        Ranma drew her back into his arms for a kiss, and paused for a
moment.

        "Not as beautiful as you are."

                                  *****

        Across the room, behind a set of weights, a small pig dozed.
He'd been wandering all day, and had found himself (once more) at his
beloved Akane's house.  Since she wasn't expected home from school yet,
he'd hidden himself in the dojo to await her return.  A strange sound
disturbed his slumber, and he stirred, and looked up, horrified at what
was happening across the room.

        Akane was in Ranma's arms, and he was (as P-Chan viewed it)
mauling her.  P-Chan got up to cross the room, and was frozen as he
watched Ranma lower Akane to the mat, still kissing her passionately.
One of Akane's hands clung tightly to Ranma's pigtail, while the other
held onto him.

        P-Chan squealed, and ran toward them.  Ranma and Akane both
became aware of his presence when he leaped onto Ranma, scratching his
cheek.  Ranma let go of Akane, and grabbed the pig.

        "Will you stop that!"

        "Wait, Ranma."

        "Akane?"

        "Give him to me."

        Akane took the pig, and walked to the door.  She unlocked it,
opened it, and bent down to put him outside.

        "I'm sorry, Ryoga.  You're disturbing us.  Please leave."

        P-Chan cringed at hearing his true name, and behind Akane, Ranma
gasped.  Then the pig turned, and ran.  Akane re-locked the door, and
returned to Ranma, sitting beside him.  She gently touched the scratch on
his cheek, which was no more than a red mark that would soon fade.

        "Akane, you knew?"

        "Yes, Ranma."

        "How long?"

        "I figured it out a while ago."

        Ranma looked mystified.

        "I thought you would kill the both of us.  I couldn't tell you,
Akane, because it was my fault.  I accidentally knocked Ryoga into the
spring."

        Akane giggled.

        "I knew there had to be a reason why he was so angry at you.
Poor Ryoga.  I think his curse is worse than yours."

        "Worse?"

        "At least you stay human."

        Akane put her arms around Ranma's neck, and brought her lips
close to his.

        "But I like you better male."

        Ranma was picking up where he left off when there was a knock on
the dojo door.  Thinking it was his father, he was about to shout at him
when Kasumi's voice came through.

        "Ranma, Akane, dinner is ready."

                                  *****

        Everyone was already seated at the table, and Kasumi was passing
bowls of rice around, when Ranma and Akane entered and sat down.  Ranma
felt something in the air, and looked suspiciously at his father, who was
acting oddly.

        "What's going on, Pop?"

        "You'll have to start packing, boy.  We're moving back to our
house.  Your mother and Tendo have been helping me work on it for weeks."

        "Pop?"

        Nodoka responded.

        "We've been here long enough, dear.  It's time to go home."

        Akane involuntarily gasped, and clutched Ranma's hand.

        "No."

        The word came from both of them, causing everyone to focus
attention on the couple.  Despite the fact that Akane's small hand was
almost entirely swallowed by Ranma's, Nabiki's sharp eyes focused on her
ring.

        "What's that on your hand, Akane?"

        After the initial pandemonium died down, Akane's father folded
his arms, and looked seriously at the pair.

        "If Ranma is going to stay in this house, Akane, then you have to
marry him.  Now."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 6

                              Wedding Blues


        Akane paused, and chuckled.

        "I can still remember the dead silence at the table after Daddy
made that statement.  Neither of us knew what to say, at least I didn't,
and then I saw you turn red..."

                                  *****

        Ranma stood up, dragging Akane along with him.

        "Will you stop it, already!"

        Soun's mouth dropped open.

        "Ranma?"

        "Stop trying to tell us what to do.  It's our decision to make,
not yours."

        Genma cleared his throat, and Ranma looked down at his father,
frowning.

        "You have something to say, Pop?"

        "That's right, Son.  The two of you have a decision to make.  So
go make it."

        "Now?"

        "That's right, Ranma.  Now."

        Ranma looked at Akane, and she nodded.  They filled a couple of
bowls from the table, and took them upstairs to Ranma's room, where they
could eat and talk in (relative) quiet.  Soft footsteps told them that
someone was trying to listen in, and they turned on a radio to make it
difficult for the eavesdropper, whoever it was.

        At first, they ate quietly, not speaking at all, because they
didn't know where to start.  Then Ranma pushed his bowl aside, and looked
toward the window, away from Akane.

        "Why are they in such a hurry, Akane?  I mean, we're only
seventeen--we still have another year of school."

        "I don't know, Ranma.  That's just the way they are, I guess.
What should we do?"

        Ranma thought for a minute, and Akane watched his expression.  It
wasn't encouraging.

        "Akane, they must feel they've backed us into a corner.  If we
don't get married, I'll have to go live with Mom and Pop, and they know
we don't want to be separated."

        Ranma paused, and then smiled, taking both of Akane's hands.

        "To tell you the truth, I'm tempted to go along with it.  I like
the idea of making you all mine.  Permanently."

        "I am yours, Ranma.  You know that."

        Ranma pulled Akane into his lap, and answered her statement with
a kiss.

        "Then we tell them yes?"

        "I think we should.  But there are things we should talk about
first."

        Nabiki put her ear to the door and strained harder, trying to
hear.  The music defeated her, and she walked away, frustrated.  Next
time, she'd make sure she hid a microphone in the room.

                                  *****

        When Ranma walked Akane back downstairs, Kasumi and Nabiki were
nowhere to be seen, but their parents were still sitting at the table.
Nodoka was pouring tea, and poured two more cups when she saw them.
Genma waited until they were seated, and then spoke.

        "Well, what do you have to say for yourselves?"

        "We're getting married, Pop."

        "Good!  Now..."

        "Wait a minute, Pop.  But not right now.  After school ends for
the summer."

        Genma looked like he was ready to argue with Ranma, but his wife
put her hand on his arm, and gave him a look that plainly meant "be
quiet".

        "What are you trying to say, Ranma?"

        "Mr. Tendo has enough to do right now, planning Nabiki's
graduation party, and Akane and I are still trying to catch up on what we
missed while we were in China."

        Soun had been sitting there, nodding, and he smiled at the pair.

        "That's fine, Ranma.  It will give us more time to plan your
wedding."

        Akane caught her father's eye, and when he saw her expression,
his face fell.

        "No, Daddy.  Not again.  Ranma and I talked it over, and we'd
prefer something small, and quiet."

        It took all of their determination to withstand the pressure that
was put upon Ranma and Akane after their parents heard her statement.
After some time, it became obvious to them that the young couple were
united in their decision, and that nothing would make them change their
minds.

                                  *****

        Akane got up, and went into the bathroom for some warm water and
a washcloth.  She bathed Ranma's face and hands, and sat down again.

        "It took us a long time to learn that two of us together were
stronger than being apart, and it's a good thing we did, honey, because
everyone gave us such a hard time."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 7

                            Doing It Our Way


        At first, it seemed as if their families had taken Ranma and
Akane seriously, and were not going to interfere in their plans.

        Ranma moved out of his room into a small guest room, so that he
and Akane could redecorate the one he had been using.  Kasumi and Nodoka
had looked at their plans, and begun to comment on the color and style,
but one look from Akane had been enough to make them clear their throats
and change the subject.

        The elaborate wedding dress that had been chosen for Akane upon
her return from China had been returned, and Kasumi wanted to take Akane
shopping for another, but she had other plans in mind.  Taking her older
sister's hand, she led her up to the attic.

        "This is what I want to wear, Sis.  May I try it on?"

        Akane had opened a trunk, and removed her mother's wedding
kimono, and held it up, trying to see if it would fit.  Kasumi smiled
wistfully, and brought her sister downstairs to her bedroom.

        "Turn around, Akane, and let me look at the back."

        Akane obediently turned around, and Kasumi tugged at the kimono,
and then backed away a few steps.

        "It looks lovely on you, Akane, but it's a little bit long.  We
can shorten it, and then it will be perfect."

        Kasumi paused, and then sighed.

        "Father will cry, you know."

        Akane couldn't help giggling.

        "Kasumi, Daddy would cry no matter what I was wearing."

        Spring break was coming closer, and that meant Nabiki's prom was
coming up.  Focus shifted from the wedding to the prom, and the
graduation that would follow.  Or at least that was what Akane thought.
Ranma, for his part, didn't believe it, and told her that.

        "Akane, don't let them fool you.  Our parents are up to
something."

        "What makes you think so, Ranma?"

        "Don't be a dummy, Akane.  Every time we walk into the room, they
stop talking, and look embarrassed, especially Pop.  He couldn't keep a
secret if his life depended on it."

        "WHAT did you just call me?"

        Ranma backed off a step, and didn't respond, at first.  When he
did open his mouth, what came out wasn't very understandable.

        "Um, um... um..."

        "RANMA NO BAKA!!!"

        Akane lifted her hand to slap Ranma, and brought herself up
short.  She looked at her hand, and then at Ranma, stricken.  Their
relationship was far from perfect - they still had their share of
arguments - but she'd promised herself to try not to hit him.  Akane
turned around, and ran.  She flew up to her bedroom, locked the door, and
threw herself onto her bed.

        When was she going to learn to control her temper?  Akane started
to clench her fists, and found that her hands were shaking.  Then,
strangely, she began to laugh.  She would probably learn to control her
temper when Ranma stopped making stupid remarks.

                                  *****

        Ranma sighed sadly as he watched Akane run out of the room.  When
was he going to learn to stop calling Akane names?  Maybe when she
learned to listen to what he had to say.

        He left the house, and entered the dojo.  He and Akane had been
drawing up lesson plans for the summer.  They intended to begin teaching
as soon as school let out, and continue until it began again.  He sat on
the floor, pencil in his mouth, and read the plans.  Soon, the mental
exercise calmed him, and he forgot that he and Akane had been arguing.

                                  *****

        Akane calmed herself, and went downstairs.  She didn't see Ranma,
and wondered where he'd gone.  Probably off somewhere to calm down, she
concluded.

        Akane went to the living room, and opened a drawer.  She wanted
to look at her parents' wedding album, to see what kind of flowers and
jewelry her mother had worn with her wedding kimono.  There was a file
folder on top of the album, and when Akane lifted it up to get the album,
quite a few papers fell out.  Akane took one look, and snatched up the
papers and file, the album quite forgotten.  She quickly scanned them,
and went pale.  Then she turned red, took the folder, and went looking
for her fiance.

        Ranma heard the dojo door slide open, and lifted his head from
his reading.  Akane stood there, looking extremely upset.  Ranma braced
himself, wondering what he had done wrong this time.

        "Ranma, honey, I... I..."

        Ranma was taken aback.  Akane rarely used endearments when she
spoke to him.  She was obviously having difficulty continuing, and Ranma
put his papers aside and got up.  He brought Akane inside, closed the
door, and sat down with her.

        "What's wrong?"

        "I'm sorry, Ranma.  You were right.  Here."

        Akane handed Ranma the folder, and he began looking through the
papers in it.  What he found confirmed his suspicions that their parents
were plotting again.

        The folder contained a guest list - a VERY long guest list - for
their wedding.  Ranma continued reading, and discovered elaborate plans
for a reception, and receipts covering formal wear, formal wear that he
and Akane had told their parents was unnecessary.

        Ranma closed his eyes, and counted to ten.  It didn't help.

        "I've had it, Akane.  Forget it - we're not going to do this.
Forget the whole thing."

        Akane gasped.

        "The whole thing?  We're not getting married?"

        Ranma dropped the folder, and pulled Akane into his arms.  She
was shaking, and close to tears.

        "No, that's not what I mean, Akane.  Take it easy!  We're going
to get married, but we're going to do it our way."

        "Our way?"

        "Yeah.  I was beginning to wonder if we'd made a bad decision,
anyway.  Every time Kuno looks at your ring, I think he's going to attack
me.  I hear his sister has been threatening you again, and Shampoo and
Ukyo have been a little bit TOO quiet.  I think we'd be much better off
eloping.  Do you want to?"

        Akane was too stunned to think.  She sat there in Ranma's arms,
her head on his chest.  She could feel his heart pounding, as hers was.
His idea was tempting, very tempting.  To be Ranma's wife, to be able to
stand with him as a team, no one being able to try to control their
lives...

        Akane looked up at Ranma, and smiled.

        "I want to."

        Ranma and Akane drew up their plans quickly.  They had to have
everything arranged before prom night.  Everyone would be too busy
getting Nabiki ready to go to notice what they were up to.

                                  *****

        Ranma and Akane returned home from school, took off their shoes,
and started for the stairs.  They were nearly finished putting their room
together, completing it ahead of schedule.  Akane was halfway up the
stairs when she heard her sister's voice.

        "Akane, would you stop in the kitchen for a moment, please?"

        "Yes, Kasumi?"

        Kasumi beckoned to Akane, and waved Ranma away.  He looked
puzzled, and continued up the stairs.  Akane followed Kasumi into the
kitchen, and found her sister's expression rather strange.

        "Akane, you had a phone call today while you were at school.  It
was from Dr. Tanaka's office, reminding you of an appointment tomorrow
afternoon."

        Akane flushed.  Dr. Tanaka was her gynecologist.

        "Is there something you need to tell me, Akane?"

        "No, Kasumi.  It's just a checkup, and some planning for birth
control."

        Kasumi looked surprised.

        "Father won't approve."

        Akane could feel herself losing her temper.

        "Kasumi!  This is none of Daddy's business!"

        "Akane, you know he wants grandchildren.  How are you going to
explain this to him?"

        Akane's voice got higher, and louder.

        "I don't have to explain anything to him!  Ranma and I are NOT
starting a family until we graduate!  How could I take care of a baby and
go to school?"

        Kasumi got that wistful look in her eyes again.

        "I could take care of it for you, Akane.  I wouldn't mind."

        Akane closed her eyes in frustration.

        "No, Kasumi.  My baby wouldn't know if you were its mother, or I
was.  Sis, I love you, but please stop interfering."

        Before Kasumi could respond, Akane left the room, and went
upstairs.  Ranma had already unpacked the bed they'd ordered, and was
putting it together.  Akane knelt down next to him, and took the
screwdriver out of his hands.  She put her arms around him, and held him
tightly.

        "Ranma, tell me we can make it through these last weeks."

        Ranma held Akane, gently stroking her hair.  Things had been
relatively quiet since his parents had moved out the previous week, and
he'd thought that they would finally have some peace.

        "Why, Akane?  What happened?"

        Akane recounted her conversation with Kasumi, and felt Ranma go
rigid.  She knew that he was furious, and was surprised when he answered
in a relatively calm tone.

        "We'll make it, Akane.  Once we're married, we'll be free to live
our lives the way we want to."

                                  *****

        "Akane!  Akane, come here!"

        Akane zipped up her dress, and ran into Nabiki's room.  Nabiki
was holding two pairs of earrings out.

        "Which ones do I wear, Akane?  Help me!"

        "Sis, I told you last night which ones, remember?"

        Akane took the earrings she preferred, and turned her sister to
the mirror.

        "Look.  These match the color of your gown perfectly.  Now would
you calm down?  The prom isn't until tonight, and you'll be a wreck if
you keep up this way."

        Nabiki nodded, and sat on the bed.

        "Okay, Akane, I'll try.  Say, isn't that a new dress?"

        Akane tried not to look self-conscious.

        "Yes, I'm going out with Ranma for a couple of hours.  We have
some things to do."

        "You can't!  You have to help me get ready."

        Akane sighed in exasperation.

        "We'll be back in plenty of time, Nabiki.  Now stop worrying."

        Ranma appeared in the doorway.

        "Are you ready to go, Akane?"

        Akane smiled, and held out her hand.

        "Yes, I'm ready."

                                  *****

        In the end, although they'd arrived on time, they had to wait.
There were several couples ahead of them, and Ranma found himself getting
more nervous by the minute as he waited, holding Akane's hand.  They had
come to this office a few weeks earlier, to fill out the paperwork that
was necessary and to make arrangements to formally register their
marriage.  Suddenly, Ranma realized that Akane's hand was shaking.  She
was nervous too.  A clerk came out of an office, motioned to them, and
they followed him.

        Ten minutes later, they emerged, husband and wife.  It had been a
very brief ceremony, so brief that they had difficulty at first believing
that it was valid.  Only when Ranma had been told that he could kiss his
bride, and he had done so, had the reality of it struck them.

        They got into the elevator, and closed the doors before anyone
could join them.  Ranma kissed Akane again, and held out his hand.  Akane
looked sad for a moment, removed her wedding ring, and handed it to
Ranma.  Ranma removed his own ring, and placed them back in the box.

        "We'll get to wear them later, Akane.  For now, this is our
secret."

        Ranma took Akane to lunch, where they held hands, and smiled at
each other, and were so oblivious to what they were eating that they
couldn't have told anyone what it had been.

        The phone rang at the Tendo dojo.  Kasumi picked it up, and
exclaimed in surprise.

        "I haven't talked to you in a long time!  How are you?"

        The voice on the other end went on for some time.  Kasumi turned
a little pale, and leaned on the wall.  Then she thanked the caller, and
hung up.

                                  *****

        Kasumi and Akane walked behind their sister as she came
downstairs to meet her date.  They managed to keep from laughing when he
stared at her, overwhelmed.  If he had only seen how much trouble getting
her ready had been.

        The door closed behind Nabiki, and Kasumi sighed with relief.

        "Thank goodness she's gone.  Now I can make dinner."

        Akane followed her sister into the kitchen.

        "Can I help?"

        Kasumi turned around, a strange look in her eyes.

        "Akane, not today.  Today you should be with your husband, not
me."

        Akane clutched the counter.

        "Kasumi?"

        "You didn't recognize Kenji - the clerk - this morning."

        Akane shook her head.

        "You probably don't remember him, then.  We went to high school
together.  He recognized the name Tendo, and phoned me to offer his best
wishes.  You can imagine how I felt."

        "Sis, I'm sorry."

        "No, Akane.  Don't apologize.  I understand why you and Ranma
have taken matters into your own hands, and I'll support you.  How long
do you intend to keep this a secret?"

        "We're leaving early tomorrow morning, Kasumi.  Ranma and I are
going camping for a few days.  We'll leave Daddy and his parents a
letter; it's already written."

        "I could tell them for you, if you like."

        Akane considered this for a moment, and then smiled.

        "No, Kasumi.  They're going to be angry enough at us.  I don't
want them to be angry at you."

        Ranma stuck his head in the kitchen door, and smiled.

        "Akane!  I've been looking all over the house for you."

        He entered the kitchen, and was stopped before he could reach
Akane by Kasumi, who hugged him, and kissed his cheek.

        "Congratulations, brother.  Welcome to the family."

        Ranma froze for a second, and then hugged Kasumi.  He looked at
Akane, his eyebrows raised.

        "You told her?"

        Akane laughed.

        "No, Ranma.  Kasumi has her own ways of finding things out.  She
won't tell."

        Kasumi patted Ranma's cheek, causing him to turn red with
embarrassment.  She then shooed them out of the kitchen.

        "Get out, you two.  I have work to do."

        Kasumi turned out a feast for them that evening.  She had even
taken the time to bake a small cake, which she placed in front of Akane.

        "Would you serve this, dear, while I pour the tea?  Give Ranma
the first piece."

        Akane gave her sister a grateful look, and served Ranma his
wedding cake.  Soun was too busy accepting a cup of tea from his daughter
to notice when Ranma broke off a piece, and fed it to Akane, while she
did the same for him.

                                  *****

        The family sat in front of the television, watching a video.
Kasumi left the room for a minute, and came back with a bowl of popcorn.

        "The bath water is hot, Akane, if you want it."

        While Akane bathed, Ranma shared the popcorn with Soun, who kept
nodding off.  Soun had always claimed that this particular movie was his
favorite, but he never stayed awake long enough to finish watching it.

        Soon, Akane returned to the living room, and sat down.  Ranma
looked at her, amused to see that she was wearing her old faded pajamas
with the pattern of cats and suns.  He excused himself, and went to take
his bath.  When he returned, Soun was alone, and nearly asleep.  Ranma
left him in the living room, and went upstairs.

        Ranma slid open the door to his and Akane's room.  Akane was
standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair, and she turned to him
with a welcoming smile.  She was no longer wearing the pajamas, but
instead wore a lace-trimmed yellow nightgown that took his breath away.
Ranma took the brush out of Akane's hands, put it on the bureau, and held
her at arm's length, looking at her.  He ran one finger down Akane's
cheek, and drew her close for a kiss.  Then Ranma retrieved the box with
their wedding rings, and this time they put them on to stay.

                                  *****

        A short time later, Nabiki returned home from her prom.  Soun
heard her walk in, and sat up.

        "Were you waiting up for me, Daddy?  Thank you."

        "Did you have a good time, dear?"

        "A wonderful one, Daddy."

        Soun stood up, and kissed his daughter good night.  He watched
her go up the stairs, and then went to bed.

        Nabiki was walking down the hallway when she thought she heard
soft voices, and stopped.  She looked in the direction of what would be
Ranma and Akane's room.  There was a light on, and as she stood there,
dumbfounded, the light went off, and she heard a giggle.

        Nabiki smiled as she got ready for bed.  Perhaps some profit
could be made of this.

                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 8

                         A Very Short Honeymoon


        "We were lucky to get away the next morning, honey.  Remember how
fast we had to leave the house?"

                                  *****

        The sun was just coming up when Ranma opened his eyes.  Akane was
curled up next to him, one hand resting on his chest.

        They'd planned to leave the house before anyone woke up, but
Ranma hesitated, not wanting to wake Akane just yet.  As lovely as she'd
looked in the yellow nightgown last night, the sight of Akane sleeping in
his pajama top affected Ranma even more, but in a different way.  It was
evidence to him that Akane was now a permanent part of his life.

        "Five more minutes won't make a difference."

        With that thought, Ranma closed his eyes, and unintentionally
went back to sleep.

        Across town, Nodoka Saotome opened her eyes, to see her husband
dressing.

        "Where are you going, Genma?"

        "To get Ranma.  He has the week off from school, and I want to
take him on a training trip."

        Nodoka sat up.

        "You didn't mention this to me before.  Does Ranma know?"

        Genma looked a little embarrassed.

        "No.  Actually, I decided last night.  Ranma will be married in a
few weeks, and this will be the last time we'll have a chance to go off
together.  Besides the training, I'd like to talk to him a bit about
marriage.  The boy should hear my advice."

        Nodoka closed her mouth tightly, trying to control her laughter.
She shook with the effort, and a small giggle escaped her.

        "What's so funny?"

        Nodoka bit back the urge to ask Genma what kind of marital advice
he had to offer, and instead got out of bed.

        "Nothing, dear.  I'll make breakfast - you finish packing."

                                  *****

        Akane heard Ranma gasp, and opened her eyes.  He shot into a
sitting position, looking at the clock.

        "Akane, we have about half an hour to make the train."

        Akane flew out of the bed, and across the room to the bureau.
Seconds later she reversed direction, and jumped into Ranma's arms.  She
kissed him thoroughly, and pulled away again, rather reluctantly.

        "I forgot to say good morning."

        Ranma grinned as they dressed.  He hoped that Akane would say
good morning to him that way for the rest of his life.

                                  *****

        Kasumi was dressing when she heard Akane's footsteps going back
and forth to the bathroom.  She wasn't sure if there would be time for
Ranma and Akane to have breakfast, so she hurried downstairs to get it
started.

        Ranma put on his backpack, and crossed the hall to Akane's room,
where she had hers waiting, when he heard Kasumi talking downstairs.  Her
usually quiet voice was raised, as if she wanted them to overhear.

        "Mr. Saotome, how nice to see you!  What are you doing here so
early?  Would you like some breakfast?"

        "I'm here for Ranma.  We're going on a training trip."

        Ranma and Akane exchanged incredulous looks.  They could hear
Ranma's father attempting to go upstairs, and Kasumi stalling him with
small talk, and knew they had seconds to move.

        Ranma opened the window, while Akane put the letter they'd
written on her bed.  He climbed down, and caught the backpacks, his shoes
and their tent as Akane threw them down.  Then Akane closed her window,
picked up her own shoes, and took a deep breath.

        Genma had his foot on the first step when Akane came running
down, practically knocking him down in her haste to get past him.

        "Good morning, Uncle Saotome!  I'm sorry, I'm going to be SO
late!!"

        Akane never slowed down, but instead dashed to the closet,
removed her coat (and Ranma's, hoping no one would notice), put on her
shoes, and ran out the door.  Ranma was waiting for her around the
corner.

                                  *****

        They camped out in the mountains, a remote area Ranma had gone to
with his father some years previously.  The earliest wildflowers were
just coming out, and the stars were clear and bright at night.  No one
disturbed their solitude, at least until their last evening there.

        Akane sat by the fire, keeping an eye on dinner.  She and Ranma
had brought nothing but canned and freeze-dried food, but it was still
possible to burn it.  She heard footsteps, and tensed.  They were not
coming from the direction Ranma had gone off in.

        "Who's there?"

        "Akane?"

        "Ryoga!"

        Ryoga stood at the edge of the firelight, afraid to come closer.
Finally, he made an effort, came forward to sit by Akane, and looked
around, confused.

        "Akane, what are you doing way out here by yourself?"

        "I'm not by myself, Ryoga.  Ranma is with me.  He went to get
water."

        Ryoga's look hardened.

        "The two of you are alone together?  Akane, I'm surprised at
you."

        Akane stiffened.  She'd been gentle with Ryoga when she'd
revealed to him that she knew about his curse.  Ryoga was fortunate that
he'd been away when she'd figured out it, because at the time Akane was
so furious that if Ryoga had been nearby his life would have been in
danger.  Now Ryoga's thoughtless remark had brought all of her fury back.

        "How dare you of all people judge my morals, Ryoga!  You, who
deceived me, and slept with me?  For your information, although it's none
of your business, we happen to be on our honeymoon!"

        Akane had risen as she spoke, clenching both fists.  Ryoga
cringed before her.  Finally, he got up, murmured something
unintelligible, and ran off into the darkness.  Akane watched him
disappear, and then sat down, weeping uncontrollably.  She was still in
tears when Ranma returned with the water.  He took one look at Akane, put
down the pail and lantern, and gathered her into his lap.

        "What's wrong, Akane?  Did you burn dinner?"

        Akane gasped, and reached for the pans, but Ranma took them off
the fire for her.  Akane was still sobbing, unable to speak, and Ranma
waited patiently for her to calm down.

        "R - Ryoga was here."

        "Ryoga?  What a place to get lost!  What happened?"

        Slowly, Akane told Ranma what had happened.  After she was done,
she buried her face in his shoulder and held on tight, shaking.  Ranma
patted her back.

        "You feel guilty, Akane, don't you?"

        Akane sat up, and sniffled.

        "Yes.  I think I was too hard on him."

        Ranma wiped away his wife's tears, and kissed her cheek.

        "No, Akane.  Ryoga needed to hear what you had to say.  He never
listened to me.  I don't think we'll be seeing him for a while."

                                  *****

        Akane sighed, and squeezed Ranma's hand.

        "You were right, Ranma.  Ryoga's been avoiding us ever since.
Every time he sees either of us, he turns around and walks the other way.
It's been a year and a half, and he still won't talk to me."

        "I wonder, Ranma, why Ryoga broke up with Akari after that.  When
you get better, maybe you should go look for him... but where was I?  Oh
yes, what happened after we got back home..."

                                  *****

        After they broke camp the next morning, Ranma and Akane followed
Ryoga's footsteps for a while, but they got tired of walking in circles,
and instead hiked back to the train station.  As they got closer to
Nerima, Akane found herself getting rather tense.

        "Akane, what's the matter?"

        "What?"

        Ranma pointed at Akane's hands.

        "Why the fists?  Are you expecting a fight?"

        Akane flushed.

        "I don't know what to expect when we get home, Ranma."

        Ranma nodded, and hugged Akane.

        "Neither do I.  But Akane, you jumped into a dragon's mouth for
me - do you find our folks scarier than that?"

        "Ranma, all the dragon wanted was lunch.  Our families want
control.  I think that scares me more."

        "Then let me handle it, Akane."

        "But Ranma, I thought we were a team!"

        "We are, Akane.  I'll do the talking this time, but you be sure
to make it clear that you agree with me."

        Ranma watched Akane shake, and raised his eyebrows.

        "What's so funny?"

        "I can't wait to see their faces when I side with you."

        Passengers all over the car craned their necks to watch Ranma
laugh.

                                  *****

        Half an hour later, Ranma was no longer laughing.  He and Akane
stood side by side, facing their parents.  Kasumi and Nabiki stood to the
side, watching.

        Nabiki now knew for a certainty that she would no longer be
looking at Ranma as a source of income.  She'd suspected that when she
learned that he had married her sister, and at the time had been torn
between regret (after all, the extra cash was always welcome) and
happiness for them.  Now she awaited the end of this foolish argument.

        Genma had been going on and on about Ranma "spoiling the plans
that were made", and had finally stopped for air.  Ranma immediately
jumped in.

        "Enough!  Are you people never satisfied?  You've been after us
to get married forever.  We are.  Be happy.  End of subject!"

        Ranma grabbed his wife's hand, and picked up his bag.

        "Let's go unpack, Akane."

        Akane picked up her things, and began to follow Ranma toward the
stairs, when she heard a voice behind her.

        "Akane."

        Akane turned to look at her father.

        "Yes, Daddy?"

        "How could you break your father's heart like this, by letting
Ranma talk you into missing your beautiful wedding?"

        "Ranma didn't talk me into anything, Daddy.  We made this
decision together."

        "Akane!  How could you turn against your father like this!"

        "I haven't turned against you, Daddy.  I love you.  But I stand
with my husband."

        Akane turned without another word and followed Ranma upstairs.

        Ranma's parents and Akane's father started to talk at once,
denouncing the defiant actions of their children, when Kasumi, who hadn't
spoken a word once she'd welcomed the newlyweds home, cleared her throat.

        "Excuse me?"

        No one heard Kasumi, and she raised her voice, something they
were not accustomed to.

        "EXCUSE ME!"

        All heads turned to Kasumi, shocked to see a frown on her
normally serene face.

        "Take my advice please, and stop.  You've won, haven't you?  Now
let them alone."

                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                                Chapter 9

                         Challenges and Hurdles


        The dojo was crowded and noisy.  People gathered in groups around
the edges of the room, watching the couples dancing in the center of the
floor.

        Ranma held Akane close as he danced with her, feeling
uncomfortable with all the eyes upon them.  The only consolation he could
take was that this was a reception, not a wedding, and no one could
change the fact that he and Akane were already married.

        Akane's father and his parents had hurriedly arranged a party for
them, saying that he and Akane had "cheated them out of a wedding".
Since they'd had the common sense not to invite any of the people who had
caused such trouble last time, Ranma and Akane hadn't objected.

        When the music ended, Akane hugged Ranma, and kissed his cheek.

        "I can't believe it, Ranma.  We actually managed to have a party
with no one attacking us."

        Ranma's smile was less enthusiastic than Akane expected.

        "Yeah, Akane.  But that's because we're not out in the real world
yet."

                                  *****

        Ukyo closed up her restaurant, and went for a walk in the
moonlight.  She'd heard through the grapevine of the party at the dojo.
It hadn't been a surprise that she wasn't invited.

        Ukyo's walk led her past the Nekohanten, which was still dark and
locked up.  Shortly after the original wedding fiasco, Cologne had closed
down the restaurant "for renovations", and disappeared, with Shampoo and
Mousse.  Some workmen had been seen going in and out, but Ukyo wondered
if the place would ever reopen.

                                  *****

        The alarm clock rang, and Ranma groaned as he reached to turn it
off.  Akane lifted her head from her pillow, and squinted at the sun.

        "Morning already?  Ugh."

        Ranma turned over, and gathered Akane into his arms.

        "We could just stay here, and forget about school."

        "Don't tempt me."

                                  *****

        The couple turned onto the path beside the canal, and raced down
it.

        "I can't believe Nabiki left before us, Ranma.  Why did she want
to get to school early?"

        "She's either up to something, Akane, or she wanted to get inside
before the crowd at the gate got too big."

        A figure stepped out of the shadows in front of them, blocking
their path.  She had her spatula strapped to her back, but was not
wearing her uniform.  Ranma and Akane stopped where they were.

        "Ranma, I came to stay good bye."

        "Good bye?"

        "I'm going home."

        Ranma was too stunned to speak.  When he finally opened his
mouth, Ukyo held up her hand.

        "Don't bother saying anything, Ran-chan.  I've lost, and I'm not
going to hang around and let it hurt me any more."

        Before Ranma could respond, Ukyo was gone.

        Ranma looked at Akane, stricken.

        "I never wanted to hurt her like that, Akane."

        Akane lost her temper.

        "Then you should have told her a long time ago that you didn't
love her, instead of letting her chase after you all this time!"

        "I never!"

        "Yes you did!"

        Ranma opened his mouth to shout at Akane again, and abruptly
closed it.  Akane was standing the way he'd seen her hundreds of times,
fists clenched, arms rigid.  For all he knew, her famous mallet would
come crashing down upon him any second.  This was not what he wanted.

        "You're right, Akane.  But I couldn't just dump Ukyo like that."

        Akane's expression softened, and she put her hand on Ranma's arm.

        "I know, Ranma.  You may put on that `tough guy' act, but I can
see through it."

        Ranma smiled, a little sadly, and looked back the way Ukyo had
gone.

        "Do you think she'll be all right?"

        "I don't know, Ranma.  I hope so."

                                  *****

        Groups of students stood at the gates, talking.  It was evident
to Ranma that they were waiting for him and Akane.

        "First hurdle, Akane.  Ready?"

        "Ready."

        The first hurdle wasn't too bad.  There were shouts of laughter,
some gentle teasing, shaking of hands, and lots of hugs for Akane from
her friends.  The only remark that Ranma took exception to was from one
of the seniors, who walked straight up to Akane.

        "May I kiss the bride?"

        It look a long time for the young man to disentangle himself from
the branches of the tree Ranma kicked him into.

        Then the crowd parted, and Akane whispered to Ranma.

        "Second hurdle, honey."

        Ranma grinned.  It was the first time Akane had called him
"honey" in public, and he understood immediately that she was trying to
encourage him.  Ranma figured that the gesture should be returned, and
whispered back.

        "Right, sweetheart."

        The fact that he accompanied the whisper with kiss on the cheek
got a reaction from the person the crowd had parted for.

        "How dare you kiss Akane like that!  You scoundrel!"

        "I don't need your permission to kiss my wife, Kuno."

        "W - w  - w - WIFE????"

        Kuno staggered, and leaned against the wall for support.

        "It's not possible.  I don't believe it."

        Akane nodded.

        "Believe it, Kuno."

        Kuno looked weakly from Akane to Ranma, and back again to Akane.
Akane returned his gaze without blinking, and he noted the way her hand
was nestled in Ranma's.  Then he saw her turn to her husband, smiling at
him with adoration.  It was that smile more than anything else that told
him it was time to give up.  Of course, Kuno being Kuno, he had an
alternative to Akane.

        "Then the pigtailed girl is mine!  Saotome has made his choice.
I will find her, and declare my undying love!"

        Kuno dashed off the school property, running right through
several latecomers.  When the dust had settled, everyone started walking
into the school, and the Saotomes listened with amusement to some of the
remarks.

        "You'd think by now that the idiot would know who the pigtailed
girl was.  Shouldn't somebody tell him?"

        "Nah, it's too much fun watching him make a fool out of himself.
Leave it be."

                                  *****

        Ranma and Akane found themselves the main topic of interest at
school for a few days, but eventually other things distracted the
students (such as the Chem Club blowing up the lab, with Principal Kuno
in it), and things went back to normal.

        Ranma had walked past Ucchan's several times, but had not spoken
to Ukyo.  The place was locked up, and there was a large "For Sale" sign
on the door.  He'd looked inside, and seen her packing, but she'd refused
to respond to his raps on the window.

                                  *****

        Ukyo smiled.  The "For Sale" sign had been replaced with one that
read "Sold", and she was ready to go home.  A rap on the window
distracted her from her thoughts.  She was going to ignore it, thinking
it was Ranma, when she realized that the pattern of rapping was
different, and looked up.  A lovely purple-haired girl stood at the
window.

        Ukyo unlocked the door, and let Shampoo in.

        "Hello, spatula girl.  Am back.  Why you sell restaurant?"

        "I'm going home, Shampoo."

        "You give up, then?  Let Shampoo keep husband?"

        Ukyo's face fell.  Obviously, she was going to have to be the one
to break the news.

        "He's not your husband, Shampoo."

        Shampoo was indignant.

        "How can you say so?  Amazon law say Ranma Shampoo's husband!"

        "Shampoo, Ranma is Akane's husband.  They got married last
month."

        Shampoo turned so fast that she knocked Ukyo into the wall.  The
door slammed as she left the restaurant, and Ukyo was grateful that it
hadn't broken.

                                  *****

        Akane sat on the steps outside the school, waiting for Ranma.  In
a few weeks, their lives would change again.  Nabiki was graduating, and
would soon move away and go to college.  She and Ranma would begin to
teach together for the first time.

        And Akane was going to learn to be a wife.  A real wife.  For
now, she was a student, going to school, and coming home to take care of
homework.  Kasumi was still taking care of everything in the house, and
Akane wanted to take care of her husband herself.  That included cooking
for him, which scared her to death.

        Ranma had expressed intentions along the same lines.  They way
he'd put it was that he felt like they were almost "pretending to be
married".  Akane thought about the talk they'd had the previous night.

        "I know I won't be taking over for another year, Akane, but your
Dad has to let me learn what I have to do.  Every time I try to talk to
him about anything serious, he just tells me to run along and he'll take
care of it.  Maybe he'll take us more seriously when we start teaching."

        Akane's thoughts were interrupted when a shadow fell across her,
blocking out the sunshine.  When she looked up to see who was there,
Akane immediately jumped to her feet.

        "You steal Shampoo's husband."

        "No, Shampoo.  Ranma chose me.  And I chose him."

        Akane heard the door open behind her.  Though she could not see
who was there, she sensed that it was Ranma.

        Ranma stepped outside, and stopped short when he saw Shampoo
standing before Akane.  His first instinct was to step between them, but
he knew that Akane would take that as an indication that he didn't think
her capable of taking care of herself.  He had to fight the desire to
interfere with all of his might when he heard Shampoo's next words, which
were spoken very, very quietly.

        "Then you die."

        Akane's answer was just as quiet, and full of menace.

        "You can try, but I wouldn't advise it."

        Shampoo laughed, and reached for Akane's throat.  Akane's hands
moved faster than Ranma had ever seen before, and caught Shampoo's
wrists.  Shampoo gasped.  Akane's laugh held no humor.

        "Did you really think I would just stand here and LET you kill
me?  I'm a martial artist too, Shampoo, and every bit as strong as you
are."

        To demonstrate, Akane squeezed, and Shampoo cried out in
distress.  She wrenched one hand free, and slapped Akane's face, hard.

        Ranma reached out to stop Shampoo, but Akane had already
violently twisted the one hand she still held.  Ranma heard a crunch, and
Shampoo went white, and fell to her knees.  Ranma quickly grabbed Akane's
arms, to prevent her from going any further.

        Akane ignored her husband, and looked down at Shampoo, who was
cradling her arm, looking defeated.  Then Shampoo's pride asserted
herself, and she stood, the arm dangling at her side.

        "Shampoo can still fight you."

        Akane examined her opponent.  Shampoo was very pale, and her face
was covered with a thin layer of moisture.  It was obvious that she was
in great pain, and fighting to keep it from overwhelming her.  Akane
couldn't help but admire her courage.

        "No, Shampoo.  Go home.  Go home, and tell Cologne that it's
over."

        The tears started to slide down Shampoo's face.

        "No!  Will never be over until Ranma Shampoo's husband!"

        Ranma's voice made them both pause.

        "Shampoo, give it up already.  I don't love you, and I would
never marry you, even if Akane didn't exist.  You know that I don't hit
women, but I will make an exception.  If you ever touch Akane again -
either you or Cologne - you will be dead.  Stay away from us."

        Ranma turned his back on Shampoo, and walked Akane down the
steps.

        "Did you have to break her arm, Akane?"

        "I didn't mean to, Ranma.  I must be stronger than I thought."

        Ranma thought about all the times Akane had clobbered him.

        "You are."

        A muffled sob behind them made them turn around.  Shampoo had
sunk back down to the pavement.  She looked like she was going to
collapse, and they quickly returned to her.  Akane reached down, and
offered Shampoo her hand.

        "You need to get to a doctor, Shampoo.  Let us help you."

        Shampoo just stared at Akane's hand, and made no move to take it.

        "Akane, I think she's going into shock.  Let's go!"

        Ranma lifted Shampoo into his arms, being careful not to touch
her arm, and began to run.

                                  *****

        Dr. Tofu heard his door open, came out of his inner office, and
nearly walked right into Ranma.  He took one look at Shampoo and opened
the door to an examining room, where Ranma put her on the table.

        "May I use your phone?  We need to call Cologne."

        "Go right ahead, Ranma."

        Ranma was hanging up the phone when he heard a tremendous crash
in the next room.  He and Akane flew through the door to see the doctor
picking himself off the floor.

        "What happened?"

        "I was trying to set her arm, and she hit me.  Please hold her
down."

        Even with both Ranma and Akane holding Shampoo down, setting her
arm was not an easy job for Dr. Tofu.  Shampoo was not herself, and
struggled violently, cursing loudly in Chinese.  Once the bone was in its
proper position and Dr. Tofu started to apply the cast, she calmed down,
and let him work. Ranma and Akane left them alone, and returned to the
outer room to wait for Cologne.

        Five minutes later, Cologne and Mousse ran in.  Ranma silently
pointed to the next room, and they entered.  Shortly afterward, Cologne
returned.

        "Shampoo won't talk to me.  Who did this to her?"

        Akane flushed.

        "I did."

        "WHAT!!"

        Cologne raised her staff to strike Akane, and Ranma got in the
way.

        "Don't you dare!"

        "Get out of my way, son-in-law.  Amazon law requires that this
one must die."

        "I don't give a damn about your Amazon law, Cologne!  If you harm
a hair on my wife's head, I'll kill you.  Shampoo's arm is broken because
Akane was defending herself.  Shampoo tried to kill her."

        Cologne stopped dead.  Only one word had penetrated her rage, and
she repeated it.

        "Wife?"

        "Wife.  You'd better find Shampoo another husband."

        Cologne stood there, silent, crushed by her defeat.  She had
always been perfectly confident that one day Shampoo and Ranma would
marry, and these two teenagers had gotten the better of her.  Her age
must be catching up with her.  Cologne turned around, and started walking
back to the treatment room.  She started to close the door, and stopped
to look at Ranma once more.

        "Good bye, son-in... Ranma."


                             ===============



                              Breaking Free

                               Chapter 10

                        AN UNEXPECTED SEPARATION


        Akane sat back, remembering her fight with Shampoo.  Cologne had
stopped trying to manipulate Ranma, leaving Ranma and Akane wondering.
Did she give up because Ranma was married, or because of what Akane had
done?  She and Ranma had spent a lot of time speculating on whether or
not Akane should have fought Shampoo when she'd first returned to Japan.
It was a question that would never be answered.

        Shampoo had shadowed Ranma for several weeks after that.  He made
it a point of ignoring her, and she never came near enough to speak.
Then one day she, Cologne and Mousse vanished.  Except for a letter sent
by Cologne several months later, they'd never heard from them again.

        Akane was so deep in thought that she didn't realize Ranma's
doctor had entered the room until he spoke, and she jumped.

        "I'm sorry, Mrs. Saotome.  I didn't mean to startle you.  I
wanted to ask you a question."

        "Yes?"

        "Your father and father-in-law are downstairs, asking for
permission to come back up.  What do you think?"

        Akane smiled.  It felt good to have someone ask her opinion,
rather than force their decision upon her.

        "It's okay with me, so long as they promise to keep calm and stop
trying to order me around."

        "All right, then."

        The doctor stepped to Ranma's side, took his pulse, and looked
him over.

        "Nice, strong pulse, Mrs. Saotome.  He'll be back with us soon,
I'm sure."

        Akane smiled at the doctor, and resumed talking to Ranma once the
door had closed behind him.

        "Your father is coming back, Ranma.  Let's see if he really does
keep his word not to interfere.  He hasn't been able to do it yet.  I
still don't believe that he managed to separate us after we'd only been
married for a few weeks."

                                  *****

        Shortly before the end of the school year, Ranma and Akane
inserted an advertisement in the paper announcing the summer classes they
would be teaching.  Soon, they had enough responses to arrange two
classes - one for men and one for women - three days a week.

        A week after school ended, Ranma and Akane were sweeping out the
dojo and preparing it for the first group of students when Soun came to
the door with a stranger.

        "Ranma, Mr. Fujita is here to see you.  He says that your father
promised that you would go to him when the school year ended."

        Ranma turned white.  "Not again!", he thought to himself.

        "Um, er... I don't suppose you have a daughter?"

        Mr. Fujita looked blank.

        "No, I have a son away in America."

        "Then why am I supposed to go with you?"

        "Last summer you and your father were training near my farm.
Fruit and vegetables kept disappearing, and I found your father picking
them one morning."

        Ranma held his breath.  He could almost guess what was coming
next.

        "When I demanded payment, your father promised me that you would
come in the spring to help me prepare the fields for planting.  I've been
waiting for you!"

        Ranma locked gazes with his wife.  It appeared that this was
something he was not going to be able to refuse to do, and he could tell
that she knew it.

        "Sir, can you tell me exactly what my father said?"

        "'On my honor, a Saotome will help with the plowing and planting
in the spring.'"

        Akane sighed.  Her father-in-law had put Ranma in an impossible
situation again.  "Mr. Fujita, how long will this take?"

        "With the two of us, and my other helpers, about two weeks."

        Ranma's expression hardened.

        "There will be one more person coming along.  Akane, please pack
some things for me.  I'm going to get Pop.  He's a Saotome too, and he's
going to help."

        Ranma walked out of the dojo, and Akane followed him.

        "Can't I come with you?"

        Ranma looked like he was in severe pain.

        "I want to take you with me, Akane, but someone has to stay and
teach the classes."

                                  *****

        A short time later Ranma returned with his father.  Genma was
rather subdued, and had some fresh bruises.  Evidently it had taken more
than words for Ranma to convince his father to accompany him.

        Akane was in the dojo waiting for the students, and Ranma went in
to say goodbye to her privately.  He drew his wife into his arms, and
kissed her.  Akane buried her face in Ranma's shoulder, and began to
sniffle.

        "I'm going to miss you so much!"

        Ranma stroked Akane's hair, and rocked her gently.

        "It could have been worse, sweetheart.  When I first saw Mr.
Fujita, I was certain that I had another fiancee to deal with."

                                  *****

        The assembled students stared at Akane, disbelief on their faces.
Finally, one of them spoke up.

        "Your husband was called out of town?"

        "Yes, that's right.  He'll be back in a couple of weeks.  In the
meantime, I'll be leading the class."

        "A young girl like you can't teach!"

        Akane paused before replying, trying to find the right approach.
There was no point in starting an argument.

        "My husband and I planned to teach together, and we will once he
returns.  I'm as qualified as he is."

        Before the man could respond, a voice came from behind Akane.

        "If you doubt my daughter's skills, why not challenge her?"

        Seconds later, the man was staring at the dojo ceiling.  A face
swam into his range of vision, and a hand reached down.

        "Need help getting up?"

        Red-faced, the man allowed Akane to help him to his feet.  He
took his place with the class, and waited for her to begin.

                                  *****

        The women's class was over, and Akane closed the dojo doors and
sat down, leaning on the wall.  She'd been too busy to allow herself to
be upset about her husband's absence, but now it overwhelmed her.  Some
time later, Kasumi found her sitting there sobbing. She drew her sister
into her arms, and held her.

        "I was afraid I'd find you this way, Akane.  Come with me."

        Akane wordlessly followed her sister into the house.  Kasumi
brought her into the kitchen, poured her some juice, and handed Akane her
mother's notebook.

        "You need something to do, Akane.  Let's make dinner together.
Here's a pen."

        Akane stared at the pen blankly.

        "What's the pen for?"

        "Look inside the notebook, Akane.  See?  This is Mother's
writing, and this is mine."

        Akane had never noticed before, but while Kasumi was teaching
herself from her mother's book, she had made notes about her disasters
and successes, and had added hints of her own as she learned them.

        "Write down what you learn, Akane.  Someday a daughter of yours
might be reading your notes."

                                  *****

        That evening, Nabiki looked suspiciously at a platter of noodles
and vegetables, wishing that Ranma was there to be the usual "guinea
pig".

        "Did you make this, Akane?

        "Yes, I did.  What makes you ask?"

        "I thought it looked weird."

        Akane struggled to keep her temper under control.

        "I haven't gotten the hang of cutting things as evenly as Kasumi
can, Nabiki, but it does taste good.  I DID taste it before I put it on
the table."

        Nabiki looked skeptical, but served herself and tasted the dish.

        "Not bad, Sis!  Some of the veggies are a little hard, but I
guess that's because they're in big chunks."

        Akane smiled.  Kasumi had hovered nearby as she worked, not
enough to make her nervous, and had allowed Akane to cook with her
mother's book as a guide.  The only time Kasumi had intervened was to
take Akane's hand and guide it toward the plain sesame oil.  Akane had
been reaching for the spicy sesame oil, which would have made the dish a
disaster.  Kasumi had laughed gently, making only one comment:

        "Remember, Akane.  Read the label carefully before you put
anything into a dish.  Then you won't mix up the ingredients.  Slow down,
and relax.  After all, we're in no hurry to eat."

        Between the two of them, Kasumi and Akane had produced a dinner
that everyone approved of.  Akane only wished that Ranma had been there
to share it with her.

                                  *****

        Ranma turned over, trying to find a comfortable position.  He
missed Akane's presence, and his snoring father wasn't making it very
easy for him to relax.  He finally gave up, picked up his bag, and went
downstairs.  Taking out paper and pen, he began a letter to Akane.

        Akane lay in bed, looking at the stars through the window.  Ranma
had phoned to say he'd arrived at his destination, and she hadn't wanted
to let him hang up.  She was afraid that the next two weeks would last
forever.

        Akane was wrong.  Teaching kept her busy, and gave her something
to focus on, and Kasumi did her share of distracting Akane, by continuing
with her cooking lessons.

                                  *****

        Akane reread Ranma's letter for the hundredth time, kissed it,
and tucked it into her pocket.  Two more days, and he would be home.

        Akane cleared her mind, and went back to work.  She was trying
hard to master a new recipe.  There had been so many culinary disasters
over the past few days that she'd waited until the family was away to try
anything new.  Better to poison herself than her father and sisters.
Besides, she had a new tool to work with, one that made her feel
confident.

                                  *****

        Ranma got off the train, and started running toward the dojo.  It
was two days before he was expected, and he couldn't wait to surprise
Akane.  He entered the house quietly.  No one was in the living room, and
he could smell something delicious coming from the vicinity of the
kitchen.  Ranma grinned.  He'd missed Kasumi's cooking.

        Ranma went upstairs, and left his bag in the bedroom.  Akane was
not there, and he headed back down to the kitchen to ask Kasumi where she
was.

        When Ranma stuck his head through the doorway, he was surprised
to see Akane standing before the stove rather than Kasumi.  She was
concentrating on what she was doing, and totally unaware of his presence.
Ranma was about to speak when he noticed her picking up a book, and
checking something in it.  He caught sight of the cover, and suppressed a
laugh.  Ranma had seen books with similar covers, yellow with black
print, in the local bookshop, but they'd always referred to technical
things like computers. There was a Dummies book for cooking?

        Akane stiffened.  She had the distinct feeling that she was being
watched.  Then she heard a welcome voice.

        "It's me, Akane."

        Akane whirled, and threw herself into Ranma's arms, hugging him
hard.

        "Hey, loosen up, Akane!  You're going to break my ribs!"

        "I'm sorry.  I can't believe you're here!"

        "Mr. Fujita told me to go home, Akane.  He said I'd done enough
work, and Pop could finish the rest."

        Akane started to respond, but found it impossible to speak when
Ranma was kissing her.  He finally paused to catch his breath, and Akane
took his face in her hands, looking into his eyes.  Ranma looked tired
and sunburned.  Akane withdrew from his embrace, and nodded toward the
stove.

        "Hungry?"

        Ranma pulled Akane back into his arms, and kissed her again.

        "For more than food, love, but I guess I can let you feed me...
first."

                                  *****

        Ranma slept on, and Akane rested her voice.  She'd grown stiff
from sitting, and walked around his bed, looking at her husband from all
angles.

        Ranma was pale and still, unlike the way she remembered him from
the story she'd been telling.  Akane recalled watching Ranma sleep that
afternoon after they'd made love.  She had spent a long time studying his
face, and looking at the tan he'd developed while working outdoors, and
noting that his sunburned nose was peeling.  At once point she thought
she'd get up to wash the lunch dishes, but Ranma's grip on her became
tighter, and he murmured something unintelligible.  Finally, she'd given
up, and gone to sleep herself.

        The contrast between the remembered Ranma and the one before her
was too much for Akane.  She sat down again, put her face in her hands,
and wept.


                             ===============



                              Breaking Free

                               Chapter 11

                              Standing Firm


        Akane stood to one side as Ranma's parents held his hands, and
spoke to him.  They alternated between imploring and ordering him to
awaken, and she firmly resisted the urge to ask them to leave.  After a
couple of minutes, Genma turned around.

        "Akane, I owe you an apology.  This wouldn't have happened if
Soun and I hadn't insisted on trying to control your lives.  I think I
can safely promise that we won't interfere again."

        Akane didn't respond immediately.  What if the promise had been
made too late?  She quickly pushed that fear to the back of her mind.

        "Wait until Ranma wakes up, Father Saotome.  Then you can repeat
that promise to both of us."

        Nodoka got up and crossed the room to her daughter-in-law.

        "We're going home for a little while, dear, to get some sleep.
Won't you come with us?  You look so tired."

        "Thank you, but no.  Ranma needs me, and I won't leave him."

        To Akane's amazement, Nodoka simply nodded, took her husband's
hand, and left. Akane took the chair her mother-in-law had vacated,
picked up Ranma's hand, and continued talking.  She coughed, and got some
water.  All this storytelling was giving her a raw throat.

        Akane skipped ahead, to a part of the summer she'd rather put
behind her.

                                  *****

        A couple of weeks later, Akane noticed that her father was
grinning broadly at the morning paper.  He saw her looking, and handed it
to her.

        "They finally printed the wedding announcement, Akane."

        Akane held the paper so Ranma could see it too, and they read the
short announcement of their marriage.  Soun had also included a picture
of them from the reception he'd thrown for them.

        Across town, Tatewaki Kuno stared at the paper, his breakfast
forgotten.  He cursed himself for his cowardice in not informing his
sister of Ranma's marriage.  She was not going to take the news well.

        A few minutes later, an ear-splitting screech came from Kodachi's
bedroom, followed by a crash as her breakfast tray hit the floor.  Kuno
braced himself, and within seconds she was standing before him, waving
the newspaper in his face.

        "You knew, brother, didn't you?  You knew, and you didn't tell
me!"

        Kuno couldn't think of a thing to say.  It wouldn't have made a
difference, since his sister was beyond reason.

        "That... that husband thief!  She will pay!"

                                  *****

        Akane poured tea for her in-laws, trying hard to maintain a calm
expression.  The Saotomes had been invited for lunch, and had arrived
quite early. The rest of the family had gone out to give Akane a chance
to cook for her in-laws, and having no one to talk to, Genma had wandered
into the dojo to watch Ranma and Akane teach.  He had interrupted several
times with comments and suggestions.  Afterward, he had spent quite a
long time telling them what they were doing wrong (and in his opinion,
nearly everything was wrong).  He and Ranma had gotten into a shouting
match, and now were barely speaking to one another.

        Nodoka and Akane were trying to salvage the situation by making
quiet, friendly conversation, but watching their husbands glare at one
another was making them uncomfortable.

        "This soup is delicious, Akane.  Did Kasumi teach you to make 
it?"

        "No, Mother Saotome.  I used my new cookbook.  I'm glad you like
it."

        "Akane's cooking has really improved, hasn't it Ranma?"

        Ranma took his eyes from his father long enough to smile at his
mother, and his wife.

        "She sure has, Mom.  I'm not too afraid of being poisoned any
more."

        Akane turned red, and was about to yell at Ranma, when he grinned
at her, and gave her a small hug.

        "C'mon, Akane.  It was a compliment."

        Akane hesitated, and smiled.  In a way, it was.

        Nodoka smiled at Akane.

        "You're doing very well, dear.  If you keep up like this, you'll
be able to make your family wonderful meals."

        Genma finally opened his mouth, and put his foot in it.

        "Speaking of families, Son, when are the two of you going to give
us a grandchild?"

        "Not for a while, Pop."

        "Why not?  The sooner the better, I say."

        Ranma lost his temper again.

        "Pop!  Mind your business!  Akane and I have another year of
school yet, and having a baby now is out of the question."

        Genma glared at his son, and opened his mouth to yell back at
him, but Nodoka spoke first.

        "They're right, dear.  Remember, you're thinking from a man's
point of view.  Do you remember how sick I was with Ranma?  How could
Akane go to school if she was afflicted with morning sickness as badly as
I was?"

        Nodoka then got up, and began to clear the table.

                                  *****

        Akane and Nodoka stood in the kitchen, washing the dishes.  Akane
had been very quiet since lunch, barely speaking at all.

        "What's wrong, dear?  You look so worried."

        Akane hesitated, but the kind look on Nodoka's face encouraged
her to speak.

        "It's hard, Mother Saotome.  Ranma and I want to be independent,
but everyone keeps trying to run our lives.  When are you all going to
realize that we're not children any more?"

        Nodoka patted Akane's hand, and smiled.

        "Yes Akane, I understand what you mean.  But you must remember
that you and Ranma are still very young.  Guidance from older people
isn't that bad, is it?

        "You're missing the point, Mom.  You or Father Saotome or Daddy
may give advice, but you don't have to worry about the consequences.
Ranma and I have to live with any decisions we make, and we don't want to
look back and regret that we let others push us into what we didn't
want."

        Nodoka looked thoughtful for a minute, and then nodded.

        "I can understand your feelings, Akane.  If I have anything to
say, it will be a suggestion only, okay?  This way you can choose whether
or not to listen to it."

                                  *****

        It was a calmer Akane that sat back down at the table once the
kitchen was cleaned up.  Genma and Ranma made an effort to keep from
arguing, but Akane couldn't wait until the rest of her family came home.
There was too much friction between father and son.  It was with a sense
of relief that she heard the doorbell ring.

        Ranma got up first, and came back with his hands full.

        "It was the mailman, Akane.  This package came for you, and it's
too big to fit in the box."

        Akane looked curiously at the box, which had no return address.

        "I wonder what it is?"

        Since the wedding announcement had appeared in the paper some
days ago, several wedding presents had been sent to them, and Akane
suspected that this was another. She quickly tore the paper off the box,
and lifted the lid.  In a nest of tissue paper was a lovely silk robe.
She lifted it up, looking for a card.

        "It must be a wedding present, Ranma, but there's no card.  And
the silk is so nice and soft."

        Akane held the silk to her cheek, enjoying the smoothness of it.
She suddenly felt dizzy, and the robe dropped from her hands.

        "Ranma... I feel sort of strange..."

        "Akane?"

        Akane could hear Ranma, but her vision blurred, and she felt
herself falling.

        Nodoka screamed as Akane slumped over into Ranma's arms.

                                  *****

        Several hours later, Ranma held onto Akane's hand as she rested
in their room.  She still looked a little pale, but insisted on sitting
up in bed.

        "I'm fine, Ranma, really.  The doctor said I didn't handle the
silk long enough for the poison to do any permanent harm."

        Ranma released Akane's hand and held her tight, shuddering.  The
thought that he could have lost her was too much for him to handle.

        When Akane had collapsed, Ranma had immediately concluded that
the robe was the cause, and used the tissue paper to tuck it back into
the box.  Akane had been taken to the hospital, where it was determined
that the robe had been treated with some sort of contact poison.

        "It's plant-derived, Mr. Saotome", the doctor had said.  "This is
something made by an expert in poisonous plants."

        Ranma knew only one person with that sort of knowledge, and
notified the authorities.

                                  *****

        There was a knock on the doorframe, and Ranma released Akane to
slide the door open.  Nabiki stood there, Kuno beside her.  Kuno bowed
deeply, and hesitated, unsure if he should enter the room or not.

        "Excuse the intrusion, Saotome.  I am here to see Saotome Akane,
and to apologize."

        Ranma was surprised to see him so subdued, and let him in.  Kuno
hesitated again, and then walked to Akane's bed.

        "Saotome Akane, I am sorry.  If I had informed my sister of your
marriage at the time it occurred, perhaps this would not have happened.
Kodachi appears to have... snapped.  I have arranged to have her
properly cared for, and I can assure you that she will not be able to
harm you again.  I do not like to beg favors from anyone, but I have one
to ask of you."

        Akane looked from Ranma to Kuno, and responded softly.

        "What is that?"

        "Please do not make any charges against her.  My sister is sick,
and needs help."

        "I agree, under one condition."

        "Anything, just name it."

        Akane squeezed Ranma's hand.  This opportunity was too good to
pass up.

        "Renounce all claims to the pigtailed girl."


                             ===============



                              Breaking Free

                               Chapter 12

                        Where Do We Go From Here?


        Akane sipped her tea, and toyed with her sandwich.  She'd slept
about two hours out of the last twenty-four, but did not feel all that
tired.  Her entire world had shrunk to the size of this small room, and
she would stay here until her task was done, and she could bring Ranma
home.

        He'd grown a little restless the past couple of hours, moving his
head and hands.  Akane had noted that when she spoke he seemed to lean
his head in her direction, as if trying to listen to her.  The doctor had
taken that as a good sign, and she'd continued with her story.

                                  *****

        Ranma wandered through the haze.  He couldn't see where he was
going, and couldn't feel anything around him, no matter how far he
stretched his arms.  He was truly lost.

        Ranma chuckled, feeling a little amused.  Now he knew how Ryoga
felt.  But he had one advantage over Ryoga.  He was following Akane's
voice.  Sooner or later, it would lead him out of the fog.

        Akane heard Ranma's chuckle, and leaned forward, holding onto
him.

        "Ranma?  I know you're in there!  Please wake up."

        The smile on Ranma's lips faded, and he slept on.

        "You hear me, I know you do.  Just keep listening, Ranma."

                                  *****

        "Our senior year was so much better than we expected, Ranma.  The
school had been a battleground for us for such a long time that it was
strange that no one there wanted to fight you, or grab at me.  After a
while, it actually became a haven for us, since we were under such
pressure at home..."

                                  *****

        Ranma waited outside the computer lab, watching Akane through the
window.  She and her teacher huddled before the screen, discussing
something.  Finally, Akane nodded, picked up her things, and left.

        "What were you doing, Akane?"

        "Learning how to use the new software we just got in, Ranma.  I
think I understand it now."

        "When we can afford it, I'll get a computer for the house, Akane.
If we can keep our own records, then your sister won't be able to charge
us outrageous rates to do our books for us."

        Akane thought of how disappointing that would be to Nabiki, and
giggled.  She and Ranma were doing their best to keep their records
organized while Nabiki was away at college, and hoped to avoid asking for
her help.

        They left the school, heading toward home.  As the couple passed
Dr. Tofu's clinic, he stepped outside.

        "Hello, you two.  I was hoping you'd pass by.  Do you have a
minute?"

        "Sure, Doc, what's up?"

        Tofu waved them inside, and made some tea.

        "Had you heard that Mrs. Kasahara is retiring?"

        Akane was sad, but not too surprised.  Mrs. Kasahara had worked
for Dr. Tofu, keeping his office organized, as long as Akane could
remember.

        "You'll miss her, won't you?"

        "Yes, I will.  I know you're taking classes in office work,
Akane.  Do you think you would like to come work for me?"

        "Me?"

        Akane looked at Ranma, and smiled.  He'd decided to go on
teaching the men's group three afternoons a week, but there had not been
enough interest for the women's group to continue.  This would give her a
chance to make her own contribution to their finances.

        "I'd love to."

                                  *****

        It was a couple of months before Mrs. Kasahara retired, and
during that time Akane worked hard bringing her skills up to the level
needed for the job.  She was excited about it, and Ranma shared her
enthusiasm.

        The same could not be said for her father, though, as they found
out once Akane had started her job.

                                  *****

        Ranma walked along the top of the fence, looking down at his
wife.  Usually, he walked beside her to school, but Akane was so keep in
thought that Ranma didn't think she even realized he wasn't there.

        This was the third day of Akane's strange behavior, and Ranma
didn't know what to make of it.  She was too quiet, and too polite, and
too - Ranma couldn't find the right word - unlike Akane.

        That evening, Akane sat at dinner, looking down at her food, and
totally ignoring the conversation around her, even if some of it was
directed at her.  Soun was going on, as usual, about his objections to
her having a job outside the house, rather than helping Ranma teach, and
instead of arguing with him, as she usually did, she was simply letting
him talk.

        Ranma had tried to change the subject, and draw Akane into the
conversation, but she wasn't responding at all.  He wondered whether she
was angry with him, but they hadn't had an argument in weeks...

                                  *****

        Ranma was stretched out on the floor after his bath, watching
television with Akane, when she got up to bathe.  He expected her to
rejoin him afterward, but instead she walked past him and went upstairs.
Ranma turned off the television, and went up.

        Akane was already in bed, and Ranma joined her, turning off the
lights.  He gathered her into his arms, and settled her into her usual
position, head on his shoulder.

        "You smell so good, Akane."

        Ranma buried his face in Akane's freshly-washed hair, breathing
in the fragrance.  He kissed the top of her head, and then moved down to
her forehead, her cheekbones, and her lips.  Akane's arms came up to hold
him, but she held him almost casually, returning his kisses
half-heartedly.  Ranma suddenly tasted salt, and switched on the light.

        "Akane, why are you crying?"

        "I don't know."

        Ranma sat up, and looked down at his wife.  She was rubbing her
eyes, trying to stop the sobs that were now tearing her apart.

        "You haven't been yourself for days, Akane.  When are you gonna
tell me what's wrong?"

        Finally, as Akane calmed herself, the words came.

        "We made a mistake, Ranma.  We were too young to get married."

        "WHAT!!!"

        Ranma turned away, hurt.  He took a couple of deep, slow breaths,
and turned back to his wife.

        "You're not happy with me?"

        Akane flew into a sitting position, and grabbed Ranma.

        "No, it's not you!  It's everyone else.  Maybe if we'd waited
until we were older, they wouldn't try to rule our lives.  But they think
that we're just kids who can't do anything right.  Daddy won't let up,
neither will your father, and even Kasumi..."

        "Kasumi?  She doesn't boss you around, sweetheart."

        "No Ranma, she doesn't.  But she's constantly forgetting to stop
doing the things for you that I want to do.  I'll get home from school to
find out that she's collected all of our laundry out of our room and
washed it.  When I point out that I was going to do it she'll tell me
that it was no bother, she was doing wash already."

        "Or I'll dust the furniture and polish the floor in here, and
find her doing it again.  Not that she didn't think I did a good job, but
that it's a habit for her to do the whole house."

        Ranma nodded.  He was beginning to understand.

        "Is it always going to be this way?  I don't want to be mothered
by Kasumi forever."

        "Maybe she'll get married, Akane."

        Akane laughed bitterly.

        "Right.  Dr. Tofu can't even say good morning to her without
tying himself in knots.  I can't even say her name in the office for fear
that all the patients will run out the door."

        Akane hesitated, looking down, and then lifted her eyes to
Ranma's face.

        "Do you understand what I mean, Ranma?  Doesn't this situation
bother you a little?"

        Ranma nodded.

        "It does, Akane.  I feel like we're living under a microscope.
We can't even disagree with each other without your father accusing me of
'not treating his little girl right'.  And when Pop and your father watch
me teach, I feel like they're waiting for me to say or do something
wrong.  I've been thinking about it, and I can only see two ways to go."

        "What are they, Ranma?"

        "We can put up with it, but that means we're both going to be
unhappy.  Or we can fight back, but that might make things even worse."

        "There is a third option, Ranma."

        "Which is?"

        "We could move out."

        Ranma couldn't help laughing.

        "How?  We're both working part time.  We could never afford our
own place."

        Akane's face fell.  She lay back down, and turned over, away from
Ranma.

        "Forget I said anything.  It was a dumb idea anyway."

        Ranma got out of bed, walked around it, and knelt down so he
could look at Akane's face.

        "No, it wasn't a dumb idea.  It was a good one.  Let's sleep on
it, Akane, and maybe we can come up with something tomorrow."

        Ranma kissed Akane, walked back around the bed, and lay down,
turning out the lamp.  After a minute, Akane turned over and cuddled up
next to him.  She was soon asleep.

        Ranma was as far from sleep as he could be.  His wife was
unhappy, and he'd promised himself on their wedding day that she would
never be that way.  Although Ranma knew it was an unrealistic promise, he
was determined to do his best.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 13

                             Unexpected Help


        Akane pushed her plate away, and started to stand up.

        "Oh no you don't, Sis.  Sit down and finish."

        Nabiki's tone was enough for Akane to know that her sister was
serious, and she sat down and finished her meal.  Akane's sisters had
joined her in Ranma's room, and helped her to give him a massage.  Then
they had taken her by the arms and dragged her downstairs for lunch.
Akane had tried to protest, but Kasumi's words were enough to make her
listen.

        "Ranma needs you, Akane.  If you collapse, you won't be able to
help him."

                                  *****

        Akane opened Ranma's door, and found that he wasn't alone.
Kasumi's fiance was sitting beside him, talking softly.

        "Tofu!"

        Dr. Tofu stood, and hugged Akane.

        "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Akane, but I couldn't
leave Mrs. Kuwabara."

        "I understand, Tofu."

        Dr. Tofu pulled another chair close to Ranma, and they sat
together.  Akane held her husband's hand and leaned on the side of the
bed, her eyes half closed.  She felt relieved that it wasn't necessary to
hold a conversation with Tofu just because he was there.  He wouldn't
expect it of her.

        After about a half hour, Tofu stood, and moved closer to Ranma.

        "I want to try something, if you don't mind."

        "Go ahead."

        Dr. Tofu examined Ranma carefully, pressing his fingers gently
against many parts of his body.  After a few minutes, he began
concentrating on certain pressure points.

        "There was some pressure that needed to be relieved, Akane, and I
did what I could.  It's funny, you know.  At times like this I miss
Cologne.  She was the true expert."

        Tofu tucked the blanket back around Ranma, and gave Akane a kiss
on the cheek.

        "I'm going to take Kasumi and Nabiki back to the house.  They
look exhausted.  I'll come back as soon as I can.  Keep talking to Ranma,
Akane.  When I spoke to him I'm sure he heard me."

                                  *****

        Akane moved back to Ranma's side, picking up his hand.  While
she'd been out, the nurses had bathed him, and shaved him.  Now it didn't
tickle when she kissed him.

        "Tofu has been such a good friend to us, Ranma.  He helped us
when we thought our situation was hopeless."

                                  *****

        Akane lifted her head from the rental listings, and sighed.
They'd lowered their target from an apartment to a room, but even the
rooms were too expensive.  Ranma saw her look, and tried to be
encouraging.

        "Don't give up, Akane.  We've just started looking."

                                  *****

        At work that afternoon, Akane finished the last of her tasks, and
went into Dr. Tofu's office.

        "Is there anything else I can do?"

        Dr. Tofu smiled.

        "No, Akane, nothing.  Isn't Ranma waiting for you?"

        "He's teaching tonight.  I can stay a little longer if you need
me for anything."

        Tofu folded his arms, and frowned at Akane.

        "Why don't you want to go home?"

        "Excuse me?"

        "Don't try to fool me, Akane.  I've known you since you were a
little girl.  Why don't you want to go home?"

                                  *****

        Half an hour and a couple of cups of tea later, Akane had
finished telling Dr. Tofu about the dilemma she and Ranma found
themselves in.  When Akane stopped talking and looked at the floor, Dr.
Tofu just sat there for a minute, deep in thought.  Akane finally looked
up, and found that he was smiling at her.

        "I may be able to help, Akane.  Follow me."

        Akane followed Dr. Tofu outside, where he unlocked the door next
to the clinic.  He led her upstairs, and unlocked a second door.

        "This is where Mrs. Kasahara lived, Akane.  When she retired, she
went to live with her son.  I haven't rented the room yet."

        Akane held her breath.  She was looking at a very small room.
Against one wall was a refrigerator, sink and stove, and directly
opposite were three large windows. There was a small closet, and one door
which she opened to find a tiny bathroom, with a shower stall.  Akane
turned to Dr. Tofu, and began to stammer.

        "B-but, we don't have that much money, and..."

        "Did I say anything about money, Akane?"

        Akane drew herself up to her full height (which was not very
high), and glared at her friend.

        "Don't you dare!"

        Then her face softened.

        "Please.  I appreciate the offer, but if Ranma and I lived here,
we'd want to pay rent."

        "All right, Akane.  I understand.  But it wouldn't be more than
you could afford.  You need to be on your own, even if it's just a
temporary arrangement.  Talk to Ranma about it when you get home."

                                  *****

        Akane laughed.

        "I still remember the look in your eyes when I told you, Ranma.
You wanted the place so badly."

                                  *****

        Ranma and Akane stopped at Tofu's on their way home the next day,
so that Ranma could see the room. After looking it over, he told Tofu
that he would think about it, and they continued home.

        "What did you think, Ranma?"

        "Well, it is a very small room, Akane.  You've always lived in a
big house.  Would that bother you?"

        Akane squeezed Ranma's hand.

        "Not as long as you're with me."

        Ranma was quiet after that, until they neared the house.

        "We'll talk more about it tonight, Akane.  It's a big decision,
and I don't want to rush it."

                                  *****

        In the end, the decision they made was rushed, and caused by an
outside source.  That evening, Ranma was downstairs getting a bedtime
snack when he heard a shriek come from his bedroom.  He dropped what he
was eating, and flew up the stairs.

        The sight that greeted Ranma when he slid the door aside and
switched on the light made him livid.  Akane was standing in the middle
of the room, her nightgown soaking wet, trying to pry Happosai off her
chest.  An empty bucket lay on the floor.

        "Let go of me, you pervert!"

        Happosai picked up his head, and looked at Akane in confusion.

        "Akane?  I thought you were Ranma-chan!"

        Ranma immediately understood the situation.  Happosai had come in
through the window and soaked Akane, who had been in bed, thinking that
she was Ranma.  He reached for Happosai just as Akane, who looked more
furious than he'd ever seen her, succeeded in loosening his grip.

        "Do I look like Ranma to you?"

        She was going to clobber him, but Ranma held out his hands, and
Akane handed him over.  Ranma was beginning to glow, and Akane caught her
breath.  Was he going to use a chi attack against Happosai?  Then the
glow faded, as Ranma controlled his temper.  He walked to the window, and
turned the old man around to look into his eyes.

        "I'm only going to tell you this once, you old freak, so listen
carefully.  If you ever lay a finger on my wife again you will live just
long enough to regret it.  Then you won't live any longer.  Get it?"

        Happosai looked from Ranma to Akane, and back again.

        "Surely you wouldn't treat your master so badly, Ranma.  Nobody
told me you were married.  It was only a little mistake, and ..."

        The rest of Happosai's speech was lost as Ranma punted him
through the window, and out of sight.

        "What on earth happened?"

        Ranma turned around, to find Kasumi and Soun at the door.

        "Happosai happened."

        Soun turned pale.

        "The Master was here?  We haven't seen him in months!  I hope you
weren't rude to him, Ranma."

        "Rude?  You've gotta be kidding!  He threw water on Akane, and
grabbed her.  Should I have been polite?"

        Soun burst into tears.

        "You know what he's like when he's angry, Ranma!  Couldn't you
have overlooked it?"

        Akane completely lost it.

        "Daddy!  Are you trying to say that it was ok for that pervert to
grope me?  You're so afraid of him that you'll let him get away with
that?  Do me a favor, and go back to bed!"

        Akane turned her back on her father, and didn't turn around until
she heard him going back downstairs, still weeping.  Kasumi was still in
the doorway, and Akane spoke to her in a milder tone of voice.

        "Go back to bed, Kasumi.  I'm sorry we woke you."

        Kasumi nodded, and closed the door.  Akane went to the bed, and
pulled the sheets off.  The mattress was soaked.

        "We can't sleep in here, Ranma.  I guess we could use my old
room."

                                  *****

        A short time later Ranma and Akane were crowded together in
Akane's old bed.  Ranma held Akane close, and kissed the tip of her nose.

        "Not too much room in here, is there?"

        "Nope, none at all."

        Ranma chuckled.

        "If we take Tofu's room, we'd be able to put a small futon in it,
but our bed would never make it."

        "You're right.  But I think you'd better switch the 'if' to
'when'.  It's time to go, Ranma.  I don't care about what we take with
us, or leave behind."

        "Then we go, Akane.  As soon as we can."

        Akane responded with a kiss, which Ranma was only too happy to
return.

                                  *****

        "The list of names our parents called us was so long, Ranma.
Ungrateful, disloyal, stubborn, foolish...  I can't even list them
all.  And it was so unfair of them to treat Tofu so badly, when all he
was trying to do was help."

                                  *****

        Akane and Kasumi sat in the attic, packing a box.

        "I'm glad I saved all of Grandmother's things, Akane.  I thought
I was just being sentimental, but now you can use them."

        Kasumi had unearthed their grandmother's dishes, pots and pans
from the attic, where they had been stored for many years.  She was the
only family member who supported the young couple in their decision.
Nabiki had yet to be heard from.

        "I'm sure there are other things here that you could use, Akane.
I'll bring them to you if I find them."

        Akane laughed.

        "Don't overdo it, Kasumi.  We don't have a lot of room."

        Kasumi helped Ranma and Akane carry the boxes to Tofu's waiting
car.  To give him credit, Tofu had been making a great effort to control
his reaction to Kasumi's presence, and was acting almost normally.  When
she put her hand on his arm, though, he began to lose his control.

        "Tofu, I must ask you a great favor."

        "Y-y-yes, K-kasumi?"

        "Watch over Ranma and Akane for me, would you?"

        Tofu shook his head, trying to clear it.

        "They don't need it, Kasumi.  Don't you understand?  They can
take care of themselves."

        Kasumi's eyes opened wide.  She wasn't accustomed to hearing Tofu
speak coherently to her.

        "That's what I've been telling Father.  You'd think I'd be able
to take my own advice."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 14

                                  Happy


        "That was the beginning of a good time for us, Ranma.  It wasn't
easy for us to deal with our parents' anger, but we did.  We did what
we'd agreed to do on the train - support each other - and that made us
strong."

                                  *****

        The class was over at the dojo, and one student stayed behind.
He was having difficulty with what he was learning, and Ranma was giving
him some individual instruction.

        Ranma had learned something about himself.  Teaching was giving
him more patience.  At first, the patience was directed only toward his
students, but it soon carried over into other aspects of his life.  He
was learning to be more patient with his parents, his father-in-law, and
his wife.

        Ranma's quick tongue had been getting him in trouble for years,
but over the past few weeks it had been happening less often.

        Ranma's student left, and he shut the lights and locked up the
dojo.  Soun was standing outside.

        "Akane didn't come with you tonight, Ranma?  Why is she avoiding
me?"

        Ranma opened his mouth, closed it again, and thought for a moment
before he replied.

        "She's working tonight, Father Tendo.  We'll both come next
time."

        Kasumi appeared at the door.

        "Ranma, won't you stay and eat with us?"

        "I can't, Kasumi.  Akane should be making dinner now."

        Soun shuddered, and looked at his son-in-law sympathetically.
Ranma caught the look, and laughed.

        "Don't look that way, Father Tendo.  Akane's cooking is improving
all the time."

        As he walked home, Ranma grinned.  He hadn't been lying to his
father-in-law.  Akane was improving, but that didn't mean that everything
she made was edible.  He laughed, remembering the state he'd found her in
a few nights ago when he came home from teaching...

                                  *****

        Ranma opened the door at the street level, and smelled smoke.  He
flew up the stairs, and found all three windows open in their room, and
Akane desperately trying to wave the smoke out the window.

        "What happened?"

        Akane had tears running down her face, and she threw herself into
Ranma's arms.

        "I ruined our dinner, Ranma.  I'm so sorry!"

        "How did you do that?"

        Akane handed Ranma her mother's notebook.

        "I put all the spices on the fish, and put it in the oven, and
sat down to look at my homework.  The next thing I knew, all this smoke
was coming out of the oven, and the fish was black!"

        Akane kept sniffling, as Ranma read the notebook.  He went over
to the stove, and looked at the settings.

        "Here's what you did wrong, Akane.  You set the oven on broil
instead of bake."

        Akane just continued to sniffle, while Ranma wrapped the remains
of the cremated fish and took it downstairs to throw it away.  He then
got out Akane's coat, and handed it to her.

        "C'mon, Akane.  When's the last time we had pizza?"

                                  *****

        "We had our disasters, Ranma, and we had our fights.  But mostly,
we were very happy. At least once a week either you or I had to explain
to Daddy that we would come back home when we were ready to, but after a
while he stopped asking.  I think the fact that we tried so hard to be
nice to him finally convinced him that we didn't hate him.  I don't know
where he had gotten that idea in the first place."

        "Remember when Nabiki came home for a visit?  I think that was
the first time she ever complimented my cooking.  And she made it so
clear to Daddy that she supported us in our decision to be on our own."

        "It was just after her visit that Kasumi came to us with the
letter from Cologne.  I remember your face changing as you read it, and
then you handed it to me so I could..."

                                  *****

        "Dear Ranma,

        I'm sure that you did not expect to hear from me, but I felt it
        necessary to write to you at this time, as it will soon be
        impossible for me to do so again.

        Shampoo, Mousse and I have returned to Joketsuzoku, and much has
        happened since then.

        When our people found that Shampoo had failed to follow Amazon
        law, many of them treated her as outcast.  It was very difficult
        for her the first few weeks after our return.

        One person who did not treat her badly was the village carpenter.
        He and Shampoo had been playmates when they were children, and he
        seemed happy to have her back.  Shampoo spent quite a bit of time
        watching him building furniture, which he had become quite
        skilled at since our departure for Japan.  What she did not
        realize was that he was waiting for her arm to heal.

        As soon as Shampoo was able to fight again, he challenged and
        defeated her.  Shampoo did not argue when he insisted that they
        marry immediately.

        They are happy, Ranma, and therefore I am happy also.  Shampoo
        is once more accepted as an Amazon, and I can leave her knowing
        that she will be all right.

        For I am dying.  My age has finally caught up with me, and I will
        probably be gone by the time you receive this letter.  I
        apologize for all of the pain I have caused you and your wife,
        and wish you nothing but happiness in your lives.

        In closing, Ranma, I must tell you that we visited Jusenkyo as
        soon as we came back to China.  The springs have not been
        restored, and the guide was not there.  I did see his daughter,
        though, and Plum tells me that her father has a plan to restore
        the springs, and that he is confident that he will be successful.
        She has promised to contact you should that happen.

        Please forgive me for the past, and may your future be a happy
        one.

        Cologne"

                                  *****

        Akane looked up from the letter, to find tears in her husband's
eyes.  Ranma wiped away the tears, looking somewhat embarrassed.

        "It's funny, Akane.  After all the old ghou... Cologne, did to
us, I didn't think I would feel this - this bad."

        Akane was also crying, and Kasumi stayed with them, offering what
comfort she could.  Kasumi had been making it a habit to visit regularly.
She missed her sisters, and while Nabiki was too far away to visit, Akane
was nearby.

        Kasumi's regular visits were having an effect on Dr. Tofu.  He no
longer walked into walls when he saw her, and was up to the point where
he could manage an entire sentence when speaking to her.  Akane had been
observing them, and was very encouraged.  She'd made up her mind that
Kasumi and Tofu belonged together, and wanted to see them married, or at
least engaged, before she and Ranma returned home.

                                  *****

        "The weeks went so quickly, Ranma, and before we knew it spring
had come, and Nabiki was home.  Our families gave us a wonderful first
anniversary party, and then it was time for our senior prom."

                                  *****

        Nabiki and Kasumi insisted that they should dress Akane for her
prom, the way Kasumi and Akane had done for Nabiki.  Akane gave in, and
Ranma took her home and gave her into the hands of her sisters.  After
dressing, he went downstairs to wait for her, and sat with their parents.

        Ranma endured several uncomfortable minutes with Mr. Tendo, who
had come to the conclusion that Ranma and Akane would be moving back to
the house once they graduated.  Ranma wondered where the idea had come
from, and was about to ask when footsteps on the stairs made them all
turn around.

        Akane looked lovely.  Her father took one look, and burst into
tears.

        "Akane, you look just like your dear mother!  Oh, if only she
could see you!"

        Akane was afraid that her father was going to cry all over her
gown, but Genma had the presence of mind to hold onto his friend's arm,
and prevent him from hanging all over his daughter.

                                  *****

        "The prom was perfect, Ranma.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and
we danced every dance."

        Akane paused, and kissed Ranma's cheek.

        "I believe, Ranma, that our daughter was conceived the night of
the prom."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 15

                                 Changes


        Ranma stopped, listening.  He was still lost.  What had happened
to Akane's voice?

        "Akane?"

        Akane's head jerked up.  She'd fallen asleep, leaning over onto
Ranma's bed.

        "Ranma?"

        Ranma didn't look as if he had moved.  Perhaps she'd dreamed that
he had whispered to her.

        "Ready to listen some more, Ranma?  I'm sorry that my voice is so
bad."

                                  *****

        "We did a lot of talking over the next few weeks, Ranma, and some
of it was arguing.  Deciding whether or not to move home after graduation
was hard, wasn't it?  But we knew that we'd have to, eventually.  One
small room was all right for the two of us, but for three?"

                                  *****

        "Akane?  Hey!  Are you asleep?"

        Akane's eyes opened slowly.  She was in bed, with her cheek
pillowed against her textbook.  She and Ranma had been studying for
finals together.

        "Sorry, Ranma.  I can't stay awake any longer.  If we're not
ready for tomorrow, we never will be."

        Ranma took the book off the bed, crawled beneath the blankets,
and turned off the light.

        "We're ready, Akane.  Go back to sleep."

        Ranma closed his eyes, and smiled.  Since he and Akane had moved
into their own place, both their grades had improved.  Having a quiet
place to study, and being able to work together, had helped both of them.

        As Ranma drifted off, he wondered why Akane was so tired.  She'd
been going to bed early for the past few days, and hadn't seemed to be
herself.

                                  *****

        The broth was simmering, and the vegetables were nearly done.
Akane sliced up the tofu and added it to the soup, and then went to the
refrigerator for the miso.  Akane knew that Ranma was being diplomatic
most of the time when he praised her cooking, but she also knew that he
truly liked her miso soup.

        Akane opened the container, and measured out the miso into a
small bowl.  She added some soup from the pot, and stirred it to melt the
paste.  A pungent aroma rose from the bowl, and Akane backed away.  She
controlled her reaction, and cautiously sniffed the bowl.  Had the miso
gone bad?

        No, there was nothing wrong with the miso, but there was
definitely something wrong with her.  Akane added the miso to the soup,
stirred it, and opened the window to get some air.

        Ranma emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, and shut the
window.

        "Akane, whaddya have the window open for?  It's chilly in here!"

        Ranma dressed quickly, and pulled the table away from the wall
where they kept it propped during the night.  Akane brought the soup to
the table, and sat down on the floor next to Ranma.

        "Sorry, Ranma.  I needed some air."

        "You look a little pale, Akane.  Are you ok?"

        "I'm fine."

        Contrary to what Akane had said, she was not fine.  After two
sips of the soup, she put it down, and pushed it away.

        "Akane?  Are you sure you're ok?"

        "I'm just not hungry."

                                  *****

        Akane forced herself to make it through her tests, and by
lunchtime was ravenous.  She and Ranma met beneath their favorite tree,
and Ranma watched, bemused, as Akane wolfed down her lunch, and began
eyeing his.

        "I guess you feel better, don't you?"

        "Much.  Are you going to eat that rice?"

        Ranma surrendered.

        "Here, take it."

                                  *****

        After another late-night study session, Akane fell into bed.  The
last of their finals were the next day, and she wanted everything to go
well.

        To the contrary, the next morning was worse.  When the alarm went
off, Akane sat up, turned green, and squashed Ranma by crawling over him
in her haste to get to the bathroom.  Ranma could hear her gagging, and
opened the door to get to her side.  Afterward, he lifted her up and
placed her back in bed.

        "Rest, Akane.  I'll make some tea."

        Akane nodded, and lay down.  The room seemed to be moving.  Her
mind kept trying to determine why she was feeling so bad, and she
suddenly sat up, dizzy or not.  Ranma turned around from the stove and
found Akane gazing at the calendar, and counting on her fingers.

        "Oh dear."

        "What, Akane?"

        "I think... I think..."

        "What?"

        "Can you run down to the store, Ranma?  There's something we
need."

        "What?"

        "Um, a pregnancy test kit."

        "WHAT!"

                                  *****

        Ranma had always prided himself on how fast he could run, but
this time he broke all previous records.  He found Akane nervously
clutching the blankets when he came back.

        A few minutes later Akane was alternately smiling and crying, and
Ranma was holding her so tightly it was a wonder she could breathe.  Then
he let go, feeling incredibly protective.

        "I'm sorry, sweetheart.  Did I hurt you?"

        Akane wiped her eyes, and kissed him.

        "It's okay to hug me, Ranma.  I don't think I'll break."

                                  *****

        Ranma held Akane's hand as they walked to school.  They were both
pretty much in a state of shock.

        Ranma had fixed Akane a simple breakfast, and persuaded her to
eat some of it before they left the house.  He was deathly afraid that
she'd pass out during finals, and reveal their little secret.

                                  *****

        "We kept the secret well, Ranma.  No one at school suspected,
although you were getting some extra teasing about how close you were
sticking to me.  Dr. Tanaka said I was perfectly healthy, but you were so
protective."

        Akane leaned over to hug Ranma, and caress his face.

        "At the time I guess it annoyed me, but I think it was because I
was so sick the first few weeks.  I'm sorry I snapped at you all the
time."

        "By the time we graduated, though, I was feeling much better, and
it was time to move back home."

                                  *****

        "It seems like it was yesterday that we were carrying these
things UP the stairs!"

        Dr. Tofu's good-natured laugh made Ranma smile.

        "We owe you a few favors, Doc.  When Kasumi needs to move her
things in, we'll help."

        Tofu walked into the wall, and giggled.  Ranma sighed.  Tofu and
Kasumi had been engaged for a week now, and Tofu was still walking on
air.

                                  *****

        "Our last night here, Ranma.  I'm glad we had the chance to be on
our own."

        Ranma pulled Akane into his arms, and settled back onto the
pillows.

        "We'll just have to hang onto our independence, Akane.  Kasumi
will be gone next summer, and Nabiki is away at college.  I doubt if
she'll ever live at the house again.  That leaves you, me, your father,
and the baby.  I think your father will end up depending on us, the way
he depends on Kasumi."

        "Depending on us sounds better than bossing us around, Ranma."

        Ranma smiled, held Akane closer, and kissed her.

        "Never again, Akane.  Now stop worrying, and kiss me."


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 16

                          Fighting For Control


        Ranma's doctor seemed to spend an extra long time examining him,
and Akane could see his face crease with worry.

        "What's wrong, Doctor?  Please don't try to hide it from me."

        The doctor sighed.  Mrs. Saotome was more perceptive than he
liked.

        "The truth?"

        "Yes."

        "Normally, people in your husband's situation wake up long before
this.  If he doesn't come round soon, you may wish to consider
transferring him to a long-term care facility."

        "L-long term?  What are you saying?"

        "I'm afraid he may not be waking up."

                                  *****

        Akane was on her way to the waiting room to see her sisters when
she heard whispers behind her.

        "That's the one I was telling you about.  She's been here ever
since her husband was brought in.  Poor thing won't admit that it's
hopeless."

        "Shh!  She'll hear you!"

        Akane pretended that she hadn't heard a word, and continued
walking.  She kept a neutral expression on her face until she'd closed
the door of the waiting room behind her.  Only then did she fall into her
sisters' arms, and weep.

                                  *****

        Akane smiled, and kissed Kasumi and Nabiki.

        "Thank you.  I guess I needed a good cry."

        Nabiki waited until the door had closed behind her sister before
she turned to Kasumi.

        "She's needed that cry for a long time, Kasumi, not just since
the accident.  Everyone's been too hard on them."

        "I know, Nabiki.  I've been listening to Akane talk to Ranma when
I sit with her.  I never really fully understood what they've been
through before."

                                  *****

        Akane opened her eyes, and smiled at Ranma.

        "I didn't realize how much I missed this bed, Ranma."

        Ranma grinned, and pulled Akane closer.

        "Yeah, and I don't have to fold it up and shove it in the closet
for you to have enough room to cook breakfast!"

        Ranma paused, and kissed Akane.

        "Speaking of breakfast, who's going to make it?  You or Kasumi?"

        "Kasumi said she would this morning, but we'll do a lot of the
cooking together."

        "So you don't have to get up yet, right?"

        Akane saw the look in Ranma's eyes, and grinned at him.

        "Nope.  What did you have in mind?"

        "What do you think?"

                                  *****

        Soun put down his newspaper as Kasumi put the teapot on the
table.

        "Where are Ranma and Akane?"

        "They haven't come downstairs yet, Father.  I'm sure they'll be
along shortly."

        Some time later the pair rushed downstairs, wearing their gis.
Ranma plopped down in his place, and reached up to help Akane sit down.
Soun noted Ranma's tender treatment of his daughter, and nodded
approvingly.

        "All ready to practice.  Good!  The two of you make me proud."

        Ranma's mouth dropped open.  He wasn't accustomed to much praise
from his father-in-law.

        "There's only one thing the two of you can do to make me
completely happy."

        "What's that, Daddy?"

        "Give us an heir to the school."

        Ranma put his arm around his wife's shoulders, and smiled.  This
was going to be fun.

        "You'll have one some time in January, Father Tendo."

        Ranma wasn't very surprised to see his father-in-law begin
crying, and quickly supplied him with a box of tissues.

                                  *****

        Soun sat alone, finishing his tea.  Ranma and Akane had gone to
the dojo to practice, and Kasumi was in the kitchen, washing the dishes.
He could hear her singing.  Soun sighed.  He would miss Kasumi's singing
when she left home.

        A call from the hallway announced the arrival of the Saotomes,
and Soun jumped up to welcome them.

        "Saotome!  Wonderful news!"

        "What's that, Tendo?"

        "Our children are giving us an heir to the school."

        Nodoka smiled from ear to ear, and Genma started to swell with
pride.

        "That's wonderful!  Where are they?"

        "Practicing."

        "WHAT!"

        The dojo door opened, and Genma entered.  Ranma and Akane did not
stop for his entrance, but continued sparring with one another.
Suddenly, he thrust himself between them.

        "Son, are you out of your mind!  Akane shouldn't be doing this!"

        Genma grabbed Akane and hugged her, something he didn't do very
often.  Akane blushed in embarrassment.

        "Ranma should be taking better care of you than this, Akane.  You
might get hurt."

        "Pop."

        "Yes, Ranma?"

        "We're only exercising.  Akane isn't throwing me, and I'm not
throwing her around, or hitting her.  The doctor said is was okay."

        Genma frowned.

        "What about your students?  Can you trust them not to hurt her?"

        Ranma turned red.

        "Pop!  Don't you think I know better?  Akane will lead classes,
but she's not sparring with any of our students.  I'll do that."

        "Hey, wait a minute!  Don't I get to talk here?  I know better
than to endanger our baby, Father Saotome."

                                  *****

        After Genma had calmed down enough to accept the reasonableness
of what Ranma and Akane had told him, he joined them in their practice.
They were toweling themselves off when Nodoka slid the door open.

        "I've made some tea.  Won't you come back into the house?"

        "We'll be right there."

        Genma smiled at the young couple, and slapped his son on the
back.

        "I'm glad you moved back, Ranma.  Tendo missed the two of you."

        "Do I get to stay this time, Pop?  Any farmers coming around?"

        "No, no farmers."

        "No fiancees?"

        Genma muttered something that didn't sound particularly pleasant,
and walked back to the house.  Akane laughed, and put her arm through
Ranma's.

        "You can't resist getting in those digs, can you?"

        "I just don't trust him, Akane."

        Ranma would have trusted his father even less if he'd seen the
guilty expression on his face.

                                  *****

        "Things were fine at the beginning, Ranma, but little by little
as the summer went on, we began to feel the pressure again.  We'd become
used to independence when we were on our own, and they wanted the control
back."

        "Daddy wanted me to slow down, even though I was just fine and
following my doctor's instructions.  Your father was still coming around
trying to tell us how to teach.  Your mother was always bringing over
food that was 'for expectant mothers', even though Kasumi and I were
cooking together."

        "I think the only times we were completely at peace was when we
were in our room together, but we couldn't live our lives in our
bedroom."

        Akane played with Ranma's fingers, laughing softly to herself.

        "I'd always taken out my frustration on you, Ranma, especially
when you didn't deserve it.  I'm so sorry for all the times I yelled at
you or hit you when you weren't at fault.  One thing I learned last
summer was that we needed each other too much to fight like that
anymore."

        "So I began taking out my rage on our families."

                                  *****

        Soun saw his daughter coming down the hallway, and ducked out the
back door.  She'd been on a rampage since early that morning, and he
didn't want to be anywhere near her.  He found Kasumi sitting outside by
the pond, and sat beside her.

        "Kasumi, what is wrong with Akane?"

        "Don't you know, Father?"

        Soun looked totally lost.

        "You're treating her like a little girl, Father.  Akane is a
married woman, and she doesn't need you to direct everything that she
does.  Give her some room to breathe."

        "But Kasumi, she's my youngest, my baby..."

        Kasumi didn't like to criticize her father, so she tried to
express herself as gently as she could.

        "Father, Akane is going to have a baby, but she's not a baby
herself.  She and Ranma still have a lot to learn, but they won't be able
to if you keep trying to control them.  Let them make mistakes - it's
good for them."

        Kasumi stood and went back into the house, leaving her father to
think about what she'd said.  He took her advice to heart for a few days,
but soon slipped back into his old ways.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 17

                         Buildup To An Explosion


        Akane was getting worried.  She was nearly to the end of her
story, and Ranma was still not awake.  Her eyes strayed from his face to
the bag Kasumi had brought with her when she'd returned to the hospital.
Akane gently touched her lips to Ranma's, picked up the bag, and walked
down the hallway to the shower room.  As the door closed behind her,
Ranma smiled.

        Akane looked in the mirror.  Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair
was greasy, and she generally looked awful.

        "I mustn't let Ranma see me like this when he wakes."

        Fifteen minutes later, feeling refreshed, Akane returned to
Ranma's room, and discovered that her husband wasn't alone.  Seated in
the chair close to the bed was someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
To her surprise, instead of the usual bitterness and anger, the words
coming from his mouth were encouraging.

        "C'mon, Ranma.  You can't sleep like this forever!  You've got to
get up for Akane, and your child."

        "Ryoga!"

        Ryoga turned around, and blushed.  He'd been avoiding Akane for a
long time, and he didn't know what to say to her.

        "A-a-akane.  A-are you all right?"

        Ryoga jumped up, let Akane take the chair close to Ranma, and
pulled another alongside her.

        "How did you find out, Ryoga?"

        "I bumped into Dr. Tofu.  He gave me a ride here.  What
happened?"

        Akane closed her eyes for a moment.  This was the part of the
story she was about to tell Ranma.  She may as well tell it to Ryoga at
the same time.

        "It really started in late autumn, Ryoga."

                                  *****

        Akane sat in the corner of the dojo, watching Ranma teach.  She
was no longer allowed to take part in the classes, but she attended all
of them, watching the students, and discussing their progress with Ranma
afterwards.  After the students left, Ranma walked over, and helped her
up.

        "You're getting harder to pick up every day, Akane."

        "Yes, I know I'm fat."

        Ranma flinched.  Akane was looking down at the floor, not at him.
He put his hand under her chin, and made her look up.

        "You're not fat, Akane.  You're pregnant.  Big difference."

        Ranma hugged his wife, and chuckled when he got kicked.

        "Someone's getting in the way again."

        "You should feel it from this side, Ranma."

                                  *****

        "Ranma's parents came to dinner that night, and the same old
subject came up.  I'd been biting my tongue for weeks, but this time I
just couldn't."

                                  *****

        "We'll bring up this boy right, Tendo, won't we?  He'll be
trained in the art from the very beginning.  Think of the training trips
we'll take!"

        "Excuse me."

        "Right, Saotome.  The heir to the school will be a true master."

        "EXCUSE ME!!"

        Everyone turned to Akane, who had struggled to her feet, and was
turning bright red.

        "You two are NOT taking my child anywhere!"

        Ranma jumped up, and took Akane's arm.

        "We'll train our own child, Pop.  I won't have you disappearing
with him the way you did with me!"

                                  *****

        "That was the first big scene.  The next one started a few days
later when no one was home but me.  I suppose I should have known
something like this would happen, but it was still such a shock."

                                  *****

        Akane looked at the clock.  She and Ranma were due to go to their
childbirth class soon, but he hadn't returned from the store yet.  There
was a knock at the door, and Akane went to open it, assuming that Ranma
had his hands full.  Instead of Ranma, she found two people standing
there: A man in his forties, and a young girl, who was obviously his
daughter.

        "May I help you?"

        "Is this the residence of Ranma Saotome?"

        "Yes, I'm Mrs. Saotome."

        The man looked at Akane, and then at his daughter.

        "Mrs. Ranma Saotome?"

        "Yes."

        Akane knew that something was very wrong.

        "Won't you come in?"

        "Papa."

        The man looked at his daughter.

        "Let's go home."

        "No, dear.  Not until I find out what's going on."

        "Please, Papa?"

        "Hey, Akane, we have company?"

        Ranma appeared behind the pair, his arms full of groceries.

                                  *****

        "Ryoga, Father Saotome had done it to us again, and he hadn't
even had the courage to tell us when Ranma had asked him.  Ranma had
another fiancee."

        "Mr. Tanaka was rather upset at first when he discovered that
Ranma knew nothing about the engagement, but he was reasonable enough not
to blame Ranma.  He was going to find Father Saotome and take out his
anger on him, but his daughter stopped him."

                                  *****

        "Where does your father live, Saotome?  I'm going to take this up
with him.  You and your wife aren't responsible for the situation."

        "Papa."

        "Yes, dear?"

        "Please take me home.  I came because you made a promise, but we
don't have to keep it now.  I can marry Masako now, can't I?  Please,
Papa?"

        Ranma and Akane watched Mr. Tanaka melt under his daughter's
gaze.

                                  *****

        "We got out of that mess easily enough, but Ranma couldn't
forgive his father.  He didn't speak to him for a long time.  I hated to
see him so upset, and I couldn't blame him for being that way, but I
didn't know what to do to make it better."

        "When Ranma's parents would visit Ranma was always glad to see
his mother, but he acted as if his father was invisible.  I would talk to
him a little bit, but I was afraid to look as if I was taking sides with
him instead of with Ranma, so I tried not to be too friendly."

        "Then the doctor sent me for another ultrasound, to try to pin
down when I was due..."

                                  *****

        It was cold and windy as Ranma helped Akane into the cab.

        "We could have walked, Ranma.  It's not that far."

        "It's too cold, Akane."

        Akane snuggled close to Ranma, and smiled up at him.

        "Are you upset that the technician told us the baby's sex?  I
know we wanted to be surprised."

        "No, it's okay.  I hope she's as beautiful as you are."

        Akane blushed.

        "We were down to two names for a girl, weren't we?  Which one
should we pick?"

        Ranma smiled, and chose one.  Akane agreed completely.

        The couple found the Saotomes visiting when they arrived at home.
Ranma made an effort to be friendly to his father, and Genma took that as
complete forgiveness and began making speeches again.

        "We'll have wonderful times with the boy, won't we, Ranma?"

        "That's not possible, Pop.  It's a girl."

        Genma's face fell.  It was evident that he was terribly
disappointed.

        "Well, maybe the next one will be a boy."

        Akane sat there in shock for a second, and then lost her temper.

        "Are you implying that my daughter is worth less because of her
sex?  Are you going to brush your grandchild away just like that?  How
DARE you!"

        Genma backed off, stuttering, and Akane rose to her feet.  Nodoka
jumped up, and grabbed her daughter-in-law's arm.

        "No, Akane!  You'll make yourself sick!"

        "Akane, I was just saying that we need a boy to carry on the
school, to carry on the line.  That's all, really."

        Ranma had been doing a slow burn all the while, and began
stalking toward his father.  To his surprise, his mother got there first.


                             ===============



                              BREAKING FREE

                               Chapter 18

                             Come Back To Me


        Ryoga watched as Akane caught her breath.  Her voice was down to
almost a whisper, which didn't surprise him.  The nurses had told him
that she'd been talking to her husband nonstop since his arrival at the
hospital.

        "What happened next, Akane?"

        "I didn't know Mother Saotome was so strong, Ryoga.  She picked
her husband up, and threw him.  Father Saotome went right through the
shoji doors, and into the pond."

                                  *****

        Everyone watched in shock as Genma flew through the air and into
the pond.  Or rather, onto it.  There was a thin skin of ice on the pond,
and he landed hard and cracked it.  Soon a soaked panda was struggling,
trying to free himself from the ice.

        After a few moments it was evident that Genma had panicked, and
was unable to free himself.  Ranma made a sound somewhere between a laugh
and a snort of exasperation, and ran outside to help his father.

        "Calm down, Pop!  Let me help you!"

        Genma either couldn't or wouldn't hear his son, and continued to
flail about wildly.  Ranma attempted to duck under his father's arms,
slipped on the ice, and was swept completely off his feet by his father's
arms.

        Akane watched in horror as Ranma flew forward, hit his head on
the ice, and sank.

                                  *****

        When they'd pulled Ranma from the pond, he wasn't breathing.  A
huge lump was forming on his head, and it was evident that he'd taken in
a lot of water.  Akane immediately began to work on her husband,
breathing a prayer of thanks that she'd taken a first aid course.  Genma
sat there, shivering, and Nodoka poured hot water on him and her son to
change them back.

        Akane was too busy trying to revive Ranma to express her
annoyance to her mother-in- law.  What did it matter what sex Ranma was
right now?

        "Akane, stop.  Let me take over for a minute."

        Akane felt Kasumi pulling her off her husband, and resisted for a
second, but she knew she was too tired to continue breathing for him.
Where was that ambulance?

                                  *****

        Akane sniffled, and looked about for a tissue.  Ryoga handed her
the box, and watched her wipe her eyes, and blow her nose.

        "I couldn't understand how a fall in the pond could do this to
Ranma, but the doctors said that it was the temperature of the water.
He'd taken so much cold water into his lungs that it was a complete shock
to his system, and the blow to the head wasn't helping."

        "Daddy takes good care of the pond, but pond water isn't the best
thing to breathe in, and the doctors were afraid Ranma would get an
infection.  So far, it doesn't look like it, but they're so worried
because he won't wake up."

        "Ryoga, Ranma's never let anything defeat him!  He's fought you,
Kuno, Herb, Saffron.  He's been in the biggest battles.  A little koi
pond can't kill him - it can't!"

        Akane continued to sniffle, and Ryoga just looked at her.  At
first, couldn't think of a thing to say.  Finally he stood up, and patted
her head.  It didn't seem to be enough, and after a bit of hesitation,
Ryoga bent over and kissed Akane's cheek.  She jumped in surprise,
putting a hand to her cheek.

        "I don't know if this makes sense to you, Akane, but listen to
me.  Don't give up.  Ranma has always won his fights because he was
always fighting for you.  He's fighting for you now.  Tell him to win."

        Before Akane could respond, Ryoga squeezed Ranma's arm, and left.

                                  *****

        Akane was alone with Ranma again.  Ryoga had gone home with her
sisters, her father, and Ranma's parents.  To her, it seemed as if her
family had given up.  Tofu had visited again, but he had patients who
needed him.

        Akane was tired, and frightened.  Ranma had moved his hands a
little bit, and then seemed to sink deeper into sleep.  Her voice was
down to a whisper, and she only spoke to plead with him to wake.  She put
her face down onto the mattress, and whispered another prayer.

                                  *****

        Akane put on a thick sweater, wrapped her daughter in another
blanket, and headed downstairs.  She was reaching for her coat when
Kasumi found her.

        "Where are you going, Akane?"

        "To see Ranma."

        "It's too cold for you to take the baby."

        Akane wanted to argue with her sister, but felt too weak to make
the effort.  She handed the baby to her, and put on her coat.

        "All right.  I'll see you later."

                                  *****

        Akane spread a blanket on the ground, and sat close to Ranma's
tombstone.

        "I'm back, love."

        "Kasumi wouldn't let me bring the baby.  I'm sorry.  Maybe when
it's a little warmer."

        "I would have come sooner, Ranma, but I was so sick after she was
born.  Kasumi has been doing all the work, taking care of her.  If I
wasn't nursing her, I doubt if I'd get a chance to hold her at all."

        "Ranma, I'm weak without you.  I didn't realize it.  I was so
weak and cowardly I didn't even fight them when they chose a different
name for the baby.  You and I chose such a lovely name, and she doesn't
have it."

        "Everyone keeps telling me how much she looks like Mom.  Are they
all blind, Ranma?  Don't they see who she looks like?  Love, all she
needs is a red pigtail, but I think her hair will be as black as yours."

        Akane moved closer to the stone, and leaned against it, resting
her cheek on the cold marble.

        "It should have been different for us, Ranma.  It could have
been.  I wish I knew what we did wrong.  If I only had a chance to try
again."

        Akane began to cry, and she let the tears flow, not bothering to
wipe them away.

        "Ranma, I'd better go home.  I'm getting too cold.  I promise to
come back soon."

        Akane started to lift her head, and found that her tears had
frozen her cheek to Ranma's tombstone.  She tried to pull away, and
winced in pain.  Then she stopped struggling.

        "Ranma, my legs are asleep, and my feet are frozen.  I can't get
up, and I don't care.  I may as well stay with you forever."

        For a second, Akane hesitated. What about her daughter?  Almost
as if Ranma had asked her the question, she answered it.

        "Our daughter deserves better than a mother who's only
half-alive.  Kasumi will take good care of her.  Let me stay with you."

        Akane closed her eyes, and allowed the cold to take her.

                                  *****

        "Akane?"

        "Akane?"

        Akane felt a gentle pulling on her shoulder, and resisted.  She
only wanted to be left alone.  Then she heard the hoarse whisper, and
recognized the voice.  Akane opened her eyes to see a beloved pair of
blue eyes looking back at her.  She opened her mouth, and whispered to
him.

        "Ran-ma?  You're alive?"

        Ranma smiled weakly, and whispered back to her.

        "I think so.  You can't talk, either?"

        "I lost my voice because I've been talking to you for three
days."

        Ranma's eyes opened wide.

        "Three days?  It's been that long?  I heard you, you know.  I
followed the sound of your voice until I found my way back."

        Akane burst into tears, and wrapped her arms around her husband.
He stroked her hair, and let her cry.

        "It's all right, Akane.  It's all right."

        When Ranma's doctor came in to check on him, he nearly collapsed
in shock when he discovered Akane sound asleep in the bed, and Ranma
sitting in the chair, holding her hand.

        "Saotome?  You're awake?"

        "Shh, keep it down.  Akane needs her rest."


                             ===============



                                EPILOGUE


        "You're almost there, Akane, come on!"

        "I'm so tired, Ranma."

        Ranma took a cool cloth and wiped the sweat from his wife's face.

        "I know, sweetheart, but you're strong.  You can do this."

        The midwife looked up at Ranma, and gestured to him.

        "I can see the head, Mr. Saotome.  You'd better come over now if
you're going to be the one to catch this baby."

        Ranma gently pried Akane's fingers from his, and moved around to
the other end of the bed.

        "She's right, Akane, I can see..."

        Ranma was interrupted as another contraction took Akane and she
pushed with it.

                                  *****

        Akane fell back, exhausted.  She heard a soft cough, and then a
loud cry.

        "It's a boy, Akane!"

        "A boy?"

        Ranma looked from the screaming child in his arms to his wife's
smile.

        "Yes, love.  A boy this time, and you get to name him."

        Akane looked into her husband's eyes.  Only one name would do.

        "His name is Ranma."

                                  *****

        Akane sat in bed, holding her son.  She couldn't stop looking at
him--he was so perfect.  There was a soft knock on the door, and she
looked up.

        "Ready for some company, Akane?"

        Ranma pushed the door open and walked in, a daughter in each arm.
Five year old Noriko jumped down, and ran to her mother.

        "Oh Mama, he's so little!  Can I hold him?"

        Noriko got into the bed, and Akane carefully put Ranma into his
sister's arms.  She was a little awkward at first, but was soon sitting
with a huge smile on her face.

        Ranma put three year old Mayuki down on the other side of Akane,
and grinned as she cuddled up to her mother, and cautiously patted her
stomach.

        "No baby, Mama?"

        "No, honey.  The baby is there, see?"

        At that point Ranma woke.  Mayuki watched as his face turned red,
and he began to cry.

        "Too noisy, Mama."

        Akane giggled.

        "Babies are like that."

                                  *****

        Two months later....

        Ranma looked around downstairs for Akane.  Not finding her, he
ran upstairs and found her in their bedroom, nursing little Ranma.

        Ranma sat on the bed, watching.  The rocking chair creaked softly
as Akane nursed the baby.  Once he'd fallen asleep, Ranma took him from
Akane while she buttoned her blouse, and brought him to his room.  Ranma
gently placed his son in his crib, covered him, and returned to Akane.
Taking her hands, he pulled her to her feet, and kissed her.

        Moments later, Akane looked down to find her blouse unbuttoned
again.  She smiled, and let Ranma remove it.

        "Where are the girls?"

        "Downstairs with your father.  They're 'practicing' with him."

        Akane smiled, and moved closer into Ranma's embrace.

        "That will keep them busy."

        Seconds later, they heard a soft voice on the other side of the
door.

        "Papa?"

        Ranma sighed, and heard a similar one from Akane.  When you had
children, time alone was precious.  He mouthed "later", let go of Akane,
and retrieved her blouse.

        "What it is, Noriko?"

        "A big box came, and I carried it up all by myself.  But I can't
open the door."

        Ranma opened the door, and saw his daughter valiantly struggling
with a box much too big for her to carry.  She had his looks, and her
mother's personality - determined.  Ranma took the box, and put it on the
bed.

        "Thank you, Noriko.  Now go back down.  You're supposed to be
helping Grandpa watch Mayuki, remember?"

        "Yes, Papa."

        Ranma pulled a letter off the box, and opened it.

        "Akane, it's from Ryoga."

        "Ryoga?  We haven't seen him in months.  Where is he?"

        Ranma looked at the box again.

        "China, evidently."

        Akane settled into the rocking chair, and watched Ranma read the
letter.  When tears began to flow down her husband's cheeks she left the
rocking chair, and sat down next to him.

        "Honey, what's wrong?"

        "Nothing, Akane.  Everything is right - read the letter.  I'll -
I'll be downstairs."

        Ranma picked up the box and left the bedroom, leaving Akane
staring at the letter.

        "Dear Ranma,

        I'm sorry I wasn't there for the birth of your child, but I got
        lost again.  I hope it was a boy this time.

        I found myself in China a few months ago, and was trying to find
        my way home, when I wandered into a village.  Someone grabbed me
        from behind, and hugged me, and when I turned around I was
        stunned to see Shampoo.  She took me to her home and introduced
        me to her husband and children, and asked about everyone back in
        Nerima.  I filled her in the best I could, and was surprised to
        see that she was not only interested in how you were but glad
        that you were happy.

        Of course, I asked about the springs, and Shampoo said that the
        guide had been working on a plan to restore them, without
        success.  He had approached the government to ask them to grant
        funds for this purpose.  Ranma, he told them that the springs
        were a "national treasure" that should not be lost forever.  They
        didn't listen.

        I didn't want to leave China without speaking to him, so
        Shampoo's husband walked me there the next day.

        The guide seemed glad to see me, and pulled out a lot of papers
        and plans and tried to explain them to me.  His Japanese isn't
        very good, and my Chinese worse, but I began to understand.
        Once the flooding ended, the springs had dried up again, and he
        wanted to restore the source so they would fill. Unfortunately,
        he couldn't afford to hire help and was trying to do all the work
        himself.  At the rate it was going, it would take forever.

        That was when I remembered what Cologne had said.  The technique
        she had taught me was for mining.  Perhaps it was destined that
        it should be used for something good.

        I volunteered to help, and began right away.  For the past few
        months we've been digging, and breaking rock, and working very
        hard.  Then, just a week ago, I hit the source - from a different
        point - and felt the earth shake.  We lay there, holding the
        ground, and thinking that we would be swallowed up.  After the
        longest seconds of my life it stopped, and we pulled ourselves to
        our feet and ran back to Jusenkyo.

        The ground was trembling, just a little, and at first nothing
        more was happening. Then we heard a rushing sound, and the dry
        hole I was standing next to began to fill.

        We ran from spring to spring, watching the water come back,
        laughing and hugging each other.  Plum came out of the house with
        the signs she'd spent so long painting, and put them up next to
        every spring, so that what they were would no longer be a
        mystery.  When she came to the Spring of Drowned Man she looked
        at me, and simply pointed.  I didn't need a second invitation.

        Ranma, I never told you, but I broke up with Akari because I
        found out that she loved me as a pig more than as a man.  I could
        not live with that.

        Plum has grown a great deal since you saw her last.  She is no
        longer a little girl, but a young woman.  Although my job here is
        complete, I think I will stay.

        That's why I'm mailing you the water, rather than bringing it in
        person.  I've also sent it to your father.

        Shampoo has returned here, and cured herself.  I've never seen
        her happier.

        Perhaps some day I will visit, with Plum.  Until then, be happy.

        Ryoga"

                                  *****

        Akane put the letter down, wiped her eyes, and went looking for
Ranma.  She was halfway down the stairs when she heard him shouting her
name.

        "It worked, Akane!  It worked!"

        Akane heard Ranma's voice through the bathroom door as she ran
towards it.

        Ranma stood beneath the cold shower, teeth chattering.  It was a
cold as it could get, and he was still male.  He turned off the shower,
stepped into the tub, and immersed himself in the hot water.  It was
going to take a few minutes to get the cold out of his bones.

        The bathroom door opened, and Ranma went back in time.  To him,
it was the first day he'd met Akane, because she was standing in the
doorway wearing nothing, and holding a towel in front of herself.

        Then he was back in the present, because instead of backing out
of the room and running away, Akane dropped the towel, and joined him in
the tub.


                                    End