Insertion

Part 71

Akane's Wedding

+++++++++++++

Cologne frowned as she sat in the Cat Cafe and
looked at Shampoo.

"Something is wrong Great Grandmother?" asked
the girl in confusion.

"Yes, I'm afraid there is. I have some bad
news Shampoo, it concerns the son in law."

The girl sat upright and frowned at the old
woman for a moment. "What is talking?"

"Your intended, has been gone for some time my
dear," said the old woman calmly. "He left almost
eight months ago."

Shampoo blinked at this and shook her head.
"Ranma not go anywhere, Shampoo see him..."

"That boy, was not the son in law. I am sorry
for deceiving you Shampoo, but I had hoped you
would grow distant from the boy. It was our plan
from the start."

Shampoo let out a nervous laugh and waved the
comment aside. "Is funny joke..."

"I am not joking, the boy who has been helping
me is known as Carrot. He agreed to pretend to be
the son in law until we could discover a way to
break this too you." The old woman stood up.

"What is talking?" said the girl with a cold
looking frown forming on her face.

"Silence, and I will explain," said Cologne.
"A while back, the son in law went off and married
the Musk prince Herb. It was done in secret,
before any of us had time to think or react to it.
I knew you would be foolish enough to chase him."

"What?" said Shampoo with horror forming on
her face.

"The boy you have been chasing, is a double
for the son in law. In fact, he's not even really
a man. I wasn't aware of this, but when I found
out, I knew this had to stop. I am sorry."

"Great Grandmother lying!" screamed the girl
as she stood up and glared at the old woman
angrily.

"Sit down!" snapped Cologne in an
authoritative voice. "You will listen to me
child."

The girl reluctantly did so, and scowled at
the hag angrily.

Cologne sighed. "It was our hope that you
would drift apart. Your devotion was more than
even I had counted on." She shook her head gently
and sighed again. "Unfortunately, I can not allow
this to continue."

Shampoo merely stared dumbly at the woman.

"Ranma Saotome, as you have known him, is the
curse of a woman known as Yohiko Hibiki."

"Miss Yohiko?" said Shampoo in shock. "Shampoo
teacher?"

"Yes, she did not like doing this for me, but
agreed. I cannot have you chasing the boy any
longer. He lives in China, and is the ruler of the
Musk kingdom now. Your heart, though dear to me as
it is, would no doubt start a war between our
tribes if you followed it. I'm sorry, but you must
stop chasing him. Starting at this moment."

"No! Ranma belong to Shampoo I not...!"

"Enough! This must end Shampoo; I cannot allow
you to go on with this any longer! You have lost!
Now you must accept that!"

Tears were flowing down the girl's face as she
stared at the old woman in shock.

"I am sorry, I tried my best to win him for
you, and tried to protect you from doing something
foolish as long as I could. Even I am not
infallible. We have both failed child. It is
over."

The girl stood up and rushed up the stairs to
her room, slamming the door.

Cologne gave a heavy sigh and shook her head.
"What a fool I am."

Mousse came down the stairs with an angry
snarl on his face and weapons brandished in his
hands. "Saotome! How dare you!?"

"Mousse?" said the hag dumbly.

"Where is he? I'll cut his heart out for
making Shampoo cry!" snarled the boy as he shook a
stool violently. "Tell me old woman!"

"Ranma Saotome is not at fault, that was my
doing," said the old woman calmly.

"What?" said Mousse in horror.

"Shampoo is not permitted to chase the boy any
longer, Ranma Saotome is no longer her betrothed."

Mousse merely stood there with his jaw hanging
down. "What?"

"You heard me boy," said the hag coolly.

"This is the happiest moment of my life!"
cried the boy in joy as he dashed up the stairs
after his beloved.

"Mousse!" snapped Cologne. She sighed and sat
back down, the boy was still as stupid as he ever
was.

The fact that his beaten form came barreling
down the stairs a moment later didn't perturb him
in the slightest. "My love! At last we can be
together! You don't have to pretend to be in love
with that fool any longer!"

Cologne hopped away, washing her hands of the
situation. "Let him get himself killed, then I can
stop worrying about him."

+++++++++++++

Yohiko frowned as she stood next to Shampoo in
the hallway of Furinkan with Shampoo during the
lunch break. That day had been a break in the
normality of her life so far. Shampoo was in a
foul mood, and Ukyo seemed almost pleasant.

"Well?" asked the woman impatiently.

"Is true?" said Shampoo as she glared at the
woman.

"Told you did she?" said Yohiko with a sudden
understanding in her voice.

"So, it true. Why you do thing like that to
Shampoo?"

"I felt obligated to her, even though I don't
agree with what she's done," said the woman with a
small sigh.

Shampoo frowned, tears forming in her eyes.
"So, Ranma leave Shampoo?"

"Why do you think Kuonji's been in such a foul
mood lately? Plus Akane Tendo leaving to marry her
new fiancee? All of this was because of him, don't
think you were alone in this."

The girl gasped and looked up at the woman's
small frown. Yohiko shrugged her shoulders and
gripped the girl by her arms. "Look, I'm sorry
about what happened. Hopefully, you'll use this to
make yourself stronger rather than allow it to
weaken you. There isn't much else I can say or do
about it. I wish there was, but it's not my
place."

The girl hung her head and nodded. "Shampoo
understand, well not really. Shampoo don't know
why, but not angry, not with teacher anyway."

"I'm glad, I'd hate to have to beat you up,"
said the woman with a pleasant looking smile.

"You not underestimate Amazon strength!"
snapped Shampoo irritably.

"You're right, I shouldn't," agreed the woman.


Ukyo walked up with a frown on her face after
Shampoo had left. Yohiko arched her eyebrow
slightly as she found herself holding a small
folded paper. "What's this?"

"I'm withdrawing from school," said the girl
as she stared at the teacher.

"May I ask why?" asked Yohiko calmly.

"I'm almost there. I've almost got enough
saved up. I'll be going to China within two months
time. I'll find that bastard, and make him pay."

Yohiko nodded slowly at this. "You know you
can't win."

"That doesn't mean I can't try," replied the
girl coldly.

"This doesn't suit you Ukyo, but there isn't
anything I can do about that," replied the woman
as she nodded and looked over the paper.

"You're wrong, this is what I've been for most
of my life," replied the girl calmly as she turned
away.

"Yes, it's a shame," agreed Yohiko as she
walked away.

"Isn't it though?" muttered Ukyo with a
bittersweet tone in her voice.

Yohiko sighed as she turned to glance back at
the girl for a moment. "And so, the last bond is
shattered."

++++++++++++++

Some time later...

+++++++++++++

Ryoga Hibiki frowned as he strolled through
the streets of Tokyo, his injuries were now
healing, and it had now been almost a month since
that fateful night. His thoughts were broken, his
heart shattered. "Damn," he mumbled as he found
himself standing in front of a large building.

Usagi Hibiki was staring at him as she left
the school at the end of her day.

"Ryoga?" she muttered in shock.

"Hello Usagi," he replied calmly. He turned
his eyes away and started walking again.

"Wait!" cried the girl as she rushed after
him. "Is that all you have to say to me?"

"I've dishonored you, made a mockery of our
family and name, and now..."

"We're family," said the girl with a frown on
her face. "We don't have to like it Ryoga, but we
didn't know. I'm sorry, it was my fault."

"We're both to blame," he said with a heavy
sigh as he realized she wasn't going to let him
just walk away.

"Where are you going?" she asked with a small
smile.

"Away from here, as far as I could, of course
I should have known that it would bring me right
too you sooner or later."

Usagi nodded her head and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that," he said a little shortly.
"Look, I don't think it would be a good idea for
us to be around one another."

The girl shook her head. "No, that isn't
right. I haven't known anyone in my family because
of your curse. I finally get to meet one of you,
and you're going to start acting like this? All I
have besides you is my mother."

Ryoga flinched slightly and sighed. "I don't
understand."

"Mother will forgive you," she said with a
small frown. "But not if you don't even try."

"I don't want her forgiveness, I deserved what
I got," he replied sharply. "I'm lucky she's so
nice, I would have killed me."

"Don't say things like that!" snapped Usagi.

"Sorry," he replied as he glanced away from
her.

"I don't want every time we talk with each
other to be another apology," said Usagi firmly.
"Where are you going. I'll help you get there."

Ryoga blinked and blushed suddenly. "The Tendo
dojo. I don't think it would be a good idea for
you to go with me."

"Huh? Why not...?" Usagi trailed off and
smirked at her cousin. "A girl? It's a girl isn't
it?"

Ryoga blushed a little harder and turned away
from her.

"That's great! What's her name? How do you
know her?"

"Akane Tendo, she was my first love. Before
you..." said the boy with a slightly pained frown.

"Oh!" Usagi blushed and frowned. "I didn't
come between you did I?"

"No, it was something else. I'd almost given
up on her already, now..."

"You've got to try again," said Usagi with a
slight nod.

"I can't let my chance slip through my
fingers," said the boy with a short nod.

"Well, I'll take you there," said Usagi
cheerfully.

"Right," said the boy.

"Well, come on then," said the girl
cheerfully.

"Tendo? Where have I heard that name before?"
muttered Usagi with a slight frown on her face.
She suddenly froze and stared at Ryoga. "The
wedding! Tomorrow! I...Oh no! He doesn't know?!"
screamed the girl's mind as everything fell into
place. "What should I do? I can't break his heart
like that! I..." She didn't even realize that
she'd started crying.

Ryoga paused as the girl froze up and stared
at her in confusion for a moment. "What? Is
something wrong? Why are you crying?"

The girl stared at him for a moment. "Oh! Oh
Ryoga! I can't...I can't do that to you again!"

The boy's jaw hardened and he glared at her.
"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry! I can't!" she said as she started
to back away.

The lost boy managed to snag her arm and pull
her back to him before she could run. "What?
What's wrong? What is this about me?"

Usagi was shaking and she turned her head in
shame. "Ryoga. Akane Tendo, I'm sorry."

"Something has happened to Akane?" cried the
boy in horror. "You'd better tell me!"

"She doesn't live at the Tendo dojo anymore,"
said the girl.

"What?" said Ryoga. "Did those two idiot men
lose that dojo to someone again? Without Ranma
around, it doesn't surprise me. I'll have to get
it back for them then!"

"No, Ryoga. Akane has moved in with her
fiance, she's getting married tomorrow," said the
girl.

"What?" said Ryoga as he suddenly went
completely still. "Akane?"

"My mother was invited to the wedding! I have
to go with her tomorrow," said the girl as she
looked at him with a deep sorrow in her eyes. "I'm
so sorry! I...this is all my fault!"

"Your fault?" said the boy with a sort of lost
and distant stare. "How?"

"If I hadn't been, if we hadn't...you might
have..." said the girl as she sobbed. "I can't ask
your forgiveness for this! I..."

Ryoga was shaking, tears began to flow freely
from his eyes as he dashed away. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Usagi fell to her knees as the boy started to
round a corner clutching his head. She paused when
he swatted aside a huge animal that had moved in
front of him without stopping.

"Katsunishi!" cried a girl that rushed up to
the animal's side. She paused and watched as the
boy continued to run down the street.

"Oh! Are you all right?" cried Usagi as she
rushed up to the girl's side. "He isn't hurt is
he? I'm sorry, Ryoga can be..."

"Ryoga? Is that the boy's name?" asked the
girl with a small frown on her face.

"I'm terribly sorry, he's just had his heart
broken. Please forgive him," said Usagi with a low
bow. "He didn't know what was happening. I'm sure
of it."

"His heart broken?" asked the girl in
confusion.

"Yes, I'm terribly sorry, please forgive him.
He's not hurt is he?"

The animal was grunting and struggling back to
his feet. "Don't worry, he's fine." She smiled at
the girl warmly. "Tell me about this boy? Who is
he? How do you know him? He's very strong."

"Um, yes. His name is Ryoga, he's...my
cousin," said Usagi with a blush on her cheeks.

"Oh," replied the girl as her smile widened.
"My name is Akari Unryuu. This is Katsunishi."

"Um, hi," muttered Usagi lamely as she
realized the absurdity of the situation. She was
staring at an eight-foot tall pig, and it was
smiling and nodding at her. "I'm Usagi Hibiki.
Nice to meet you."

"A pleasure!" said the girl cheerfully. "Well,
I should go. We'll meet again one day, I'm sure of
it."

"Right," agreed Usagi dumbly. "That
was...strange; even for me."

++++++++++++++

Yohiko smiled as she breathed in the fresh
mountain air and walked with her daughter at her
side. Xellos was standing right behind her, with
Nephrite at his side.

"So, this wedding is in the mountains?" asked
Usagi.

"Yes, it will be a small affair, we'll
probably be the only guests really. Shinnosuke
only has his grandfather, and Akane isn't dumb
enough to invite her family along," said Xellos.

"Oh," said Usagi in confusion. "Why is that?"

"Because they'll try to stop the wedding if
they do show up," said Yohiko calmly. "Don't worry
dear."

"Oh," said the girl with a frown on her face.
"What if they show up and try to stop it anyway?"

"They just might, that's one reason why I
wanted all of us to come. Akane deserves to be
happy. I'm not going to let that happen. I'll stop
anyone who tries to disturb this wedding."

Usagi nodded and sighed. "Oh, that's nice of
you. I guess..."

"We're almost there," said Yohiko with a smirk
on her face.

"What makes you say that?" muttered Xellos
calmly. He was staring at a gigantic lizard that
was clinging to a nearby tree.

"What is this place?" muttered Usagi
nervously. Her ribbons started to appear around
her body and floated around defensively.

"Put those away dear, we're perfectly safe,"
said Yohiko with a slight frown. "The springs in
this area have magical properties, and they make
the animals grow unusually large. It's not a real
danger."

Nephrite smirked. "Yes, what we really have to
worry about are..." He promptly fell into a hole
and was covered in rocks that fell on him from
above. "...the traps."

Xellos smirked and waved his arm. Tiny specks
of light suddenly became visible across their
field of vision. "Don't get near the lights,
that's where the traps are," he informed them.

Nephrite climbed out of the trap and frowned.
"You could have done that sooner!"

"Yes, I could have," said the man cheerfully.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know it's
dangerous?" snapped a voice from in front of the
group.

Usagi blushed at the incredibly handsome boy
who appeared out of the mist with a frown on his
face. He was holding a staff in his hand and
glared at them all coldly.

"Why yes, we know exactly how dangerous it is
here," said Xellos cheerfully.

"Well, hello Shinnosuke. Patrolling on your
wedding day?" said Yohiko with a smirk on her
face.

"Who are you? What do you want? What do you
mean wedding day?" snapped the boy angrily.

"Shinnosuke?" said Usagi with a slight
disappointment in her voice. Then she realized
what he had said. "What? There's no wedding?"

"No, the idiot forgot about it, that's all,"
said Yohiko with a smirk on her face.

"Do I know you?" said the boy as he stared at
Yohiko for a minute.

"Yes you do," said the woman with a smirk on
her face. "It's been a while Shinnosuke. I suggest
you come with us, or Akane will be angry."

The boy scratched his head and frowned.
"Akane? I suppose so." He noticed the tattoo on
the back of his hand and frowned. "You're right! I
haven't written her a letter today!"

"Dolt," grumbled Yohiko flatly.

"Is something wrong with him?" asked Usagi.

"He has the memory as long as Xellos's
attention span," said the woman with a small
snort.

"Hey!" muttered the mage with a hurt look on
his face.

"Come on dope, I've got to change that
tattoo," grumbled Yohiko as she grabbed the boy by
his arm and started to pull him along. "You'll
drown her in letters if I don't. She lives with
you halfwit!"

"Oh, she does?" muttered the boy in confusion.
"Hey! She does! I'd better get back soon, I don't
want to miss breakfast."

++++++++++++

The group made it to the home and a familiar
figure rushed up to them. "Miss Yohiko! You came?"

"Well! Hello! You should have told me you
invited them dear!" said the old man who stood
with Akane in the front yard. They were working in
a small garden in front of the home.

"All this work today? You're planning on
getting married today aren't you?" said Yohiko
with a small frown on her face.

"Yes, but...the chores don't wait," she said
sheepishly.

Yohiko frowned at the old man. "They can wait
for a day."

"We have to keep things relatively the same
here, or Shinnosuke gets confused, more than
normal," said the old man with a shrug.

"Hmmm, well I managed to drag him back," said
Yohiko with a smirk on her face. "So tell me
Akane, how many times has he proposed since you
came here?"

"Huh?" said Shinnosuke dumbly.

"Seventeen," muttered the girl with a blush on
her face.

"I proposed to Akane?" cried the boy in shock.

"Yes dolt, you're getting married today.
That's why we're here," said Yohiko.

"Who are you again?" muttered the boy.

"This is getting annoying," said Nephrite.

"He's a good kid," replied Xellos with a
shrug.

"At any rate, it's time we got started. I
don't believe you're dressed that way Akane!"
cried Yohiko as she took the girl by her arm.

"I guess that leaves us stuck with Captain
Memory here," said Xellos with a small sigh.

++++++++++

Akane was wearing a simple white dress and
blushed heavily. "I shouldn't yet. I've got to go
escort the priest here."

Yohiko smirked at this and chuckled. "Don't
worry dear, I'll send my brother to get him."

"Oh," said the girl sheepishly. "Thank you."

"Not a problem. So, have you been enjoying
your stay here so far?"

"It's been wonderful, almost like a dream,"
said the girl wistfully.

"Hmmm. I imagine it would be," agreed Yohiko.
"He's a very handsome boy." No one noticed the
slightly disgusted flash on her face, it vanished
as quickly as it came.

"Wow, I hope I meet someone as handsome as him
one day," said Usagi cheerfully.

"Oh! I haven't introduced you two yet. I'd
forgotten that you'd never met before. Akane, this
is Usagi, my daughter."

"What?" said the girl in shock. "You've got a
daughter this old?"

"Everyone is always surprised about that,"
said the woman with a cheerful smile on her face.

"Wow," said Akane as she smiled at the younger
girl.

"I just hope it runs in the family," said
Usagi with a small sigh.

"No kidding," agreed Akane, "I hope I age as
perfectly as that."

"Now, this is your day Akane, I'm supposed to
be the one complimenting you," chided Yohiko
lightly.

"Yes, thank you," said the girl. "I didn't
think you'd really come."

"I wouldn't miss it, besides, you'll need the
protection," said the woman cheerfully.

"Huh?" said the girl in confusion.

"Your father is still out there, as well as
Ranma Saotome's father," replied the woman with a
slight frown. "That's part of the reason I brought
so many people along with me."

"So, you know about that do you?" said the
girl with a slight frown on her face.

"I promise I won't let them interfere," said
Yohiko with a smirk on her face. "I also won't
hurt them too badly if they show up and step out
of line. Don't worry dear."

"Thank you," said the girl with a huge blush
on her face. "Miss Yohiko?"

"Hmmm?"

"Nevermind, it's nothing," said the girl as
she sighed and sat down on a small stool.

"All right. You're beautiful, you know that?"
said the woman.

"Thank you, that means a lot coming from you,"
said the girl as she smiled back at her.

"Wow," agreed Usagi with her own blush. "This
is all so...romantic!"

+++++++++++++

"Saotome! This is it!" said Soun firmly as he
stood in front of the dark woods with his hands on
his hips.

"Indeed Tendo, this is the first step. We'll
retrieve that ungrateful daughter of yours, and
then go find my son! We'll ensure the schools are
united yet!"

Kasumi was standing behind them with Nabiki at
her side. "Oh my! I hope she's all right! Poor
Akane, she's been kidnapped by these horrible
people!"

"She wasn't kidnapped. This is her boyfriend
remember? She came here on her own to marry him,"
grumbled Nabiki. She was obviously unhappy about
being here.

"Oh. Hello. Are you here for the wedding?"
said the priest that walked up behind them with a
smile on his face.

Soun and Genma turned to face him and blinked.


"Why yes, yes we are," said Genma.

"Oh, how nice. I was told to wait here for an
escort. These woods are dangerous," said the
priest as he looked at the woods for a moment and
smiled.

The two men looked at each other and then back
at the priest.

"Is something wrong?"

Nabiki shook her head and sighed. There wasn't
anything she could do to stop her idiot parents
from ruining this. Well, nothing she hadn't
already done, but that wouldn't come into play
until later.

Within moments, the priest was tied to a tree
and relieved of his clothing. He was also out
cold.

A small boy appeared out of the woods and
smiled at them. "Well, you must be the priest."

"Indeed," said Soun as he adjusted his collar.

"Who are these other people?"

"They help me set up for the ceremony," said
Soun nervously.

Nephrite smirked at them and turned into the
woods. "I suppose I'm the guide then. Follow me
please."

+++++++++++++

About an hour later, Nabiki smirked as Genma
and Soun fell into their thirty-second trap of the
day.

"Watch out, there's a trap there," said the
boy calmly.

"Yes, too late once again," said Soun.

"Well, you should be more careful. I told you
about them."

Nabiki sighed and shook her head again. "Look,
I know you're stalling them, but I don't want to
miss my sister's wedding. Could we please go there
now?"

The boy blinked and looked at Genma and Soun.
"I suppose I've done enough to them. They're too
beat up to pose much of a problem."

"Oh my!" said Kasumi.

"Yes, I suppose so," said Nabiki as she
smirked.

"We're just going to lie here for a while,"
said Soun. Genma silently agreed by nodding his
head.

"Oh, well. You just stay there. I'm going to
take these ladies to their sister's wedding. I'm
sure Xellos has retrieved the real priest by now."
He smirked at the looks on their faces as they
realized they had been duped. "Don't get any
stupid ideas in your heads either. You don't stand
a chance of stopping this. Akane has a lot of very
angry friends."

"You have no idea," commented Nabiki.

"Well, I was referring to people who aren't
going to try and stop this," said the boy with a
shrug.

"Oh, well then. Shall we?" said Nabiki
cheerfully.

+++++++++++++

Yohiko smiled as Nabiki and Kasumi rushed up
to their sister and hugged her warmly. There was
lots of girlish squealing, even some from Nabiki.
She smirked and walked up to the pair with a smile
on her face.

"Well hello. I trust the idiots are resting
soundly by now?" she asked with a smirk on her
face.

Nabiki nodded. "I don't think they'll be
bothering us. I made sure of it actually."

"Oh?" asked Yohiko cheerfully.

"Well, I'm glad to see you approve," said the
woman with a warm grin.

"Oh! Akane! I'm so proud of you!" cried Kasumi
as she started sobbing on her youngest sibling's
shoulder.

"Well, daddy isn't here. I guess someone has
to do it," commented Nabiki.

++++++++++++

Xellos smirked as he sat with all the men
involved, including the priest. Nephrite was
sitting lazily and running a projector.

Shinnosuke was as white as a sheet as he
stared at the image on the wall in shock. "What is
this? I..."

Xellos chuckled and pat his hand on the small
pile of porn movies they had yet to watch. "It's a
tradition. Try and enjoy yourself."

The boy merely nodded and simply sat there
with his mouth hung open.

His grandfather had tears in his eyes as he
stared at the screen. "Oh no! Do you think Orgasmo
will be able to escape this time?!"

The priest merely blushed and looked at the
men. "I don't think it's tradition for me to be
here for this part."

"Sorry, it's for your own safety, there are a
few people who don't want this to happen, and that
makes you a target. You're safe with us though,"
said Nephrite calmly.

++++++++++++

"Now where am I?" cried Ryoga Hibiki as he
glanced around at the forest around him in
frustration.

The large animals that surrounded him were
vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Damn! I've got to find Akane before it's too
late!"

Unbeknownst to him, but knownst to us, a
figure sat on top of a gigantic animal of her own,
following the trail. The huge creature looked
oddly in place in the strange forest.

"You're sure he went this way Katsunishi?"

The giant pig grunted and nodded vigorously as
it continued to follow the scent trail the boy
left behind.

"Onward then!" cried the girl with a grin
forming on her face. "Ryoga Hibiki! I will find
you!"

+++++++++++++

Ukyo Kuonji frowned as she looked at the map
in her hands. She turned her head towards her
partner and frowned. "You're sure about this?"

"Yes, Shampoo sure," said her companion as
they stood looking at the intimidating forest.
"Spatula girl not trust Shampoo?"

"Of course I don't," replied Ukyo with a small
snort.

"Is good, Shampoo deceive Spatula Girl many
times."

"Well let's go sugar," said Ukyo with a smirk
on her face. "We gotta find Akane before it's too
late."

"Shampoo understand," said the girl firmly.

"Right. Come on," said Ukyo as she started to
move forward.

++++++++++++

"Can you move, Tendo?"

"Yes, Saotome."

"Come on then! We've got to make it before
it's too late!"

"Quite so, Saotome!"

+++++++++++

"It's time," said Yohiko as she smiled down at
the incredibly nervous girl.

"Right," agreed Usagi with a cheerful smile on
her face.

"I'm ready," said Akane more to herself than
anyone else.

+++++++++++++

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness
the holy union of Akane Tendo, and Shinnosuke..."

"Stop!" cried a pair of familiar voices from
the back of the small clearing where everyone was
seated.

Akane turned around, horror on her face as she
looked at Soun and Genma. The pair was standing
next to each other and glared angrily at those
gathered.

"Damn it! I didn't think they'd recover this
fast," said Nephrite angrily.

Yohiko stood up and turned to face the pair.

"Akane!" cried another familiar voice. Ryoga
staggered through the trees. "You can't! I..." He
paused when he noticed the scene in front of him.
"Huh?"

"No!" cried Akane with tears of pain in her
eyes. "You can't! I won't let you ruin this!" She
was glaring at Soun and Genma as she said it, but
the words drove a spike of pain through the lost
boy's heart.

"What?" muttered Ryoga to himself in
confusion. "This is...she...she wants this?"

"Keep going," said Yohiko as she smiled at
Akane and the priest. "We'll handle this. I won't
allow them to ruin this for you, don't worry."

"She's right," agreed Usagi as a mass of
ribbons appeared from her back. "No one has the
right to take such a wonderful memory away from a
young girl! On behalf of the moon, I shall punish
you!"

"I had hoped those traps would be enough to
stop you, but you're dumber than I'd thought. I'm
gonna have to take care of this myself it seems."

"Don't hog all the fun, just don't forget not
to kill them," said Xellos. "Akane wouldn't like
that."

"Aiya! We not make it in time?" cried a
familiar voice.

"Maybe not, Sugar," said Ukyo as both she and
Shampoo appeared on either side of the altar.

"Damn! What the hell are those two doing
here?" growled Yohiko in frustration. She turned
and glared at Nabiki for a moment, only to meet a
cool looking smile. "So, she's still going to go
through with this?"

"Ha!" snarled Genma. He turned to look at
Ryoga for a moment. "Come on boy! Now is your
chance! They can't take all of us!"

"Heh, Don't worry sweetie, we'll handle these
two thugs. I've got a score to settle with the fat
one anyway," said Ukyo as she leveled her glare at
Genma.

"Shampoo agree, men not interfere with this
now. She not allow it!"

The girl looked at them in shock. "What?"

"Take your time. Sugar, I don't want to miss
this. You should have invited us," said Ukyo as
she smirked at Akane.

"Shampoo agree, but will forgive Violent Girl
this time,"

Genma and Soun backed away, and everyone
turned their attention on Ryoga Hibiki. He was
standing there in silence with a scowl on his
face. He looked at Akane and his gaze intensified.
"Akane. Is this what you want? Is this what will
make you happy?"

The girl blinked at his words, not quite
understanding why he was asking her that. "Yes."
She hadn't even hesitated in her answer.

The boy smiled at her and nodded his head.
"Then I guess...it was meant to be. I won't allow
these two to stop it. Goodbye then." Rather than
run away, Ryoga turned to look at the pair of men
standing in the center of an angry looking mob. "I
won't allow you to destroy Akane's happiness!"

Genma and Soun were frozen in shock, neither
had enough sense to run, and the two of them
didn't have a working pair brain cells to rub
together at the moment.

Ryoga turned his attention towards Shinnosuke
and frowned at him for a moment. "If you ever hurt
Akane, I'll destroy you. You'd better make her
happy!"

"Wait! You can't Akane! I won't allow this!"
cried Soun as he tried to rush forward with his
head becoming a huge demonic figure. "I won't let
you taint my little girl's honor!"

"Out of our way! You can't stop us!" agreed
Genma.

It was probably the dumbest thing the pair had
ever done.

+++++++++++++

The ceremony went perfectly after that. Soun
and Genma were hung just outside the reception by
their feet from a branch. They were tightly bound
and had gags over their mouths.

The party afterwards was more than anyone had
expected. Food was limited, but Ukyo did help with
that as best she could. In the end, everything
went well.

The crowd dispersed just before it got dark,
leaving only Yohiko and Usagi behind as they stood
with Akane and her new husband.

"Well, it's time to say goodbye," said Yohiko.


"Yes. I can't thank you enough," said Akane as
she bowed deeply.

"I suppose I'll have to cut the idiots down
before I leave," said Yohiko with a small sigh.

"Yeah," agreed Akane with a slight blush.

"I guess I'll probably have to do this when
Nabiki finally ties the knot as well. Kasumi is
probably pretty safe, but I'd best show up for
that one as well. Just to be safe," said Yohiko
cheerfully.

"You have our gratitude," said Shinnosuke's
grandfather.

"Don't forget to thank your sister. Nabiki is
the one who had Ukyo and Shampoo show up. She had
me scared for a moment."

Akane blushed. "Me too."

"It seems you have more friends than you
realized. Although, I doubt if you'll see each
other anytime soon. I believe the Amazon's are
going back to China soon, and Ukyo won't be far
after them. She's still intent on her revenge. Who
knows, she might get it. Not in the way she's
hoping for though."

Akane nodded and smiled at the pair. "It's
getting late, are you sure you don't need to
stay?"

"Yes, the woods are very dangerous," agreed
Shinnosuke.

"We'll be fine. You two need your privacy
tonight," said Yohiko with a small chuckle.

Akane blushed deeply, and Shinnosuke got a
confused looking frown on his face. "Privacy? I
wonder why? Maybe after we got married we would,
but..."

"That dope forgot already?!!" whispered Usagi
in disbelief.

"Shhh, Akane will remind him soon enough,"
replied Yohiko quietly.

"Thank you again, for everything," said Akane
as she bowed deeply.

"Not a problem," said Yohiko as she turned
away with her daughter at her side.

Akane looked at Shinnosuke for a moment and
smiled warmly. "I'm sorry. Just this once." She
rushed away from him and rushed up to Yohiko.
"Wait!"

"Huh?" said the woman as she turned to look at
the girl.

"Please forgive me, but I have to do it. Just
once!" said the girl as she jumped into the
woman's arms and kissed her deeply.

Yohiko couldn't move she was so shocked. She
felt the girl's tongue inside her mouth and the
male portion of her returned the action and
grabbed the girl.

Akane blushed and they stayed that way for a
moment, breaking off and breathing deeply. "Miss
Yohiko?" said the girl in shock.

"Only because it was just this once dear,"
said the woman as she winked at her.

"Thank you," said the girl as she blushed. "I
love you."

"Well, you're very special to me, Akane," said
the woman as she smiled at the girl. "I hope you
live well. I'm sure we'll see each other again
some time."

"Visit any time!" said Akane with tears
forming in her eyes.

"I just might take you up on that someday,"
said the woman cheerfully.

"Yes! Visit -anytime-!" said Shinnosuke's
grandfather.

The boy was simply staring at the scene in
shock. His jaw was hanging down and there was a
small trickle of blood coming out of his nose.

Akane turned away and started walking back
towards her husband.

Yohiko turned to find her daughter staring at
her in a sort of disgusted shock. "M-mom?"

"Don't worry dear," said the woman as she pat
the girl on her head.

"Oh, you were just being nice? I mean, it was
just cause it was that one time, and she's married
now? Right?"

The woman turned to look at her daughter and
pat her on the head. "It's something like that
dear."

"Whew," said Usagi as she turned away. "Can we
go now?"

"Yes dear, we're going home," said Yohiko
cheerfully.

"Okay. I'm tired, it's been a long day," said
Usagi.

"Speaking of long day. What was with that
stupid speech you gave earlier?" said Yohiko as
she looked down at her daughter. "'I'll punish you
on behalf of the moon?' What the hell were you
thinking child?"

"Moooommm!"

+++++++++++++

Ryoga Hibiki looked up at the stars as he lay
on his back. His heart was shattered again, but
this time, it also left a slightly warm feeling in
his chest. It wasn't quite as empty as it had been
before he had come here. "I suppose I really had
accepted my defeat a long time ago."

He sighed again and began to stare at the sky
in silent contemplation. "Things...I guess they
have a way of working out. Damn you Ranma, I can't
blame you for this one."

A huge black forehead and a large pair of eyes
suddenly overshadowed his view. "Huh?"

"Bweeee!"

"You found him Katsunishi!"

"What the hell?"

"Oh Ryoga! I've found you at last my love!"

"What?! Who are you?!"

+++++++++++++

TBC...

Next Time: Rise of the Phoenix!