All characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, Viz, etc... I just write this stuff for fun and because I love Ranma ½.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to recent changes by Fanfiction dot net, this fic has lost several crucial characters throughout it including brackets, asterisks, greater than and less than symbols. I have contacted support several times without response over the past month to try and get this resolved as I am unable to remedy this from my end. As a result I have posted this fic along with a good amount of art and fan-art for it on my Yahoo group. Just click my "Homepage" link at the top of my bio/profile. You can easily download the fic and any of the art to view at your convenience. Thank you!

Ranma ½: Resolution

Chapter 1: Almost The End

by Kalen Darkmoon

... is thought, not spoken.

... is meant to be descriptive of manner or method of speech or very short actions/descriptions that are preparatory to a spoken or thought line.

... denotes sound effects.

WARNING: This is a romance/drama and is going to have parts that are lime/lemon. It is not appropriate for children. If you are not of legal age for explicit materials, please do not read this story.

This chapter starts out at night just after the disastrous wedding attempt and before the final scene in the morning of Volume 38 of the manga.

Akane is lying awake in her bed thinking through the day's events and she was angry, -no- she was furious... and sad.

Akane: furiously How could he!? How could they!? That’s it! The engagement is off! I warned him! It's over! I nev...

Her internal rant is interrupted by a faint knock at her door. She gets up, stalks over and opens it to find Ranma standing there in his white tuxedo charred black in many places throughout.

Ranma: nervously Uh... Akane... Uhm... I'm... uh... sor...

Akane interrupts him, furiously punching him in the face.

Akane: screaming I HAAAATE YOU! THE ENGAGEMENT IS OFF! I MEAN IT THIS TIME! I WARNED YOU! GO AWAY! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

She slams the door and stomps back to her bed. A stunned Ranma, feeling very much like someone just ripped a gaping hole in his chest, walks away with a tear running down his cheek.

Lying back down, she begins to think about the last year since HE had first arrived, focusing in particular on the last few weeks. She had thought especially after the recent events at Jusendo and in China, that just maybe he really did care for her. She was certain of it. She had heard him call out to her in such anguish and felt his tears fall upon her face. She had never felt such peace as she had when she lay in his arms when he cried out that he had loved her. If true though, why couldn't he answer her when she asked him before the wedding attempt? Why did he seem to deny it and then run off like that? Didn't he really love her?

Akane: quietly and sadly Oh Ranma... I thought you cared... Didn't you ever love me?

She hears a faint noise coming from above, out on the roof, and jumps angrily out of her bed, grabbing her shinai while quickly wiping the tears away.

Akane: growling So they've come back for more!

She quietly climbs out her window and sneaks out onto the roof. Looking up in the pale moonlight she sees Ranma still in his charred tuxedo curled up on his side nearly in a ball making a faint noise. She approaches quietly and hears a near silent sobbing.

Akane: What? Did I really hurt him with that punch? Oh what do I care!?

Ranma: in a choking, near whisper Please Akane... don't hate me... Please...

She lowers her shinai and starts to reach out to him.

Ranma: sobbing I need you... I can't live without you.

She freezes and the wall that she had built up around her heart cracks.

Akane: Did he really just say that?

Ranma: Oh God it hurts... Why can't I just tell her... Why do I keep hurting her... choking sob I'm so sorry... Please don't hate me... Please...

As the wall crumbles, Akane kneels quietly and leans down, still unnoticed, beside him with tears welling up in her eyes. She slowly, gently wraps her arms around his neck.

Akane: softly I don't really hate you... I couldn't...

He suddenly tenses, going silent and starts to sit up. She gently tightens her hold, keeping him in place and pulling his head onto her lap. She notices in the moonlight that his eyes are swollen and his face is soaked with tears.

Akane: softly Shh... It’s ok.

He relaxes slightly, turning partially to look at her and notices the tears upon her face glistening in the moonlight.

Ranma: breaking down into a choked sob again Oh Gods... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I didn’t mean to hurt ya...

She pulls him closer and starts running her fingers through his hair trying to calm him down.

Akane: trying to keep her own tears in check Shh... Shh... its ok. I'm ok. I don't hate you. What do I do?

She finds herself a bit frightened as she gently holds him, caressing his head and trying to wipe away the tears.

Akane: He's never been like this before! I can't stand seeing him like this.

After a few moments he shudders a bit regaining a little control.

Ranma: in a soft, raw, choking voice I... I... really do love you Akane...

Akane gasps and her chest suddenly tightens.

Ranma: I... I know I'm an idiot... and... I don't mean to hurt ya... I... I just wish ya could like a cursed freak like me...

Akane: Does he think I hate him for his curse? Was part of the reason he wanted to get rid of his curse for me? Because of what I think?

Ranma: but you... you deserve better... a real man, not some half-girl... even if ya don’t want to marry me... I promise I’ll always be there for ya no matter who you...

His voice trails, his throat becoming too tight to even speak.

Akane: Is that what has been holding him back? No wonder he ran off so quickly earlier when I mentioned the Nannichuan!

Akane chokes and starts to break down as it all comes crashing in on her. How often had she called him a freak and pervert for his curse? Starting the very day they first met! It wasn't really his fault but rather his idiot father's. Yet she had always blamed HIM, had always taken it out on HIM. Over the last year he had even given up his chance at a cure several times just to save and protect her!

Akane: choking back tears Even now he’s willing to sacrifice himself for me after everything I’ve said and done? Oh Gods, what have I done? I'm so sorry Ranma... I don't really think you're a freak... It's not your fault... It's ok...

Ranma slowly looks back up at her tear soaked face with a glimmer of hope as she brushes a tear from his cheek.

Ranma: R-Really?

Akane: softly I've long since gotten used to your curse... It doesn't matter anymore... I... I... love you too.

Ranma's expression shifts slowly to one of surprise and wonder.

Ranma: It... it don't? You... uhm... do?

She nods and tightens her hold on him.

Akane: Even if you never get a cure and no matter what form, I'll always love you... softly and frightened But would you really want to marry an un-cute, un-sexy tomboy like me?

He winces.

Ranma: I’m sorry... I don’t really mean most of it... Ya... ya really are beautiful... and don’t let anyone tell ya otherwise. Especially an idiot like me... and uhm... about the tomboy part... looking away and blushing lightly Its... uhm... one of the best parts about ya, I... uhm... like...

He looks back as Akane starts to smile and leans down closer and kisses him lightly on the forehead. He starts to relax a bit and slowly turns over to face her as she settles down beside him. He tentatively brings an arm around her.

Ranma: near whisper I need you Akane.

Akane: near whisper I need you too, Ranma.

She pulls him into a deep embrace that he returns in earnest. They both just lay there in each other’s arms quietly gaining comfort from one another for nearly an hour before they both slip off into slumber under the stars.

Kasumi, who had been standing out on the balcony looking out at the stars, smiles and steps back inside.

Just as the sun starts to peek up above the horizon, Akane slowly awakens, for the first time in a very long time feeling totally peaceful, warm and safe. She slowly opens her eyes, wrinkling her nose a little at a light burnt odor. Ranma's charred tuxedo jacket is wrapped around her and her head rests upon his chest, both of them still in a loose embrace. She tenses and starts to sit up.

Akane: Anger rising What the hell?

She suddenly stops, squashes the anger and relaxes back down.

Akane: Oh... yeah... mumbling sleepily Mmmm... so nice. I could really get used to this.

Feeling the slight stirring beside him, Ranma awakens slowly. Glancing about he sees Akane asleep, her head on his chest. He closes his eyes again, enjoying the peace and warmth of her presence.

Ranma: Hmm... I like this... I could get used to waking up like this...

Then it registers on his sleep-muddled mind what exactly is going on. Akane is there, sleeping, and he is HOLDING her. His eyes fly open and he starts to panic.

Ranma: wide awake Oh man! She's gonna pound me!

Akane, still barely awake, feels him suddenly tense up. She looks up at him smiling faintly, sees terror on his expression and starts giggling.

Akane: softly It's ok.

She lays her head back on his chest and feels him start to relax again.

Ranma: She's not angry? Uh... Akane?

Akane: Mmmm... yes?

Ranma: Uhm... I'm... I'm really sorry about yesterday... The wedding and all... whispering softly You were so beautiful in your dress.

Akane: Thank you, Ranma. I just wished it really mattered.

She tightens her grip on him slightly.

Ranma: Whadda ya mean? Did ya really want to go through with it anyway?

He feels her tense up at that.

Akane: Why? a little hotly Didn't you?

Ranma: snorted Not really!

She shoots up at that, anger blazing in her eyes.

Akane: WHAT?

Ranma: coolly I didn't want US to be forced into it. Oh man! I don't want to fight her now! Things were going so good. softening I... I guess I wanted to... but I don't want ya to be forced to marry someone ya don't want... Know what I mean?

The anger drains immediately from her expression and she holds him close again, looking up into his eyes.

Akane: Sorry... I guess I kind of wanted to go through with it too.

Ranma’s eyes go wide.

Ranma: Wha? Really?

Akane: nodding It would have solved a lot of problems...

Ranma: That's what I was kinda' thinkin' too. This is gonna get messy, ya know? After yesterday, our parents and...

Feeling his battle aura flicker into existence, she sits up on one arm watching the faint blue glow pulsating around him.

Ranma: anger flashing in his eyes ...the others... how dare they! You coulda’ been hurt...

Suddenly everything around them becomes deathly silent and a sudden chill spreads out from Ranma. Frost starts forming around them on the roof with loud creaking and cracking sounds as it spreads outward towards the edges of the rooftop.

Ranma: in a very cold, deadly voice No more! The gloves are coming off!

Akane blinks and a smile begins to form on her lips.

Akane: So... maybe he really did want the wedding after all.

She kisses him lightly on the nose and carefully gets up. His aura instantly flashes out of existence as his expression switches immediately to surprise. The frost quickly evaporates in the summer’s warmth.

Akane: I'm sure we'll think of something. We should get back inside before we're missed.

Ranma: You go ahead, I'll see ya at breakfast.

He sits up and cracks his knuckles.

Ranma: I think pop needs an early sparring session.

She smirks, hands him his jacket, picks up her shinai and carefully climbs down to and in her window.

Ranma: Beautiful.

Less than two minutes later a panda awakens sputtering in the pond.

When she comes down twenty minutes later for her morning jog, she sees an unconscious panda in the yard near the pond. Ranma is sitting in the doorway dressed in his blue Chinese style shirt and black pants, apparently deep in meditation. Kasumi is humming softly in the kitchen with Nodoka as they prepare breakfast while Soun and Nabiki are still asleep.

Ranma: Hmmm... Is that what its like for married people to sleep together? I could get used to waking up like that in the morning. It felt so good with her there. It seemed... right... and she seemed to like it too. If that’s what its like to be married, then why have I been fightin’ it? I really do love her... I realize that now... and I can’t think of anybody else I would rather spend my life with. Hmmm... and she really is beautiful...

After breakfast...

Soun: So we have arranged for the wedding to be delayed until you can sort out your personal affairs. And until we can recover from the damage and financial losses. sigh

Akane: Pay attention! All this mostly applies to you, Ranma.

Ranma: It was as much your fault, Akane.

Akane sighs.

Akane: We better get going or we'll be late for school.

Ranma & Akane: We're off!

Author’s Notes:

Updated! 01-08-2004

1.) I am a really big fan of Ranma ½. However, I was GREATLY disappointed in how Takahashi-sama ended the series/manga. She essentially resolved NOTHING. She left all of her fans hanging. Sure, Ranma got to meet his mother, but until he is married her katana technically still looms over his neck. All of the fiancées and rivals are still out for marriage or blood. Ranma and Akane still haven’t admitted anything to each other. What was the point? Was this series intended more as action/slapstick comedy than romance? I thought it was supposed to be a martial-arts comedy/romance but in the end there really wasn’t much romance but rather a lot of angst and bad blood. Not to mention a future of pain and heartbreak for several of the cast. Obviously by the sheer volume of Ranma continuation fan-fics that are out there that try to bring some real closure, it seems that I am not the only one to feel this way. It just seemed to me that Takahashi-sama created such a mess with all of the characters that even she didn’t know how to resolve it without things getting messy and so she just left everything unresolved. Although I greatly enjoyed the series, (It IS my favorite) the so-called ending was a real let down for me after all of the years spent collecting/watching/reading the anime and manga. Unlike Takahashi-sama, I just can’t let it end that way.

This is my first attempt at fan-fiction. Any feedback / criticism / comments would be appreciated. Please be gentle.