Magical Interludes - December's End
Fanfic by J. K. Hayashi

Chapter 2:  Confrontations - Part II

J.D.:  "I believe that is the key.  You see, I think that there were all 
	these possible universes that once existed.  Most people 
	think about them as 'what-if' lives; you know, what if I 
	made this choice of college, or asked that person out, etc..  
	For some reason ours is a stable reality, and these other 
	universes are merging with this one.  To reconcile the 
	differences, most people may gain some sort of ability, but 
	won't remember their 'other' lives.  However, for me and 
	Ranma, the differences were so great that the universe had 
	to create a vortex to resolve it, and being at the center, we 
	remember those other lives.  As for Ranma being their 
	father, just imagine that everything that you experienced 
	happened twenty years ago, then just think about the 
	changes that made that life more valid than this one."  
	[sighs at their looks of incredulity]  "Ah well, its just a 
	theory.  Now, as to how and why Ranma brought them to 
	this reality, I don't know."
Ayuki:  "But why only us?"
J.D.:  "I don't know.  Maybe Ranma saw something about the three 
	of you and subconsciously created a 'rescue' bridge between 
	your universe and this one.  Maybe your abilities will be 
	needed here."
Keiko:  "Do you think so?"
J.D.:  "I don't know."
Midori:  "You're not very much help."
J.D.:  "Look, I'm just like you, stuck in the middle trying to figure 
	out what happened."
Nodoka:  "So how should we handle this?"
J.D.:  "Why are you asking me?  Just go on with your lives."
Nabiki:  "Is that it?"
J.D.:  "What else can we do?  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to 
	talk to Ranma in private for a moment."

Ranma and J.D. leave the living room and head toward the dojo.  
They sit on the dojo steps.  J.D. shivers a bit as the ice-cold wind 
blows around them.

J.D.:  "So why did you bring those three?"
Ranma:  "I don't know."
J.D.:  "You are one lucky bastard.  Creating that dimensional bridge 
	almost caused your heart to fail.  Your energy levels were 
	incredibly low after they appeared.  If Kasumi and Ono 
	weren't there, you would have died."
Ranma:  "Couldn't you have saved me?"
J.D.:  "I didn't know what to do.  As it is I still don't understand 
	what we did to stabilize you."
Ranma:  "..."
J.D.:  "So, what do you remember?"
Ranma:  "I'm not sure... it's all kind of blurry.  How do you deal with 
	all these memories?"
J.D.:  "Don't worry, you'll forget them.  In fact, you've probably 
	forgotten the majority of them already."
Ranma:  "Have you forgotten your other lives already?"
J.D.:  "Almost all.  I remember what happened in a objective way, 
	but I think its for the best."
Ranma:  "What do you have left, then?"
J.D.:  "Impressions.  Feelings mostly.  And, of course, the magic."  
	(laughs, then sober)  "I think that if I was able to remember 
	the good things, I would drive myself crazy."
Ranma:  (unconvinced)  "I suppose.  How do I deal with all the 
	things I learned?"
J.D.:  (shrugging)  "Practice and make sure you can do them.  If 
	there is a reason why we've gotten these abilities, then it 
	won't do to just forget them.  In any event, it can't hurt.  
	Can you access your abilities?"

Ranma attempts to form a chi-blast and yells "Tiger's Roar", but 
fails.  J.D. looks at him curiously.

J.D.:  "What are you trying to do?"
Ranma:  "Its not important."

Ranma and J.D. get up and start heading back toward the living 
room.

J.D.:  "I will give you some advice, though.  Don't publicize your 
	abilities.  There are people who'll seek to take advantage of 
	them.  I would never have exposed myself if that guy hadn't 
	taken those hostages in a public place.

Ranma and J.D. reach the living room, where Dr. Tofu and Kasumi 
are waiting to talk to J.D..

Kasumi:  "You will come to our wedding, won't you?"
J.D.:  "When will it be?"
Dr. Tofu:  "New Year's Day."
J.D.:  "Next week?  Already?  Boy, find out that you love each other 
	and you can't wait, can you?"

Dr. Tofu both blush, knowing that J.D. knows that they spent the 
night together.

J.D.:  "I'll try... that's the best I can promise.  In one week Hawaii 
	could be in the middle of a civil war.  If I don't make it 
	back... I wish you both every happiness."  (to Nabiki)  "If 
	you want some advice, I'd learn to defend myself.  Now that 
	Ranma's unlocked the higher power levels here in Japan, 
	there'll be a struggle to take advantage of it.  Farewell all of 
	you."
Ranma:  "How are you getting home?"
J.D.:  "It's a trick you have to learn, Ranma... just ride the gravity 
	well."

J.D. suddenly runs and jumps off the porch, flying into the sky.  
Everyone goes to watch him off, and J.D. rises until he reaches 1000 
feet, when he vanishes.

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

Ukyou had been startled to see a figure fly out of the Tendo dojo and 
vanish into thin air, but such things had become easier to accept as 
one stayed near the Tendos.  She was confused, and she sometimes 
felt like crying, but she knew she had to find out the truth.  A few 
weeks ago she had wanted to kill Ranma, then she found him and 
fell in love with him.  She could admit to herself that she loved Ran-
chan, and that she wanted him to be happy, but she had thought that 
she would be the one he would finally choose... and then Akane had 
said he told her that he loved her.  But then there also was Midori, 
who was supposed to be her and Ran-chan's daughter...

Ukyou took a moment outside the gate to steel herself, then knocked 
and entered the house.  Everyone had been in the living room and 
looked startled to see her there, except for Ran-chan, who looked sad 
and guilty.  In that moment, Ukyou knew what was true.

Ukyou:  "Ran-chan, can I talk with you and Akane in private?"
Ranma:  "Umm... sure, Uk-chan."

Ranma and Akane get up from where they were sitting, and Akane 
leads the three of them to her room.  In the living room, Kasumi 
sighs as Midori asks to talk with Nodoka.  In Akane's room, Ukyou 
suddenly hugs Ranma to her.

Ukyou:  "I hope the two of you are happy together.  I suppose... I 
	knew it would end this way."
Ranma:  "Uk-chan..."
Ukyou:  (breaking away and hugging Akane)  "Congratulations..."
Akane:  "What are you going to do now, Ukyou?"
Ukyou:  "I don't know... maybe go home.  There's no reason to stay 
	anymore."
Ranma:  "Please stay, Uk-chan... all your friends are here.  I... we 
	don't want you to leave."
Ukyou:  "Do you mean that, Ranma?"
Ranma:  "We'll still be Uk-chan and Ran-chan."
Ukyou:  (smiles sadly)  "I don't think we can be Uk-chan and Ran-
	chan again.  I'll have to think about what I'm going to do.  
	But I promise that you'll be the first to know what I decide."

There is a soft knock at the door.  Akane opens the door and sees 
Midori standing in the hallway.  Midori hesitatingly enters the 
room.

Midori:  "Mother..."
Ukyou:  "I'm not your mother, Midori."
Midori:  "But you are... I mean... I never knew my mother because 
	she died when I was three.  I was wondering... maybe we 
	could get to know each other?"

Ukyou nods and Midori hugs her.  Ranma and Akane both look 
relieved, and the four of them head out of the room and downstairs 
to the living room.  Nodoka's face brightens as they enter.

Nodoka:  "I haven't seen you for ten years, my son.  Let me get a 
	good look at you.  (Ranma sits next to her)  "Well, it looks 
	like your father raised you well.  Now, I want you to know 
	that I would never have allowed your father's stupid 
	promise" (glares at an uncomfortable Genma) "about your 
	engagement to continue if you hadn't admitted your love for 
	each other.  And I can't believe" (again glaring at Genma) 
	"that you almost had to die before he contacted me to tell 
	where the two of you were.  At last, I can consider your 
	father's promise to make you a 'man among men' fulfilled."

Midori, Keiko, and Ayuki look at each other and start laughing 
uncontrollably.  Soon Ukyou, Akane, and Nabiki also start laughing 
while Kasumi smiles.  Soun, and Ranma look uncomfortable while 
Genma looks scared.  Nodoka looks confused.

Nodoka:  "What's so funny?"
Ranma:  (lifting Genma by the shirt)  "You old goat!  This is all 
	your fault!"

A glass of water goes flying across the room, hitting Ranma in the 
back of the head.  He turns female and looks around the room to see 
who threw it.  All the girls sit with innocent expressions on their 
faces.

Nodoka:  "Genma!  What did you do to our son?"
Ranma:  "Uh... hi, mom?"
Nodoka:  "We have no choice, Ranma."  (takes out a crumpled piece 
	of paper)  "The promise your father made when you left 
	was that the both of you would commit seppuku if you did 
	not become a 'man among men'."  (takes out katana, 
	everyone is shocked)  "You first, Genma..."  (Genma has 
	run out of the room, yelling something about wanting to 
	live)  "I'll have to catch him later.  Ranma, please be 
	honorable..."
Ranma:  (in a state of shock)  "..."
Akane:  "Auntie, you can't!"
Nodoka:  "I'm sorry, Akane, but our family honor is at stake."
Akane:  "No!"
Nodoka:  "Akane... are you still willing to marry Ranma, even 
	though..."
Akane:  (taking Ranma's hand)  "Yes.  Yes, I am."
Nodoka:  (puts away katana, then hugs Akane and Ranma)  "I'm 
	happy that you love each other so much.  I'm still 
	disappointed in the way your father acted, however.  
	Ranma, what's wrong."
Nabiki:  "I think he's still in shock."
Ranma:  (regaining his voice)  "I... I have to commit seppuku?"
Akane:  "No.  Auntie said you don't."
Ranma:  "Thank you, Akane."  (kisses her)
Akane:  "Ranma!  We're both girls!"
Ranma:  "Not to me."

Nodoka watches them for a moment, remembering her own 
courtship.

Nodoka:  "Now, I think I should have a private talk with Kasumi, 
	Nabiki, and Akane.  And I think that you, Ranma, should 
	get to know your daughters."

Nodoka leads the Tendo sisters to the kitchen, where they lock the 
door behind them to prevent anyone from coming in.  Ranma turns 
to talk with his 'daughters'.

*****************************End Chapter 2, Part II