The Insanity Continues

Volume 0 - Ever Changing World

Chapter 1 - Voyage of Thoughts

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are used
without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I can't
afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on. Translation of volume 38 taken
from the Ranma Project. I did not ask permission to use it.

Scenes with * at the start of it are copied from Manga volume 38 final
chapter. The entire section starting and ending with **********************
is direct from volume 38 with no additions (a couple deletions, but no
additions.)

-----------------------------

Ranma looked over the railing as the land slowly disappeared from the slow
boat from China he was on. He had lost his chance to get a cure. Jusenkyo
had flooded as a result of his battle with Saffron, and it may take months,
if ever, before the pools would be usable again.

Ranma sighed. <I lost my chance to be a full man for you, Akane. I wished
you didn't think I was lying when I said I only wanted the cure for you. I
nearly died for you. I-I killed for you.>

Ranma looked at his hands. <I killed Saffron. It doesn't matter that his
essence was reborn into an infant. I didn't know that when I destroyed his
adult body, and he's not really going to be the same person. So, I'm a
murderer. He stood in my way from saving you, so I killed him. Was it right
for me to do that? Was it right for me to feel your life is worth more than
his? If your life was threatened again, would I hesitate to kill?>

Ranma hugged himself. <No. I wouldn't. If I'm put in the same damn
situation, I would not hesitate to kill. Because I killed Saffron, will that
mean it'll be easier for me to kill next time? Willing to go all out against
opponents that I could just subdue? I hope not. Oh gods, I hope not.>

-----------------------------

Akane woke below decks in a hammock. She saw Ryoga sitting off to the side.
"Hi, Ryoga. You didn't have to watch over me."

Ryoga smiled at her. "You're still weak from your ordeals. I just wanted to
make sure you're all right."

Akane shook her head. "You don't have to worry about me."

"You're my friend. Of course I'm going to worry about you."

Akane sighed. "Where's Ranma?"

"Probably still on deck watching China disappear."

"Why isn't he here? If you're worried about me, why isn't he?" Akane huffed.

"He asked me to watch over you," Ryoga admitted sadly. "He has a lot to
think about right now."

"What is he thinking about?" Akane asked. She thought that he might be
thinking about what he said to her while she appeared to be dead.

"Akane, do you know what happened around you while you were dehydrated?"
Ryoga asked.

"Not really. I was aware of things, but it's like trying to remember a
dream," Akane answered.

"Well, Ranma did some things during this trip he must sort out. I think it'd
be better if he tells you."

"I see. I'd like some time alone to think about some things myself." Akane
rolled over.

"I understand," Ryoga sadly got up and left the room. <I've truly lost you.
You care about if Ranma is worried about you or not, but you don't want me
to be worried. She nearly died for him, and he nearly died trying to save
her.>

Ryoga sighed. <Should I be surprised? She may fight him, but... but he's the
one she loves. I may not like it and she may not admit it, but she does. Her
actions, her jealously, all speak of her love. The tenderness she shows me
when I'm P-Chan is for a pet. She may be kinder to her friends than she
usually is to Ranma, but that's because she loves him. She wants him to
correct his faults, so she harps on him whenever she thinks he does
something wrong. It's because she loves him that it hurts her so much when
he insults her.>

Ryoga made his way on deck and looked at Ranma. <She also doesn't want to be
forced to marry someone, so she takes it out on him. She didn't want to love
him, but she does.>

Ryoga walked towards the front of the boat. <I don't want to lose Akane, but
she is lost to me. I still have Akari, and I do lo-lo-like her. I just have
to move on with my life.>

-----------------------------

Akane was resting in a hammock, staring at the ceiling. <Is Ranma thinking
about me? Is he thinking about what he said when I almost died? Does he
really love me?>

Akane shut her eyes. <If yes, then why? Why does he insult me? Why does he
hang around with the other girls? Why would he do those things if he loves
me?>

Akane opened her eyes. <Ranma has all those fiancees... which he doesn't
really want. But he hugs Shampoo and the others... actually they hug him. He
insults me... and I insult him.>

Akane sighed. <Why doesn't he do anything about the other fiancees if he
loves me? If he loves me, what stops him from just saying it? Could it be
me? Could it be because he doesn't truly know how I feel about him? But how
can he not know? Sure, I've never said the words, but I'm learning to cook
for him, I get jealous when he's with another girl, and I've done so much
for him. How can he not know?>

Akane looked around the room. <If he's missing signs that I love him, am I
missing his? When someone suggests he's in love, he does instantly assume
they're talking about me. He denies he loves me to the point of overkill,
but if someone asks if he loves Ukyou or the others, he just says he doesn't
and says little more. He has risked his life to save me numerous times. He
always comes back to me. He's done so much for me.>

Akane sat up in the hammock. <Ranma, if you love me, you should know I love
you. I'm not going to tell you until you realize that.>

-----------------------------

Ranma continued to stare towards China despite that it had long since
disappeared over the horizon. He was lost in thought, thinking about Akane,
Saffron, life, death, and the murder he believed he committed.

"Ranma?" asked Akane, nervously, as she approached him.

"Akane, you should be resting," Ranma said.

"You don't have to worry. I'm fine."

Ranma opened his mouth to deny he was worried, but it died in his throat.
"Just take it easy. You shouldn't be up."

"What have you been doing all day?"

"Thinkin'."

"Thinking about what?" Akane asked.

Ranma shrugged. "Lots of things."

"Care to tell me about it?"

"No," Ranma replied curtly.

"Will you tell me?"

"Maybe later."

Akane sighed. "It might help if you talk to me."

"Doubt it. Can you leave me alone for a while? I need to think."

Akane heard the pain in his voice and wanted to say no. She decided to do as
he wished and nodded. She turned around and walked towards Mousse, who was
standing at the railing, midway down the port side. "Hi, Mousse."

"Hi," Mousse returned her greeting.

"Can you tell me what Ranma's thinking about?"

Mousse looked toward Ranma. "I'd say he's probably thinking about how he was
forced to kill Saffron to save you."

"What?" Akane shouted, shocked. "Saffron was reborn as infant, he didn't
die."

"He may not have died, but he should have. Ranma didn't know Saffron's
phoenix-like powers extended to that point. Saffron stood between Ranma and
the means to save your life, so he attacked him all out. Ranma attacked him,
willing to kill to save your life, and the fact Saffron was reborn is of
little comfort for him," Mousse explained.

Akane stared at Mousse blankly. "He was driven to the point of killing
someone... just to save me?"

"Yes. Do you know why?"

Akane remained silent.

"You may not notice it, but he loves you," Mousse told her. "When we found
out Kiima had your body as a cursed form, he was deathly afraid they drowned
and killed you. To keep his hopes, up I suggested they used their knowledge
of Jusenkyo curses to assume your form and that you were still safe at home.
When he thought you died, when you got dehydrated, he died inside too. He
didn't move on his own until we discovered you were still alive. After he
cured you and you appeared to be dead he..."

Akane interrupted, "He said he regretted the things he's said and said..."
She was now blushing.

"And when he screamed your name..." Mousse shivered.

"It was loud enough to wake the dead, literally." Akane shuddered. "He
really does love me, doesn't he?"

Mousse nodded. "A while ago I realized he didn't see Shampoo as anything
more than a friend. I'm not too sure about Ukyou, but he would throw a party
if Kodachi was out of his life."

Akane forced a smiled. "I'd be partying along with him."

"Do you love him?"

Akane looked around, making sure no one was eavesdropping. "Yes," she
whispered.

"When are you going to tell him?"

"I want him to say it first."

Mousse shook his head. "Do try to make it easy for him to say it."

"Do you know why he doesn't do something about the other girls?" Akane
questioned.

"I don't know," Mousse said, while thinking, <Because he's a womanizer and
enjoys having girls flock around him.>

-----------------------------

The trip continued with rarely anyone talking. Ryoga wanted to avoid Akane.
Akane was lost in thought, thinking about her realization of how Ranma felt
about her. Mousse ended up flying back to Japan after approaching Shampoo
midway through the trip. Genma played shogi with the captain of the ship for
most of the trip. Everyone avoided Ranma except Akane, but neither of them
rarely said anything. Shampoo didn't want to socialize with anyone but
Ranma, but he was being extremely anti-social to everyone.

Akane was happy to get home. She hoped Ranma would come out of it and rejoin
the rest of the world. While he did start talking, he still wasn't acting
like himself.

Akane was starting to get desperate a couple days after they returned. <He
isn't paying attention to anything. There has to be something I could do to
help. Maybe Daddy could help me. He might know something about what Ranma's
going through.>

Akane made her way through the house searching for her father. She couldn't
find him, and she didn't see Genma and Nodoka either. She then heard voices
from Happosai's room, but it couldn't be him, since he was on a panty raid.
She approached to investigate.

Pressing her ear to the door, Akane heard Nodoka's voice, "... to the altar,
how do can we convince them to say 'I do?' They may not feel they're ready."

"I overheard Akane admitting she loves Ranma and there is plenty of evidence
that he loves her," Genma answered.

"I also got a plan that will insure they will agree," Soun added.

Akane flung the door open violently. "Just what do you think you're
doing?!?" she screamed.

The three scheming parents started to sweat nervously.

"Now Akane, Dear," Soun began. He stood up and exited the room, shutting the
door behind him. "We are planning your wedding with Ranma."

"Aren't I suppose to at least have some say in this?" she snarled.

"This is for the betterment of our clans that you two marry. And, to stop
all the troubles Ranma has concerning fiancees and such. We felt it would be
best to get you two married."

"How about how I feel?" Akane demanded.

"Akane, you can't hide from me that you love him. And if you want assurances
that he'll marry you..." Soun then whispers into her ear, "...my present to
you two is a case of Nannichaun the Jusenkyo guide has sent. He'll only get
it once you two are married."

Akane stood there fuming. <How dare he try and manipulate me? I don't care
if I want to marry Ranma, he shouldn't force me to... But, this might solve
his problems with the girls and he would get cured. If nothing else, this
might get him to stop thinking about Jusendo and Saffron.>

Akane closed her eyes tightly. "Fine. I'll marry him," she said angrily. She
stomped off.

Nabiki had overheard Akane. She wondered how her father got her to agree.

-----------------------------
**********************

Ranma walked into his room and felt a large blunt instrument impact his
skull.

Ranma awoke to a shock. "Wh... what the!!!" He was wearing a white suit.

"Well, Akane approved the marriage," Soun said.

"Huh?" Ranma uttered.

"We swear it's the truth," Genma added.

"You look so handsome, Ranma," Nodoka cried with joy.

Ranma ran into Akane's room. "Hey, Akane!!"

"Ranma," Akane said, looking more beautiful than Ranma ever thought she
could, wearing a flowing white western wedding dress.

Ranma stared at her in shock. "Ah... um..."  He started shaking.

"Maybe a Japanese dress was better," Akane said, wondering at his reaction.

"N... no. I think in either... you're... cute," Ranma said blushing.

"Really? Thank you."

----------------------------
*

"A wedding invitation? Hm..." Ryoga sighed sadly.

"Akane, I'm going on a journey now." He looked up to the sky. "I will pray
for you to be happy."

Ryoga started to wander away. "I'm sorry, Akari. My gifts for you have
passed their expiration date." He pictured how Akari looked like in his
mind.

----------------------------
*

Neither Ranma nor Akane could think of something to say. They were both
extremely nervous. After a long moment, they knelt on the floor as their
legs grew tired.

Ranma broke the silence as he stammered, "Uh... um..."

"Yes..."

"Why did you... all of a sudden want to marry me?" Ranma asked.

"Well... Ranma... you love me."

"Huh?" Ranma uttered, shocked. "Wh... what are you talking about?"

Akane was a little shocked at his reaction. "But while you were crying at
Jusendo..."

Ranma thought for a moment trying to remember if he did say it. "I didn't
say that!!!" he shouted.

"You practically did!!" Akane yelled back.

"What!? You wanna go at it!!" Ranma said, wanting to start a fight to stop
the wedding.

Akane calmly said, "Fine, you don't have to go through with this if you
don't want to, but you'll regret it." She finished glaring at him.

"Huh?" Ranma emitted, shocked.

----------------------------
*

Nabiki saw her father hide what looked to be a case of sake. "Do you really
need to hide that from Ranma?"

"Ha... the Jusenkyo guide sent enough Nannichaun for one, so until the two
are married, I won't give Ranma the Nannichaun!" Soun elated.

"So that's how you convinced Akane," Nabiki said.

"Now Tendo... why did you hide it from me too?" Genma asked.

Life drained from Soun's face as he sensed trouble.

"Did you think I would take it? It's mine!" Genma ran off with the case of
Nannichaun.

The case flew out of Genma's hands as the wall next to him exploded.

"Where am I?!" Ryoga shouted from the new doorway.

Hearing the commotion Mousse went to make sure nothing would go wrong. "Hey,
Akane and Ranma! Hurry up and get married before you change your minds."

"Nannichaun!" Ryoga shouted seeing the flying case.

----------------------------
*

Upstairs Ranma ran out of Akane's room. "What?! There's Nannichaun! Why
didn't you tell me, Stupid!!!" Ranma shouted.

Akane glared angrily at him as he left.

Ranma found his way blocked by Shampoo and Ukyou as they threw exploding
food at him.

"Aiya! I was aiming for Akane!" Shampoo said angrily.

"I still have lots of special celebration Okonomiyaki for you!" Ukyou
shouted, looking ready to kill.

"Darling, are you all right?" Kodachi asked, wearing a black wedding dress.

"Aiya! Kodachi!" Shampoo said.

"She's got some nerve!" Ukyou snarled.

Ranma quickly jumped from where he lay as Kuno attacked with a katana. "How
dare you proceed with this wedding without Kuno Tatewaki's permission!?"
Kuno wave a paper fan with 'reject' written on it. "I will not allow it!!"

"You idiot!! I don't have time for this." Ranma dodged Kuno's attacks. One
of his dodges caused him to trip on a bucket filled with water, splashing
him.

"Pig-tailed goddess! You must marry me this instant!" Kuno shouted.

Ranma replied by punching him in the face.

----------------------------
*

"Nabiki! You sent out all the wedding invitations, didn't you!!" Akane
shouted angrily.

"But look!" Nabiki held a large stack of envelopes.

"My! Look at all the celebration money!" Kasumi said.

----------------------------
*

Mousse, Ryoga and Genma continued to fight for the Nannichaun. It flew away
from them as the seal broke. The Nannichaun threatened to spill all over the
ground.

Ranma arrived in time to see it starting to fall. "Nannichaun!" she shouted.

"Ooh! Sake!!" Happosai shouted as he downed the Nannichaun in one large
gulp.

The cursed men looked at the sight in shock and horror.

"What the hell!! It's just water!!" Happosai smashed the empty case in
anger.

"He drank it... all," Ranma said in disbelief.

The cursed men attacked Happosai, trying to get him to induce vomiting.

"Cough it up!" Ranma said angrily.

"Where is it!?!" shouted Genma.

"Happo Dai Karin!!!!" Happosai shouted, releasing his fire bomb attack.

The blast left Ranma unconscious, which Ukyou and Shampoo moved to try and
help him.

Ryoga sat to the side, crying.

"Tendo Akane! We must be wed!" Kuno shouted earning Akane's foot into his
face.

"Hehe! My young bride!" Happosai gleefully said, clutching onto Akane's
wedding dress.

"Ranma-sama! Someday!" Kodachi shouted.

"My how busy!" Kasumi said.

With the Nannichaun gone, the groom unconscious, and several people
violently opposed to the wedding present forced Soun to do something he
really didn't want to. He called off the wedding.

----------------------------
*

Soun sat at the dinner table talking to Ranma and Akane. "Well, because of
all this... we're putting off the wedding until we can get all of our
affairs in order."

"You know if you just..." Akane said.

Ranma interrupted, "This is all your fault."

*********************
----------------------------

Ranma lay on the roof of the Tendo home, staring into the night sky. He
didn't want to be reminded about his fiancee problems, and yet they came
roaring into his face. He wanted to sort out his guilty conscious concerning
his actions at Jusendo and they just wanted him.

<Why? Why? Why?> Ranma wondered. <Why did they have to force a wedding? Why
was Akane willing to marry me? Could it really be just because she believes
I love her? Was she willing because of the Nannichaun? Or does she want to
marry me because she loves me?>

Ranma balled his hand into a fist. <They could have at least asked me if I
wanted to get married. I would've told them I wasn't ready. I'm only
seventeen and still in high school. I shouldn't even be engaged. Everyone
wants me to get married to one person or another. A year and a half ago I've
never stayed anywhere long, and now they're fighting over where I'm spending
the rest of my life and they aren't asking me. I should have a say in this.
I do have five choices.>

Ranma counted on his fingers. <Well, four choices. Kodachi isn't a choice. I
could choose Shampoo, which would leave me as a guy in a woman's society and
I'd have to deal with being related to the old ghoul. That's not a real good
choice there. I could choose Ukyou, but she's more of a sister to me. I
could choose as my parents want. Akane isn't a bad choice, but I wish she'd
listen to me and trusted me more. She can get so angry at me while I've done
nothing wrong. I could chose none of the above and leave, but I don't want
to do that.>

<Akane did look cute in that wedding dress.> Ranma sighed. <Why did I deny I
love her? I think I do. I've done so many things for her and it hurt so much
when I thought she was dead. I didn't think I could feel such pain over
losing anyone. I should've just told her I love her, but then I'd probably
be married now.>

Ranma rolled over and looked towards where Akane should be. <Does Akane love
me? Her willing to marry me had to be more than just because she thinks I
love her. If she loves me, why does she poison me, insult me, and hit me?
Well, I guess she is trying to learn how to cook, I insult her too, and she
hits me when I've gone too far or when she's jealous. If she acts jealous
when the other girls show affection to me, doesn't that mean she loves me or
at least wants to show that kind of affection.>

----------------------------

Akane sat in her bed curled up into a ball. She didn't know what to feel or
who to be mad at. Today she almost got married, but everything went wrong
and nothing went right.

<Why aren't I mad at Ranma?> Akane wondered. <He denied he loves me when I
know he does. What happened at Jusendo was undeniable. The things he did and
how he reacted were for someone he loves, and not just a friend. Yet, he
tried to stop the wedding by starting a fight with me. Talk about cold
feet.>

Akane sighed. <Maybe it's because I think he's right. The wedding disaster
is, in part, my fault for not telling him sooner about the Nannichaun. If I
had, he might of found it and gotten cured. I used his cure to bribe him
into marrying me. Am I any better than Shampoo, now, because I did that?>

Akane cracked her knuckles. <I will have to have a little talk with Nabiki
about her part in the disaster. If she hadn't invited everyone in Nerima, I
would be married now. Not to mention Uncle Saotome had his own part in this.
He wants Ranma to marry me, but took the Nannichaun because he wanted the
cure for himself. If that selfish idiot had half a brain, he'd have defended
the Nannichaun to insure it could be used to bribe Ranma.>

Akane's face took on a look of determination. <There is one thing I could
do, I can make sure that Ranma marries me. I can find a way to remove his
other fiancee's claims. Ranma will marry me!>

----------------------------

Ukyou lay in her bed thinking over the day. <Why did those jackasses plan a
wedding? Ranchan doesn't want to marry Akane, and they should realize that.
He would never be truly happy with her.>

Ukyou shut her eyes tightly. <Is Konatsu right in saying I might have ruined
friendship for attacking him? Why did I do that in the first place? Why did
I attack Ranma and not those responsible? I should've just beaten up Genma.
It had to be his plan after all.>

<But did I upset Ranma for attacking him? I don't want to lose him. I was
trying to save him from marrying a girl he doesn't want. He should be
thankful right? I'll just have to apologize and come up with a better plan
if they try this again.>

----------------------------
Author's notes:

Why a volume 0? I already wrote a volume 1 of a story that occurs a month
later, but some characterizations needed to be explained. Also Manga volume
38 caused a lot of changes in the Ranmaverse, shattering the status quo.
Ryoga giving up on Akane and Akane believing Ranma is in love with her being
the biggest changes.

The translation of the wedding scene is close to being accurate. I do own a
copy of manga volume 38 so the action described is correct. (I really wish I
could read Japanese.)