(Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of the characters and stories associated with it.)
Aftermath
The hospital was close to the Kuno estate and Ranma was able to get Nabiki to medical attention faster than if an ambulance had been called. Genma arrived a couple of minutes later with Akane and after answering a few questions from the nurses, sat down in the waiting room with his son.
After a few tense moments, the elder Saotome spoke up, "I'll have a talk with your mom and see if she'll switch the engagement back to Akane. I know you've been feeling bad about it and now that the demon's gone from her, you and the girl can get back together."
Ranma glared at his father for a moment before answering, "No."
Genma snapped his head around, "What do you mean, no?"
Ranma clenched his fists slightly as he stared at his father, "It's just what I said, Pops…No! Nabiki's my fiancé now and that's the way it's gonna stay."
Genma shook his head, "Don't be a fool, boy. Akane's the girl for you. It's already been planned out and-."
The elder Saotome suddenly found himself unable to talk because Ranma was now in his face with his hands gripping the man's gi. In a voice that was low and dangerous he growled, "What did you say, old man?"
Realizing he had revealed too much, Genma stuttered, "It w-was always the plan for you to marry, Akane."
Ranma's eyes narrowed, "What about the agreement? It stated one of the Tendos, not just Akane."
"Akane's the only martial artist in the family. Nabiki will only take your money an-."
Ranma gripped the gi tighter, "Stop right there. You've meddled in my life for the last time, old man. This is my decision and mine alone, got it? If you want to stay healthy, you'll stop trying to interfere."
Ranma roughly pushed Genma down into the chair and turned to walk away. Genma called out, "Where do you think you're going?"
Without even bothering to say a word, the pigtailed martial artist left the waiting room and grumbled to himself as he headed over to the nurses station. After asking about Nabiki's condition he was told to wait until the doctor was finished. When Ranma asked if he could wait nearby, the nurse smiled and pointed to a chair up against the wall.
* * *
In the main waiting room, the others had arrived and were inquiring about Akane and Nabiki. Nodoka walked up to her husband, "Any word on the girls?"
Genma didn't even look up as he answered somewhat sarcastically, "No word on Akane. Ranma's gone to check on the other girl."
Nodoka raised an eyebrow but said nothing further. Kodachi turned towards Ukyo and wrapped her arms across her chest and shivered, "I really dislike hospitals."
Ukyo nodded, "Last time we were, it was to visit Ranma. Now Akane, Nabiki, and Shampoo are here."
Kodachi blinked, "That's right! Why don't we go and check on our former Amazon rival? We can come back and check on Akane later."
Ukyo brightened, "Hey, that's a great idea, sugar."
The two excused themselves and headed over to the information center. The nurse at the station informed them of where Shampoo was and after they thanked the woman, headed for her room.
* * *
Back in the waiting room, Soun and Kasumi had arrived and as usual, the Tendo matriarch was a teary eyed mess. Both Kasumi and Nodoka were gentle with the distraught father as they attempted to comfort him, "Don't worry father. Akane and Nabiki are very tough. I'm sure the doctors are just making sure they're alright."
Nodoka placed her hand on his, "Yes Soun, try and relax a bit. I can understand you being a bit upset, but your daughters are going to need you to be strong."
He took a deep breath and looked over at the waiting room door, "Yes, you're both right. I should be more in control, especially now."
Kasumi smiled as she reached over and hugged him, "That's the spirit, father."
A male voice commented from behind, "Don't worry, they're both going to be fine."
Kasumi looked up and smiled warmly, "Ono?"
Dr. Tofu gave her a quick hug, "An associate called me over when Akane was admitted. I just now received the data on both their conditions."
Soun looked up at the doctor, "And?"
"Nabiki is going to be sent home very shortly. She has a nasty bruise forming on her shoulder, but with a hot bath and a bit of salve, she'll be just fine."
Nodoka nodded, "What about Akane?"
Tofu continued, "The demon you fought drained a lot of her life energy from her. I agreed with the doctor here to keep her for a few hours. She's going to be okay, but she needs to rest here under observation until tomorrow. It's too early for visiting hours, so why don't you go home and get some rest. Come back tomorrow during normal hours and she should be ready to go home."
Kasumi smiled warmly as she gave the doctor a hug, "Thank you Ono. I'll call a cab and take father home."
The doctor grinned, "No need for that, dear Kasumi. There is a cab outside waiting for you right now."
She leaned over and kissed the doctor on the cheek, causing him to blush brightly, "Thank you."
* * *
Ranma was startled when a doctor called out his name, "Ranma Saotome?"
He quickly stood up from the chair, "Y-yes. That's me!"
The woman nodded as she checked her clipboard. "I was informed that you were Nabiki Tendo's fiancé and have authorization to take her home. She has a large bruise on the back of her shoulder and needs to soak in a hot bath for at least 20 minutes each night before bed. Also, I was to give you a special salve. She will need it rubbed on her back after each bath for the next 5 days."
Ranma nodded, "Sounds like the stuff Tofu used on me when I got hit by a baseball."
The woman chuckled, "Yes, he is the one who recommended it. You can go on into room 302 and visit with her. I'll be back in about 10 minutes with the salve and then you can take her home."
He smiled brightly, "Thanks Doc."
After thanking the doctor, Ranma walked over to Nabiki's room. He knocked once and after hearing an answer, opened the door and entered. Nabiki was sitting on the edge of the bed looking over a few of the forms the doctor had left. She looked up and when she saw Ranma, smiled playfully, "The doctor says you were the one who carried me here."
She got up off the bed and as she did, Ranma walked up to her and softly placed both hands on her arms, "Ya scared me half to death, Nabiki. Why did you run out in the open like that?"
Nabiki bit her lip for a moment before looking up again, "I keep asking myself that same question. Every time I do, I come back with the same answer. I was worried about you."
A small smile formed on his lips, "Let me get this straight. The Ice Queen of Furinkan High School ran out into a deadly battlefield because she was worried about her fiancé?"
She reached around him and clasped her hands together, "I told you once before…I love you, and I'm not going to just stand by and watch you get hurt. Never again."
Ranma gently slid his hands around her back and held her close. With her head turned towards him and resting on his shoulder, he nodded slightly, "When that ki blast hit you, I nearly panicked. If Cologne hadn't been there to help I would have been torn between continuing the fight, or abandoning it to save you.
She turned her face up to look at him as he continued, "Right then, I realized something very important, Nabiki. Since that time I was shot, even though you've had more than enough opportunities, you haven't tried to make any more money off me. You haven't drugged me, hit me, fed me poison, or tried to drag me off to China. You even took the engagement without complaining. And although you've told me before you loved me, it took seeing you risk your own life for me to realize I've been falling in love with you as well."
Her eyes shimmered and tears began to build in the corners. Before she could respond, he leaned over and gently kissed her. Nabiki was at first a bit surprised that Ranma had taken the iniative and kissed her, but she wasted no time responding in kind.
It was some time later when the two were interrupted by the clearing of someone's throat. They jerked their heads toward the door and let go of each other as a smirking doctor walked in. She picked up the clipboard and flipped causally through a few pages, "I see you're feeling much better, Miss Tendo."
They both blushed brightly as the doctor reached into her pocket and continued, "This is the salve. You're to apply it to your shoulder once each evening after your bath."
Still blushing, Ranma took the small jar and stuck it into his own pocket while Nabiki asked, "Is there anything I need to do before going home?"
She continued to look at the clipboard and smiled, "No…your family doctor took care of everything. You're fiancé can take you home now."
As the two teens quickly thanked the doctor and left, she shook her head and chuckled, "Those two got it bad!"
* * *
Akane was half asleep from the sedative the doctor had given her when there was a knock at the door. Moments later, Ukyo peeked in, "Hey sugar. Mind if we visit a bit?"
Akane brightened up a bit, "Yeah…sure. But aren't visiting hours over?"
Another girl stuck her head in and entered, "We won't tell if you won't."
Akane's widened, "K-Kodachi?"
Ukyo smiled, "Yeah, she's not too bad a person when you get her away from her plants and powders."
Kodachi blushed slightly, "I never realized how addictive it was. Ukyo here has offered to help me get to some treatment."
Akane was somewhat speechless, "Wow. That's…great."
Ukyo turned towards the door, "Yeah. If anyone two months ago would have said the four of us would be in the same room together as friends, I'd laughed in their face."
Akane raised an eyebrow, "Four of us?"
Kodachi nodded her head as she helped the other, "Yes we are the former four fiancés of one Ranma Saotome.
Before the Tendo daughter could respond, another girl's head appeared just above her bed, "Nihao Akane."
She sat up to look over the foot of her bed, "Shampoo?"
The Amazon shook her head, "Akane make too-too much noise. Shampoo no want to leave right now."
Ukyo pushed the wheelchair around the bed and then reached over and lowered the side rail on the bed. Akane stared, "What the heck are you doing?"
As Kodachi helped, she reached her arm around Shampoo, "Listen sugar, we just had a long talk with this girl. She has something to say to you and we feel it's pretty important. Now scoot over a bit."
Still stunned, Akane slid over on her small bed while the other two girls helped Shampoo up and onto the bed. After making sure she was comfortable Ukyo waved, "Well, we gotta go now, Akane. Don't want to get busted by the nurses."
Kodachi giggled, "Shampoo's a patient, so it's okay if she stays."
The two girls then closed the door and left while Akane stared at the girl now sitting in her bed, "Shampoo?"
After a few seconds she spoke, "Shampoo always think Akane weak girl. Shampoo never respect Akane because Shampoo never think Akane good fighter. Never good enough for Ranma."
Akane was angered by the girl's admission, but remained silent. The Amazon continued, "Shampoo pay for mistake…pay real good. Shampoo underestimate Akane and Akane kick Shampoo's butt."
Akane lowered her eyes, "I'm really sorry Shampoo-."
Shampoo shook her head, her eyes fierce, "Akane no apologize! Shampoo bring shame to Amazons. Must pay for mistake. Shampoo lose fight, lose honor, even lose Ranma."
She looked puzzled, "So now what? Do I get the kiss of death?"
The purple haired girl grinned, "Only if Akane want kiss. Otherwise Shampoo no give."
Akane chuckled, "I'll pass on that then, thank you."
There were several seconds of silence before she spoke again, "Shampoo speak with Great-grandmother. Great-grandmother say okay."
"What do you mean?"
"Amazon family not all related. Strong outsiders also make good Amazon fighters. Shampoo think Akane make good Amazon woman."
"You want me to become an Amazon?"
Shampoo nodded, "If Great-grandmother adopt Akane, Akane be Tendo, but also Amazon. Akane become Shampoo's Amazon sister. Akane teach Shampoo better Japanese, and Shampoo teach Akane better cooking."
Akane laughed for a moment, "Alright, let me think about it for a bit, okay?"
Shampoo smiled and reached over and offered her hand in friendship, "We be rivals for too-too long. Is better we be sisters."
Akane looked down at the offered hand for a moment before reaching over and clasping it firmly.
* * *
Nodoka Saotome stood by the window in the lobby and watched rain as it poured down in the night. Behind her, a familiar voice spoke, "One of the doctors said you were still here."
She turned and smiled, "Hello, Elder. I'm just waiting for the rain clear up."
The Amazon pointed to the pair of bundles the woman held, "I see you're carrying two now."
Nodoka nodded, "Yes, once the spell wears off, the blades return to normal. I talked to a nurse and she gave me a pair of sheets to wrap them with. I'll get them cleaned and returned tomorrow."
Cologne smiled, "I didn't think there were any of you left in the world. The last anyone heard of a sword mage was well over 100 years ago."
She took a deep breath and watched the rain, "It's a very special part of the Saotome art. I was trained with my sister when we were quite young. When I was in my early twenties, she disappeared and I haven't heard from her since. It is now my responsibility to pass the skill on.
Cologne nodded, "So you're going to pass your knowledge on to Ranma?"
Tears dripped down her cheeks as Nodoka shook her head, "I cannot. There is a dangerous side effect of the skill that would kill my son if he were to attempt to learn it. To become a sword mage, one first needs to be of the same blood as the teacher and that person also needs to possess female ki. A man may be able to learn the skill, but without female ki, it would drive him insane."
"You're not going to pass the skill along?"
Nodoka lowered her head, "I don't have a daughter, Elder"
Cologne smiled as she watched the rain, "Oh really now…"
The End
I hope you've enjoyed book one of Broken Ice. I certainly had a lot of fun writing it. There many unanswered questions that could be looked at in book two. How will Ranma and Nabiki cope once word gets out, How will Akane atone for her past actions, What of the demon's threat to Ranma, Will Akane become an Amazon, will Nodoka train Ranma to become a sword mage, and finally, where the heck was Mousse? My humble thanks to all who have reviewed, it provided much encouragement. - Kniteshadow