There was a blurring dislocation, and Ranma knew what had happened.
He had only been with the Tendo family for a little while. Ukyo had recently come on the scene.
It had also been seven years since he'd come to live with the Tendo family and met Akane. After the first year had come Saffron. Then the marriage to Akane. Then the divorce. Then the reconcilliation. Then the second divorce.
Now here he was, having spent two years looking for a way to fix the problems in his life. The thing was, he'd found it.
Twenty three years old on the calendar, but Ranma felt closer to fifty when you added the mileage.
Following up one lead after another had led him here to this grove in the center of a ruin and to the well in the center.
Speak, Traveler. Do you know what you seek?
"Yeah," said Ranma. "I know what I want. It's why I came here."
Do you? Know, O Traveler, that I have abided here before mankind had left the valley in what you now call Africa. Know that many have sought my power and voiced their desires. Less than a handful have found happiness from their desires fulfilled. Know that I see you. Curing your curse would not undo the problems of your lifetime. It would not make a difference in how your marriage had devolved into pointless bickering and bruised egos. It would not bring your friends back nor would it improve your mastery of your Art.
Ranma winced, partly because he'd come to that conclusion himself already. "...but..."
Even if it was done retroactively. Karma can be a bitch.
Ranma blinked at that, not expecting such language from an ancient well.
It is one of the sad truths of your species that most of you sabotage your own lives, putting off the difficult decisions until too late, failing to act when they need to, and acting when inaction would better serve. But then, one of your own philosophers did say 'There is nothing common about common sense.'
"Hmph, I suppose you could do better?" Ranma asked the well.
I'm an artifact from an ancient civilization that fell to Earth over ten million years ago. My powers cannot directly affect myself, or I would have regained my place in the Heavens long ago.
"Life's tough all over," pointed out Ranma. "Now about my three wishes."
Best to sleep on it, think it over carefully, and then come up with one. You wouldn't believe how many people spend their lives looking for something like me and then just blurt out something ill conceived.
"No, I've rehearsed this." Ranma took a deep breath. "If I could start completely over, I would. If I could find another path, I would. Now I can do both."
As you will. My power gathers. When the glow is brightest, state your desire. Why is it that nobody ever listens to me? You'd think after ten million years...
Now he was back. Back in his own past where he could fix EVERYTHING.
Of course he had to check out the other part of his wish which was:
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(Posted Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:46)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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