Ranma sat on the roof of the Xavier Institute, his eyes taking in the glow of autumn. Japan's color of life and death was pink, the soft rose hue of sakura blossoms; America's was a brilliant gold, a frozen fire of orange, yellow, and dark-red leaves as they withered in the fading sun. At this time of year, the effect was breathtaking - and, from Ranma's height, he could appreciate the beauty from life's chaos.
He knew chaos; his life had not always been a stable one. He’d lived on the road for most of his life, scratching out a martial artist’s way with his father for over a decade. Even in times when he had a home base of sorts, his life had been hectic, with paragons of instability like Ucchan and Ryouga dotting the thread of his life. His last stop at the Tendos had been no different; he’d been the centerpiece of a major tug-of-war between four women.
Strange; now that he was safely away from the chaos... his life felt empty, somehow. He kept on expecting Shampoo to make a special delivery through the wall, or Ucchan to come by with lunch, or Akane to...
Akane.
He’d always thought he had time. Even after Saffron, he always thought he’d have time to say how he felt about her. Maybe she’d return the favor; maybe she wouldn’t. He’d always been afraid she’d say no.
Was it too late? Were the walls of government, distance, and mutancy too great for them? Did it even matter?
And what about this new offer? Go to school, learn about what he did... what he could do - and perfect his art to complement his new abilities? He knew more training than how to blow a hole through a wall lay in store; martial artists know those trained in the Art, and almost everyone who’d been in that plane had some training. Especially that Wolverine guy... Ranma swallowed, as he thought of the sense of death the X-man carried.
This, of course, included his new family. Mutsumi... in some ways, she reminded Ranma of Kasumi, caring, quiet, proper... nurturing. Shinobu was like the little sister Ranma never had; more than anyone else, she needed protecting. Millia and Fuujin... the two of them looked like they’d make good sparring partners for him. He didn’t know what to think of Lain; her specialty was in something he didn’t know much about.
They complicated matters. Was he just getting into another fiancee situation, this time with a whole new set of girls? That was the last thing he wanted. No, he had to solve this, and solve it quickly.
He blinked as he realized something. He couldn’t leave. A martial artist protects the weak; he’d done that already. But these X-Men... they protected the weak, too. They went out of their way to take out the facility, to save those who could be saved.
To save those who could be saved...
Ranma stood up. The Professor had said that a meeting with his friends and family could be arranged. He’d definitely have to see about that. No more running, no more hiding, no more prevarication. His had lives to save - and he had to start by saving his own.
See other episodes by Nightelf
(Posted Sat, 02 Nov 2002 07:07)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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