Hello, everyone! This is my first fanfic and my first one in English as well. Please bear with me if you find any mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2, this is made by a fan for fans and is for fan purposes only.
It's Never Too Late
Chapter One: The Training Trip
Akane Tendo and Ranma Saotome had gotten married. Now that they were eighteen, Genma and Soun decided that it was about time their dojos joined together and they forced them into matrimony. Of course, the parents did not invite the suitors this time and begged Nabiki to keep quiet. It was hard to do but after much bribery, the marriage happened. Ranma and Akane claimed that they didn't want to get married, but the parents pushed them into it. Now, the marriage was done, legal, and they could do nothing about it. They became Mr. and Mrs. Saotome.
Akane and Ranma still acted the same afterwards. They argued over the most immature things like who would sleep on which side of the bed, when they had to wake up and who did which chores. Of course, there were moments in which they got along and acted like a true married couple. But, truth be told, they were still youngsters.
Akane stirred in her sleep and then was awoken by the sunlight that was pouring through her window. She sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. Today was June 20th. The day her husband was leaving on a training trip. Both Soun and Genma persuaded Ranma to go on a training trip because there were many things he still needed to learn in order to protect and keep the dojo. Akane begged him to take her with him, but Ranma wouldn't allow it.
"Akane, you know that girls have no business going on trainin' trips with men. You'd just slow us down." he said with a snort. Akane gritted her teeth and punched him, sending him through the roof. This was a week ago, and Ranma and Akane hadn't spoken since.
Akane sighed. Ranma, you jerk... she thought. All I wanted was to be with you and come along... I'm a martial artist, too! She lied back down and pushed her head deeper into her pillow. Jerk. Jerk, Jerk...
Ranma was in the living room, enjoying the last breakfast he would have before his trip. Kasumi had prepared a big meal in honor of the occasion.
"Have some more flapjacks, Ranma." Kasumi said with a smile, handing a plate over to him, stacked with the small cakes.
"Don't mind if I do!" Ranma said, happily and wolfed them down in seconds. Nothing tasted better than Kasumi's cooking. He sure would miss it.
Genma stood up after he'd finished his portion. "Alright Ranma m'boy. Lets go, no time to waste. Our train ride leaves in an hour."
Ranma's eyes widened as he looked over to the clock. He hadn't realized that it was so late already. Ranma looked over to the hallway, sadly. What an idiot that tomboy is. Here I am leavin' for a while and she doesn't even come to say goodbye! All over some stupid fight, too!
"I'll be waiting outside for ya, if you don't come in five minutes I'm leavin.'" Genma said, with an annoyed look on his face.
Ranma jumped up from his sitting position on the floor and walked over to the bedroom that had the "Akane's Room" duck on it. Taped next to it was a piece of paper that said "& Ranma" he smiled at it and opened the door quietly, trying not to wake his wife. He walked over to the side of the bed and sat on the edge quietly, and leaned over to touch her cheek. "Akane..." he whispered. "You awake?"
Akane looked up at him, her big brown eyes piercing his heart. She's so beautiful... Ranma noted in his head.
"I'm leaving in a few minutes..." he whispered, clearing his throat while taking her hand in his. He moved his gaze away from hers and onto the floor. "I just wanted to say goodbye." His heart thumped wildly.
Akane was tongue-tied. She didn't know what to say. Here was her husband, leaving, and she couldn't even say goodbye. She was afraid that if she spoke, the tears would start spilling out and then she'd really embarrass herself.
Ranma sat there for a moment, awaiting her response. When she didn't respond, Ranma got angry.
"So that's how its going to be, huh?" he whispered, quietly. He stood up, anger pulsing through his veins and shot Akane a deadly look. "If you're to stuck up to say goodbye, then fine!"
Akane's eyes widened and she slapped his hand away from hers, her temper beginning to build up as well. "Just get the hell out of my face!" she screamed, pointing a finger at the door. "Get out!" She grabbed the bright purple flower pot off her desk. Nodoka had given them the beautiful pot as a wedding gift, but Akane was numb to all thoughts. She whipped it at him, he dodged it and it hit the wall, breaking it into a hundred pieces.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" he shouted, looking back as he walked out the door. "Thanks for nothin'!"
Akane ran right behind him and slammed the door shut, keeping him out. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and her stomach felt nauseous.
She leaned against the door and folded her arms across her chest in an angry position.
Baka! Who needs him, anyway? her mind shouted, angrily. She sat onto the floor, her back against the door and waited for a few minutes. When her anger finally died down, all that was left was sadness and regret. Akane looked over at the small shards that were the remains of the beautiful flower pot. She picked the pieces up, gently, trying not to prick herself with the sharp glass. She stared at the pieces in her hand and then placed them on her dresser, gently.
Akane walked over to the door again and gripped the handle tightly as she turned the knob slowly. That idiot isn't leaving until he apologises... she thought, calmly.
Akane walked quietly down the hall and ran down the stairs into the living room. She glanced at her family and panic ran through her mind. Soun was crying and Kasumi was waving a handkerchief. Nabiki even looked a bit upset and that was definitely not normal. She ran over to them, it couldn't be too late!
"Where are they?" Akane shouted, looking around. Genma and Ranma were no where to be found.
Kasumi blotted her eyes which were filled with tears. "They left, Akane. Didn't Ranma come into your room? He wanted to say goodbye." She placed her finger on her lips. Did something happen between you two?" Kasumi said, softly.
Akane's eyes widened. It was too late. They were gone. "Something like that..." she mumbled to Kasumi and she walked over to the door, slipped on her shoes and stepped out of the house.
Soun and Kasumi shouted after her, but she ignored them. Hurry up! You have to go see him! her mind screamed at her.
Ranma had finally arrived at the train station, by himself. His father had left minutes ago. Ranma ran up from behind his father and smacked Genma in the head. "Thanks for leavin' without me pop." he said, sarcastically. Genma grinned widely.
"I tfold yo ffve mnts," he said, his mouth filled with potato chips. Ranma felt a gob of chewed chips hit his cheek. He wiped it away in disgust and grimaced at his dad.
Genma just laughed and continued munching on his bag of potato chips. He tapped his foot impatiently. "Where is that darn train? It was supposed to be here by now."
Akane ran down the street in her yellow pajamas, huffing and puffing the whole way. It was a saturday, so everyone in Nermia was probably out. A mother and son walked by Akane and the mother pulled her son into her arms.
"Be careful, honey. There are alot of strange people on the streets," she said, loud enough for Akane to hear. A blush crept across her neck and she shook it away. I don't care! her mind shouted. That jerk isn't leaving!
The red, rusty "Nerima Official Train" had finally arrived. Ranma snorted. It didn't even look like a train! It looked exactly like an over sized bus that was on train tracks. Well, what more could he expect from his broke father? Ranma gripped his luggage tighter in his hands. This was it. "Stupid, Akane..." he muttered under his breath.
Why does she have to be like that? Who knows how long I'll be on this trip... I didn't want to fight with her. His mind shouted. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, trying to contain his anger.
The train came to a halt and the wide train door opened. Genma threw his luggage over to his son and ran over to the train, pushing aside other passengers. He ran up the train steps and shouted "I call the window seat!" and ran into the train.
Ranma grumbled. Leave it to pop to act like an idiot at a time like this. he sighed, gripped his and his dads' luggage and headed for the train steps.
Akane was gasping for air, her lungs begged her to take a break but Akane's heart wouldn't let her. Almost there! her mind shouted, happily. In the distance, she could see the train still there. Akane's face shifted into a smile. Yes!
Ranma sat next to his father, who did end up getting the window seat. For once in his life, Ranma didn't care. He was to lost in his own thoughts to think about the training trip, let alone the train ride. Ranma closed his eyes as the last few passengers began to board.
Akane was seconds away from the train. Her eyes widened as the doors closed. No! her mind shouted and she leaped forward, causing her to tumble onto the ground. She'd made it, but the train had begun to move. "No, no, no!" she shouted as she banged on the floor in tears. She felt a pain in her foot, perhaps when she tripped, but she ran after the train, anyhow.
"Ranma!" she shouted loudly, tears in her eyes. "Ranma!"
Ranma's ears perked up. Did he just hear his name? The window was open a crack and he swore he heard his name come from outside. His father had already closed his eyes, ready to sleep. Ranma pushed his dad's head out of the way and pulled open the window so that it was completely open. He leaned over and stuck his entire head out the window, as he saw his wife waving her hands around and calling his name.
Akane's eyes brightened as she saw his head out the window. The train was going faster and faster, it was becoming hard to keep up. Akane waved her hands wildly, trying to say goodbye. Ranma was barley in sight as he waved back and shouted "I'll be back soon." Akane nodded and the train left, out of sight. The young girl stayed standing there until the pain in her foot was too much to bear.
Akane bit back her tears and collapsed onto the floor. Her foot hurt all the more now because of all the pressure she put on it.
"Miss... are you all right?" whispered a middle-aged man, offering her a hand. He was the only person left at this cheap train station. Akane grasped his hand, trying to stand up, but fell back down. She moaned in pain as she clutched her ankle.
"Here... I'll call a doctor." he said, getting out his cellphone.
Akane winced, rubbing her ankle where the pain was coming from. "No... its all right." she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can you just call my family?"
"Sure..." the man said and dialed the number Akane told him. Kasumi said she would be right on her way and she would bring doctor Tofu. Akane's eyes widened at Kasumi and Tofu being together, but she just kept her mouth shut. When it was time to check her foot, she'd ask Kasumi to go make some tea and get out of the room.
The man sat next to Akane on floor. "Whats wrong?" he said to her. "You're a mess..."
"Long story..." she whispered, choking back tears.
"Well, I'm willing to hear..." he said, smiling at the teenager.
And she told him.
"Does it hurt when I touch this, Akane?" Dr. Tofu said, while touching her ankle. Akane groaned in pain, he knew the exact spot where the pain was coming from. Dr. Tofu was such a good doctor.
"I take that as a yes." he said and smiled at her. Two years ago, Akane would've been jumping for joy at a smile from the doctor she used to be in love with. Now, she had no more feelings for him. He was just a friend.
"Akane..." the doctor began saying with a big grin on his face, until the door opened.
Kasumi walked in holding a pot of tea. Akane jerked away from the doctor. She didn't want to loose her foot. "Phone me later with the results, Dr. Tofu..." she said, trying to resist the urge to laugh. She knew the doctor was head over heels in love with Kasumi. Every time he saw her his glasses would fog up and he would do absolutely crazy things. As the neighbors would say, "A checkup could cost you your life! And he's normally such a good doctor."
Akane decided to leave Dr. Tofu and Kasumi alone for a while, so she grabbed some crutches to help her get home. She hopped down the street and then she saw Ryoga for the first time since the wedding.
"Akane?" Ryoga whispered when she caught his eye. Then he spotted her crutches. "Akane!" he shouted and ran over to her. "What happened? Are you all right?" he panicked, overreacting.
Akane smiled at him. "No, I'm fine... I just hurt my foot earlier."
"Oh, well can I help you with anything?"
She shook her head. Ryoga looked down and spotted a diamond wedding ring on her delicate finger. Sadness filled his eyes. He had always loved this girl, more than anything in the world and he'd lost her to his worst enemy, Ranma Saotome. Deep in his heart, he wished he could have her... but he knew the chances were extremely slim.
Yet not impossible.
He cracked his knuckles. "Where is that Ranma, leaving you all by yourself while you're hurt?!" The last thing the love lost boy would do was let Ranma mistreat Akane.
Misery washed over her, remembering what had happened earlier that day. She didn't want Ryoga to see that she was upset. "He's just on a training trip!" Akane said, cheerily, faking happiness. "He'll be back soon!"
Ryoga, however, did notice. His eyes widened at the poor girl. "Alright..." he whispered."Remember Akane, if you ever need anything..." his face turned away, blushing. "I'll be here."
Akane nodded at the boy, waved and hopped in the direction of her house. All Ryoga could do was stop and stare. He wanted to reach out, embrace her and tell her all the feelings that dwelled in his heart, but he couldn't. The boy walked away, planning to go on a training trip as well, until an old lady splashed him with cold water, turning him into his little black pig form.
"Bwee..." the pig groaned.
Akane kicked off her shoes and jumped into the house. She walked upstairs with her crutches, carefully, trying not to trip. She had to walk by Ranma's old room in order to get to hers. When she glanced at the empty room a sharp pain filled her chest. Akane slammed the door to the room shut and tears began to well up in her eyes. She hopped over to her room as fast as she could and toppled onto the bed.
Damn it, Ranma... she thought to herself. Why did you have to leave? Especially so close after our wedding! We never had a chance to be together. Her eyelids shifted down. I never got to tell you how I really felt... our parents pushed us into the marriage... they forced us to sign our names on the wedding certificate...
Akane's stomach tossed and turned again like it did that morning. This time, however, she couldn't resist the pressure and limped over to the bathroom as fast as she could. She flung open the toilet seat and threw up. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and paused for a few seconds, taking some deep breaths. Her stomach gurgled and she felt horrible. Akane reached up to her forehead. It isn't warm... she thought. Hm... maybe it's something I ate... Then Akane realized that she hadn't eaten anything the whole day, but she wasn't hungry.
The phone rang and Akane jumped. "Nabiki!" she groaned, hoping her sister was home. "Can you get it?" She slumped back onto the toilet nauseously.
After about the third or fourth ring, she realized perhaps her sister wasn't home and limped over to the phone. This time, her limping was even worse because she was clutching her stomach.
"Hello..." Akane moaned into the phone.
"Wow... Akane, you don't sound so good..." the voice said.
Akane's eyes lit up at the voice. "Dr.Tofu! Oh... sorry. Yeah, I'm worse... Its not just my foot anymore, now my stomach hurts and I feel really dizzy..."
"Did you feel sick this morning as well?" the doctor chirped into the phone, happily. What is his problem? Akane thought, angrily. Here she was moody, sick and depressed and the doctor was happy!
"Yes, I did..." she groaned again, rubbing her stomach to try and keep the acid down.
"Akane..." the doctor said. Akane could practically hear him smiling on the other line.
"Yes?" she spat, with a little more anger than expected.
"You're pregnant."
Akane's mouth flew wide open, shocked. She dropped the phone.
"Hello? Akane? Hello..." said the voice from the phone on the floor.
Akane felt dizzy. She reached down and picked up the black cordless. "Yes, doctor... I'm here... sorry but I'm not following you..."
"You're pregnant, Akane. No doubt about it! You and Ranma are going to have your selves your own little baby girl or boy!"
A/N: A bit short, I know... this is just so I could get myself started! I hope you all liked it, please R&R!