Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi… what else is new? You all know it or you won't be reading this ;)

Until I find you again

Chapter 1.

The next day it rained.

The sky showed the colors in me, pure gray. The soft drops on the roof awoke me, bringing back all the memories. Last night had been bad, one of the worst ones. I said things I didn't mean, and I'm sure she didn't mean what she said either, but hell, we are incapable of stopping it.

Since the moment we met, the rules were settled. Well, she settled them to be honest. She just showed how mad and disgusted she was being engaged to me. Ok, so I was a stranger, and we saw each other naked, by accident. Who in the world would be ok being engaged like that? I sure wasn't, but I couldn't do anything about it.

So I figured I might as well try to get along with her, be friends just as she had said before. Dammit, that still hurts. She said 'let's be friends', then she saw I was a guy, then she hated my guts. So much for that friendly smile she gave me before. And then she stated very clearly that she thought I was a freak; my curse made her sick. What else could I do? I reacted, in my defense, just as I was taught. I started to fight back. No one insults me and gets away with it.

With that, I agreed to the game she was playing. But it got too far, unstoppable, even when we stopped hating each other… if we ever did. The only thing is that after all we've been through; we kinda know where each other's sore spots are. And we avoid touching them. Last night we ignored that implied rule.

I sat on my futon listening to the rain. My hand was resting on my knee and I pressed my forehead on it. I closed my eyes, her words still ringing on my ears. I thought I was done being hurt. All night long I felt this pressure on my chest, I couldn't stop thinking about the fight and I couldn't sleep for hours. Then I dozed off and thought this feeling would be over by the morning. But it wasn't, and I still felt like shit.

She had broken up with me. For real this time, not like all those other times where she just said it because she was mad or jealous. She had not yelled at me, well, she did while we were insulting each other. But then, just when I responded to the 'I hate you, you freak of nature!' with a 'you're the worst thing that could've ever happen to me! I wish I had never met you!' She went quiet.

I didn't even regret it at first; she had hurt me after all. And I do feel sometimes that my life would be a little easier if I hadn't met her. Yes, easier, but not happier. I would still be an egocentric, super powerful, super lonely man if it wasn't for her. Meeting her made my life stable, complete. Everything I've always wanted. Because hell no, I didn't always dream about being the best martial artist and being the most powerful man alive. I wanted to be happy, to have a home, and a person to share my life with. A girl who understood who I was, and love me just the way I am. I found her… and she broke up with me last night, because I was too damn stupid.

After her long silence, me glaring at her, she breathed heavily, and said "Well then, we are done. Let's free each other of this nightmare. You and I will never happen, because clearly we don't want to. I'll talk to dad and tell him it's over, for real. Don't worry about it." She walked quietly to her father's room and closed the door.

I was shocked. I didn't know what to do, so I went to my room and sat on the floor. I waited, for hours, for Mr. Tendo or my dad to come barging in and tell me to apologize to her and make it work. But that never happened. I didn't hear crying or yelling; nothing at all. The house had gone completely quiet. The same silence death brings to a family. I thought of opening the door and check what was going on, but I couldn't regain the courage. I laid on my futon and keep waiting for something to happen.

And now I'm here. Still waiting for my world to start spinning again, listening to the gentle rain outside and nothing else. This was so frustrating; I can't stand a lot of things, and impotence is one of them. I had to do something, talk to her, and make her recover her senses. This couldn't be happening.

I got up and slide the door open. The hallway was empty… where is everybody? I went to her room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I didn't feel like talking and breaking that heavy silence, so I slowly open the door and peek in. The room was dark, and alone. She wasn't there. I looked for a note or something, the open window, a bag, something that would tell me where she was. But the room was dead, that's where that sensation came from.

I slowly closed the door behind me. My heart began to pound hard. Man, oh man, this is bad. I went downstairs, fearing to find nothing but an empty living room. But no, the whole family was there… except for her. They were all eating breakfast, quietly. I stood there watching, still expecting the beating, the yelling.

Nothing.

"Oh, good morning Ranma," Kasumi said looking up from her plate. "Want some breakfast?"

"Umm… no… thanks." I said as everyone looked at me.

"Are you feeling ok boy? You never skip a meal." Pop told me looking at me. I tried to read his expression, but there was no anger in it. Maybe just… sadness.

"I… er… I'm fine… what... I mean… aren't you mad at me?" I finally asked.

Mr. Tendo swallowed loudly and put his empty plate down. He looked at me and said "No son, why would be? Things just… don't work out sometimes."

I looked at him, still shocked. Everyone was so… ok with this. Damn, then, does that mean it's happening?

I got my answer from my dad. "Now that the engagement is over, there's no real reason for us to live here. But hey, I haven't lost my hope; Tendo has two other daughters you know. I'm not forcing anything on you, don't want to make this worst, but think about it. We'll stay for a while. I hope you can work it out".

My heart was about to explode, my mind was twirling with thoughts and questions. In my whole life, I've never felt so confused. Giving myself a mental kick, I yelled to myself: This isn't over. You are not going to let this happen. You can still do something about it. I'm not going to let you ruin the best thing that's ever happen to you.

When I snapped out of my mental fight, I heard Nabiki saying "… it won't be cheap though. If you want me to be the next fiancé it will cost you. Besides, I don't want to be in the middle of something, and you know this will be an awkward situation for a while, if not forever."

"Where is she?" I asked loudly. They all looked at me a little surprised. Dammit what is with these guys? What were they expecting from me? A cheerful dance?

They looked at each other for a while and then Mr. Tendo spoke.

"Look Ranma, just leave her alone alright? There's no point on hurting her more if you are just going to start fighting again."

That was it! I couldn't control myself any longer. "Where is she dammit?! Just answer the question!"

"Why do you care son? You are not going to mock her, and thank her for breaking the engagement, I can't let that happen." My dad said.

"Mock her?! Start fighting?! THANK her?! You're insane! I would die for her! I'd die before watching her get hurt!" I yelled without thinking. Breathing heavily, I watched the whole family drop their jaws for a second, before the screaming began.

"Oh thanks heaven! I'm so happy to hear you say that!" Soun Tendo cried the largest tears I've ever seen since I know him. The girls were around me, Kasumi had his hands clapped together and Nabiki was tapping my back. My dad was eating everyone's food while he showed me a sign that read: GOOD FOR YOU SON! ; Even though he wasn't transformed.

I didn't have time to be embarrassed or wait until their congratulations and hugs ended. This wasn't a celebration, not yet.

"Yeah—yeah—ok-- ok! OK THEN!" I snapped and everyone shut the hell up. "Now, tell me! Where is she?"

"Well, she told us she was going to go for a while to clear her head, and that she'll be visiting a friend of her. But I really don't know who, or where that camping place is…" Kasumi told me, trying to remember more details. "But I know we've been there before, right dad?"

Kasumi, who's sweetness blinded her most of the times, didn't know the importance of what she was telling me, or why did everyone else tried to look other way instead of me. I began to feel weird, and went to the one person that spills the things right out, because he doesn't care if it hurts you or not.

"Pop? I told him from my place in the middle of the Tendo family. The old man kept eating like a pig, and again, raised a sign: SHE WENT TO RYUGENZAWA"

"WHAT?!" was all I could yell before I stormed out of the house.

…………………………

Author´s Note: Kind of sad right? Don't worry, I'm not a fan of sad endings. Hate to keep you waiting guys, so yeah, I posted chapter two right away. Go ahead and read! Don't wait!