Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

I'm Happy
by pahlee

This story takes place after the events in the manga.

Prologue

Ranma watched as Akane turned her back to him, her shoulders slumped as she began to retreat.

"Akane, wait!" Ranma cried out feeling incredulously guilty, "I-I didn't mean it that way!"

She stopped, her form shaking: she was crying. Ranma's heart dropped as he heard her strained voice say, "It's fine, Ranma." She took on step forward and kept going as she muttered under her breath, "You never do."

With an outstretched arm, he tried to reach for her, but she was already gone. He called out her name, hoping she would turn back and fight him, show him that she acknowledged him. Her passive attitude scared him.

Did she not care anymore?

#

Hurriedly, she wiped her tears away. Her vision blurred as she briskly made her way home. She was not angry, she found herself thinking, nor was she surprised about it. In fact, she chastised herself for not seeing the inevitable.

Stupid! How stupid was she to believe that...that there was any chance that they had any chance together.

What was it about the way Ranma would talk down on her that made her shed those tears? She wanted nothing more than to hate him - but she knew she never would.

So, she decided on this day that she would do everything in her will power to make Ranma happy - without her and to find her own happiness elsewhere.

His happiness never depended on hers, so why should hers? She will find a way - because they deserve much better. He voiced it enough, she was nothing but someone who got in his way, a stone that blocked his full potential.

Starting today, Akane Tendo, age 19 will fall out of love with Ranma Saotome. And be able to say one day, "I'm happy."

Author's Note
There is a story floating around called "His Happiness" by Quik (you can see a link to it in my favorites) here that actually inspired me to write this, along with all the country songs that I have been listening to. Teehee. This one will be more angsty, hopefully. I am working on Chapter 1 now, and stay with me, I am writing this on my mobile phone. (Frikkin' love my Samsung Infuse).