Just Once
A/N:
Firstly, this was supposed to be a DBZ fic, but I have had problems with which characters to use. I wanted to use Pan and Trunks, but the age gap kind of posed problems; and while I was reading a Ranma 1/2 fic, I got inspired and thought that this plot would be perfect for Ranma and Akane.
The title is based on a Filipino song, Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin (I would love you only once/just once). I was actually thinking of a possible and fitting theme song and title until this song came up and played on my itunes. I would be posting the translated lyrics once I am done with the fic - yes, I intend to and I promise to finish this :)
This is my first fic, you guys, so please be patient with me as I write up the next chappies. I'd appreciate to hear your thoughts on this prologue despite how short it is. :) Happy New year!
Disclaimer:
As much as I wanna own Ranma, all I can do is to fawn over him and his undying love for Akane, as I write up something from my fantasy ;) All credits go to the amazing Rumiko Takahashi. Thank you for bringing Ranma 1/2 into our world. :)
Prologue:
It has always been the same for them. From the start, things have never started right – they have fought and exchanged painful words; but for them, it only made them closer. The second time was another story – it was all wrong; painful words were exchanged once more, but this time, instead of making them closer like the first time did, one of them was slowly but surely growing distant by the day while the other was caught in regrets and a dilemma of letting go of the other, or fighting for whatever remained.
Saotome Ranma, soon to be 27 years old, was sitting on a park bench in Nerima district, watched the cars go by with a bored look on his face and looked at a wedding invitation on his hands. He touched the engraved gold letters on the invitation, which spelled out the name of the bride and the groom, with a slightly bitter smile crossing his handsome face as he thought, 'If only…' but shook the idea away, thinking that he was happy the way things are now. It had been something he had to sacrifice – no matter how much he wanted it – but the path he chose was the best decision he could ever have made, not only for him but especially for the woman he loved, and always will.
He wondered what he was going to do from now on – it was a new life for him; it was going to be a real challenge, but he will cope. After all, it should have been something he had prepared for a long time ago.
He looked around and saw the park where he waited for Akane that winter's day after running around town to get her the presents she said she wanted, despite the interruptions that followed. It was the first time he saw Akane cry in happiness when he pulled out the presents out of the paper bag and gave them to her, unaware of how happy he truly made her. Today, he will most likely see her tears of joy once more. He wondered how many times he actually made her happy without him noticing, but at the same time he could not help but wonder how many times he has also hurt her unknowingly.
Ranma checked his watch – about an hour to go. He sat back and thought about everything that has happened for the past nine years – and finally, it has come to this point. He stretched out his arms and rested his head on them while thinking back on that day after their high school graduation– the fateful day where Soun and Genma had arranged for their second wedding. It was the wedding that changed their lives forever.