They didn't know I couldn't swim, or at least I thought they didn't. These thoughts were repeating in my head as I tried to force myself into believing them. I knew Shampoo and Ukyo could be bad, but I couldn't believe they'd just let me drown.
I had lost all my energy after my frantic attempts to get out of the water, and I felt like I was dissolving into space, slowly sinking down to the bottom of the pool.
It had been another fight about Ranma, and I unfortunately had to be walking by when they shoved me in. I almost knew it was coming, Shampoo raced over and didn't wait for me to try and explain about how much of a jerk Ranma was and how I didn't care. Another though I was trying to believe, that I didn't care. Where was Ranma, anyway? Why wasn't he saving me like always? Why wasn't I feeling the warmth that spread from his arms to my heart? What if when he comes looking for me, he's too late? What if he doesn't come looking for me? He doesn't care; I'm too uncute for him to care. But still... he always seems to come to me in my aid, why isn't he doing that now? Ranma…where are you? He had to come, he just had to.
I could still hear Ukyo's spatulas flying through the air. Why wouldn't they just help me? They can't let me die, can they?
I couldn't leave the work up to everybody else. I, Akane Tendo had to save my life, and if it meant giving up every pulse of energy and shed every drop of sweat that I had to do it, I would. I fiercely kicked my legs more than I ever had before, and tried to find the surface with my hands. I could almost feel my body thrusting up. In only a matter of seconds I could almost taste the air I had been living without for minutes. Don't give up now Akane, keep going.
The absolute micro-second my mouth emerged from the water I gasped for air. I was still bobbing up and down, but the one chance I got again I yelled "HELP!" as loud as I could. I wasn't positive, but through my blurry vision of stinging eyes I could see that Shampoo and Ukyo had vanished. There was no one nearby. I was still trying to reach the wall of the pool; just one finger on that wall and I'd be safe. I could have the privilege of living. My school uniform was weighing me down, perhaps if I tried to take it off…NO! I thought. Don't waste any energy I have. I've got to reach that wall. But my legs ached. My body couldn't take it anymore. Every kick I made sent a stab of pain through me. I wasn't going to make it to that wall. My head was no longer above the water. I was completely submerged again, and I couldn't move. I felt paralyzed as my mouth released the precious air bubbles through my lips. I felt like I was floating in space again, falling down ever so slowly, but feeling the pain of my lungs shrivelling up. My vision started turning fuzzy and black around the edges, and I had to close my eyes to stop the chlorine from stinging. But closing my eyes felt like giving up. It felt like I was forfeiting the battle. I knew my time was short. And my thoughts began to decrease. There was no air, no thoughts. Just as my eyes were about to close completely, arms with warmth I never imagined could be more comforting were pulling me out of the water. I knew he would come.