Second Thoughts - Chapter 2: Akane's Point of View

A Ranma ½ fanfiction by Kaihou Toriyama

Disclaimer: I did not create nor do I own Ranma ½! Rumiko Takahashi does and I do not take any credit in that. If I did, then I would do so with some dignity and would have actually worked with Rumiko Takahashi! Not. xD

"I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!" I yell out to no one in particular. I do all this cooking for him, and he suddenly just rants on about his numerous fiancées! How can a man be innocent for having women woo him every second? Exactly, he can't!

I wasn't going to let the sight of Ukyo and Shampoo give Ranma a skip-Akane's-cooking coupon, so I ignored his cute fiancées. But my plan fails when he deliberately points them out and I mallet that insensitive jerk sky-high.

I throw my cookies into my school briefcase and start to walk back home. I really bet he lets them cling onto him so he can show off how macho-manly he is. He's such a jerk! Why do I even try?

…because he really isn't such a jerk… Kami, I really wish that he could be nice to me for once.

…Ugh! Like that's going to happen! He's an insensitive pervert, that's what he is!

Dodging a spatula interrupts my thoughts.

"Ukyo, what the hell do you want?!" I am so not in the mood right now.

"Akane, why?!" she throws another spatula at me. What is she talking about?

"Why, what?" I say as I dodge more of her cooking utensils.

"Why do you always hurt Ranchan?" she comes at me with her huge, oversized spatula.

I'm momentarily stunned at her question from out of the blue and she uses this chance to pin me down to the concrete wall.

"Well, what do you think? He deserves it, of course!" I try to release myself from her grip, but she's stronger than me.

My response just makes her angrier and she pulls back her spatula for added force. I brace myself for her hit, but it never comes.

I open my eyes and I see her face had softened to an expression of full sadness. I'm right about to disarm her when her words strike me. "…does he?" She backs off of me and goes into defense.

"All you do is attack him out of jealousy and rage! And you think he deserves that when you don't even listen to him?"

"Shut up!" I thrust myself towards her. I don't want to listen to this.

She easily dodges my attacks and I'm starting to lose my breath. "Just listen, Akane. I've talked to him before and he's said that he does deserve those beatings—because he feels like he's cheating on you. Though I think he doesn't deserve this abuse from you, and you don't deserve abuse from him. If you continue this, Akane, you'll both end up genuinely hating each other and you'll lose him." It doesn't seem like she actually talked to him about this, but her words seem to hurt more than her weapons.

My whole body suddenly feels numb. I want to run away, but somehow I'm frozen in place. All I can do is collapse on the ground.

I hardly notice that Ukyo jumps back only to sheath her weapon. "Ran-chan really is the sweetest guy around if you let him be, but you're too busy whacking him all over Nerima. Out of all the things he's done, he's never deserved abuse by the woman he loves most. Never. And then there you are, never listening to him."

She's right.

"Someday he'll realize that and he'll leave you. He won't come back to protect you. He won't come back to save you. He won't come back to love you. He's my best friend, and I don't want anyone to hurt him like that. And if he's lucky, he'll find someone far better than the likes of you."

I want to cry, but the tears just won't come. My chest is throbbing like someone reached their hand inside me and ripped my heart out.

She turns around. I think she wants to leave me alone to rot in my own guilt.

But instead, she does something completely unexpected. "Unless, that is," she turns around to face me and she… smiles? "You apologize." And with that, she gives the brightest smile and hops onto a roof to return to Ucchan's.

That last moment put my shattered heart back together again and gave me new hope. Why is Ukyo trying to get us together anyway? Wait, did she just say Ranma was her best friend, and not the fiancée that was only hers?

A smile played along my lips as I run home with full determination.

I enter and take off my shoes at the door. I see a Kasumi in sight so I assume that she's cleaning the kitchen or something. I walk to Ranma's room, I was really hyped up but there was no need to run. I'm pretty much about to knock when I hear his voice.

"I so did not deserve that! Not one bit!" I guess he's still mad… "I wasn't doing anything. Just innocently walking home…" My heart sinks and I once again become sad. "Stupid tomboy! She never lets me explain! If she'd just let me explain once, then maybe—"

I decide I've heard enough and knock on the door.

"Come in!"

I take a deep breath. "Ranma…?"

I step into the room.

"Uh, hi 'Kane." I see his face start to twitch a little bit… any other hour I would have laughed my head off.

"I heard you talking about me…" and every last bit was true. "You're… right. I have been unfair and I never let you explain anything…" Never.

"Are you feeling all right, Akane?"

Who does he think he is?! I'm apologizing for once! "Of course I am, baka! Just explain what happened before I change my mind!" Idiot.

He just smiles for a bit. Then he makes this slightly disgusted face. I'm starting to get impatient with this guy… I think he notices this and he starts talking. He goes on about how he didn't deserve it. And he didn't… not at all.

"I did that…?" he nods, but I don't think he notices he does. I just feel a lot worse.

He suddenly loses his ego and looks worried. "Wait, it's okay, 'Kane. I'm used to it! You think I could ever get physically hurt by you? No way! I'm the best martial artist around!" Maybe spoke too soon… "Don't… don't make yourself feel guilty. 'Cause that didn't hurt one bit!" he sounded way more concerned than he probably wanted. Usually I would've hurt him by now, but his self-centered ego didn't cheer me up at all. I just got even more depressed that I hurt him all the time.

Ukyo's words came slashing back at me. Out of all the things he's done, he's never deserved abuse by the woman he loves most. Never. Now that I think of it, I bet he doesn't even love me at all.

I collapse onto him and cry. "I'm sorry, Ranma…" He'll leave you. "I guess I really am a violent tomboy." I'm hardly aware that I'm clutching his shirt. He won't come back. I feel the salty tears reach my lips and cry more.

If's he's lucky, he'll find someone far better than the likes of you. No! I don't want to loose him… I feel something warm and strong wrap around me. "Hey, I said don't worry about it, 'Kane. If ya gotta blame someone, blame my old man for getting all these extra fiancées!" Why is he hugging me? Why doesn't he just save me the trouble and say he hates me? I think he somehow gets a hold of my thoughts because he holds me away from himself. He smiles sincerely at me, so I'm helpless to smile back.

He probably thinks I've gone mute by now so I speak up. "You know, around the time I first met you, I promised Kasumi I wouldn't hurt anyone in anger again," I feel the sadness returning to me and look down. "I guess I'm really not living up to my promise." I sigh lightly once more.

"Hey, feelings make up the Art!" He lifts up my chin with a finger and I see the sincerity in his eyes. "Like what makes you fiercer is anger." His voice stutters. "…what makes you reckless is depression, and the things that make you d-distracted are worries and daydreams, and what makes you stronger and gives you a will to fight is…" he fades off. I thought he was about to say 'love' but I guess his ego can't handle it. I still can't tear my eyes away from his. Now I just want him to kiss me and say that he loves me.

It looks like he can barely keep his lips from mine… But I'm probably being too hopeful. I'm on the verge of crying once more, but I don't want to embarrass myself in front of him again.

He continues, sounding a little sad. "So don't worry about it, its okay! Apology, accepted." That should have cheered me up, but it didn't. He seems so concerned. Maybe he's just trying to make me feel better because he's honor-bound to me.

I'm slightly surprised when he pulls me into another embrace. I really wanted him to kiss me. "Thanks for listening…" he whispered into my ear.

I move my head back to look at him and smile. "I'm glad I asked…" Maybe… just maybe he… I waited for his words.

"Akane… I—" the door abruptly bursts open.