Three months later……
I stood in the middle of my bedroom, clothes scattered everywhere my suitcase on the bed. 'Easy to forget him….easy my ass!' I thought in frustration. The past three months were horrible, sure I tried to move on and it worked for awhile. But after having a relationship for two years, my days began to feel empty. I haven't even gone to see a movie, and we went to see them every weekend. I sighed as I packed some more clothes, I missed hanging out together, cooking for each other or just having someone to talk to. I felt the stinging of tears in my eyes and shook my head from those thoughts and focused on my trip.
I need to get away from here for a little bit, Terry agreed and told me to just relax and enjoy, I'll see things in a new perspective when I return she told me. I retied my hair in a loose ponytail as I began searching for my shoes. Then it hit me that I haven't taken a vacation in 5 years, I got so involved in my advertisement career, I didn't have time to take an extended vacation. I hurried to pack my toiletries, knowing I had a few minutes before the taxi arrived. I closed my suitcase, brushed my hair and grabbed my jean jacket just in time to see the taxi drive up to my apartment building.
As the taxi drove through the streets of San Francisco, I leaned my head back and thought of the few dates my co-workers arranged for me. Dating was tough, as I recalled one occasion where the guy just sat there not contributing more to the conversation, just answered my question without elaborating. That dinner was pure torture, I would have rather stayed home and watched TV. I felt the taxi stop and stepped out of the car, grabbed my suitcase and went to the check-in counter. I walked towards the gate and noticed that my flight was boarding. I went into the plane found my seat and was happen to note that no one would be sitting next to me.
I got comfortable knowing that this will be a long flight. I closed my eyes and thought about my family, Kasumi called a few times to check on me and so did Nabiki asking if she could do anything to ruin "the jerk that broke your heart" as she so eloquently put it. I smiled and thought of how much we have changed. At that point I let my mind wander to the one person that I didn't let myself think about, Ranma. I haven't seen him since Kasumi's wedding five years ago and that was just plain uncomfortable, we didn't even talk to each other. Everything changed after Jusendo, but the biggest turning point was after the failed wedding. I remember the choice I made that night……
Seven years ago……
I stood in my room, staring at my crumpled wedding dress, singed at the ends due to the bombs that occurred during the ceremony. Those idiots! It's unbelievable that they set off bombs at someone's wedding with innocent bystanders inside. I knew there were going to be a few unhappy people, but I never thought they would want to kill me. I sighed as I walked towards my window tightening the belt around my robe, I stared out and saw the dojo, with a gaping hole on the roof and smoke still floating out into the gray sky. What's going on with my life? I thought feeling the tears well up, I closed my eyes tight not wanting to cry anymore.
Ever since Jusendo I thought things would change, everyone would see that the craziness was getting out of hand, but it was just wishful thinking. Wishful thinking to believe that Ranma told me that he loved me as I lay dying in his arms. He denied it before the ceremony, his expressions hurting me more than his words. As if admitting he cared for me would kill him, but he didn't see the hurt in my eyes. And me being foolish, still loved him enough to go through with the wedding so he can finally get his cure. And that turned out wonderfully! I thought.
I turned away from the window and changed into my pajamas, I didn't want to talk to anyone and had no appetite, so I laid in bed thinking about my future. My life since Ranma came has been constant chaos, but it never changes, none of us has grown up. Nabiki has made plans to go to college, and I have just been here fighting off weird fiances, guys kidnapping me, and trying to get the attention of Ranma. At the end of the day I have nothing, my grades have dropped and I have no idea what to study or even what college to attend. Well not anymore, after the display of events today I needed to put me first, not Ranma, not my family. I have to change the way I'm living my life, starting tomorrow everything will change.
I woke up the next morning and got ready for breakfast. Everyone was already at the table, eating in silence. I sat next to Ranma and he just dug into his meal, completely ignoring me. I sighed and ate, not really tasting the food. After Nabiki and Kasumi ran out of the dining room, our fathers told us that due to the damages caused by our admirers, the wedding will have to be postponed. Ranma just hung his head and said nothing, I knew it was time to make my decision.
"Father, Mr. Saotome, I have a request to make" I said, and noticed that Ranma finally showed signs of life by lifting his head.
"Of course my dear daughter, any particular theme that you want to do for the next wedding?" I love my father dearly, but I swear sometimes he just gets on my nerves. I took a deep breath and said the words that would change my relationship with Ranma.
"I want to break off the engagement" Ranma snapped his head up and turned to look at me, I chose to ignore him and looked into my father's eyes.
"Come, come Akane, you're just upset" Uncle Tendo said in a condescending tone that I did not appreciate.
"That's right my dear, just let things settle down and everything will be back to normal", my father agreed.
I felt my anger rise up and counted to ten. "Back to normal, back to normal!!!!! Since when have things ever been normal dad?!?! I'm engaged to a guy who doesn't love me, I'm wanted dead by three women and I almost died a few days ago!!!! Tell me, how is that normal!?!" I slammed my fist against the table, making all three men jump.
"I just want my life back. I don't want to be in this engagement if there's no love in it" I spoke the last part softly. I took a peek at Ranma and he just stared ahead at the wall, his expression unreadable.
"….But the dojo, Akane, you're are both the heirs, we need to unite the schools" I heard my dad say.
"Please dad, we all know that Ranma was going to take over the dojo when he got here, what do you need me for?"
I heard both my dad and uncle Saotome sigh, after a few seconds my father spoke, "Okay, Akane. The engagement is off, you're both excused from your duties to unite the schools"
I nodded and finally felt relief, but something in my mind left me unsettled, as if I made a mistake. Did I do the right thing? I asked myself, but before I could ponder the question any longer I saw Ranma get up quickly, walk out and slam the door.
And then I noticed that throughout the whole conversation he didn't say a single word.
AN: Yeah, I know haven't updated, but I have a brand new computer!!!! Yes! So more chapters should be coming out faster. Thanks for the reviews they help a lot. 'Til next time!
Colabear
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