A/N: SORRY!! I know it took me ages to update…but don't blame it all on me…blame school!! And the one who invented it! TT huhuhu. Please forgive me. (sob) School has taken so much of my time and well, as a loving child, I need to make my parents see that the tuition fee they had paid at my school is worth the sweat. Believe me…I have tried all means possible to sneak and escape those evil eyes of my parents but…I have failed. (readers: BOOO!!) But, shimpai shinaide! I think I'll be able to update faster…haha! Pray for me, okay?

Also, I will try to write longer ones to make it up to you guys though this is quite short...sorry! And thanks for those who reviewed last chapter and to those who are reading this but don't review…thanks anyways! Now, this is for you! :) Enjoy!!

NO NEED TO ASK

By:

Xxarmisteadxx


CHAPTER FOUR: Losing Hope

"We need to hurry up! He's gonna lose!" Ukyo ran as fast as she could, followed by the other two. They were hurrying up for some important reason. They were afraid Ranma couldn't handle the monster, Ryoga.

"Wait. Are you telling me that Ryoga is—" Akane stopped to a halt. If what they said were true…then obviously, she'd be the one at fault here. Ranma, the obstinate jerk she would die for, could be killed because of her! According to them, Ranma was hauled off with just a hit from Ryoga. What more if they really engaged into something dangerous.

Ukyo said Ryoga was angry because he thought she was hurt. But…how did Ryoga know she was hurt?

It would be impossible to say he can read minds. And it would be silly to think that Ryoga read her letter for Ranma… It was and will be in the trash can. Forever dumped.

There's no way he'd see that letter. So, erase that.

Maybe…

Was he there when it all started?

Was he listening despite the thunder and the pouring rain that faithful day?

Akane thought about it. She was sure they were alone that time. But if ever there was someone there, listening and watching…there's a BIG possibility that that person could have seen her tears. They were loud and sad enough for people to notice especially if she was running away from another person with her hands buried on her face.

"What's wrong? We can't afford stopping now. We're wasting time for goodness sake!" Warned Ukyo as she turned around to face Akane.

"Shampoo wants Ranma safe! We hurry up, now!" Shampoo demanded.

Akane, however, was still with her head down.

She was dripping like yesterday…her training clothes clinging more and more to her well-built body. Rain trickled on her face…it was like she was crying.

"I don't know about this—maybe… you guys should go ahead." She faltered.

"Akane!!"

"Look! It just…ain't clear to me yet…I'm confused so much. If I go there, I can't do anything anyway, I'll just be on his way. I can't stand that!" She cried in frustration.

The two girls knew right at that moment that Akane and Ranma are having some kind of problem. It was frightening to see her like this…They all thought that Ranma really loves Akane more than anyone. She should be happy!

"Akane…you have to listen!"

"I…I don't even know why you guys dragged me out here!" She stepped a little backwards, tears starting to accumulate in her eyes. Soon, it was washed out by the rain…but then, they were all replaced by more tears. She was crying.

"But Akane! Ryoga just shouted it was because of you! He said he wants to avenge you because you were hurt by Ranma! We couldn't just step in there and put a stop to their fight. Ryoga was really angry, Akane! So we dragged you out in this piece of shit because we thought you could help. Please understand…" Ukyo wanted to approach the trembling figure of Akane for she was indeed confused.

"Could I?" She whispered as the rain poured down them harder.

"A-Akane…" The two girls stared at her as if to wait for her next movement which they took by surprise.

"Could I even help him?! Am I the one he really wanted to see right now, huh?!"

She exclaimed, drowning herself more in tears.


Ryoga was getting stronger by the second. And did he just see him grin in excitement? Feh. Well, he's not going to lose this one.

Ranma knew he could do better than evading Ryoga. He was drawing near to the execution of the plan.

Then, he saw it…

Ryoga's really hot aura…

and he concluded, it was time.

He then led Ryoga into a circular motion…while Ryoga was busy getting an opening from Ranma, he unconsciously followed Ranma in this spiral path of heated battle aura.

A little more…more… Ranma chanted in his mind.

When he got there, he chuckled, much to Ryoga's surprise.

He isn't supposed to be happy about anything of this at all!!

When he finally lounged to give Ranma another fierce blow, Ranma swiftly evaded it.

Theh, he felt something chaotic for the very first time since they started exchanging blows. Something in his stomach forced him to be thrown up in the air.

Sure enough, it was all Ranma's doing.

Ranma has made a corkscrew uppercut strike. He managed to maintain an ice-cold aura in order for him to do his powerful technique against this beast. The pressure difference, from the collision of the hot aura of Ryoga and the cold aura of Ranma formed a tornado (which I know is pretty familiar to you, guys) that carried Ryoga off in the air.

"HIRYU SHOTEN HA!!" He shouted as he released the energy from within him. He caused a great light to glow and ascend to the heavens as Ryoga was carried off by it.

The tornado was getting stronger and the light emitted by Ranma's power was never fading!


No one dared to break the pregnant silence stretching between them.

Akane looked like she was a bomb ready to go off and explode anytime. It was hard to answer…the way she asked the question.

But…they're sure. It's Akane who Ranma needs. He always does, they knew.

Maybe that's why both of them were fighting a while ago. They love Ranma too…as much as they can see from Akane now. They loved him so that they couldn't actually accept it. They were always getting rid of each other just for the sake of Ranma's eyes, his attention. They want it for themselves although the question has long been answered.

"Of course he needs you…baka." Ukyo felt a lump at her throat. She clenched her fist as she regretted her every word. They just bit something inside her and she knew it would never heal. Shampoo, 

however, refused to reveal her weakness and turned away from the both of them to hide the throbbing tears from her eyes. Besides, she was too ashamed to let them know she's hurt.

All they want to do is to make sure Ranma is safe. Ryoga was really SOMETHING a little while back. He was angry and real grim that he can even summon the rain to help him harness his power. Amazing as he is, Ryoga made them see that Ranma might not stand a chance against him that's why they asked Akane for help…She was the reason for all of this. They needed her to calm Ryoga down and if possible, throw him off a cliff until he cools himself down.

Akane could help. Yes, she should. Not that they don't believe in Ranma's capabilities…maybe they are just too frightened when they saw Ryoga's wrath. It was nothing like they've seen before. His strength clearly surpasses what Ranma has. And to hell, they don't stand a chance against him either!

But with Akane's condition right now, would she even see that? Understand that? She might not be blind but her eyes are tightly closed.

They wasted precious time standing in the middle of the road, waiting for someone to break the silence but all they managed to hear were the constant pouring of the rain which by now has gotten stronger and…Akane's sobs. Their sobs as well were contributing to the deafening rhythm creeping to their ears.

Maybe Akane was right then. Maybe she can't do anything to stop them. Maybe she wasn't the one who Ranma loved…

"Fine!" Ukyo stomped her foot and turned just like what Shampoo did, also hiding her tears. "Go on and cry! Abandon Ranma, ignore Ranma and leave him! Yeah! That would be so much better! And it saves us a whole lot of trouble! Be your stupid selfish self and force yourself to stay away from him!"

She made sure Akane heard her which unfortunately, she did successfully.

Akane's hands clasped her mouth, shivering with the coldness of everything and everyone around her. Her sobs got louder until it was opposing the noise the rain made.

"C'mon, Shampoo." Ukyo stiffly said as she walked to the side of Shampoo.

Without any warning, a tremendous amount of light shot up towards the sky. The rain got practically beaten by the light it had produced.

They stood in awe and in surprise…realizing where that light came from. "I-is it Ryoga's?" One of them managed to stutter.

Their guess was nowhere near the answer though. Akane knew that light somewhere. She had seen that light before…but the light didn't scare her…it somewhat caused a great relief to wash over her. She sighed, her tears long gone. She knew it.

She turned to her heels and without saying goodbye, she left the two other girls who are still observing the phenomena. Like she said, Ranma doesn't need her.

Little by little, the rain slowed down. It won't be a matter of time and it would soon come to a halt. At least Akane hoped it would…she's tired of it all.


End of Chapter

A/N: Okaaaaay…don't worry! Things will brighten up in the next chapter. And for those who are suckers for romantic and fluffy stuff, you have to read the next chappie…but wait for it first, 'kay? Remember that patience is a virtue and…it is a virtue to review! Thanks, everyone! :)