Just F.Y.I- I'm no Doctor and don't know a lot about medical terms and what can and can't happen, but I just thought that I'd make up a reasonable explanation, because I thought it would be more dramatic if it really happened. Thanks :)
Chapter Eight
Ranma slid the door open to his room to see Drager and Anna sitting against the wall, Genma sitting all the way across the room, just staring awkwardly at them. When Ranma opened the door, all heads twisted to see him. He closed the door after him, his eyes hungry for answers. He looked at Genma for a moment, then turned to Drager. He crossed his arms as his brother stared back at him.
"So, Drager," Ranma said, rasing an eyebrow, "You have a personality disorder and your bi-polar and you're a crazy lying maniac."
"I'm no such thing!" Drager hissed back at him, but Ranma held his hand up to silence him.
"Nuh-uh-uh," Ranma wagged his finger at him, "I'm asking the questions, here. Drager, where were you really during those five years?" Drager opened his mouth to answer, but Ranma silenced him again, "Before you lie again, mom isn't dead." Genma jumped to his feet at this.
"What?"
"I'll explain in a minute, Pops." Ranma looked over his shoulder, but then turned back to Drager, who's face was pale. "I called her. She didn't even know you were out of the asylum. So, you broke out of the asylum five years ago. Where did you go?"
"Hah!" Drager threw his head back, "Why would I tell you?" Ranma laughed back, rather bitterly. "Even if I did tell you, what difference would it make to you?"
"Oh, it doesn't make a difference," Ranma shrugged, fingering his fresh stitch carefully. "I suggest you start talking. Let me just let you know that you're going to court. You kidnapped Akane, and if you haven't seen her, she looks like a mess." Drager's eyes widened.
"But she didn't press charges." Drager sputtered.
"Well, she didn't," Ranma eyed him, "But I did." Outside the door, Akane gasped. She held her hand over her mouth.
Ranma, you pressed charges?
"The courtdate is this Thursday. You'll be escorted from the asylum to the courtroom. You will be there everyday until you are found guilty of assaulting and kidnapping Akane," Ranma told him darkly, "Or if you would rather go before the court and plead guilty to the charges, that always works, too. Just so you know, when you're charged with kidnapping, the odds of you being found innocent are pretty low. So, bye!" Ranma waved as he began for the door. Drager twitched with anger as he watched his younger brother whistle and calmly slide the door shut after him. "That was-" Ranma suddenly tripped over something.
"Ranma! I'm sorry!" Ranma sat up to Akane sitting on the ground beside the door. She must of saw his confused look because she began explaining herself, "I shouldn't of been eavesdropping, but I was curious. You didn't get answers from him though."
"I know." Ranma told her, sitting beside her in the hallway, "He'll explain himself in court or he'll crack. Don't worry, Akane, we'll figure out where he's been all those years." He leaned his head back against the wall. The whole thing was mind spinning and stressful. Suddenly, Akane laced her fingers through his. His eyes darted to her's. She was smiling.
"I trust you, Ranma." She said. Ranma gave her hand a weak squeeze, not wanting to make the bruises throb.
I can only hope things will work out. Ranma told himself. But when he looked into Akane's eyes and saw her bruised face, he knew that it would work out. He would make sure that Drager payed for what he did to Akane.
...
"Now, Mr. Saotome," A woman at a large desk filed some papers. She looked back at Ranma who was sitting nonchantly in the chair before her, "Who are you pressing charges against?"
"Drager Saotome," Ranma leaned forward. When the woman gave him a weird look, he sighed, "Miss Cooper please hear me out. He kidnapped and abused my fiancee. He deserves to pay!"
"Well, if that's the case," Miss Cooper, pushed her black hair over her shoulder, "Then I'll be able to help. Who's his lawyer?" When she looked at Ranma's face, her brow furrowed, "Your look is telling me he doesn't have one."
"He couldn't get one if he tried," Ranma told her, "He's mentally insane. He's an escapee from an asylum institute. There is probably a fine over his head."
"Then... why don't you just send him back to the asylum?" Miss Cooper asked, brushing imaginary lint off of her crisp suit.
"Because I want all of Tokyo... all of Japan to know what Drager did to Akane. To make sure he is placed in the most secure room with people constantly watching him. I want to make sure the rest of his life is hell." It seemed dark for Ranma to Miss Cooper, though she had only met him a day ago. She could tell in the edge of his voice and the sincerity of his eyes that it was the first time he was doing this to someone. He was angry and wanted someone to pay. And that someone was his own dear brother. "Do you understand? Do you- Maybe do you think you could do that?"
Miss Cooper folded her hands together, "Yes, Ranma, I think I might be able to help you. The court hearing is tomorrow."
"I'll be there," Ranma stood, "I have to go. I have an errand to take care of now. Thanks for everything." Miss Cooper stood and the two shook hands. Ranma took in a deep breath, pleased to have everything resettled. Drager had been tense since he'd told him of the court hearing yesterday.
Ranma strolled out of Miss Cooper's office and down the street. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets. He was on his way to go pick up Akane's medicine from Dr. Tofu. It helped to regulate her cycle again since the shock of the abused caused an abrupt stop. It was a sunny day. Ranma watched kids run every where, chasing each other and playing tag. Akane loves days like these, Ranma thought. He knew though that Dr. Tofu had been strict to her staying in bed. He remembered the whole heart breaking scene from that morning.
"Now Akane," Dr. Tofu was saying as he rinsed his hands in the sink. He turned back to her. She was sitting on a bed, Ranma standing beside her, tense. "The stress and wounds aren't that bad..." Akane let out a sigh of relief, "but..." Akane tensed, "The stress has done something to your reproductive system." Akane's face flushed, "He seemed to of kicked you right in the stomach and with all your worrying and the sleeping weed... well... that damaged your fallopian tubes. The chances of you having kids is close to none now."
Tears pricked at the corners of Akane's eyes. No kids? Her mind thought, I'll never have children of my own? Akane's shaky hand lowered to rest on her abdomen, I didn't know a woman could become infertile from a kick in the stomach...
"Are you sure?" Ranma asked to Akane's surprise. Ranma rounded the bed, "Is there anything we can do for her?" Dr. Tofu was silent for a few moments. Ranma glanced at Akane, but her eyes at lowered to where her head rest.
"Maybe," Dr. Tofu said slowly. "But... it's rather costly-"
"I'll do it." Ranma said immediately, "Anything for Akane." Her eyes were wide at this. How could Ranma afford a pricely medicine? "What is it?"
"It's a medicine that will regulate her cycle again and hopefully allow the fallopian tubes to heal. The eggs won't be affected because nothing ever happened to them, but I'm sure the medicine will do something for Akane," Akane smiled as Dr. Tofu told Ranma this, "Come by tomorrow to pick it up, Ranma."
"I will."
Ranma snapped back to reality when he saw Dr. Tofu's clinic sign hanging from the brick wall. He rounded into it and saw an elderly woman sitting on the couch, holding her back. Ranma kicked his shoes off and headed into the office area. There was Dr. Tofu sitting at his desk, scribbling across a piece of paper furiously.
"Ah, Ranma," Dr. Tofu rose when he saw Ranma enter, "Just in time." He handed Ranma an orange jar full of average sized pink pills. On the label it said, Reproduction Revival. Akane Tendo. "She needs to take on before she goes to bed everyday until her cycle becomes usual."
"Thanks, Doc." Ranma nodded to him and turned back for the door.
"Ranma, just hold on for a moment more, would you?" Dr. Tofu called after him.
"Sure, what's up?" Ranma turned back to Dr. Tofu, shoving the medicine into his deep silk pockets. Dr. Tofu turned back, holding out another orange jar of medicine,
"This was Drager's medicine that he was supposed to pick up yesterday," Ranma studied the label. It was a bi-polar type medicine. "He needs to take two with breakfast every morning. Make sure he starts tomorrow."
"Tomorrow might not be so great," Ranma rubbed the back of his head. He felt the stitch on his arm throb a bit, "Drager is going to court for what he did to Akane. But I'll give him the medicine." Ranma turned back for the door. "Thanks!"
"Oh! Wait." Ranma groaned silently, but turned back to Dr. Tofu. Ranma raised his eyebrows as a sign as 'I'm listening'. Dr. Tofu turned scarlet now as he thought, "Can you... tell Kasumi to come to my office on Saturday? You can come with her- infact, if Akane is feeling alright, will both of you accompy Kasumi to my office?"
"What for?" Ranma asked, slipping the second capsule of medicine into his deep pockets.
"I'm... going to ask Kasumi to marry me." Dr. Tofu said, "It might not be the right timing for what's going on in her family and what-not, but I'm done acting like a fool. I need her. You and Akane should be here for it, though."
"How am I going to get her to make a trip here?"
Dr. Tofu looked around his office, puzzled by the thought of it. His eyes then layed on a Herbal Cooking book, "Tell her that I have a medicine cook-book here for her that I want her to read." Dr. Tofu pulled it off his book shelf and modeled it out for Ranma, "Don't forget. Please, Ranma."
"Sure thing, Doc." Ranma flashed a thumbs up, "Now do you need anything else?" Dr. Tofu shook his head, "Alright, later!" Ranma froze now, "Uhm- I still need to pay for Akane's medicine. How much will it cost?"
Dr. Tofu crossed to his desk and pulled up a reciept. "It's coming out to 72, 144 yen." (Authors Notes: That's $900 U.S dollars.)
"Okay," Ranma fished into his back pocket. "I only have 6, 412 yen with me now." (A/N: $80) He handed it over to Dr. Tofu, "I promise I'll pay it all off soon. Just let me find a couple jobs." He joked.
"Take your time," Dr. Tofu told Ranma, writing a new number on the recipet and paper-clipping Ranma's money onto the reciept, "Have a good afternoon, Ranma. Make sure Akane rests."
...
"Akane?" Ranma leaned in through her door. She was sitting up writing in a journal. She smiled when she saw Ranma. His heart skipped a beat at her smile, but it wilted when he saw the deep bruises on her face, "Hey, what are you doing? You're supposed to be resting."
"I know..." Akane closed the journal and laid it on her desk beside the bed, "but I couldn't help but start writing my thoughts down. There are just too many of them clouding my mind. After I write I sleep easier." Ranma kicked the door closed behind him. He handed her a glass of orange juice and pulled on her capsule of pills. He smiled as she explained.
"I picked your medicine up today," Ranma told her, shaking one pink pill into his palm, "Dr. Tofu said take one before you go to bed each day." He placed it in her palm. Akane washed it down with the orange juice and finished off the glass.
"Thank you, Ranma." Akane told him, handing the glass back. "I hate just lying around. But I get to go to the court room with you, right?"
Ranma hesistated. He would need the victim in the court room, so he sighed, "Yeah. But when you get tired or don't feel well, tell me, and I'll take you home, okay?" She nodded. "Can I read what you wrote?" Ranma set the glass down and sat on the edge of the bed. Akane snatched the journal into her arms and shook her head furiously. "Why not?"
"The stuff that is in here is ridiculous," Akane blushed, "It's nothing of your interest."
"I doubt that's the case," Ranma said. Akane blushed deeper and Ranma felt his breathing hitch in his throat. The two looked away from each other for a moment. She's so... beautiful... Ranma thought suddenly. His face turned scarlet now. "Akane."
"Ranma." Akane dropped the journal into her lap and leaned forward. Ranma leaned forward as well. They could fell the breaths on each others lips when-
"RANMA! AKANE! TIME FOR DINNER!" Ranma jerked back at the sound of Kasumi's voice. He then remembered Dr. Tofu's request. Akane looked away now, blushing redder than a tomato. Ranma acted like nothing happened.
"Come on," He offered his hand. She took it. He helped her up, looping an arm around her waist. Her other arm around his neck. She was still unsteady.
"I can do it," Akane told him. He released her for a moment.
"You sure?" Ranma asked. She nodded. When he released her though, she staggered. He barely caught her and swung her up into his arms, "Maybe we'll start working harder with the walking," He told her, as he carried her bridal style to the kitchen.
...
That night Akane asked Ranma to sit up on the roof with her. He carried her up and seated her. She looped her arms around her knees, hugging them and staring up at the stars. They both felt at ease in the silence.
Ranma was the first to speak, "How are you feeling?" He asked, lamely.
"A lot better," Akane replied, "Thanks to you, Ranma." There was another silence. "Hey, Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Drager will be gone forever after this?" The question seemed heavy. Thick with concern and curiousity. Ranma didn't really have an answer. He avoided Akane's curious stare, squirming under her gaze. He then laced his fingers through hers.
"I hope so. I really do." Ranma told her, staring deep into her eyes. Then with a thudding hearts he leaned forward. The twinkling of the stars were absolutely beautiful. Ranma gently pushed his lips against Akane's. Her lips had the faint taste of orange juice from dinner. Akane could smell Ranma's faded cologne. She matched his intensity. He brought his hand up and gently stroked Akane's cheek. That's when he felt something damp. Tears. "Akane?" He whispered, "Why are you crying?"
"Ranma," She whispered, tears flowing freely from her eyes, "I-I love you." The words shocked even Ranma. His breathing shallowed as he and Akane stared at each other only inches from each others eyes.
"I love you too," Ranma brought his hands up to rest on her cheeks and pulled her lips back onto her's, running his hands through her short hair. She threw her arms around his neck, enjoying his warmth. She needed him more than ever now. It was like an urgency.
"How dare he," Drager made fists. He was crouched in the shadows on the other side of the roof. "I love Anna... I- I love Akane." He lowered his head, "Akane..." Drager surprised himself when he felt tears brimming the edge of his eyes. "I love you."
"How is this feeling?" Akane asked, gently running her finger around his scar.
"It's doing better." Ranma replied in a low whisper. There was a silence. "What are you thinking about?"
"Drager... and you..." Akane replied.
"Why?"
"I wonder what will happen to the Saotome brothers." Akane told him, resting her head against his shoulders, "I just... want things to go back to normal."
"Akane, things were never normal," Ranma said with a laugh. Akane laughed with him now while Drager cried his heart out on the other side of the roof.
