Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Trust, Hope & Love

by pahlee

This story takes place in an alternative universe.

Story 10: Hope

Akane bit her lower lip as silence followed his statement. "And honestly," she heard him go on, "I will always love you. I know you don't trust me anymore..." Akane listened as he took a deep breath, "And it hurts to know I brought that upon myself, but it hurts even more to not be able to see you, hear you talk...even to just hold you."

"Akane, please, can I see you?"

#

Her fingers played with the hem of her shirt as she stood nervously outside the clinic. The sun bore down on her as she shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked up at the bright sky. A soft sigh escaped her lips and a pair of arms scared her out of her revere as they engulfed her in an embrace. Her eyes got wide as she began to go into a defensive mode, but she recognized them and she gently pushed him away.

"Saotome," she breathed as she turned to look at Ranma staring at her, his arms still holding the air where she just was, his face in a frown.

"Akane..." He muttered as he put his arms down.

"We're here only to talk," Akane stated.

"I can't hug you?" Ranma questioned, "I don't think we ever broke up, I think I can hug my girlfriend whenever I want 'ta."

"I rather not," Akane replied honestly, "I-I don't even know why I came..." she the began to turn around and tried to walk away, but she found that impossible as two arms came to embrace her and make her stay.

She felt safe, protected and most of all: loved, in his arms.

And that brought forth the tears she could not hold back. His face came near hers, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered in a tone only for her, "You came here for the same reason I did."

"No," it fell from her trembling lips.

"Akane, please," she heard the pain in his voice, "I love you."

Hearing him say it in that tone, seeing him like that made her burst over the edge as she turned around in his hold and threw her arms around his neck, crying into the crook of his neck, soaking his shirt.

"Dammit it, Ranma, I-I hate the way I can't think straight around you! I-I let my w-walls down, let you in, let my inhibitions loose and gave myself to you..." she sobbed, "I trusted you, I let you into my life only to make me feel this way. I've forgiven you countless times for the Ranko ordeal...but, b-but," she began to stutter.

Ranma had started to rub the back of the hysterical girl in his arms, a soft look in his eyes as he listened to her pour her heart out.

"Oh god, Ranma, I-I just thought that m-maybe, just maybe if you thought I didn't care anymore you'd find someone better. Leave me. You don't want a bitch like me, pushing you away for something so trivial as that..."

"Stop it, you're not a bitch."

"I am...and I hurt you, but I just panicked, Ranma, I -I didn't know what to do...so I pushed you away -"

But Akane never finished her sentence as Ranma's lips crashed down on hers, successfully silencing her. As he pulled away, he looked down at the flushed girls' face, tears trickling down her cheek, "You talk too much."

He smiled as he cupped her face, "I understand, and don't put all the blame on yourself, it was my fault. I didn't think it through all the way...but I never intended to mislead you like I had, lie the way I did, I never...I never thought that you'd be in love with me."

He let go of her face and brought her into a soft hug, "I never want to hurt you again..."

She brought her hand up to place her fingers on his lips, her eyes shining as she whispered, "I trust you."

"And, Ranma? I love you."

#

"And so I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Ranma Saotome!" the preacher said as he raised his arms in celebration. The church filled with applause and tears of joy as the happily married couple smiled out at their audience.

Through the hardships they had to overcome, through the pain the two suffered and all the joy they had: they were finally joined. Despite the past and their separation, they were together now and lived only for their future.

#

Akane giggled as Ranma walked in wearing his father's "fancy" shoes and a wildflower pinned to his father's collared shirt. Ranma glared at his friend, "It's not funny Akachan, they're too big for me."

Slowly, Akane walked over and attempted to fix the collar of his shirt as she buttoned it up, "Ne, Ranma-kun, one day you'll grow up a strong man, and it'll fit. It'll all into place." He toom her wrist in his hand, "I'll grow up to be a man for you, Akachan."

"Cool, I'll be waiting, don't keep me waiting long!" Akane giggled as she kissed his cheek.

"Ok!" Ranma grinned wildly as he then proceeded to pretend to marry his friend and go running around in the fields.

#

As they walked down the aisle, Ranma whispered in her ear, "I won't let anything hurt you."

"And neither will I."

END

Author's Note

Here we go! The final installment of the story, sure there are some unanswered ends but I believe this story ends nicely here. One day, I will go back and revise all the chapters for grammar and spelling, but as for content: this saga is complete. Thanks for hanging on with me! :)