The way he said her name, her body suddenly tingled with unknown feelings. But she tried ignore it as she smiled up at him and said,
"Hey.. You are late.."
"Yeah, sorry. I had to do something important." He then looked at his surroundings as Kasumi spoke up again.
"Hello, Ranma. Nice to meet you after such a long time. It was really unexpected for us to find you here."
"Yeah." He nodded his head in acknowledgement, as he said, "I am really glad that I could meet you guys again. Thank you for coming to the party to meet us, Kasumi-san."
"Oh! Nonsense! Why wouldn't we come? You were always close to our heart ,dear." Kasumi said while facking her cheerfulness.
"Thank you for always remembering me.. And I hope you guys will enjoy this party tonight.." He said plainly while smiling at them. Then he shifted his full attention towards Akane, as he asked her, "Kane, will you dance with me?"
Akane instantly blushed red, she never thought he would be this forward and ask her to dance in front of her sisters. She smiled up at him and nodded her head at him. He held his hand out for her to take, as she intertwined their hands tightly. Then when they were about to leave, Ukyo tried to stop them,
"RANMA!" When they turned to look at her, she started to stutter, "Umm. Ren was looking for you. I.. I think you should go and see what she wants.."
Akane looked at Ranma and said, "Yes, Ranma. First go and see what she wants, then we will continue.."
Ranma smirked humorlessly at that and said, "There is nothing her Ukyo aunty can't fix." He eyed Ukyo with a knowing look as he asked her, "You can take care of her, right Ucchan?"
Ukyo bits onto her lips to control her emotions as she sighs defeated. She then lowered her head and nodded her head at them as she said, "Yeah. I should go to them. And ask them…"
Holding Akanes hand more tightly, Ranma didn't waste anymore time and straightly went to the dance area. When they reached there, he slowly turned to her and gave her a warm smile. Akane returned his smile and she saw as he opened his arms for her. Without hesitating for a moment, she went closer to him and closed the gap between them as they started to dance in a slow track. He puts his hands on her waist as he pulled her closer to him. As for Akane, she puts her both hands around his neck as they start to move slowly with the music.
"I missed you so much, Kane." Ranma said with a husky tone.
Akane sighs as she puts her head on his chest, as she slowly replied to him, "Mmmhmm. I missed you too, Ranma. I was really worried when Ukyo said that you wont come today."
"Sorry ta make ya worried.."
"It's okay. You came at last.." She looked up at him and gave him a beautiful smile. Then her facial expression changed into worried one, as she tells him,
"Ukyo was looking a little bit off today, Ranma. I wonder what happened to her…" Akane said as she looked at Ranma worriedly.
"She is just tired, that's all. You don't have to worry about anything." Ranma said casually. Then he stared at her lovingly as he whispered to her,
"You are looking so beautiful today, Akane."
Akane blushed hearing him say that, as she replied to him, "I am glad that you liked it." Then she puts her head on his chest again as she whispers to him, "You have no idea how I spent the last night. I was so.. nervous, about what you might say to me.."
"You shouldn't get too stressed out about something as plain as this.." Ranma said while chuckling casualy.
Akane was confused when she heard him say that, she then looked up at him and tried to make him understand, "Plain! How can this be so plain, Ranma?"
Ranma shrugged his shoulder slightly as he said to her, "Well, that because I wanted ta thank you, that's all... I wanted to thank you for bringing my old self back again, you know. I never thought I could do, whatever I did yesterday with you, if you were not here to make me realize that I still have it in me, Akane. Trust me, life will be easier for me to live now!" Ranma said while smirking.
Akane's heart started to beat painfully. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, she tried to talk to him again while still hugging him, "Ranma. You know what are you saying right?"
Ranma gave her a confused look, as he told her, "Of course I do, Kane! Why are ya askin me that?!" Ranma said calmly.
Akane held Ranma more tightly as she came more closer to him and told him in a wavering tone, " Ranma. I have to tell you something urgent. Kasumi.. I.. ". She bits her tough roughly as she almost broke the promise she made with her sisters. She tried to start again but she was feeling so nervous at that moment that she couldn't even utter any correct word. She then took a deep breath and tried to make him understand the situation again, "Listen carefully and please try to understand Ranma. I... I got the job in America. And I have to… I have to leave within two days…"
And to her utter disbelief, she saw as his face instantly lights up with a big smile as he said to her, "Oh! Congratulations, Tomboy! That's a great news! You should have tell me this before! Anyways, I am really happy for ya." Ranma said cheerfully as he looked at her smiling.
Hearing him say it like that, Akane immediately stopped moving as she looked at him with wide stunned eyes as she asked him,
"Tell me you are joking Ranma.."
Ranma looked at her with a confused expression as he asked her, " And why would I joke?!"
"Is this really what you wanted to tell me yesterday?" She asked him shocked.
"Yes! What else!" Ranma asked, looking too confused.
"Then… WHAT ABOUT.. What..!" She whispers nervously as she frantically looks around her surroundings. Not feeling comfortable with the rising crowd at the dance floor, she took a hold of his hand tightly and started to drag him out in an isolated area. When they reached a more private place, she turned to him and asked him while panicking,
"I AM LEAVING RANMA! LEAVING DAY AFTER TOMORROW! "
"Yes I heard ya, tomboy. Why are you shouting like that?! And why did you pulled me out here? What will your sister think of it!" Ranma said as he started to return to the party. But he could only take a few steps as she snatched him towards her to face her.
Her eyes were wide with fear and she was shaking with anxiety, as she asked him heatedly,
"LET THEM THINK WHATEVER THEY WANT TO... YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE TILL YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION RANMA, YOU HEAR ME..!" Akane claimed her mouth shut as she closed her eyes tightly. Then taking some deep breath she tried to compose herself as she asked him again, "So, you don't care if I leave then..! So, What about yesterday, Ranma? THE THING THAT HAPPEND BETWEEN US! DOESN'T IT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU AT ALL?!"
Ranma shrugged his shoulders as he told her, "Of course! It means a lot to me... I told ya, it's gonna help me in the near future."
"What did you just say?!" Akane whispers to him, not believing her ears.
"Look.. Now don't drag the topic, Kane. I enjoyed doing it with you a lot and I hope that you enjoyed it too. And I bet you enjoyed it a lot too, that's why you were missing me this much." He winked at her while smiling slyly at her.
"What did you just say!" Akane was still shocked as she refused to believe every word he was saying to her, as she told him, "I think.. I think you are drunk or something. I should not talk to you today. No.. No.. I think I should leave.."
"Hey.. I am absolutely fine, Akane." Ranma tried to assure her. As he saw her stop dreed on her retreating tracks, "Look, if you think like this that, having sex with you will mean I would ask you to.. ma.. Marry me.. Then you are mistaken, Kane... I don't understand, are you crazy or WHAT! I have a daughter to look after, why would I take another load on my back?! And it's just a sex , not a big deal at all. And I am sure, it's not like it's your first time doing it as well! So, chill Tomboy! But, hey.." He started to talk huskily as he came closer to her, as he whispers to her ear, "If you like it that much with me.. Why don't you move here permanently over here?.. I promise, I will try to make some time for Ya. And I promise I won't disappoint ya and will try to satisfy your needs too." He finished while smirking at her.
Akane had enough of hearing all that, she looked up at him with hatred in her eyes as she forgot to be composed anymore as she slapped him hard on his face. Ranma took the blow, as he lowered his head. The side of the lips slightly started to bleed as he slowly wiped his side clean and smirked at her. Akane was shaking with anger, her lips were trembling as she angrily gripped his collar tightly and pulled him closer to her as she captured his lips with a desperate kiss. Ranma was stiff all the time as he felt her tears wetting his cheeks and he started to taste all salt from it. Then making a sobbing sound, she broke the kiss as she said repeatedly to him,
"I hate you. I hate you.. DO YOU HEAR ME, RANMA? I HATE YOU, RANMA SAOTOME! " saying that to him, she pushed him hard and started to run away from him. She didn't turn back to look at Ranma, nor did she respond to any of her friends or family members calling after her. She then suddenly bumped into someone hard as she almost fell to the ground. But that person held her in place and prevented the accident from happening. Akane looked up and saw Akio was giving her a sorrowful look. When Akane saw how Akio was looking at her she felt more angry and in her anger, she pushed him hard too as she started to run towards their car.
Akio started running towards where he saw Akane just came running from. And soon after searching for some time, he found Ranma leaning on a tree. His cheek was wet, his side lips bleeding as he looked down with a defeated look. Akio ran to him hurriedly and gave a growl when he reached him,
" I TOLD YOU NOT TO HURT HER, MAN! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU !" He got more irritated when he got no answer from him, "Tsk! FINE! JUST STAY THAT WAY! IF THIS IS HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE THEN DO, DON'T LET ME STOP YOU.. BUT HEAR ME OUT LAST TIME MAN, YOU SCREWED UP BIG TIME, AGAIN." Saying that to him, he didn't waste anymore time standing there as he started to run towards his Scotty. He bumped into Ukyo and Ryoga on his way, when they were searching for Ranma. When they came face to face, he just shook his head at them in dismay as he started running again, not talking to them at all.
At Akane's residence..
"Yeah, Hello there. Could you book four tickets for Tokyo tonight?"... " What! At midnight! Well it's almost eight, so it will be manageable. Ok then, book the tickets please, Thank you.." Nabiki hung the call after talking over the phone.
"What the hell was that?" Suddenly they heard Akio come and asked them heatedly.
Nabiki shrugged as she told him while busing herself on her phone again, "Akane wants to leave today. So I booked tickets for us. I booked four tickets though. If you wanna come with us too then you may.."
"DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING HERE? YOUR SISTER IS HURTING HERE! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT!" Akio said as he shook his head in disbelief at them.
Hearing him say that, Kasumi spoke up from the chair where she was sitting on, "We know she is hurting, dear. And we also know that if we don't do what we are doing now, she might get hurt even worse. So, it's better we take her out from this place immediately. I am sure after she leaves this place, she will start her life in America as she was living before."
Akio laughed hearing that as he slapped his forehead slightly in amazement as he told them in awe, "I just can't believe you guys!"
"What's so unbelievable in here, Akio?" Nabiki asked heatedly as she came to him and asked him again, "We are thinking about our imouto here.. Is it a crime to do it? We want a better, more established life for her. What's so wrong with that! As a sister we have the right to do the best for her. We can't just push her to live her life in danger, or to be a full time nanny and we definitely don't want her to live in a village! Her life will be at risk all the time if she stays with Ranma here. Shampoo could come to harm her, who knows, she might or might not! But we just can't take risks. So! What's so wrong in that, If we think about our sisters' well-being here?"
Akio shook his head in dismay as he started to talk to them in a low voice, "Shampoo MAY come and harm her!" He smirked, "How pathetic!"
"Akio!" Kasumi's warning voice came suddenly. But Akio hold his hands up to stop them from talking furthermore as he started talking to them with venomous tone,
"I heard you telling them to kill Akane once and for all, so that, you guys won't have to worry for her anymore… Then, what are you guys are waiting for? Why don't you guys do the same work then?"
" SHUT UP AKIO! You are crossing your limits in here.." Nabiki snapped at him.
"Everybody IN HERE HAS CROSSED THEIR OWN LIMITS. SO WHAT IF I DO TOO, HUH NABIKI!" Nabiki looked at him with wide eyes as he began his talking again, "YOU WANT TO GIVE HER A SECURE FUTURE! BY GIVING HER SLOW POISON YOURSELVES? HOW DARE YOU?" Akio angrily pointed his finger at Kasumi to keep her quiet, when he saw her starting to protest, "I WANT NO DISTURBANCE WHEN I AM TALKING NOW!" The way he said those words and looked at them, left no room for them to argue anymore.
"You guys are acting so RIDICULOUS! I didn't take it seriously at first, because I know you guys love your sister and will think about her first.. But, I was WRONG.. PRETTY DAMN WRONG! Akane has told you guys what happened to that poor person and that's how you guys are responding! Akane believes you guys, that's why she didn't confess to him yesterday over the phone and what you guys did? The thing you guys did is called BETRAYING, YOU HEAR ME.."
"YES! WE BETRAYED HER.. BUT ITS FOR HER OWN GOOD.. WE WANT ONLY GOOD FOR OUR IMOUTO IN HERE.." Kasumi snapped at him angrily.
"GOOD FOR HER! HUH! WHAT A JOKE!" He smirked humorlessly as he looked at Kasumi heatedly and asked her, "So SAY Kasumi… You asked Akane yesterday, why hasn't she taken her medicines for months now? BUT DID YOU NOTICE THAT, THE GIRL, WHO CONSTANTLY NEEDED THIS MEDICINES EVERY- SINGLE-DAY TO LIVE. WHO COULDN'T EVEN SLEEP A BLINK IF SHE HADN'T HAD HER PILS, THAT SAME GIRL SUDDENLY STOPPED TAKING IT AND GETTING BETTER TOO. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE WERE WISHING FOR A LONG TIME NOW?!" Kasumi wanted to say something, but suddenly this unwanted truth slapped her hard as she kept her mouth shut and looked at him uneasily.
"YES! I COULD HAVE STOPPED AKANE FROM DOING WHAT SHE DID FOR RANMA. BUT, I DIDN'T. BECAUSE, I SAW, I SAW HOW SHE CHANGED. AND CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. I SAW, HOW HAPPY AND CAREFREE SHE STARTED TO LIVE AND I SAW HOW MUCH BOTH OF THEM LOVE EACH OTHER." Akio sighs with frustration as he pulled his hair angrily. Akio's voice started to crack when he started to talk again,
"YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR SISTER IS BLINDING BOTH YOUR SENSES, DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT?! YOU BOTH HAVE BECOME ANNOYINGLY STUBBORN THAT A SIMPLE COMMON SENSE IS NOT MAKING SENSE TO YOUR HEADS." Akio lowered his voice a little, but he said with a hard tone, "I know you guys for so long now. And I know, I know you guys are not like this. Stop being so insensitive guys! ENOUGH OF IT! They both suffered so much and you guys are planning to make them suffer even more? That guy, what was his fault, anyways? TELL ME! I can only see one fault in him, and that is , HE LOVES YOUR SISTER. HE LOVES HER SO DEEPLY THAT, HE STOPPED LIVING HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR HER. And when they both felt that they could start living again, you guys came and dared to destroyed it for them. What did you call him, Kasumi? Selfish, right? And that same selfish guy, again sacrificed his love, his life, only because of you guys. Only because, you guys had said to him that Akane would live a safe life if he leaves her. He didn't even think once about himself, he just did it, because you guys had asked him. Now tell me.. Tell me, how are you guys gonna justify this?" Akio crossed his arms over his broad chest as he looked at both of them for answers. But they both got quiet as they looked down to the ground. Then Akio started again,
"Look you guys. I can help a blind people to make them realize and to make them see what they are failing to see or realize. But, I can not help those who were voluntarily closing their eyes and stubbornly ignoring the reality. You guys always used to tell me that, it's me, who actually brought life into your sister. And you guys owe me a big time for that. AND I AM GOING TO USE THAT RIGHT ON HER THIS TIME. I AM GOING TO TELL HER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. AND IF AFTER HEARING ALL THAT, SHE STILL WANTS TO LEAVE WITH YOU, I WON'T STOP HER. BUT, IF SHE WANTS TO COME WITH ME TO GO TO RANMA…. YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOING TO STOP ME. YOU HEAR ME..?! '' Akio said heatedly while pointing at both of them. Then he hurriedly left them and went to Akane's room.
Akio stood stiffly in front of Akanes room. He was contemplating whether to knock or just to enter without saying anything. He was sure that he would find her there crying her heart out. But he couldn't hear any sobbing sound coming from inside, only some ruffling sound was coming from there. He then knocked on her door and waited for her to reply. Then he heard her reply to him,
"Come on in.."
Akio was shocked when he heard her tone of voice. He hastily opened her door and got more shocked when he saw her. To his surprise, instead of crying, she was in a happy, cheerful mood. She was humming beautifully as she busied herself on packing her things. Then when she didn't see who just came in, she turned and saw Akio standing on the doorway with a shocking expression on his face. She then asked him,
"Why are you standing over there, dummy? Come on, help me pack my things.." Akane said as she busied herself again.
"Why are you packing Akane?!" Akio asked her in awe.
"Duh! Nabiki didn't tell you yet? We are leaving tonight…" Akane replied casually.
"So, you wanna just leave like this? Then what about Ranma?" Akio asked while closing the door behind him.
That made her pause for a moment, then she resumed her work as she said coldly, "What about him..?"
"You wanna just end it here like this? That's all?"
"He was clear with his intention, Akio. He doesn't love me. He clarified my mistakes and I understood. So, no point staying in here anymore.. I have a carrier to build…"
"So…. Suddenly He told you that he doesn't love you and you believed him?!"
That made her stop as she hastily turned towards him and she started yelling at him, "SO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO, AKIO! YOU WANT ME TO BEG HIM TO LOVE ME? DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK FOR HIS MERCY, TO GIVE ME A CHANCE! OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE HIS OFFER TO SHIFT HERE PERMANENTLY, SO THAT HE COULD SATISFY ME ALL THE TIME, HUH?!" Akane snapped at him heatedly.
Akio smirked humorlessly hearing her say that, as he said to her, "That Ranma really ticked you off this time, must say." He shook his head in disbelief as he continued saying, "You know, Nabiki always used to tell me about how you always come to a conclusion without thinking twice. And trust me, I never believed her once. But,now looking at how you are behaving, it all makes sense to me now, what she meant by that."
Akane got angry hearing what he said to her as she threw he hard object she was holding on the bed as she asked him angrily, "SO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO AKIO? WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE, HUH?"
Akio sighs with a heavy heart as he tells her softly, "Haven't you thought for a second Akane, why that guy suddenly changed his mind again. There must be a reason for that." Akio's shoulder slumped with defeat when he saw her whole body start to tremble as she refused to give in to cry. But she couldn't fake it in front of him anymore as her eyes started to pour tears freely as her lips started to tremble. Akio sighs then tells her softly, "There is a reason.. And Akane, I know the reason. Now tell me, do you wanna know the reason why he did this to you? Tell me dear, do you have the guts to hear all the truth?"
Akane looked at him with wide surprising eyes as she flopped down in her bed in complete disbelief. Akio came closer to her and sat in front of her on the floor. He slowly puts his finger on her jaw and made her look at him in the eyes. Her eyes were puffy and red, her lips trembling, her body shaking with an unknown fear, as she held his hand tightly and nodded her head to him.
Seeing her nodding her head, Akio sighs and starts telling her all about what happened.
After some moments…..
Akane balled her fists tightly as she listened to him patiently as he finished her telling everything. Akio got worried when he saw she wasn't giving any reaction to him. Her crying stopped as now she started to tremble with anger. She was breathing heavily as she averted her eyes from him and turned her face to the other side. Akio sat up beside her on the bed and hesitantly puts his arms around her shoulder. As he was fearing, she pushed his hand away from her shoulder angrily as she tells him,
"I am still not going there.." She said while breathing heavily.
"Hey, calm down.."
"NO! DON'T YOU DARE MAKE ME UNDERSTAND HERE! I WON'T UNDERSTAND... I DON'T WANNA UNDERSTAND ANYTHING … YOU HEAR ME..? JUST GET OUT OF MY ROOM RIGHT NOW.. LEAVE ME ALONE.. I DON'T WANNA SEE ANYONE'S FACE… I HATE YOU ALL.. JUST GET LOST.. I DON'T WANNA BE WITH ANYONE.. JUST GET OUT AKIO.. WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME… GET OUT.." Akane started to push Akio off her bad , but Akio forcefully held her hand tightly and pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly. She was still protesting, pushing him, yelling at him to get out, but eventually she calmed down a bit as she started to cry in his arms. She was crying as if she didn't have any strength left for crying anymore. Then he felt as she shook her head no as she said in a cracked tone,
"Please, Akio. Don't make me understand anything. I don't want to be the one to do all the work here. I am mentally broken, Akio please. Try to understand, I can't do this anymore. I am really tired. I can't do this alone anymore… I am so tired of everything.. Pleas Akio.." saying that she started sobbing silently in his arms.
Akio sighs as he kisses her forehead lovingly and tells her with a soft tone, "I know baby. I know.. The problem with you is that, they all love you so much. They are all right in their own peculiar ways. They want only the best for you. But by doing so, they just forgot what you want from your life, that's all. Don't blame anyone here baby. Ranma, Kasumi, Nabiki, they are all doing this because they want to protect you from any possible harm. But, they are not understanding that, by doing so, they are actually harming your present." Akio broke the hug as he put his hand on her shoulder, to make her look at him. His breath hitched with pain, looking at her broken state. She really was looking so exhausted. All he wanted to do was take her all sorrows away from her. But he knows, he can't do it alone. And he knows what is right for Akane and what will heal her broken heart. Akane was still looking down as she sobbed softly. Then Akio said with a pleading tone, "Please Akane, look at me. Please, this is the last time I am asking you. I won't ask you anymore. If after today, Ranma still refuses his feelings for you. I won't ever ask you. And I promise, I will take you away from all this peoples. But Please Akane.. Please You have to be strong… Just for the last time.. Be strong for him…Be strong for that child there. They both needs you. And I know.. How much you need them too. Please Akane….."
A/N: I cant explain to you guys, as a die heart fan of Ranma, Akane, how hard it was for me to write this particular chapter.. But it came out surprisingly as i wanted.. :) :) Please Read and review.. :)