WARNING: This will ultimately be a Ranma/Akane fanfic, seeing that I am a R/A fic writer.
But there will be a lot of Akane/Ryu(orginal character) part in this chapter. I started this
fanfic in March along with a lot of my other once-one-shots-now-turned-mini-series fics,
which I will publish in this weeks. I told you I'm a slow writer. Well, this story might be
pretty OOC for you picky readers. Most will be explained in the next chapter and some others...
well, too bad. Okay, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I haven't done this for some of my other fics, but you know I don't own Takahashi's
Ranma 1/2, she does. I'm broke from buying my friends birthday presents (I got three friends
who have birthdays on the 17th, the 18th, and I'm not kidding, the 19th of June), so don't sue!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Phoenix and the Dragon Trilogy
Part 1: A Past Lover's Visit
By: CSMars
6/21/2001
The Phoenix and the Dragon,
Souls forever bond,
Forever intertwined,
For eternity...
I'll see you in a few, my firebird.
The slip of paper wasn't signed, but the sisters knew who had written the words.
Akane Tendo choked back a sob as she read the note again.
"Yo, guys, what cha readin'?" Ranma asked as he step behind the two younger Tendos,
trying to sneak a look over their shoulders. But Akane had crumbled up the small piece of
paper before Ranma ever saw a word. She tossed the ball over her shoulder and for once, Ranma
was late, Nabiki had caught the paper before him. The duo watched, one in sadness, one in
confusion as Akane ran up the stairs, dashed into her room and slammed her door.
"Damn, damn, damn..." Ranma's eyes darted back to Nabiki's as he heard her soft rant.
She stared at the crumbled ball of paper for what seemed like an eternity, and then
she rushed toward the kitchen with Ranma following closely behind.
"Kasumi!" Nabiki shouted, "Where is dad?"
"I think he and Mr. Saotome went to on a training trip, they left after lunch."
Kasumi answered, not bothering to turn away from the dinner she's preparing.
"DAMN!" The loud curse got Kasumi's attention.
"Is there something wrong?" The oldest Tendo daughter's voice was still gentle, but
there was an edge in it.
"Oh, yeah! We got big trouble with a capital 'T'!" Nabiki was yelling in the most
un-Nabiki-like fashion. She shoved the piece of paper into Kasumi's view.
"Oh my! I hope that's not who I think it is." Kasumi actually sounded surprised.
"I think it is." The younger girl's voice went back to the cold, mercenary tone that
she's so well known for. "When I see him again, there will be a lot of explaining to do."
"Okay, do you notice there's someone else in the room? I would like to know what's
going on." Ranma demanded loudly.
Nabiki's dark brown eyes met his steel gray ones for a second before they went
back to Kasumi's soft chocolate ones. "Throw that piece of paper in the fire, okay?"
Kasumi only nodded as she went back to cooking.
Nabiki turned around, giving out a long sigh. "Ranma, something is going to
happen in a few days. Something that will change all of our lives, Akane most of all. But
whatever you do, you mustn't stop it. You can try to help Akane through all this, but you
must not stop what is going to happen. We've waited too long to let this chance go by."
If Nabiki's usual advice had been confusing, this is mind-boggling. "So this will
hurt you, but you want it to happen... Why?" Ranma asked.
"Because sometimes by hurting someone, you make them stronger." Nabiki left for
her room after leaving those words.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Later that night, all's quiet in the Tendo house. Ranma walked toward the room with
the yellow duck sign on it. He opened the door slowly, afraid that it will squeak and wake
the resident of that room.
Tiptoeing, he walked over to the bed, and then sets down, letting himself drown in
the beauty of his fiancée. He just set there for a while and when he felt that his legs were
starting to go numb, he leaned forward and delivered a butterfly kiss on Akane's forehead.
"There are so many thing I don't know about you, Akane..." He left after that, not
knowing what else to say.
A teardrop rolled down Akane's face as she completed his sentence in a low murmur,
"and so many things you're about to find out."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A tall, well-built guy walked toward Furiken High, head high, shoulders back as if
a royalty ascending the throne.
It was noon, so the students of the high school were eating lunch outside.
"Ryu-kun?"
"What? Ryu-kun's back?"
Shushed whispers filled the air and teenage boy met, in midway, with a kendoist.
"How dare you come back after leaving the beautiful goddess Akane?" Tatawaki Kuno,
for one, was not happy with the arrival of the new boy.
Ryu, as he was called replied with a question of his own, "Where is she?"
Kuno spluttered for a second and then regained his composure, "Answer my question."
He demanded.
"Where. Is. She?"
Kuno charged, his kendo raised high, until a black-haired girl stopped him.
"What?" He was confused, did the beauty not want to punish this knave?
The girl only glared him, as if daring him to question her act. Tatawaki step back,
leaving room for her.
Akane walked over toward Ryu with no expression on her face whatsoever.
"Ryu-kun."
"Akane-chan."
*SLAP*
Maybe the strike wasn't as loud as that, but it rang throughout the campus, startling
many, if not all of the students.
"Don't. Call me that!" Akane ran toward the dojo after the encounter, if you could
call it that, leaving behind a stunned dark-haired boy. Squeezing through the layers of
people gathered around the duo, Nabiki spotted Kuno, wide-eyed. Taking long strides, she
walked over to the young samurai and whispered something to him. Then she took off after her
sister.
What people didn't notice is the black shadow following Nabiki.
Ranma had been confused but he knew that there must be a reason for Akane's outrage.
So when he saw Nabiki running after his fiancée, he decided to follow, hoping that he could
find his answer.
Arriving at the dojo, Ranma heard yelling coming from Akane's room. He jumped on the
tree outside of the room's window, making sure that he's well hidden. This way, he could
eavesdrop on the two's conversation without being noticed.
"Why did he have to come back? Why now?" Akane was pacing around the room, shouting
out questions hastily.
"Two years ago, you were asking me why he left. And I still don't have the answer to
that one yet." Nabiki replied in a careless manner, but Ranma could see worry in her eyes.
Akane stopped pacing and glared at her sister sitting on the bed. If looks could
kill, Nabiki would have died on the spot.
"I don't know," The older sister went on, "maybe he missed you or something."
"Missed me? MISSED ME?" Akane's anger could only hold so far, "He has never cared
for me... He lied to me, and he left without even saying so much as a farewell."
Silence.
"That's not fair. I mean, I don't care much for him leaving you, but everyone in this
damned town knows how much you two loved each other." Ranma gasped at Nabiki's declaration.
"He never said it though..."
Nabiki went on, pretending not to notice Akane's murmur, "Maybe he still love you,
I know that you still have feeling for him--"
"Don't say that!" Akane yelled.
"Say what? That you still love him?" Nabiki blinked in confusion. "Don't you?"
"No! Yes... I don't know... *pause* I just don't know..." Akane collapsed on her bed.
"Two years ago you would've never doubted your feelings..."
"But I'm no longer the love-sick fool I was." Akane complemented her sister's words.
Aren't you? Nabiki thought. "Is this..." She hesitated, "Is this because of Ranma?"
The boy's ears perked up at the mentioning of his name.
"Ranma? What does he have to do with this?" The girl in question was thoroughly
confused.
"Oh sis, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. Can you honest look at
me in the eyes and tell me that you don't have feeling for him? Ranma, I mean." Nabiki turned
Akane around so they're facing each other.
The youngest Tendo turned back, "No...no, I can't. Because even if I did, both you
and I would know that it's a lie." Ranma's heart soared at the words.
Nabiki got up to leave the room, deciding that a long nap would do Akane good. But
she was stopped dead in her track by a sentence so soft that she thought she had imagined it.
"Thanks, sis. You and Kasumi both... and Kuno and Dr. Tofu... without you guys, I
don't know what I would have done."
Nabiki turned around and Ranma thought he saw something in her eyes, it looked like
tears, but he doubted that Nabiki is capable of crying.
"You... knew?" The two monosyllables were filled with emotions, emotions that shouldn't
be associated with the Ice Queen.
"Yeah... I just figured it out." Akane stood up and pulled Nabiki into a hug. "Thank
you so much, 'neechan."
"You are my sister, after all." Nabiki untangled herself from the hug and wiped away
her tears. She smiled a soft smile, which looked odd because of her wet face, "You could always
cook up a meal for the four of us and formerly thank us." This drew another gasp from the tree
outside, Ranma could only handle so much surprises in one day.
"You mean the ones that usually send Ranma to the hospital? Oh my, I didn't know you
all were so eager to die!" Akane joked, followed by a big smile, the first one she had ever
since she found the small piece of paper in the mailbox.
Nabiki hit her playfully, "You know perfectly well that I meant the way you cook
before Ryu-kun left."
The mentioning of his name sobered up the situation a little, but Akane was still
grinning, "It's a deal, oneechan."
Nabiki started for the door again before she turned around and asked, "Are you ever
going to tell Ranma about this? Or are you just hoping this will fade away?"
"I... I'll tell him... tomorrow. He deserves to know. But now I'll have to prepare
dinner. Could you tell Kuno and Dr. Tofu to come at six?"
"Of course, little sister."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ranma cursed himself again. After the exclamation that Akane is going to cook that
night, he had ran out of the house on impulse. It's only now, as he walked into the front door
of Ucchan's, did he remember Nabiki's praise for Akane's cooking. Might as well go and grab
a bite, he thought to himself as he walked toward the kitchen.
The cook was busying flipping okomomiyaki, chopping veggies and meat, and talking to
one of her regular costumers about the new boy in town. The dark-haired man moved away as he
spotted Ranma, giving up the best seat in the house.
"Yo, Ucchan." Ranma yelled, putting on a forced smile.
The girl turned around and smiled brilliantly, "Hi Ranchan, I was just talking about
the new boy, what's his name? Ryu?" Her smile turned into a frown as she remembered something,
"Do you think he's here to kill you? I mean, pretty much all the new boys we've met are after
your tail."
"I haven't got a chance to see him face to face. But I doubt it, though, I think he's
someone from Akane's past." Ranma replied.
"He came over for a okomomiyaki for lunch. Real cute, that boy. He's got good manner,
too, and I bet he's also a martial artist." Ukyo commented as stars sparkled in her eyes.
"What? Cuter than me?" Ranma asked, almost urgently.
"Oh, of course not!" Ukyo answered hastily, "Don't worry Ranchan, he'll never steal
me away from you." She added for reassurance.
You're not the one I'm worried about, Ranma thought. Than he waved and left, not even
stopping to get his second favorite thing in life: free food.
* * * * * * * * * * *
He couldn't hold it any longer. Ranma rubbed his nose again-hard-trying to hold back
the sneeze. Man, I must be allergic to something in this tree.
He was tired, cold and the food Akane's cooking is making his stomach grumble--not an
everyday occurrence. But he had no other choice except to stay in there. Neither Kuno nor the
doctor had arrived yet, and there was no way that Ranma Saotome will give up before even trying.
The doorbell ring. Finally, let's get this show on the road, Ranma said to himself
as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
A few minutes later, he heard voices coming closer to the dinning room.
"Oh, dearest Akane! It pleases me so to see you back as yourself before that peasant,
Ryu left the presence of your beauty." Ranma knew who that was, "the Blue Thunder of Furiken."
They came a little closer and now Ranma could see five people standing in the entrance
of the dinning room: Kasumi, Ona Tofu, Nabiki, Tatawaki Kuno, and Akane.
To his surprise, Akane was actually smiling after Kuno's idiotic declaration.
"Please, Kuno-sampai, you don't have to act so formal here. We're all families." Ranma
could see Akane winking at Nabiki from his place on the tree next to the koi pond.
"What is she talking about?" Ranma asked no one in particular.
"I think I do not fathom what the goddess is talking about?" Kuno voiced Ranma's
question.
"This is what I want to tell everyone today: Akane knows." The last two words from
Nabiki's lips explained everything.
"What! How could you tell her?" Kuno yelled, and to Ranma's surprise, he yelled without
his usual poetic gesture.
"Oh, can it, Kuno-baby. She found out this morning, I guess it just clicked in her
head." Nabiki dismissed the inquiry with a wave of her hand.
"So... does this mean Igetadate?" Kuno asked in a hurry while inching away from Akane,
just in case she decides to use him for target practice.
The silence followed by the question ended with a smack, initiated by the one and only
Nabiki Tendo and had... of course, Tatawaki Kuno on the receiving end.
Akane gasped in surprise as her hand immediately covered her mouth to suppressed her
giggles. Kasumi and Dr. Tofu also smiled at the young teenagers.
Ranma sat in the tree speechless, marveled that Akane hasn't punt Kuno into oblivion yet.
After a few minutes to get her laughter under control, Akane smiled and replied
dramatically while striking a pose, "Well, Kuno-sampai, I well be _honored_ to date with you.
But I will suffer many insults and punishments from my own sister if she finds out about us.
Oh, Kuno-chan, save me! Save me from that witch Nabiki."
Everyone busted out laughing, even Nabiki tried her best to keep her face straight.
Akane gave a hug to her sister as she whispered something into her ears. Nabiki blushed
furiously and pulled out of the hug.
"This does mean, however, you can stop chasing Ranma and stop reading Shakespeare."
Akane announced as the group arrived at the dining room.
Kuno shrugged noncommittally, and Ranma wondered if this was the same idiotic person
who chased after a guy with a curse.
Akane dished out the food as everyone dig in. Dinner conversation was light, mostly
consisted of the youngest Tendo teasing her sisters and possible future brother-in-laws.
The laughter was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Puzzled, Akane went to see
who it was. Her father and Mr. Saotome were not due back until Monday... of course, it could
be because they spend all their money in a bar somewhere.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???"
Ranma was almost ready to get out of the tree when he heard Akane's scream. Refraining
himself from following the others rushing to the door, he leaped onto the roof to get a better
viewing of the door.
There Ranma saw a brown-haired boy, dressed in a pair of loose black jeans and a white,
long-sleeved shirt covering his well-defined chest and biceps.
Everyone's expression changed: Kuno drew out his bokken, Nabiki looked at the tall
boy with obvious disgust, Tofu suddenly became sober, and Kasumi eyed the others nervously.
"I don't want any trouble." Ryu whispered in a husky voice. Ranma strained his ears
to hear what he was saying, "I just need to talk to Akane."
"Yeah, and what makes you think we'll let you." Kuno asked through clenched teeth.
Akane stepped between the two guys, trying to avoid a fight, "Please, Tatawaki. I'll
talk to him in the dojo. You guys just go back to dinner." She gave the angry Kuno a little
push toward the dining room. The others left reluctantly and Akane led Ryu to the dojo.
Ranma followed them on the roof and stopped outside of the dojo. Akane was, again,
screaming.
"You LEFT me!!! I gave you me heart and then you just left!" Akane ramble on, pacing
back and forth in front of the tall boy. "You broke my heart! Kami-sama, why did you even stay
with me? It's not like you have any feelings for me!"
Ryu seemed to be tired of Akane meaningless ramble. He stood up and grabbed her arm.
He murmured into her ears in a low, almost dangerous whisper, "You can hit me, and slap me.
You can even kill me if you want. But don't you dare to say I didn't love you."
Surprised, Akane looked straight into his sparkling, green eyes, "You never told me,
Ryu-kun. I told you 'I love you' again and again. But you would never say those words back.
I would've married you."
"I love you."
Akane buried her sobbing face in Ryu's chest after his soft confession.
"I love you, I love you... with my heart." He murmured into her hair, again and again,
as if willing her to believe him.
Outside, Ranma edged closer to the door, trying to hear if Akane answered Ryu with her
own feeling.
"Marry me, Akane. Became my wife." Ryu asked as he cupped Akane's face in his palms.
Akane ignored his question and turned away from his piercing eyes, "Why did you leave
me two years ago, Ryu-chan?"
Ranma stiffened at Akane's change of suffix of the boy's name. Does she really love
this guy? He asked himself, though it the question went unanswered.
"It's a long story, 'Kane-chan. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow." Replied Ryu,
almost sorrowfully as he sat down on the floor.
"Then you'll have my answer in two days. I have to tend my guests now."
Ranma moved to see Akane leaving the dojo in haste through a crack in the wall. He
almost gasped as Ryu turned his gaze toward him, as if the boy inside knew he was there.
Ryu then turned toward the door where Akane existed only moments earlier.
"Akane Tendo, you _will_ be my bride."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Author's notes: If you're going to email me and say the characters are OOC, then I'll agree
with you, and then ignore you. Because I know the characters are OOC and I'll explain why
in the next part, which would come out in mid-July and no sooner 'cause I've got to work on
getting all my other fics out first. Leave a review!
Here's a sneak preview of the next part: Ranma get a taste of Ryu's martial arts skills,
and can you say "OUCH". Akane explains her past with Ryu to Ranma and he finally finds out
why Kuno and Dr. Tofu are the way they are. Also, Ryu revealed his identity to Ranma, looks
like there's no way Ranma will be able to compete with this new-comer for Akane's hand. Hehe,
I'm so evil.
Ta-ta, CSMars
But there will be a lot of Akane/Ryu(orginal character) part in this chapter. I started this
fanfic in March along with a lot of my other once-one-shots-now-turned-mini-series fics,
which I will publish in this weeks. I told you I'm a slow writer. Well, this story might be
pretty OOC for you picky readers. Most will be explained in the next chapter and some others...
well, too bad. Okay, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I haven't done this for some of my other fics, but you know I don't own Takahashi's
Ranma 1/2, she does. I'm broke from buying my friends birthday presents (I got three friends
who have birthdays on the 17th, the 18th, and I'm not kidding, the 19th of June), so don't sue!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Phoenix and the Dragon Trilogy
Part 1: A Past Lover's Visit
By: CSMars
6/21/2001
The Phoenix and the Dragon,
Souls forever bond,
Forever intertwined,
For eternity...
I'll see you in a few, my firebird.
The slip of paper wasn't signed, but the sisters knew who had written the words.
Akane Tendo choked back a sob as she read the note again.
"Yo, guys, what cha readin'?" Ranma asked as he step behind the two younger Tendos,
trying to sneak a look over their shoulders. But Akane had crumbled up the small piece of
paper before Ranma ever saw a word. She tossed the ball over her shoulder and for once, Ranma
was late, Nabiki had caught the paper before him. The duo watched, one in sadness, one in
confusion as Akane ran up the stairs, dashed into her room and slammed her door.
"Damn, damn, damn..." Ranma's eyes darted back to Nabiki's as he heard her soft rant.
She stared at the crumbled ball of paper for what seemed like an eternity, and then
she rushed toward the kitchen with Ranma following closely behind.
"Kasumi!" Nabiki shouted, "Where is dad?"
"I think he and Mr. Saotome went to on a training trip, they left after lunch."
Kasumi answered, not bothering to turn away from the dinner she's preparing.
"DAMN!" The loud curse got Kasumi's attention.
"Is there something wrong?" The oldest Tendo daughter's voice was still gentle, but
there was an edge in it.
"Oh, yeah! We got big trouble with a capital 'T'!" Nabiki was yelling in the most
un-Nabiki-like fashion. She shoved the piece of paper into Kasumi's view.
"Oh my! I hope that's not who I think it is." Kasumi actually sounded surprised.
"I think it is." The younger girl's voice went back to the cold, mercenary tone that
she's so well known for. "When I see him again, there will be a lot of explaining to do."
"Okay, do you notice there's someone else in the room? I would like to know what's
going on." Ranma demanded loudly.
Nabiki's dark brown eyes met his steel gray ones for a second before they went
back to Kasumi's soft chocolate ones. "Throw that piece of paper in the fire, okay?"
Kasumi only nodded as she went back to cooking.
Nabiki turned around, giving out a long sigh. "Ranma, something is going to
happen in a few days. Something that will change all of our lives, Akane most of all. But
whatever you do, you mustn't stop it. You can try to help Akane through all this, but you
must not stop what is going to happen. We've waited too long to let this chance go by."
If Nabiki's usual advice had been confusing, this is mind-boggling. "So this will
hurt you, but you want it to happen... Why?" Ranma asked.
"Because sometimes by hurting someone, you make them stronger." Nabiki left for
her room after leaving those words.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Later that night, all's quiet in the Tendo house. Ranma walked toward the room with
the yellow duck sign on it. He opened the door slowly, afraid that it will squeak and wake
the resident of that room.
Tiptoeing, he walked over to the bed, and then sets down, letting himself drown in
the beauty of his fiancée. He just set there for a while and when he felt that his legs were
starting to go numb, he leaned forward and delivered a butterfly kiss on Akane's forehead.
"There are so many thing I don't know about you, Akane..." He left after that, not
knowing what else to say.
A teardrop rolled down Akane's face as she completed his sentence in a low murmur,
"and so many things you're about to find out."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A tall, well-built guy walked toward Furiken High, head high, shoulders back as if
a royalty ascending the throne.
It was noon, so the students of the high school were eating lunch outside.
"Ryu-kun?"
"What? Ryu-kun's back?"
Shushed whispers filled the air and teenage boy met, in midway, with a kendoist.
"How dare you come back after leaving the beautiful goddess Akane?" Tatawaki Kuno,
for one, was not happy with the arrival of the new boy.
Ryu, as he was called replied with a question of his own, "Where is she?"
Kuno spluttered for a second and then regained his composure, "Answer my question."
He demanded.
"Where. Is. She?"
Kuno charged, his kendo raised high, until a black-haired girl stopped him.
"What?" He was confused, did the beauty not want to punish this knave?
The girl only glared him, as if daring him to question her act. Tatawaki step back,
leaving room for her.
Akane walked over toward Ryu with no expression on her face whatsoever.
"Ryu-kun."
"Akane-chan."
*SLAP*
Maybe the strike wasn't as loud as that, but it rang throughout the campus, startling
many, if not all of the students.
"Don't. Call me that!" Akane ran toward the dojo after the encounter, if you could
call it that, leaving behind a stunned dark-haired boy. Squeezing through the layers of
people gathered around the duo, Nabiki spotted Kuno, wide-eyed. Taking long strides, she
walked over to the young samurai and whispered something to him. Then she took off after her
sister.
What people didn't notice is the black shadow following Nabiki.
Ranma had been confused but he knew that there must be a reason for Akane's outrage.
So when he saw Nabiki running after his fiancée, he decided to follow, hoping that he could
find his answer.
Arriving at the dojo, Ranma heard yelling coming from Akane's room. He jumped on the
tree outside of the room's window, making sure that he's well hidden. This way, he could
eavesdrop on the two's conversation without being noticed.
"Why did he have to come back? Why now?" Akane was pacing around the room, shouting
out questions hastily.
"Two years ago, you were asking me why he left. And I still don't have the answer to
that one yet." Nabiki replied in a careless manner, but Ranma could see worry in her eyes.
Akane stopped pacing and glared at her sister sitting on the bed. If looks could
kill, Nabiki would have died on the spot.
"I don't know," The older sister went on, "maybe he missed you or something."
"Missed me? MISSED ME?" Akane's anger could only hold so far, "He has never cared
for me... He lied to me, and he left without even saying so much as a farewell."
Silence.
"That's not fair. I mean, I don't care much for him leaving you, but everyone in this
damned town knows how much you two loved each other." Ranma gasped at Nabiki's declaration.
"He never said it though..."
Nabiki went on, pretending not to notice Akane's murmur, "Maybe he still love you,
I know that you still have feeling for him--"
"Don't say that!" Akane yelled.
"Say what? That you still love him?" Nabiki blinked in confusion. "Don't you?"
"No! Yes... I don't know... *pause* I just don't know..." Akane collapsed on her bed.
"Two years ago you would've never doubted your feelings..."
"But I'm no longer the love-sick fool I was." Akane complemented her sister's words.
Aren't you? Nabiki thought. "Is this..." She hesitated, "Is this because of Ranma?"
The boy's ears perked up at the mentioning of his name.
"Ranma? What does he have to do with this?" The girl in question was thoroughly
confused.
"Oh sis, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. Can you honest look at
me in the eyes and tell me that you don't have feeling for him? Ranma, I mean." Nabiki turned
Akane around so they're facing each other.
The youngest Tendo turned back, "No...no, I can't. Because even if I did, both you
and I would know that it's a lie." Ranma's heart soared at the words.
Nabiki got up to leave the room, deciding that a long nap would do Akane good. But
she was stopped dead in her track by a sentence so soft that she thought she had imagined it.
"Thanks, sis. You and Kasumi both... and Kuno and Dr. Tofu... without you guys, I
don't know what I would have done."
Nabiki turned around and Ranma thought he saw something in her eyes, it looked like
tears, but he doubted that Nabiki is capable of crying.
"You... knew?" The two monosyllables were filled with emotions, emotions that shouldn't
be associated with the Ice Queen.
"Yeah... I just figured it out." Akane stood up and pulled Nabiki into a hug. "Thank
you so much, 'neechan."
"You are my sister, after all." Nabiki untangled herself from the hug and wiped away
her tears. She smiled a soft smile, which looked odd because of her wet face, "You could always
cook up a meal for the four of us and formerly thank us." This drew another gasp from the tree
outside, Ranma could only handle so much surprises in one day.
"You mean the ones that usually send Ranma to the hospital? Oh my, I didn't know you
all were so eager to die!" Akane joked, followed by a big smile, the first one she had ever
since she found the small piece of paper in the mailbox.
Nabiki hit her playfully, "You know perfectly well that I meant the way you cook
before Ryu-kun left."
The mentioning of his name sobered up the situation a little, but Akane was still
grinning, "It's a deal, oneechan."
Nabiki started for the door again before she turned around and asked, "Are you ever
going to tell Ranma about this? Or are you just hoping this will fade away?"
"I... I'll tell him... tomorrow. He deserves to know. But now I'll have to prepare
dinner. Could you tell Kuno and Dr. Tofu to come at six?"
"Of course, little sister."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Ranma cursed himself again. After the exclamation that Akane is going to cook that
night, he had ran out of the house on impulse. It's only now, as he walked into the front door
of Ucchan's, did he remember Nabiki's praise for Akane's cooking. Might as well go and grab
a bite, he thought to himself as he walked toward the kitchen.
The cook was busying flipping okomomiyaki, chopping veggies and meat, and talking to
one of her regular costumers about the new boy in town. The dark-haired man moved away as he
spotted Ranma, giving up the best seat in the house.
"Yo, Ucchan." Ranma yelled, putting on a forced smile.
The girl turned around and smiled brilliantly, "Hi Ranchan, I was just talking about
the new boy, what's his name? Ryu?" Her smile turned into a frown as she remembered something,
"Do you think he's here to kill you? I mean, pretty much all the new boys we've met are after
your tail."
"I haven't got a chance to see him face to face. But I doubt it, though, I think he's
someone from Akane's past." Ranma replied.
"He came over for a okomomiyaki for lunch. Real cute, that boy. He's got good manner,
too, and I bet he's also a martial artist." Ukyo commented as stars sparkled in her eyes.
"What? Cuter than me?" Ranma asked, almost urgently.
"Oh, of course not!" Ukyo answered hastily, "Don't worry Ranchan, he'll never steal
me away from you." She added for reassurance.
You're not the one I'm worried about, Ranma thought. Than he waved and left, not even
stopping to get his second favorite thing in life: free food.
* * * * * * * * * * *
He couldn't hold it any longer. Ranma rubbed his nose again-hard-trying to hold back
the sneeze. Man, I must be allergic to something in this tree.
He was tired, cold and the food Akane's cooking is making his stomach grumble--not an
everyday occurrence. But he had no other choice except to stay in there. Neither Kuno nor the
doctor had arrived yet, and there was no way that Ranma Saotome will give up before even trying.
The doorbell ring. Finally, let's get this show on the road, Ranma said to himself
as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
A few minutes later, he heard voices coming closer to the dinning room.
"Oh, dearest Akane! It pleases me so to see you back as yourself before that peasant,
Ryu left the presence of your beauty." Ranma knew who that was, "the Blue Thunder of Furiken."
They came a little closer and now Ranma could see five people standing in the entrance
of the dinning room: Kasumi, Ona Tofu, Nabiki, Tatawaki Kuno, and Akane.
To his surprise, Akane was actually smiling after Kuno's idiotic declaration.
"Please, Kuno-sampai, you don't have to act so formal here. We're all families." Ranma
could see Akane winking at Nabiki from his place on the tree next to the koi pond.
"What is she talking about?" Ranma asked no one in particular.
"I think I do not fathom what the goddess is talking about?" Kuno voiced Ranma's
question.
"This is what I want to tell everyone today: Akane knows." The last two words from
Nabiki's lips explained everything.
"What! How could you tell her?" Kuno yelled, and to Ranma's surprise, he yelled without
his usual poetic gesture.
"Oh, can it, Kuno-baby. She found out this morning, I guess it just clicked in her
head." Nabiki dismissed the inquiry with a wave of her hand.
"So... does this mean Igetadate?" Kuno asked in a hurry while inching away from Akane,
just in case she decides to use him for target practice.
The silence followed by the question ended with a smack, initiated by the one and only
Nabiki Tendo and had... of course, Tatawaki Kuno on the receiving end.
Akane gasped in surprise as her hand immediately covered her mouth to suppressed her
giggles. Kasumi and Dr. Tofu also smiled at the young teenagers.
Ranma sat in the tree speechless, marveled that Akane hasn't punt Kuno into oblivion yet.
After a few minutes to get her laughter under control, Akane smiled and replied
dramatically while striking a pose, "Well, Kuno-sampai, I well be _honored_ to date with you.
But I will suffer many insults and punishments from my own sister if she finds out about us.
Oh, Kuno-chan, save me! Save me from that witch Nabiki."
Everyone busted out laughing, even Nabiki tried her best to keep her face straight.
Akane gave a hug to her sister as she whispered something into her ears. Nabiki blushed
furiously and pulled out of the hug.
"This does mean, however, you can stop chasing Ranma and stop reading Shakespeare."
Akane announced as the group arrived at the dining room.
Kuno shrugged noncommittally, and Ranma wondered if this was the same idiotic person
who chased after a guy with a curse.
Akane dished out the food as everyone dig in. Dinner conversation was light, mostly
consisted of the youngest Tendo teasing her sisters and possible future brother-in-laws.
The laughter was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Puzzled, Akane went to see
who it was. Her father and Mr. Saotome were not due back until Monday... of course, it could
be because they spend all their money in a bar somewhere.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???"
Ranma was almost ready to get out of the tree when he heard Akane's scream. Refraining
himself from following the others rushing to the door, he leaped onto the roof to get a better
viewing of the door.
There Ranma saw a brown-haired boy, dressed in a pair of loose black jeans and a white,
long-sleeved shirt covering his well-defined chest and biceps.
Everyone's expression changed: Kuno drew out his bokken, Nabiki looked at the tall
boy with obvious disgust, Tofu suddenly became sober, and Kasumi eyed the others nervously.
"I don't want any trouble." Ryu whispered in a husky voice. Ranma strained his ears
to hear what he was saying, "I just need to talk to Akane."
"Yeah, and what makes you think we'll let you." Kuno asked through clenched teeth.
Akane stepped between the two guys, trying to avoid a fight, "Please, Tatawaki. I'll
talk to him in the dojo. You guys just go back to dinner." She gave the angry Kuno a little
push toward the dining room. The others left reluctantly and Akane led Ryu to the dojo.
Ranma followed them on the roof and stopped outside of the dojo. Akane was, again,
screaming.
"You LEFT me!!! I gave you me heart and then you just left!" Akane ramble on, pacing
back and forth in front of the tall boy. "You broke my heart! Kami-sama, why did you even stay
with me? It's not like you have any feelings for me!"
Ryu seemed to be tired of Akane meaningless ramble. He stood up and grabbed her arm.
He murmured into her ears in a low, almost dangerous whisper, "You can hit me, and slap me.
You can even kill me if you want. But don't you dare to say I didn't love you."
Surprised, Akane looked straight into his sparkling, green eyes, "You never told me,
Ryu-kun. I told you 'I love you' again and again. But you would never say those words back.
I would've married you."
"I love you."
Akane buried her sobbing face in Ryu's chest after his soft confession.
"I love you, I love you... with my heart." He murmured into her hair, again and again,
as if willing her to believe him.
Outside, Ranma edged closer to the door, trying to hear if Akane answered Ryu with her
own feeling.
"Marry me, Akane. Became my wife." Ryu asked as he cupped Akane's face in his palms.
Akane ignored his question and turned away from his piercing eyes, "Why did you leave
me two years ago, Ryu-chan?"
Ranma stiffened at Akane's change of suffix of the boy's name. Does she really love
this guy? He asked himself, though it the question went unanswered.
"It's a long story, 'Kane-chan. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow." Replied Ryu,
almost sorrowfully as he sat down on the floor.
"Then you'll have my answer in two days. I have to tend my guests now."
Ranma moved to see Akane leaving the dojo in haste through a crack in the wall. He
almost gasped as Ryu turned his gaze toward him, as if the boy inside knew he was there.
Ryu then turned toward the door where Akane existed only moments earlier.
"Akane Tendo, you _will_ be my bride."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Author's notes: If you're going to email me and say the characters are OOC, then I'll agree
with you, and then ignore you. Because I know the characters are OOC and I'll explain why
in the next part, which would come out in mid-July and no sooner 'cause I've got to work on
getting all my other fics out first. Leave a review!
Here's a sneak preview of the next part: Ranma get a taste of Ryu's martial arts skills,
and can you say "OUCH". Akane explains her past with Ryu to Ranma and he finally finds out
why Kuno and Dr. Tofu are the way they are. Also, Ryu revealed his identity to Ranma, looks
like there's no way Ranma will be able to compete with this new-comer for Akane's hand. Hehe,
I'm so evil.
Ta-ta, CSMars