Sorry it took so long to get this part out, but limited computer time can do that for
you (evil parents!). Anyway, read my author's notes at the bottom and I think that should
be everything. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, damn! But I do own Ryu and the song in this chapter.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Phoenix and the Dragon Trilogy
Part 2: Lovers' Past Revealed
By: CSMars
7/10/2001
Ranma dragged himself out of his futon at six in the morning. Usually he loved
Saturdays without his old man and treasured them dearly by sleeping in, but today is
different--Ryu is staying in the dojo.
Even though Akane introduced the boy as a friend, Ranma knew what's going on and
to put it bluntly: he was worried... worried and jealous, though he fought hard against
the latter emotion.
He got dressed--his regular red shirt and black pants-- and walked toward the
dojo, hoping he could dump a bucket of cold water on Ryu without him knowing. But what
he saw shocked him to the core.
Akane was in the boy's arms as the two of them moved on the dojo floor with perfect
grace and harmony.
Ranma took a step to his left so the two wouldn't spot him.
"Now kick out... great! Akane, I can't believe you still remember this kata." Ryu
murmured softly, seducing even the air around the duo.
Kata!?! Ranma's mind exploded, it's more of a dance than any kind of kata he's ever seen.
"Thanks." Came Akane's quiet reply as she turned around to face her "friend."
Ryu raised his hand and brushed away a few strands of her hair, he moved his hand
down to cup her face. Akane stood still, neither inviting him nor trying to fight off his
advance. After a few seconds, he leaned down slowly while drawing her face closer.
Ranma's heart _burned_ with rage. How dare he!?! But just as he clenched his fist,
intending to teach this... boy a lesson, the floor under his feet creaked.
Akane immediately snapped out of her trance as she turned her head toward the door,
where Ranma emerged. Ryu just muttered soft curses at... well, we all know whom he's cursing
at.
"Hey, don't mind me. I'm just going to get some training done before pop come home."
Ranma said with a cocky grin.
"Umm... actually, I'm going to take a shower now. See you at breakfast." Blushing,
Akane hurried out of the room.
Ranma opened his mouth again when he was sure that Akane is out of the hearing range,
"Hiya, Ryu... isn't it? Do you wanna spar?" Do you wanna die? His mind asked.
"Sure, it's been a long time since I've had a spar partner." Sure, I'll take you on.
But don't make any promises you can't keep.
"I won't go easy on you." There ain't no way you're gonna to steal Akane away from me.
"I don't expect anything less from you. From what I heard, you're the best around."
Akane will choose me on her own free will, you just watch and see!
"Damn right I am!" No way in hell!
Then, the two boys blurred.
You're good, Ranma. But you don't got the goods to defeat me. Ryu thought as he
delivered a series of punches on Ranma's torso.
I can't believe it! This guy's basic form is that of the Saotome-ryu of Musabetsu
Kakuto. That's... that's impossible! Ranma thought as Ryu slammed him into the wall.
"Good match." Ryu said as he stretched a hand to help Ranma up.
"One more!" Ranma yelled, not ready to admit defeat.
"Later, I gotta talk to Nabiki before breakfast." Ryu dismissed Ranma's request with
a wave of his hand. "Anyway, it's getting pretty hot."
Ranma solved the weather problem by slipping out of his shirt. "Come on," he spoke
in a voice too close to begging, "one more."
But Ryu just starred at his back. "Where did you get that?" He asked urgently, pointing
at a mark on his right shoulder blade.
Ranma strained his neck to get a better look, "Oh, that... that's a birth mark. My
mom said it looked like a horseshoe when I was born, that's why she named me Ranma. But now
it's all stretched out."
"Breakfast!!!" Kasumi's cheerful voice rang throughout the house.
"Food!" Ranma exclaimed like a little kid as he rushed out of the dojo, sparring long
forgotten.
But Ryu stood at the same place, his hand still up in the air, pointing at where Ranma
had been. Dammit! It can't be him... no, it just can't. I've already lost her to him again,
I'm not about to do it again... Oh kami-sama! Please don't let it be him... please don't let
Ranma be who I think he is...
* * *
Breakfasts at the Tendo's were usually uneventful, this morning was no exception.
Ranma and Ryu both sat next to Akane, giving each other dirty glares when the other
isn't looking. It was actually quite amusing for Nabiki, who sat across from the three. She
pulled her younger sister into the kitchen and told her that she better tell Ranma about Ryu
soon, or they'll end up killing each other.
"Ranma has no reason to attack Ryu." Akane said, puzzled at her sister's worried
expression.
"And I thought you became smarter... Ranma was eavesdropping on us yesterday. He
heard everything we said, and probably the whole conversation between you and Ryu-kun."
Nabiki went straight to the point, hoping Akane won't punt Ranma into next week.
But what surprised her is that Akane showed no anger toward her fiancé. "Could you
take Ryu around Nerima after breakfast? Just give me an hour alone with Ranma."
"Sure, sis. And I'll even do it for free."
* * *
"Ranma?" Akane asked timidly from behind the door, "Could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Umm... sure." Ranma sat up, wondering what could be so important.
"Look, I'm just going to cut the chase. I know you were listening to my conversations
yesterday." Akane's confidence returned as Ranma paled.
"Oh... that... how did you know?"
"Let's just say that my sister is a very observant woman. Usually I would hit you for
eavesdropping, but I have to tell you about Ryu now, so I want you to be conscious." Akane
sat herself in a chair as she began her tale.
"When Kasumi, Nabiki and I were little, our parents taught all of us the arts, hoping
one day we would become the heir of the Tendo-ryu of Musabetsu Kakuto. They were so proud of
us whenever we would learn something new and we did everything we could to please them. But
when my mother... died, a part of daddy died with her. *sniffle* He lost his spirit and his
love toward the arts. The three of us stopped our training and took up mother's responsibilities.
Both Kasumi and Nabiki were forced to grow up, I was too, but I didn't want to. Kasumi took
care of the house, and a few years later, when our parents' life saving was almost completely
drained, Nabiki took care of our finances. I went on with my normal life. I became a straight
A student, not because I loved school that much. But because I found out that my father would
smile at my report card, just as he would smile at Kasumi when she cooked his favorite meal,
the way mother used to..."
Akane closed her eyes, blinking back the tears. "Or at Nabiki when she tells him how
much money she's made at her job. I loved daddy's smile, but I wanted to see that smile on his
face everyday, not just a fleeting moment when he remembered that we existed or that he's still
alive. My prayers were answered... One day, when I was 14, I was walking home from one of my
friends' house after we finished our science project. It was late and the streets were dark.
I don't remember exactly what happened, just a group of men came out of an alley and hit me on
the head. They took my book bag and my purse, and they started tearing off my cloths."
Ranma shuddered at the description, he never knew how much pain Akane went through.
"I know what they wanted, but I didn't remember anything my parents taught me 8 years
ago. But then, this indistinct shape jumped in front of me and knocked all of the men unconscious.
It was a boy... no more than 17 years old. I tried my best to cover myself, hoping he won't
take advantage of me, knowing that I can't do anything if he decides to. But he took one look
at me and handed over his jacket, telling me not to be afraid. He told me his name is Ryu as
he walked me home. Those 15 minutes was the longest 15 minutes in my life. I told him everything
about myself: my family, my friends, my likes and dislikes, my dreams for the future. I told
him things even my father doesn't know. I didn't know why I trusted him so much, maybe because
he saved my life, or because he seemed so interested in me."
I save you all the time, but I don't know anything about you. Ranma thought.
"He told me a few things about himself and I learned that he's an orphan who travels
around the world, rarely holding down a job or have the time to make friends. By the time we've
reached the dojo, I know that I've fallen in love with him."
Ranma cringed visibly, only if Akane's eyes were opened to see it.
"He went straight to my father after I invited him in. I'm not sure what they talked
about, but when he came out, he said he'll take up the training which left me behind eight
years ago."
Akane opened her eyes again to see Ranma looking at her expectantly, "What?"
"That's it?" Ranma asked, "Then what happened?"
"Nothing much, we just trained and we... started dating a few months later."
"When did he leave? And what's up with Kuno and Dr. Tofu?"
"He left a year after we met, without any reason or note. I was so mad at him first,
then I thought I drove him away. Nabiki and Kasumi had already started dating Kuno and Dr. Tofu
at that time, so my sisters asked their boyfriends to help me out of my depression. Dr. Tofu
gave me a potion that made me interested in him, but the concentration was a little more than
needed, so he started his 'betty-chan' routine around Kasumi so I won't become serious about
him. And Kuno... well, he started that whole 'fight for a date' thing. I can't believe I didn't
figure it out sooner, but they really helped me with keeping my mind off Ryu." Akane explained.
"And the whole 'pig-tailed girl' thing, it was all a ruse?" Ranma questioned.
Akane had to smile at that question, "Why? Ranma, did you like being chased around by
him?"
"NO WAY!"
"Well, I think Nabiki told him about our fathers' arrangement, so I guess Kuno thought
he needed to interfere with our lives as much as possible." Akane laughed as she thought about
the irony of the whole thing.
The two sat in awkward silence, neither knew what to say.
"Well, I'm going to help Kasumi with shopping." Akane fled the room before Ranma could
ask the question that's on his mind.
"Are you going to marry him?"
* * *
Akane climbed onto the rooftop and saw a person already sitting there, fingering an
old steel guitar.
"I can't believe you still have that old thing." Akane commented as she took a sit next
to Ryu.
He smiled at her but didn't say anything. Gradually, a soft melody formed under Ryu's
fingers.
Not satisfied with just listening, Akane began to sing out the sorrow of her heart:
"You came to me in my prayer,
Like a knight that I've waited for so long,
We fell in love, so young, so pure.
A kiss, that's all I needed to make you mine.
But you left me one day,
My heart had broken in million pieces.
They say time heals it all,
But it did nothing to soothe my pain.
Oh oh oh...
Even though the future seems uncertain,
I want you to know this from my lips:
In my dream I'll see your smiling at me,
Under the sun, in the park where we used to kiss.
In my heart there'll always be a place for you,
So with every breath I take... I take with you by my side!
Oh... lover... oh, my lover...
In the past, you've always been so quick,
To lend a hand when I trip or fall,
In the distant future when I'm old,
I just want you to know...
In my dreams I'll see you smiling at me,
Under the sun, in the part where we used to kiss...
Oh... lover... my lover..."
"Akane, get down here! I need to talk to you." Nabiki's demanding voice interrupted
the heartfelt song, and also told Akane that she better not ignore her call.
* * *
"Look, sis. There are something I have to tell you." Nabiki spoke as she shuffled
through a stack of paper.
Akane sat on the bed and folded her arms, "Go ahead."
Nabiki... gulped? "Three years ago, when Ryu came to live with us, I didn't have
enough... informants so I didn't do a background check on him. But I called in a few favorites
when we got that letter he send a few days ago..."
"So? What did you find?" Akane asked in a bored tone.
"Nothing."
"What?" Now Akane's interest has been piqued. Nabiki had always got what she wanted.
"That's what's so weird about the whole thing. I can't find anything on him. No birth
certificate, no social security number, no known IDs, no school record... Nothing. It's almost
if he just appeared out of nowhere." Nabiki couldn't help but blush. I can't believe this is
happening to me, she thought, and Akane better not tell anyone or my reputation will be
ruined.
But Akane had other thoughts on her mind, "What I don't understand is... how could you
have checked Ryu's background if you don't know his last name?"
Nabiki's head snapped up as she exploded, "What? You mean you don't remember him telling
us his family name?"
* * *
"You can come out now, Ranma." Ryu whispered after Akane climbed down the ladder.
"I wasn't spying or nothin', you took my spot, that's all." Ranma mumbled as he leaped
onto the roof from the tree he was hiding in.
"Kami, you're so pathetic." Ryu murmured exasperatedly.
Ranma kindly ignored the comment, telling himself that it was only the wind.
After a few seconds of silence, Ryu spoke up, "Hey, man, if Akane wants a western wedding,
would you be my best man?"
And the reaction he got was exactly what he expected: Ranma jumped on his feet and
snarled, "Akane. Is. not. Going to. Marry you!"
Ryu just smirked and questioned, "Who else is going to marry her? You?"
Ranma blushed but said nothing.
Ryu's smirk turned into a sincere smile, "Do you love her?"
"That tomboy... no... of course not..." Ranma sputtered.
Chuckling, Ryu shook his head, "Why are you denying it, Ranma? Who are you trying to
fool? Yourself? For Kami's sake, you killed a god to save her, and you still deny your feeling."
Ranma gasped, how could he know about Saffron?
"You're so stupid, Ranma." Ryu continued, "You think you're the best, but I can kill
you within one minute. *snort* You're only a horse, Ran-Ma, but I am a dragon. And I can and
will beat you in anything and everything."
"Yeah, well... Akane's going to marry a Saotome, she's honor-bound to." Ranma retorted,
not knowing he's digging himself deeper into Ryu's test.
"And you're going to marry her, right? Not Kuno, not Ryoga, not Shinnosuke, you, Ranma
Saotome, are going to make her your wife. Because you love her that much, right?"
"I... I don't... I didn't mean I love her..." Ranma stuttered
I've given two chances to confess your feeling. But it's too late, Ranma. You're
_never_ going to take Akane away from me. Ryu ignored Ranma's stammering and revealed the one
secret that will ensure the destruction of Ranma's self-confidence once and for all. "Of all
the idiotic things you've said today, you're right about one thing... Akane is going to become
Mrs. Saotome...
...Mrs. Ryu Saotome."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's notes: Hehehe!!! I'm sooo evil! But if you wanna kill me, you're gonna to have to take
a number ^_^
Anyway, I really hope you liked this chapter, and please review!!! It's great to hear from my
readers, even if it's flame! I'll probably get the next part of this out in a week or so, so
check back soon.
I won't be working on LTE for a while because I really want to finish this. But after I do,
I'll go back to "Love Thy Enemy", "Angle of Vengeance", "A Different Life" and a new series
called "Truths Be Told."
Next part: Ryu's past is revealed and if you think this chapter's got surprises, next part's
gonna be a wild ride!!!
Love ya'll, CSMars
you (evil parents!). Anyway, read my author's notes at the bottom and I think that should
be everything. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, damn! But I do own Ryu and the song in this chapter.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Phoenix and the Dragon Trilogy
Part 2: Lovers' Past Revealed
By: CSMars
7/10/2001
Ranma dragged himself out of his futon at six in the morning. Usually he loved
Saturdays without his old man and treasured them dearly by sleeping in, but today is
different--Ryu is staying in the dojo.
Even though Akane introduced the boy as a friend, Ranma knew what's going on and
to put it bluntly: he was worried... worried and jealous, though he fought hard against
the latter emotion.
He got dressed--his regular red shirt and black pants-- and walked toward the
dojo, hoping he could dump a bucket of cold water on Ryu without him knowing. But what
he saw shocked him to the core.
Akane was in the boy's arms as the two of them moved on the dojo floor with perfect
grace and harmony.
Ranma took a step to his left so the two wouldn't spot him.
"Now kick out... great! Akane, I can't believe you still remember this kata." Ryu
murmured softly, seducing even the air around the duo.
Kata!?! Ranma's mind exploded, it's more of a dance than any kind of kata he's ever seen.
"Thanks." Came Akane's quiet reply as she turned around to face her "friend."
Ryu raised his hand and brushed away a few strands of her hair, he moved his hand
down to cup her face. Akane stood still, neither inviting him nor trying to fight off his
advance. After a few seconds, he leaned down slowly while drawing her face closer.
Ranma's heart _burned_ with rage. How dare he!?! But just as he clenched his fist,
intending to teach this... boy a lesson, the floor under his feet creaked.
Akane immediately snapped out of her trance as she turned her head toward the door,
where Ranma emerged. Ryu just muttered soft curses at... well, we all know whom he's cursing
at.
"Hey, don't mind me. I'm just going to get some training done before pop come home."
Ranma said with a cocky grin.
"Umm... actually, I'm going to take a shower now. See you at breakfast." Blushing,
Akane hurried out of the room.
Ranma opened his mouth again when he was sure that Akane is out of the hearing range,
"Hiya, Ryu... isn't it? Do you wanna spar?" Do you wanna die? His mind asked.
"Sure, it's been a long time since I've had a spar partner." Sure, I'll take you on.
But don't make any promises you can't keep.
"I won't go easy on you." There ain't no way you're gonna to steal Akane away from me.
"I don't expect anything less from you. From what I heard, you're the best around."
Akane will choose me on her own free will, you just watch and see!
"Damn right I am!" No way in hell!
Then, the two boys blurred.
You're good, Ranma. But you don't got the goods to defeat me. Ryu thought as he
delivered a series of punches on Ranma's torso.
I can't believe it! This guy's basic form is that of the Saotome-ryu of Musabetsu
Kakuto. That's... that's impossible! Ranma thought as Ryu slammed him into the wall.
"Good match." Ryu said as he stretched a hand to help Ranma up.
"One more!" Ranma yelled, not ready to admit defeat.
"Later, I gotta talk to Nabiki before breakfast." Ryu dismissed Ranma's request with
a wave of his hand. "Anyway, it's getting pretty hot."
Ranma solved the weather problem by slipping out of his shirt. "Come on," he spoke
in a voice too close to begging, "one more."
But Ryu just starred at his back. "Where did you get that?" He asked urgently, pointing
at a mark on his right shoulder blade.
Ranma strained his neck to get a better look, "Oh, that... that's a birth mark. My
mom said it looked like a horseshoe when I was born, that's why she named me Ranma. But now
it's all stretched out."
"Breakfast!!!" Kasumi's cheerful voice rang throughout the house.
"Food!" Ranma exclaimed like a little kid as he rushed out of the dojo, sparring long
forgotten.
But Ryu stood at the same place, his hand still up in the air, pointing at where Ranma
had been. Dammit! It can't be him... no, it just can't. I've already lost her to him again,
I'm not about to do it again... Oh kami-sama! Please don't let it be him... please don't let
Ranma be who I think he is...
* * *
Breakfasts at the Tendo's were usually uneventful, this morning was no exception.
Ranma and Ryu both sat next to Akane, giving each other dirty glares when the other
isn't looking. It was actually quite amusing for Nabiki, who sat across from the three. She
pulled her younger sister into the kitchen and told her that she better tell Ranma about Ryu
soon, or they'll end up killing each other.
"Ranma has no reason to attack Ryu." Akane said, puzzled at her sister's worried
expression.
"And I thought you became smarter... Ranma was eavesdropping on us yesterday. He
heard everything we said, and probably the whole conversation between you and Ryu-kun."
Nabiki went straight to the point, hoping Akane won't punt Ranma into next week.
But what surprised her is that Akane showed no anger toward her fiancé. "Could you
take Ryu around Nerima after breakfast? Just give me an hour alone with Ranma."
"Sure, sis. And I'll even do it for free."
* * *
"Ranma?" Akane asked timidly from behind the door, "Could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Umm... sure." Ranma sat up, wondering what could be so important.
"Look, I'm just going to cut the chase. I know you were listening to my conversations
yesterday." Akane's confidence returned as Ranma paled.
"Oh... that... how did you know?"
"Let's just say that my sister is a very observant woman. Usually I would hit you for
eavesdropping, but I have to tell you about Ryu now, so I want you to be conscious." Akane
sat herself in a chair as she began her tale.
"When Kasumi, Nabiki and I were little, our parents taught all of us the arts, hoping
one day we would become the heir of the Tendo-ryu of Musabetsu Kakuto. They were so proud of
us whenever we would learn something new and we did everything we could to please them. But
when my mother... died, a part of daddy died with her. *sniffle* He lost his spirit and his
love toward the arts. The three of us stopped our training and took up mother's responsibilities.
Both Kasumi and Nabiki were forced to grow up, I was too, but I didn't want to. Kasumi took
care of the house, and a few years later, when our parents' life saving was almost completely
drained, Nabiki took care of our finances. I went on with my normal life. I became a straight
A student, not because I loved school that much. But because I found out that my father would
smile at my report card, just as he would smile at Kasumi when she cooked his favorite meal,
the way mother used to..."
Akane closed her eyes, blinking back the tears. "Or at Nabiki when she tells him how
much money she's made at her job. I loved daddy's smile, but I wanted to see that smile on his
face everyday, not just a fleeting moment when he remembered that we existed or that he's still
alive. My prayers were answered... One day, when I was 14, I was walking home from one of my
friends' house after we finished our science project. It was late and the streets were dark.
I don't remember exactly what happened, just a group of men came out of an alley and hit me on
the head. They took my book bag and my purse, and they started tearing off my cloths."
Ranma shuddered at the description, he never knew how much pain Akane went through.
"I know what they wanted, but I didn't remember anything my parents taught me 8 years
ago. But then, this indistinct shape jumped in front of me and knocked all of the men unconscious.
It was a boy... no more than 17 years old. I tried my best to cover myself, hoping he won't
take advantage of me, knowing that I can't do anything if he decides to. But he took one look
at me and handed over his jacket, telling me not to be afraid. He told me his name is Ryu as
he walked me home. Those 15 minutes was the longest 15 minutes in my life. I told him everything
about myself: my family, my friends, my likes and dislikes, my dreams for the future. I told
him things even my father doesn't know. I didn't know why I trusted him so much, maybe because
he saved my life, or because he seemed so interested in me."
I save you all the time, but I don't know anything about you. Ranma thought.
"He told me a few things about himself and I learned that he's an orphan who travels
around the world, rarely holding down a job or have the time to make friends. By the time we've
reached the dojo, I know that I've fallen in love with him."
Ranma cringed visibly, only if Akane's eyes were opened to see it.
"He went straight to my father after I invited him in. I'm not sure what they talked
about, but when he came out, he said he'll take up the training which left me behind eight
years ago."
Akane opened her eyes again to see Ranma looking at her expectantly, "What?"
"That's it?" Ranma asked, "Then what happened?"
"Nothing much, we just trained and we... started dating a few months later."
"When did he leave? And what's up with Kuno and Dr. Tofu?"
"He left a year after we met, without any reason or note. I was so mad at him first,
then I thought I drove him away. Nabiki and Kasumi had already started dating Kuno and Dr. Tofu
at that time, so my sisters asked their boyfriends to help me out of my depression. Dr. Tofu
gave me a potion that made me interested in him, but the concentration was a little more than
needed, so he started his 'betty-chan' routine around Kasumi so I won't become serious about
him. And Kuno... well, he started that whole 'fight for a date' thing. I can't believe I didn't
figure it out sooner, but they really helped me with keeping my mind off Ryu." Akane explained.
"And the whole 'pig-tailed girl' thing, it was all a ruse?" Ranma questioned.
Akane had to smile at that question, "Why? Ranma, did you like being chased around by
him?"
"NO WAY!"
"Well, I think Nabiki told him about our fathers' arrangement, so I guess Kuno thought
he needed to interfere with our lives as much as possible." Akane laughed as she thought about
the irony of the whole thing.
The two sat in awkward silence, neither knew what to say.
"Well, I'm going to help Kasumi with shopping." Akane fled the room before Ranma could
ask the question that's on his mind.
"Are you going to marry him?"
* * *
Akane climbed onto the rooftop and saw a person already sitting there, fingering an
old steel guitar.
"I can't believe you still have that old thing." Akane commented as she took a sit next
to Ryu.
He smiled at her but didn't say anything. Gradually, a soft melody formed under Ryu's
fingers.
Not satisfied with just listening, Akane began to sing out the sorrow of her heart:
"You came to me in my prayer,
Like a knight that I've waited for so long,
We fell in love, so young, so pure.
A kiss, that's all I needed to make you mine.
But you left me one day,
My heart had broken in million pieces.
They say time heals it all,
But it did nothing to soothe my pain.
Oh oh oh...
Even though the future seems uncertain,
I want you to know this from my lips:
In my dream I'll see your smiling at me,
Under the sun, in the park where we used to kiss.
In my heart there'll always be a place for you,
So with every breath I take... I take with you by my side!
Oh... lover... oh, my lover...
In the past, you've always been so quick,
To lend a hand when I trip or fall,
In the distant future when I'm old,
I just want you to know...
In my dreams I'll see you smiling at me,
Under the sun, in the part where we used to kiss...
Oh... lover... my lover..."
"Akane, get down here! I need to talk to you." Nabiki's demanding voice interrupted
the heartfelt song, and also told Akane that she better not ignore her call.
* * *
"Look, sis. There are something I have to tell you." Nabiki spoke as she shuffled
through a stack of paper.
Akane sat on the bed and folded her arms, "Go ahead."
Nabiki... gulped? "Three years ago, when Ryu came to live with us, I didn't have
enough... informants so I didn't do a background check on him. But I called in a few favorites
when we got that letter he send a few days ago..."
"So? What did you find?" Akane asked in a bored tone.
"Nothing."
"What?" Now Akane's interest has been piqued. Nabiki had always got what she wanted.
"That's what's so weird about the whole thing. I can't find anything on him. No birth
certificate, no social security number, no known IDs, no school record... Nothing. It's almost
if he just appeared out of nowhere." Nabiki couldn't help but blush. I can't believe this is
happening to me, she thought, and Akane better not tell anyone or my reputation will be
ruined.
But Akane had other thoughts on her mind, "What I don't understand is... how could you
have checked Ryu's background if you don't know his last name?"
Nabiki's head snapped up as she exploded, "What? You mean you don't remember him telling
us his family name?"
* * *
"You can come out now, Ranma." Ryu whispered after Akane climbed down the ladder.
"I wasn't spying or nothin', you took my spot, that's all." Ranma mumbled as he leaped
onto the roof from the tree he was hiding in.
"Kami, you're so pathetic." Ryu murmured exasperatedly.
Ranma kindly ignored the comment, telling himself that it was only the wind.
After a few seconds of silence, Ryu spoke up, "Hey, man, if Akane wants a western wedding,
would you be my best man?"
And the reaction he got was exactly what he expected: Ranma jumped on his feet and
snarled, "Akane. Is. not. Going to. Marry you!"
Ryu just smirked and questioned, "Who else is going to marry her? You?"
Ranma blushed but said nothing.
Ryu's smirk turned into a sincere smile, "Do you love her?"
"That tomboy... no... of course not..." Ranma sputtered.
Chuckling, Ryu shook his head, "Why are you denying it, Ranma? Who are you trying to
fool? Yourself? For Kami's sake, you killed a god to save her, and you still deny your feeling."
Ranma gasped, how could he know about Saffron?
"You're so stupid, Ranma." Ryu continued, "You think you're the best, but I can kill
you within one minute. *snort* You're only a horse, Ran-Ma, but I am a dragon. And I can and
will beat you in anything and everything."
"Yeah, well... Akane's going to marry a Saotome, she's honor-bound to." Ranma retorted,
not knowing he's digging himself deeper into Ryu's test.
"And you're going to marry her, right? Not Kuno, not Ryoga, not Shinnosuke, you, Ranma
Saotome, are going to make her your wife. Because you love her that much, right?"
"I... I don't... I didn't mean I love her..." Ranma stuttered
I've given two chances to confess your feeling. But it's too late, Ranma. You're
_never_ going to take Akane away from me. Ryu ignored Ranma's stammering and revealed the one
secret that will ensure the destruction of Ranma's self-confidence once and for all. "Of all
the idiotic things you've said today, you're right about one thing... Akane is going to become
Mrs. Saotome...
...Mrs. Ryu Saotome."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's notes: Hehehe!!! I'm sooo evil! But if you wanna kill me, you're gonna to have to take
a number ^_^
Anyway, I really hope you liked this chapter, and please review!!! It's great to hear from my
readers, even if it's flame! I'll probably get the next part of this out in a week or so, so
check back soon.
I won't be working on LTE for a while because I really want to finish this. But after I do,
I'll go back to "Love Thy Enemy", "Angle of Vengeance", "A Different Life" and a new series
called "Truths Be Told."
Next part: Ryu's past is revealed and if you think this chapter's got surprises, next part's
gonna be a wild ride!!!
Love ya'll, CSMars