ch2ymt Pain in My Heart
Akane watched Ranma sneak back into the compound late that night and felt her blood boiling. *He avoided my cooking on purpose! I knew it! I'll kill him!* She ran from her room, summoning the mallet she used on him when she was angry.
"RANMA!" She cried, lunging for him.
He looked up, startled. "Akane!" This time, instead of letting it hit him, he caught the mallet, jerking it from her grasp. His arms caught her as she fell forwards. "What is this all about?" He asked, his voice tired.
"You purposefully avoided dinner tonight! You knew it was my night to cook and you ran off! Where d'ya go?! Nekohanten?! Ucchans?!"
He laid a finger on her lips, silencing her. "I wasn't at either. I didn't have dinner. I was out looking for something..." He smiled a bit, and looked down. "If there's any left...I'm kinda hungry..."
Akane's eyes widened. Then, shame filled her eyes. "No, I couldn't make you eat that...it tasted horrible...I was...just upset you didn't even show... I guess I was kinda worried..."
It was his turn to be surprised. "A-Akane..." A nice smile spread across his lips. Suddenly, Akane's stomache growled, ruining the mood. "Come on, let's see if we can find anything to eat..." He said, chuckling.
Akane blushed furiously. "I...food would be good, I guess..." She said grudgingly, silently cursing her stomache. "Where were you anyways?"
"Um...makin some decisions...doin some thinkin and stuff..." He purposely kept his answer vauge.
"Ranma..." She stopped him. "Tell me. I was worried about you...you totally vanish halfway through school, then for several hours tonight. What is going ON?!"
He hung his head. "I...I'm gettin rid of some problems, Akane...I'm tryin to...ya know, sort everythin out..."
She froze. "Which problems..."
"My fiancee problems...that's the main one..." He looked up at her. "Not to mention the hardest, then, there's the parents...and my curse..."
Akane's heart broke. *Is he going to get rid of me once and for all? H-he...is that why...he wanted to be alone tonight...please gods, tell me he isn't going to leave me...I couldn't handle being alone!*
Suddenly, something fell from his pocket and hit the ground. Akane bent down, picking it up seconds before he could get it again. She looked up at him and saw the fear in his eyes.
Slowly, she examined the ring. It was obviously an engagement ring. It looked more expensive than Ranma could afford, too. She could see an engraving in it, but it was too dark to read. "It's lovely..." She whispered, handing it back to him.
Ranma swallowed. *That was close...I don't want her to know I chose her until-*
"Who's it for?" She asked softly, turning from him so he couldn't see the tears that suddenly pierced her eyes.
"Huh?"
"The ring...who's it for?"
He swallowed, noting she was quivering. "I'll tell you soon..." He promised. "I have to take care of some other stuff first..." He whispered.
"Looks expensive. I guess my sister didn't swindle as much money from you as it seemed." Akane said bitterly. Knowing her luck, he was going to get rid of all his suitors and marry someone she didn't know...or worse, one of her sisters.
He bit his lip, a pain deep in his heart. "Akane, are you mad at me?" He asked softly.
"Why would I be mad? I'm just glad you finally got your act together and decided to pick someone." She said the words out of spite, her anger almost at the surface. She knew the mallet wouldn't do any good right now.
Ranma watched Akane walk back inside and fell to his knees. "Akane..." He whispered. "It's for you..." He closed his eyes tightly, wishing she'd hit him instead of saying the harsh words that had left her.

Ranma flopped down onto the futon, staring up at the roof. *Akane...why don't you understand...It's for you...don't you see I love you...?" He felt a tear roll down his face and cursed, wiping it away. Tears would do no good. No, he had to be strong if he wanted to win her.
Stronger than his other fiancee and her other suitors. Stronger than their parents. Stronger than his curse. Stronger than her.
A tiny smile played on his lips. "Akane, you'll understand, soon...very soon...I'll make ya..."
*I'll make ya see I love ya...*

Akane walked past Ranma without so much as a hello the next morning. *I can't BELIEVE he chose someone else...WHY?! Aren't I good enough?!*
"Hi, Akane..." Ranma said, falling into stride with her as they walked to school.
"Hi."
"Why are you angry with me?"
"I don't know."
He zipped before her, looking down at her sadly. "I know there's a reason, what is it? Please, tell me? Is it the ring?"
Akane looked down at the ground, her face angry.
"Oh, yeah...it's the ring alright..." He said, punching his head. "Why are you so upset about that anyways?"
"Well...um...because I'm your fianceeandIknow you'renotgivingittome..." She finished in a rush, trying to ignore his peircing stare.
Ranma couldn't help but laugh. "Akane no baka!" He said, leaning towards her. "You don't know anythin'..." He kissed her cheek and turned back in the direction they were walking.
She blinked then caught up with him. "Ranma, what do you mean?! Who's it for?!"
Ranma grinned. "You'll just have to wait till everyone else finds out. I haven't even told her yet, but I'll tell her when I tell everyone else..."
"Ranma-" She grabbed his arm. "Answer me, please..." *It's important.*
"It's for..." He smiled, then looked down at her. "Someone very special and beautiful...who I care for..."
Akane's heart shattered. *He's in love...but... I love him...can't he see that...?* Then, she remembered everytime she got angry with him and pounded him into the dirt. "I bet she's nothing like me, right?"
At the bitter tone of her voice, he winced. "I think you'll like her actually. She's a wonderful friend, and a great person..."
"Ukyou?"
"Iie..."
"Shampoo?"
"Uh uh."
"Who?"
He stopped. "Akane, if I told ya, it wouldn't be a surprise..." Suddenly, some cold water caught him in his face and he shook his head, startled. "I can't believe this...every single day...why, do I have a sign on my back saying splash me for kicks?!"
Akane felt a soft giggle escape her. "Hmmm... that could be it..." She said, skipping ahead of him.
Ranma stared down at his female body. "I hate this..." He whispered. "I want to be a man for her..."
She turned towards him, her face sad. "Come on, we wouldn't want to be late, besides, we gotta get you some hot water."
He nodded and they ran to school.

The girls in class were gossiping as usual. "I hear Ranma's finally going to pick a fiancee!"
"You're kidding! He'd never do that! He's too much of a coward!"
"Well, rumor has it..." The girl paused for effect. "He bought a ring. It's supposed to have some kind of inscription in it! Akane saw the ring, but couldn't read the inscriptrion! Do you think it's for her?!"
"No, she'd never go for it. She'd just throw the ring back at him and laugh. She does hate guys."
Akane listened to them, her face still holding the sadness from earlier. *They're right. I hated him...but...losing him...it scares me...I used to think I could hate him, when I first met him...but I actually l-lo-like him...alot...*
A sigh escaped her and she rested her head on the desk. Ukyou seemed convinced that the ring was for her and sat confident, her head held high.
*Why would Ranma love me?!* Akane mentally screamed. *We were forced into the engagement...I always hurt him...I never treated him very well...*
>Iwanttoseeyousmilemore...
She sighed and glanced at him from the corner of her eye, only to catch him glancing at her the same way. She gulped and looked at the top of her desk. *I care for him...I wont hit him anymore...maybe we can still be friends...*

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