Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Rumiko
Takahashi and other respective companies and I am
in no way making any profit from this story. This
is just for my personal enjoyment and for the
enjoyment of those who may read this.
Email me with C&C: simplyshy@hotmail.com
*************************************************
The Truth: Part 4
by SM
*************************************************
"Akane?"
I rolled over in bed, burrowing my head in my pillow so that I could drown out the sound of the voice that was ruining the first peaceful sleeping I'd had in awhile.
"Buttercup, get up!" The mocking voice had a singsong quality that annoyed the heck out of me.
Besides, Nabiki only called me buttercup when she was really trying to get a rise out of me.
It all had to do with yellow being my favorite color and a certain frilly dress Mother had gotten for me that Nabiki swore made me look like a buttercup on a spring day.
Needless to say, it was not the best thing to call someone on a Saturday morning, especially when that person had had as eventful a night as I had.
I grabbed my pillow and swung it at the intruder and was pleased to hear an indignant shriek come from my sister as she fell to the floor.
"Jeez buttercup, is that any way to treat your older sister who only has the best intentions in mind? And I was so worried."
I cracked open an eye and saw Nabiki's face as she peered at me over the edge of the bed. Her eyes were big and round and her lips were formed into a pout.
She looked utterly ridiculous.
"Okay, okay I'm up already. But don't think it's because of that stupid look you just gave me, sis. What time is it anyway?"
Nabiki stood and looked over me at my Felix the Cat wall clock. Ranma hated that clock with a passion and claimed that the eyes followed him every time he came in my room.
The big baby.
"It's fifteen 'til noon, buttercup. Ranma came in earlier to call you to breakfast but he said the stupid cat was staring at him and that got him all nervous."
Nabiki gave me a huge smile as she sat at the edge of the bed.
"Oh, and you also ended up whacking him out of the room while you were asleep. But I think it was definitely the cat that got him outta here."
She giggled and I groaned. Even in my sleep I was still the same violent tomboy!
"Well, I'll find a way to make it up to him later. And what exactly does that smirk on your face mean, Nabiki?"
Nabiki raised her arms in defense.
"Hey, I'm just wondering if your making it up to him has anything to do with the fact that you almost pounded him to the ground when he tried to keep Ukyo from slicing your head off yesterday."
Why was I not surprised that word had already spread about yesterday's encounter with a violent, drunk Ukyo?
"Maybe just a little but...I really owe Ranma, Biki. Since you know all about debts and how they're paid, what do you suppose I should do to pay mine?"
A twinkle came into my sister's eyes and she smiled mischievously. Nabiki loved to plot and plan and besides, she basically knew about my desire to have things change between Ranma and me.
"Well, for starters you could stop trying to kill him every time he so much as looks at you. That might help a little."
I threw one my stuffed version of P-Chan at her but missed as Nabiki ducked her head.
"See what I mean? Touché, sister of mine. Don't you think these violent tendencies of yours need to go?"
She was saying it jokingly but the words struck a chord in me and I turned away.
"Akane? Hey little sister, you know I wasn't trying to be mean or anything, right?"
Nabiki wasn't the most sympathetic at times like these and patience was definitely not one of her virtues so I was not surprised when she placed a firm hand on my shoulder and turned me back so I was facing her.
"C'mon now buttercup. I remember something about having a certain talk sometime soon. I think now is soon."
She looked at me, her eyebrows raised and her mouth set in a grim line.
I sighed.
"I...Nabiki have I always been this way?"
I waited for her honest answer. That was one of the things I loved about my oneechan, she was nothing if not honest.
"How? Violent, suspicious, assuming the worst in a person, jealous...?"
Brutally honest.
"Geez, don't go so easy on me, sis."
Nabiki grinned and I would've knocked her over with another pillow had I not run out of ammo. Besides, that would have just proven how right she was about me being violent.
I wasn't _always_ violent.
"Actually, no. I remember a time when you were pleasant, trusting, saw the best in people and would have given the shirt off your back to make someone happy."
She paused and an evil glint appeared in her eyes.
"But then again, that Akane wasn't as much fun."
There were times that my oneechan could be annoying...this was one of those times.
"Seriously, though. I wouldn't exactly say that those traits, the violent-suspicious-jealous you, are exactly bad per se. They can just be a bit frustrating if you're constantly bombarded with them."
Like Ranma.
"Like Ranma. I mean, the poor guy practically spends the better, or worst, part of the day with you and what do you do? You yell, accuse, nag, hit, punch, kick etc."
There was a bright light in Nabiki's "Akane's a bitch" speech, I hoped.
"But then again, Ranma doesn't exactly do anything to alleviate the situation, either."
Nabiki crawled in beside me and put her arms around me.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is you and Ranma are perfect for each other."
"Nabiki!!"
Her eyes widened and she gave me her "you asked" look which was basically the same as her "ask a stupid question" look.
"What I mean is that you being as spunky isn't as bad as you think it is. Your problem is that you go overboard with the "independent woman" crap."
She sat up straight and began to chew strands of her hair.
"There are times when I think you're starting to get it, you know? When you two look at each other with the kind of adoration that makes me want to throw up. Ranma does something, you leave in a huff and then I see it..."
I straightened up, not exactly knowing where she was going with her speech and wondering why the hell I was accepting relationship advice from a sister who had never even dated, as far as I knew.
Nabiki got this faraway look, completely engrossed in her thoughts. It was almost as if I weren't even there.
"This complete understanding and acceptance of each other. Ranma gets this puppy eyed look, as if he's realized that you are what you are and he wouldn't have it any other way and you.."
She turned to me, a slight smile on her face.
"You look back at him, your eyes shining and it's as if you see that you are capable of being loved by someone, _worthy_ of it even and then..."
Nabiki snapped her fingers and put her head on my shoulder.
"Someone interrupts and it all goes down the toilet."
I began to stroke Nabiki's hair as I processed everything she had said.
"I know," I said aloud, "which is what's been bothering me for the longest, Biki. How are Ranma and I ever going to get anywhere if everyone's always interrupting what little progress we make?"
I gave a surprised yelp as I was knocked over by my sister's sudden attempt to straighten up.
"C'mon now, buttercup. Where's that fighting spirit that bursts forth every time you pound Ranma into lower earth orbit? It's simple, really. All you have to do is get rid of the rest of his fiancées."
There was a moment of silence before I responded.
"You mean I have to kill them? I know Ranma's worth it, even if he is a mean jerk sometimes, but spending the rest of my life in jail isn't really-"
Nabiki looked at me, her eyebrows raised, as if it were insulting for me to even be in her presence.
"C'mon buttercup, you know what I mean. You've got to fight for what's rightfully yours. Now that Ukyo's out of the way that leaves the purple haired bimbo and the druggy Kuno chick. Well, not to mention Mousse, Cologne, and the rest of the Nerima population who gives a damn about you and Ranma."
I ran through the list and realized that Nabiki had forgotten to mention the one person who had made my dating *anyone* virtually impossible.
"Nabiki, what about Kuno? Have you forgotten that he has been the bane of my existence? I mean, he's head over heels in love with me and---Nabiki?"
My sister was uncharacteristically silent and her mouth was set in a grim line. She seemed to be deep in thought.
I snapped my fingers and watched in amusement as Nabiki turned to me, a strange look in her eyes.
She suddenly cleared her throat.
"Yes, well, I have a feeling that Tatch-Tatewaki won't exactly be much trouble for you now. Let's just say that I've taken care of that problem for you."
The idea was a bit incredible...my thoughts then turned suspicious as I wondered one thing that was completely natural whenever you were related to the most notorious businesswoman in Nerima.
"How much is it gonna cost me, sis?"
"Ow! What was that for??"
Nabiki seemed genuinely hurt by that comment.
"Think about what you said, figure out why it is that your comment was insensitive considering the talk we had awhile ago and start over."
I grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry and...thank you."
Nabiki just nodded and I suddenly found myself being dragged out of bed.
"Alright buttercup. It's time for you to get out of this 'woe is me' funk you've been in and you can start by getting up and dressed and---geez sis, when are you going to get rid of those swirly yellow pajamas?! I can't believe you still have them. And at your age?"
Now, I know that my attire isn't exactly as up to date as it should be and I know that the puffy dresses and oversized sweaters I wear aren't exactly chic but...
"You know it's that little girl inside me that refuses to go away, Biki." My eyes widened as I gave Nabiki what I hoped was a look of pure innocence.
"I mean, I've tried smothering her until her desperate cries are silenced but what can I do? She's as stubborn as I've always been."
Nabiki did a complete facefault but quickly regained her composure.
"Yeah, well, I could tell you the quickest way to murder your inner child. For a small fee, of course."
I rolled my eyes as I walked to my closet to reach for my yellow piggy towel.
"How can you do that when you haven't even gotten rid of yours?"
"Says who?"
I snickered.
"Let's just say that you're lucky I haven't told anyone about that stash of Sailor Moon manga you keep in your 'portfolio'"
That stopped my oneechan in her tracks.
"Hey!"
"Really, Biki. Can you imagine how people would react knowing that the calculating, manipulative-"
"Don't forget witty and utterly devious-"
We walked alongside each other and I was enjoying this friendly sisterly banter.
"Nabiki Tendo is a hopeless romantic?!"
Nabiki hissed at me to keep it down.
I passed through the bedroom door and turned to close it behind me. I just couldn't resist giving my last parting shot before doing so.
"Oh, and Biki."
"Yeah?," she grumbled.
"I expect those rolls of film with the pictures of Ranma as he took me to my room last night on my desk."
I blew her a kiss and pretended not to hear the curses passing through the bathroom door.
As I sat in the furo, the warm water caressing my body and drawing all the tension from it, I had a sudden understanding of why Nabiki enjoyed what she did.
Blackmailing people _was_ fun.
***************************************************
After taking a long-hour relaxing bath, I chose my wardrobe carefully.
Last night's events had left me changed and the talk with Nabiki had lifted my spirits, so I wanted my attire to reflect that.
I looked in my closet and, after minutes of searching came up emptyhanded.
Most of what was in my closet seemed as if it had been taken straight out of an eighties fashion shop so I was not too pleased with my choices.
There was something that told me to keep looking and just as I was about to give up and admit defeat I found just the right thing.
It was a long, sleeveless yellow sundress blended with orange tones and my eyes grew moist as I remembered that Kasumi had mentioned that she had found something she thought would suit me well.
The dress had also belonged to my mother.
It was long, I guessed that it would reach my ankles, and the fabric crossed over the chest and was bound around the waist and fell straight down into a full-length skirt. I imagined that it would accentuate my hips and long legs.
I wondered if it would be a mistake to wear it considering that my father had been known to break into long periods of sobbing any time my mother was mentioned, recalled, or remembered.
But it really was a pretty dress and it was at that moment that I saw a pair of sandals hidden behind a box of my old baby clothes that would go perfectly with the dress.
I had only worn them once and had bought them because they made me look taller. Wearing them would probably bring me eye to eye with Ranma.
Well, not quite, but it would be close.
I finished dressing and sat at my dresser, taking time brushing my hair out.
It had taken awhile for me to get used to having short hair but I soon found that it was much easier to maintain.
Besides, I wasn't too creative when it came to hair styling, which is why my long hair had usually been parted into pigtails.
I decided that the usual style would do except this time I would decorate my hair with a row of tiny barrettes.
As soon as that was done, I grabbed a bottle of my favorite perfume and stopped to smell it.
It was soft, the type of fragrance that would gently invade your senses if you were close enough to someone who cared enough to notice.
The fragrance was sweet and subtle, unlike the kind I'd noticed on Shampoo: hers would knock you over much like the way she did whenever she barreled over someone on that bike of hers.
I took a final look at myself in the mirror before rising, grabbing the golden bracelets that Ranma had given me for my seventeenth birthday.
I smiled, remembereing the day he had given them to me.
His gift had taken me completely by surprise. The day had passed with congratulations from my family and even Ranma had whispered a shy "happy birthday."
For some reason, none of his fiancées had popped up, save Ukyo who had passed by to bring me a special birthday okonomiyaki (although I still think she saw it as an excuse to see Ranma). I guess it was their sort of present to me.
In any case, the day had progressed without incidence and I received the traditional Tendo birthday dinner (Mother used to do the honors of cooking and such but Kasumi took over after her dea-- after she passed away).
We had all gathered around the koi pond afterwards, eating cool watermelon slices before the gift giving began.
Father gave me an opal ring that used to belong to my mother, just as she had given a ring to each of my sisters. Much to my surprise, he had not shed many tears. He just got a bit misty-eyed and told me how proud he was that I was growing up.
Funny, I hadn't felt so grown up at the time.
Kasumi gave me a small porcelain pig with a yellow bandanna tied around its neck. As she hugged me, she whispered that she knew how much I missed P-Chan but she hoped the gift would help ease the pain a little.
It did.
I received a gift certificate from Nabiki to the trendiest clothing shop and she had assured me the gift was bought from money she had extorted from our classmates at Furinkan High.
In a weird way, I was actually touched by the gesture. Nabiki, being uncomfortable with touchy feely situations, had muttered something about me needing it.
Ah well, the more things change...
I hadn't expected a gift from Genma, who sat quietly throughout the whole procession, but then again he was the type of person who would surprise you at any given moment.
He had given me a small wood crafted bhudda, which he said would bring me luck and happiness.
It was still locked away somewhere deep in my closet because I still don't trust that anything that Genma owns isn't possessed, cursed, or simply evil.
But I thanked him kindly for the gift.
All eyes turned expectantly to Ranma because everyone was naturally curious about whether or not he had remembered to buy me anything.
To tell the truth, I really hadn't expected anything from Ranma. Sure, I had given him a gift when he turned seventeen a month earlier but that was because I had wanted to and I had actually enjoyed thinking of what to get him.
I originally wanted to be the one to cook him a celebratory dinner but Nabiki had advised me against it, in her own dry manner of course.
Something along the lines of how it would be unfair for Ranma to die on his birthday.
In any case, I was about to let everyone know that he didn't have to and that their gifts had been enough when Ranma quietly placed a small box in my hand.
The box had been covered in Ranma's own rough manner with a bit of parcel paper and a yellow ribbon tied around it.
I opened it carefully so I could save the paper and ribbon and was surprised to find a pair of golden bracelets.
I was in awe of their beauty: there were deep grooves in both bracelets and, upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was an inscription inside each one.
Unfortunately, the words remained unread since I had to try to keep my gift out of everyone's grasp. It seemed that everyone wanted to take a closer look.
Ranma had instantly been bombarded with shouts of glee and requests that a wedding date be set. I had retreated to my room to put the bracelets in my special box, which is where I kept all the little things I held dear to my heart.
That's where they remained because I hadn't had a chance to wear them...until now.
As I placed a bracelet in each of my hands I remembered the inscriptions that I had never been able to read.
I took them off once more, turning one in my hand so I could see the words.
_Akane Tendo_
I pushed the disappointment I felt at not finding something a bit more meaningful and sighed. Ranma wasn't much for displays of affection so why was I surprised?
I turned to the other bracelet and expected to find something conventional, maybe the date of my birth, on it.
I felt my pulse quicken and my heart swell up. The wonderful, adorable jerk.
This bracelet didn't have an admission of love or some such nonsense. I hadn't really expected it, anyway.
I turned the bracelet over and over, trying to decided the many meanings attached to the one word.
_Kawaii_
He thought...I was beautiful?
I shook my head, no. It would have been too...no, it couldn't be.
The bracelets were beautiful?
That was stretching it a bit. Why not just take the word at face value?
_Life_ was beautiful?
I sighed, wondering why I always made things so hard on myself. Ranma had given me something precious and here I was trying to dissect the meaning of one word.
Honestly, I could be so dense sometimes.
I looked at Felix and decided that it was time to go down the stairs.
But then I felt the butterflies in my stomach. What if everyone made a big deal about this...about me dressing up?
I mean, it wasn't as if I was going anywhere special. Or maybe I was.
Then again, when had Akane Tendo ever cared about what people thought?
Always, I realized.
Oh well, I decided as I pushed my feet into the sandals. There was nothing left to do except get my spunky self down those stairs, everyone's reaction be damned.
As I walked down the stairs I couldn't push away the doubt that always rose in me whenever I did something different.
Would Ranma notice?
I had no time to dwell on that question this time as I descended the stairs and heard my father's trademark sobs.
*************************************************
"But I thought the Master was dead, Saotome!"
I watched in fascination as my father placed his head atop the shogi table and sobbed his poor heart out.
"I'm sorry Tendo, but this note says that we can expect the Master back soon...that is, if he doesn't find that nude beach in Kyoto beforehand. Why, we might not see him for another year if that happens!"
Genma was not, for once, in his panda form. He was actually sitting nonchalantly across from my father and he seemed calm for someone who had just found out that the person he most despised would be returning.
My father took a break from his sobbing to look quizzically at Genma.
"Why are you so calm in the face of such tragic news, Saotome? Have you forgotten the rigorous training practices the old perverted Master puts us through?"
Genma merely took a sip of sake before responding.
"You see, my dear friend, I have come to a realization. It does no good for us to whine and sob and curse the kami for this travesty...no, no. I figure that I must save my energy for the day the Master reappears. That is when I will strike."
Fresh tears formed in my father's eyes but he held them as he looked at Genma strangely. It was as if he had just found out Genma was actually a rocket scientist instead of a big, worthless slob.
"Translation, please?"
"I will drink myself into a stupor and forget about the whole matter and then, when the day comes..."
Genma jumped up into a fighting stance, knocking over the shogi table and causing Father to topple over.
"I WILL BEG, PLEAD, CRY AND SELL MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL IF NEEDED!"
He then sat back down, taking another sip of the sake.
"So dry those eyes my good man and save your dignity and self respect. You can rid yourself of both when the Master arrives."
I couldn't help but snicker at Genma's nonsense. Honestly, Father would not be so foolish as to-
"You're right, Saotome! Why appear weak and pathetic now when I can do it later!! Maybe, seeing me in such a state will disgust the Master so much that he will leave on another trip."
I watched as Genma poured sake in a cup and handed it to my father.
"To being weak---"
He took a swig.
"And pathetic-"
My father drank to that.
"After all---"
Both raised their cups in the air before shouting in unison.
"ANYTHING GOES WHERE THE MASTER'S CONCERNED!!!"
I rolled my eyes, deciding that maybe I could just tiptoe past them without having them notice.
"Say Tendo..."
My father looked up.
"You think that your girls would be willing to part with some of their unmentionables? You know, so we can set a trap for the Master and maybe push him into the volcanic-"
Suddenly, Mr. Waterworks was replaced by Daddy Demon-Head.
"HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF GETTING MY LITTLE GIRLS INVOLVED???!!!"
Genma quickly poured the cup of sake over himself and turned on the "poor innocent dumb panda" act.
It was just a thought. His sign read.
"Besides, Saotome, I already tried once and Kasumi told me it was not proper."
Tears welled up in his eyes once more as he recalled the event.
"My little girl scolded me!!!!"
Even I sweatdropped at that comment.
It was then that I decided that having my drunken, emotional father see me in his late wife's dress would not exactly be healthy at the moment so I made my way out to the koi pond.
I decided to grab a snack so I stopped by the kitchen first.
Kasumi was there, which didn't surprise me in the least. That was her own version of my dojo...a place where she felt calmest and happiest.
Her back was turned to me but, I had long since learned that Kasumi could identify everyone's step.
"I'm glad to see you're finally up, Akane."
She turned to me and her eyes widened in amazement and her mouth turned up into a radiant smile.
"You look...Mother's dress suits you."
I blushed and grabbed a pitcher of lemonade and a bowl of curry from the fridge.
"Um...thanks, oneechan."
It was odd, but as much as I felt the need to hear reassurances and compliments, I never quite knew how to take them. I guess it was that, as Nabiki would have pointed out, I didn't quite feel _worthy_ of them.
"It's such a nice day outside. Nabiki's gone off to some business meeting of hers and father and Mr. Saotome...well, you know them."
Kasumi grabbed a book from one of the kitchen drawers and turned to me.
"And I'm about to return this book to Dr. Tofu."
I didn't fail to notice the twinkle in my sister's eyes or the way she tried to act calm and composed.
Sometimes, I wondered just how much Kasumi knew and how much she pretended she didn't.
"If you'd like to come-"
I shook my head.
"No thanks, onee. I'm about to have my breakfast/lunch outside by the koi pond."
Kasumi walked out of the kitchen and just as she was about to exit the house I heard her call out to me.
"By the way, Ranma's outside and although he had a big breakfast-"
I could imagine her sly smile as she said the words.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you offered him a plate."
I rolled my eyes before grabbing a glass and an extra bowl, filling it to the brim with the curry.
Placing everything on a plate and making sure not to spill anything, I walked out to the old elm tree beside the koi pond.
Sure enough, Ranma was there, his eyes shut, his breathing slow and even. He looked so...I suddenly remembered why it was that I loved him so much.
"You never were too good at sneaking up on people, Akane."
Startled, I lost a grip on the tray I was holding and watched it make its decent to the ground.
Ranma, his eyes still closed, simply lifted a leg and balanced the tray and its contents with the flat of his foot.
Show off, I thought.
"Hey, the food smells good---did Kasumi make it?"
He never could ask about any food I gave him without that tone of worry in his voice creeping in.
"Yes."
I sighed and sat down next to him, crossing my legs as I did so. I grabbed the tray from him, making sure not to spill any of the lemonade in the process.
Of course, I _would_ be the one to forget the chopstick.
"I brought you a plate Ranma, but I forgot the chopsticks, so hold on a minute."
I paused a moment to slide out of the sandals and made my way across the yard barefoot. I'd always liked the feel of the cool grass between my toes anyway. Besides, they didn't call me tomboy for nothing.
After trying to remember which drawer Kasumi kept the chopsticks in I finally found them. I walked briskly towards Ranma, hoping that he hadn't gone on and finished the contents in his bowl---and mine, for that matter---. After all, Ranma was a bit too---eager, when it came to food.
Sure enough, there was Ranma, eyes wide open, about to dump the curry into his mouth. And I was only half kidding when I called him the human garbage disposal.
I giggled.
"Honestly, Ranma. I know you spent most of your life out in the wild but haven't you learned anything in the year and a half you've been here?"
He sighed, placing the bowl back on the tray.
"You just had to say something you macho uncu---"
Ranma stopped short as he finally took a good, long look at me.
I responded, my eyebrows raised in mock annoyance.
"Oh please do continue."
Ranma seemed, at least for the moment, at a loss for words. His mouth opened and closed and I decided that maybe I'd do him a favor and finish his oh-so-famous speech about my lack of femininity.
"All right, let's see...you were about to say uncute, violent, sexless tomboy, right?"
I leaned over, making sure that he could get a good whiff of my perfume. I was glad that I had decided to put a hint of lip gloss on my lips and a dab of makeup on my face.
"Uncute means _not_ cute and, I'm sorry, but I spent a little too much time getting ready, for you to be able to convince me of that."
Ranma grabbed the chopsticks out of my hands, mumbling something under his breath.
"What was that, Ranma?"
I grabbed a glass and poured lemonade in it. I took a small sip.
Ranma stabbed at the curry and I almost asked what he was doing---making sure that it was dead, or what?
He mumbled again, his mouth full this time.
"I _almost_ heard you that time." I hid my smile behind my glass.
"Thaz a cude ref."
He finally finished chewing and swallowed.
"Really, Ranma, could you be a bit more---"
"That's a cute dress," he whispered, a hint of a blush rising in his cheeks.
The glass trembled in my hands.
"Thanks, it belonged to my Mom."
We both settled back into the silence we both knew so well. Nothing more was said and we both finished our meal in silence.
I wondered what Ranma was thinking.
"Thanks."
My thoughts interrupted, I raised my eyes to Ranma.
"For the food, I mean."
At the moment I could think of nothing more than the fact that Ranma's blue-gray eyes were focused on me and the butterflies dancing around in my stomach did not help the situation at all.
My mouth suddenly became dry and I reached for the lemonade, happy to let the cool liquid slide down my tongue.
"No biggie. You know me, I can serve food as long as it's not my own. People seem to disappear whenever that happens."
I gave a half-hearted laugh, and wondered why I had brought the subject up. I mean, I was already self-conscious about my lack of skills where cooking was concerned. Besides, having Ranma agree with me would only worsen my already deteriorating self-esteem.
I must have looked as if I'd just lost a friend (either that or _really_ killed my inner child) because I suddenly felt Ranma's hand on my shoulder.
"Hey. Don't get so down about the cooking thing Akane. I mean, not everyone is good at everything."
I almost laughed at that. Not being good at everything wasn't my problem, it was not being good at _anything_ that stung.
"Thanks, Ranma. I'll take your words of wisdom into consideration next time I burn down the kitchen."
It would have been hilarious, really, if I hadn't really burned down the kitchen once.
Nabiki had never let me live that one down.
"C'mon, Akane, you know what I mean. There are some things you're good at, some things Kasumi's good at. I mean, why do you think Kasumi's never tried to pick up martial arts?"
That wasn't really true. My oneechan had, like all the Tendo girls, practiced the arts when she was a small child. Daddy had put us in his class and that's where my love for the art had grown.
But then again, Kasumi had never taken a liking to it at all. She had preferred to busy herself in the kitchen with Mother, preparing lunches for all the students in the class.
"I mean, Kasumi's great when it comes to cooking, Nabiki's good at stripping you of money, pride and any source of self-respect you have and you, well you're pretty good at the arts."
Those were words I'd longed to hear come out of Ranma's mouth ever since I'd had my first sparring session with him. My determination and stubbornness at practicing the art stemmed from the hope that I would one day hear Ranma tell me I was good. Not great, but I'd settle for good.
For some reason, the words weren't as convincing as I thought they'd be.
"But..." I paused, not sure whether or not I wanted to play a game of "guess Akane's insecurities".
"I'm _not_ that good at it Ranma. I mean, come one. When I'm up against Ukyo I'm barely able to keep standing on my two feet and forget about Shampoo. She could probably kick my ass blindfolded and with her hands tied behind her back. If that's being 'pretty good' I wonder what being a complete failure is."
I set my bowl down on the tray, my appetite suddenly gone.
"So you can stop trying to make me feel better by lying to me. Why not just admit the truth? The one thing that I thought I had a shot at, the one skill I used to have that my sisters didn't and it turns out that I'm really not that good at it at all."
It hurt like hell to admit it but honesty was becoming a major part of my life so why not just acknowledge that I was terrible at the one thing that had made me happy?
I ignored the lump in my throat and told myself that the tears in my eyes were due to the high pollen count in the area. Before I knew it, I was reaching down to get ahold of the tray and all its contents.
"I'm not lying."
Ranma said it softly, but the tone in his voice dared me to tell him otherwise. He was looking at me with a seriousness that sent chills down my spine.
My eyes traveled from his eyes to his strong jawbone, continuing along his broad shoulders and toned forearms. They stopped where his hand was firmly holding my wrist.
"C'mon Akane, don't you think it's time for you to stop second guessing yourself? Sure your form's sloppy, you get so eager to prove yourself that you lose concentration and I end up having to save you from your stupid mistakes but...damn Akane, you have so much potential."
No male had ever spoken to me the way Ranma just had and I had to fight the urge to take my mallet and smash Ranma into oblivion. After all, he was only telling me the truth.
"I see it every time you fight alongside me and...you have the potential of being my equal. But then the doubts run through your head and, well, you've convinced yourself that you're not good enough compared to everyone else and..."
Ranma loosened his grip on my wrist and turned my hand over. He continued once more and I wondered if he knew that he had started stroking my palm with his fingers.
"It's frustrating, Akane. Is it any wonder that I call you stupid sometimes? Or that I taunt you? I do it because that's the only way to draw out your fighting spirit and to get you out of the self-pity trip you've been on ever since our failed wed--- for awhile now."
His hand was so big compared to mine but it was surprisingly gentle and it thrilled and excited me. I stopped myself from reaching up to stroke his face. Things were moving too fast for me at the moment.
So I gently withdrew my hand from his. A look of disappointment briefly crossed Ranma's face but was gone just as suddenly.
"Why don't you say it, Ranma? You're right, ever since our _failed wedding_ I've been frustrated and disappointed and...tired."
My hands were shaking so I placed them on my lap, my fingers interlaced.
"Ukyo was right, you know. We've been in this situation for so long and, it's just not fun anymore Ranma. It's not fair to anyone and I'm just so...I'm not happy anymore Ranma."
I looked ahead because if I were to look at Ranma I would start crying and I had already promised myself that I wouldn't do that anymore.
"All the mayhem and drama...it was good when we were in high school and kept the days from being boring but...Ranma I almost died!"
My hands were shaking again but even my controlled breathing couldn't stop them from doing so.
"It's not your fault, don't you dare think that's what I'm trying to say. _I'm_ the one who followed you and I wouldn't think twice about doing it again. But things were supposed to change after that, Ranma."
That's the only relief I'd gotten from the horrible experience with Saffron. I'd hoped that we had all gone through that ordeal so that things could change.
"The wedding was supposed to mark that Ranma. Maybe it was good that we didn't go through with it because we obviously have a lot of growing up to do but...
I bit my lip until I tasted blood. I wanted to see how Ranma was taking all this but I jut couldn't. At least not without breaking down.
"Do you know how much I was looking forward to it? And then you said I looked beautiful and I thought that it wouldn't be so bad being married to you."
A laugh rose in my throat, or maybe it was a sob, I wasn't sure which.
"And then everything got ruined and here we are. So yeah, I understood what Ukyo said last night and she was right."
That was all I had to say. At that moment I didn't care what Ranma thought or maybe I cared too much and it was just painful. I was confused and calm and agitated all at once.
But I'd let it all go and maybe I'd given Ranma too much information or maybe he didn't care and maybe having a serious conversation with a guy was just too much.
"You ain-aren't the only one who feels that way."
I turned to Ranma, silent tears making their way down my cheeks and now it was he who was avoiding my gaze.
"I've thought about it even before the wedding day...with Saffron. I keep goin' through that day, again and again in my dreams."
I watched him tense, his hands clutching blades of grass, his jawbone clenched.
"You're not the only one who wonders sometimes, you know. I was holdin' you, in my arms, and.."
He turned his head, just as Ryoga had when I thought he was crying. But Ranma never cried!
"I thought you were dea--- gone and it hurt more'n any punch Pop's ever thrown at me and I wondered if maybe I wasn't as great as I thought I was."
It was my turn to place a hand on his shoulder. His muscles relaxed a little under my hands.
"Great, ain't it? There I was, Ranma Saotome, heir of the Anything Goes arts and the person I lo-- you almost die on me..."
My hand moved up and down Ranma's shoulders and it was sad how much trouble we could have avoided if Ranma'd talked to me like this.
"Don't think I'm cryin' or anythin'. Just...."
I watched him reach down to take the cold pitcher of lemonade but I stopped him.
It was always comfortable for Ranma to escape by activating his curse. Ranma Saotome cry? Of course not. So why not bring in the cute redheaded chick?
After all, it was better for a cute girl to cry than a big, strong martial artist, right?
"Don't."
I placed a tentative hand on Ranma's and held it tightly.
"You...for the first time you're telling me the truth and you're actually letting letting yourself feel something..."
My hand slowly rose until it was close enough to touch Ranma's cheek. I hesitated.
And then I placed my hand on it and stroked it, my fingers trembling as I did so. My resolve not to cry had long since left me.
"Real men can cry because it take a lot of courage to do that even when others make you feel shame but...I won't do that Ranma."
The tears in my eyes blurred my vision and I searched blindly for Ranma's mouth. I didn't care what Ranma's reaction would be because at the moment I needed his lips on mine, our tears mingling together, the taste intoxicating.
"I won't _ever_ do that."
I couldn't think. I only knew that this, _this_ felt so right and I couldn't believe that we'd avoided it for so long.
His breath was hot against my skin and my hands were on his shoulders, running through his hair then down his back.
"I thought I'd l-l-ost you..."
I kissed his eyes, his cheeks, his forehead...I couldn't stop.
"But you didn't and I'm here and we're both..."
In my dreams I'd never imagined that I, no, we'd be doing this, in broad daylight. No starry night, just the sunlight teasing my bare shoulders, his fingers caressing my back.
This is their cue, I thought. It's time for Ukyo to barge in, screaming for me to let her Ranchan go. Or maybe Shampoo'll come through the wall, balancing a bowl of ramen in her hand.
Nothing happened.
Nothing but his mouth on mine, our tongues caressing each other, and I felt a deep bliss I never thought I'd be able to feel.
"I love you..."
"I know..." I replied.
The words were said and in the end Ranma Saotome let his guard down, took the shoulder I offered, letting me comfort him. He was that boy who'd learned the Neko-ken when he was six, wished for a mother he couldn't see, bewildered by the attention others gave him.
He was crying on my shoulder in male form. He was a man amongst men.
"I'm scared."
"Me too." I whispered.
And in a strange way, it was nice, us not knowing what we'd do next. Together.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes: Well, what can I say? This is a long chapter (19 pages in Microsoft Word, to be exact) and nothing much happens until the end. I said I wouldn't do a rooftop scene and I didn't. It might have ended up being as sappy as one though, although I tried not to have it end that way. So what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Think it's mediocre? Let me know by commenting on the fanfiction.net review forum or by e-mailing me smijaresc@my-deja.com What's next? Like Ranma and Akane...I have no idea. At least until my fingers start a-typin' away. Now to wreak havoc on Nabiki and Kuno's barely blossoming relationship...
Until next time,
Sonia M.
"Why do fools fall in love?"
Takahashi and other respective companies and I am
in no way making any profit from this story. This
is just for my personal enjoyment and for the
enjoyment of those who may read this.
Email me with C&C: simplyshy@hotmail.com
*************************************************
The Truth: Part 4
by SM
*************************************************
"Akane?"
I rolled over in bed, burrowing my head in my pillow so that I could drown out the sound of the voice that was ruining the first peaceful sleeping I'd had in awhile.
"Buttercup, get up!" The mocking voice had a singsong quality that annoyed the heck out of me.
Besides, Nabiki only called me buttercup when she was really trying to get a rise out of me.
It all had to do with yellow being my favorite color and a certain frilly dress Mother had gotten for me that Nabiki swore made me look like a buttercup on a spring day.
Needless to say, it was not the best thing to call someone on a Saturday morning, especially when that person had had as eventful a night as I had.
I grabbed my pillow and swung it at the intruder and was pleased to hear an indignant shriek come from my sister as she fell to the floor.
"Jeez buttercup, is that any way to treat your older sister who only has the best intentions in mind? And I was so worried."
I cracked open an eye and saw Nabiki's face as she peered at me over the edge of the bed. Her eyes were big and round and her lips were formed into a pout.
She looked utterly ridiculous.
"Okay, okay I'm up already. But don't think it's because of that stupid look you just gave me, sis. What time is it anyway?"
Nabiki stood and looked over me at my Felix the Cat wall clock. Ranma hated that clock with a passion and claimed that the eyes followed him every time he came in my room.
The big baby.
"It's fifteen 'til noon, buttercup. Ranma came in earlier to call you to breakfast but he said the stupid cat was staring at him and that got him all nervous."
Nabiki gave me a huge smile as she sat at the edge of the bed.
"Oh, and you also ended up whacking him out of the room while you were asleep. But I think it was definitely the cat that got him outta here."
She giggled and I groaned. Even in my sleep I was still the same violent tomboy!
"Well, I'll find a way to make it up to him later. And what exactly does that smirk on your face mean, Nabiki?"
Nabiki raised her arms in defense.
"Hey, I'm just wondering if your making it up to him has anything to do with the fact that you almost pounded him to the ground when he tried to keep Ukyo from slicing your head off yesterday."
Why was I not surprised that word had already spread about yesterday's encounter with a violent, drunk Ukyo?
"Maybe just a little but...I really owe Ranma, Biki. Since you know all about debts and how they're paid, what do you suppose I should do to pay mine?"
A twinkle came into my sister's eyes and she smiled mischievously. Nabiki loved to plot and plan and besides, she basically knew about my desire to have things change between Ranma and me.
"Well, for starters you could stop trying to kill him every time he so much as looks at you. That might help a little."
I threw one my stuffed version of P-Chan at her but missed as Nabiki ducked her head.
"See what I mean? Touché, sister of mine. Don't you think these violent tendencies of yours need to go?"
She was saying it jokingly but the words struck a chord in me and I turned away.
"Akane? Hey little sister, you know I wasn't trying to be mean or anything, right?"
Nabiki wasn't the most sympathetic at times like these and patience was definitely not one of her virtues so I was not surprised when she placed a firm hand on my shoulder and turned me back so I was facing her.
"C'mon now buttercup. I remember something about having a certain talk sometime soon. I think now is soon."
She looked at me, her eyebrows raised and her mouth set in a grim line.
I sighed.
"I...Nabiki have I always been this way?"
I waited for her honest answer. That was one of the things I loved about my oneechan, she was nothing if not honest.
"How? Violent, suspicious, assuming the worst in a person, jealous...?"
Brutally honest.
"Geez, don't go so easy on me, sis."
Nabiki grinned and I would've knocked her over with another pillow had I not run out of ammo. Besides, that would have just proven how right she was about me being violent.
I wasn't _always_ violent.
"Actually, no. I remember a time when you were pleasant, trusting, saw the best in people and would have given the shirt off your back to make someone happy."
She paused and an evil glint appeared in her eyes.
"But then again, that Akane wasn't as much fun."
There were times that my oneechan could be annoying...this was one of those times.
"Seriously, though. I wouldn't exactly say that those traits, the violent-suspicious-jealous you, are exactly bad per se. They can just be a bit frustrating if you're constantly bombarded with them."
Like Ranma.
"Like Ranma. I mean, the poor guy practically spends the better, or worst, part of the day with you and what do you do? You yell, accuse, nag, hit, punch, kick etc."
There was a bright light in Nabiki's "Akane's a bitch" speech, I hoped.
"But then again, Ranma doesn't exactly do anything to alleviate the situation, either."
Nabiki crawled in beside me and put her arms around me.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is you and Ranma are perfect for each other."
"Nabiki!!"
Her eyes widened and she gave me her "you asked" look which was basically the same as her "ask a stupid question" look.
"What I mean is that you being as spunky isn't as bad as you think it is. Your problem is that you go overboard with the "independent woman" crap."
She sat up straight and began to chew strands of her hair.
"There are times when I think you're starting to get it, you know? When you two look at each other with the kind of adoration that makes me want to throw up. Ranma does something, you leave in a huff and then I see it..."
I straightened up, not exactly knowing where she was going with her speech and wondering why the hell I was accepting relationship advice from a sister who had never even dated, as far as I knew.
Nabiki got this faraway look, completely engrossed in her thoughts. It was almost as if I weren't even there.
"This complete understanding and acceptance of each other. Ranma gets this puppy eyed look, as if he's realized that you are what you are and he wouldn't have it any other way and you.."
She turned to me, a slight smile on her face.
"You look back at him, your eyes shining and it's as if you see that you are capable of being loved by someone, _worthy_ of it even and then..."
Nabiki snapped her fingers and put her head on my shoulder.
"Someone interrupts and it all goes down the toilet."
I began to stroke Nabiki's hair as I processed everything she had said.
"I know," I said aloud, "which is what's been bothering me for the longest, Biki. How are Ranma and I ever going to get anywhere if everyone's always interrupting what little progress we make?"
I gave a surprised yelp as I was knocked over by my sister's sudden attempt to straighten up.
"C'mon now, buttercup. Where's that fighting spirit that bursts forth every time you pound Ranma into lower earth orbit? It's simple, really. All you have to do is get rid of the rest of his fiancées."
There was a moment of silence before I responded.
"You mean I have to kill them? I know Ranma's worth it, even if he is a mean jerk sometimes, but spending the rest of my life in jail isn't really-"
Nabiki looked at me, her eyebrows raised, as if it were insulting for me to even be in her presence.
"C'mon buttercup, you know what I mean. You've got to fight for what's rightfully yours. Now that Ukyo's out of the way that leaves the purple haired bimbo and the druggy Kuno chick. Well, not to mention Mousse, Cologne, and the rest of the Nerima population who gives a damn about you and Ranma."
I ran through the list and realized that Nabiki had forgotten to mention the one person who had made my dating *anyone* virtually impossible.
"Nabiki, what about Kuno? Have you forgotten that he has been the bane of my existence? I mean, he's head over heels in love with me and---Nabiki?"
My sister was uncharacteristically silent and her mouth was set in a grim line. She seemed to be deep in thought.
I snapped my fingers and watched in amusement as Nabiki turned to me, a strange look in her eyes.
She suddenly cleared her throat.
"Yes, well, I have a feeling that Tatch-Tatewaki won't exactly be much trouble for you now. Let's just say that I've taken care of that problem for you."
The idea was a bit incredible...my thoughts then turned suspicious as I wondered one thing that was completely natural whenever you were related to the most notorious businesswoman in Nerima.
"How much is it gonna cost me, sis?"
"Ow! What was that for??"
Nabiki seemed genuinely hurt by that comment.
"Think about what you said, figure out why it is that your comment was insensitive considering the talk we had awhile ago and start over."
I grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry and...thank you."
Nabiki just nodded and I suddenly found myself being dragged out of bed.
"Alright buttercup. It's time for you to get out of this 'woe is me' funk you've been in and you can start by getting up and dressed and---geez sis, when are you going to get rid of those swirly yellow pajamas?! I can't believe you still have them. And at your age?"
Now, I know that my attire isn't exactly as up to date as it should be and I know that the puffy dresses and oversized sweaters I wear aren't exactly chic but...
"You know it's that little girl inside me that refuses to go away, Biki." My eyes widened as I gave Nabiki what I hoped was a look of pure innocence.
"I mean, I've tried smothering her until her desperate cries are silenced but what can I do? She's as stubborn as I've always been."
Nabiki did a complete facefault but quickly regained her composure.
"Yeah, well, I could tell you the quickest way to murder your inner child. For a small fee, of course."
I rolled my eyes as I walked to my closet to reach for my yellow piggy towel.
"How can you do that when you haven't even gotten rid of yours?"
"Says who?"
I snickered.
"Let's just say that you're lucky I haven't told anyone about that stash of Sailor Moon manga you keep in your 'portfolio'"
That stopped my oneechan in her tracks.
"Hey!"
"Really, Biki. Can you imagine how people would react knowing that the calculating, manipulative-"
"Don't forget witty and utterly devious-"
We walked alongside each other and I was enjoying this friendly sisterly banter.
"Nabiki Tendo is a hopeless romantic?!"
Nabiki hissed at me to keep it down.
I passed through the bedroom door and turned to close it behind me. I just couldn't resist giving my last parting shot before doing so.
"Oh, and Biki."
"Yeah?," she grumbled.
"I expect those rolls of film with the pictures of Ranma as he took me to my room last night on my desk."
I blew her a kiss and pretended not to hear the curses passing through the bathroom door.
As I sat in the furo, the warm water caressing my body and drawing all the tension from it, I had a sudden understanding of why Nabiki enjoyed what she did.
Blackmailing people _was_ fun.
***************************************************
After taking a long-hour relaxing bath, I chose my wardrobe carefully.
Last night's events had left me changed and the talk with Nabiki had lifted my spirits, so I wanted my attire to reflect that.
I looked in my closet and, after minutes of searching came up emptyhanded.
Most of what was in my closet seemed as if it had been taken straight out of an eighties fashion shop so I was not too pleased with my choices.
There was something that told me to keep looking and just as I was about to give up and admit defeat I found just the right thing.
It was a long, sleeveless yellow sundress blended with orange tones and my eyes grew moist as I remembered that Kasumi had mentioned that she had found something she thought would suit me well.
The dress had also belonged to my mother.
It was long, I guessed that it would reach my ankles, and the fabric crossed over the chest and was bound around the waist and fell straight down into a full-length skirt. I imagined that it would accentuate my hips and long legs.
I wondered if it would be a mistake to wear it considering that my father had been known to break into long periods of sobbing any time my mother was mentioned, recalled, or remembered.
But it really was a pretty dress and it was at that moment that I saw a pair of sandals hidden behind a box of my old baby clothes that would go perfectly with the dress.
I had only worn them once and had bought them because they made me look taller. Wearing them would probably bring me eye to eye with Ranma.
Well, not quite, but it would be close.
I finished dressing and sat at my dresser, taking time brushing my hair out.
It had taken awhile for me to get used to having short hair but I soon found that it was much easier to maintain.
Besides, I wasn't too creative when it came to hair styling, which is why my long hair had usually been parted into pigtails.
I decided that the usual style would do except this time I would decorate my hair with a row of tiny barrettes.
As soon as that was done, I grabbed a bottle of my favorite perfume and stopped to smell it.
It was soft, the type of fragrance that would gently invade your senses if you were close enough to someone who cared enough to notice.
The fragrance was sweet and subtle, unlike the kind I'd noticed on Shampoo: hers would knock you over much like the way she did whenever she barreled over someone on that bike of hers.
I took a final look at myself in the mirror before rising, grabbing the golden bracelets that Ranma had given me for my seventeenth birthday.
I smiled, remembereing the day he had given them to me.
His gift had taken me completely by surprise. The day had passed with congratulations from my family and even Ranma had whispered a shy "happy birthday."
For some reason, none of his fiancées had popped up, save Ukyo who had passed by to bring me a special birthday okonomiyaki (although I still think she saw it as an excuse to see Ranma). I guess it was their sort of present to me.
In any case, the day had progressed without incidence and I received the traditional Tendo birthday dinner (Mother used to do the honors of cooking and such but Kasumi took over after her dea-- after she passed away).
We had all gathered around the koi pond afterwards, eating cool watermelon slices before the gift giving began.
Father gave me an opal ring that used to belong to my mother, just as she had given a ring to each of my sisters. Much to my surprise, he had not shed many tears. He just got a bit misty-eyed and told me how proud he was that I was growing up.
Funny, I hadn't felt so grown up at the time.
Kasumi gave me a small porcelain pig with a yellow bandanna tied around its neck. As she hugged me, she whispered that she knew how much I missed P-Chan but she hoped the gift would help ease the pain a little.
It did.
I received a gift certificate from Nabiki to the trendiest clothing shop and she had assured me the gift was bought from money she had extorted from our classmates at Furinkan High.
In a weird way, I was actually touched by the gesture. Nabiki, being uncomfortable with touchy feely situations, had muttered something about me needing it.
Ah well, the more things change...
I hadn't expected a gift from Genma, who sat quietly throughout the whole procession, but then again he was the type of person who would surprise you at any given moment.
He had given me a small wood crafted bhudda, which he said would bring me luck and happiness.
It was still locked away somewhere deep in my closet because I still don't trust that anything that Genma owns isn't possessed, cursed, or simply evil.
But I thanked him kindly for the gift.
All eyes turned expectantly to Ranma because everyone was naturally curious about whether or not he had remembered to buy me anything.
To tell the truth, I really hadn't expected anything from Ranma. Sure, I had given him a gift when he turned seventeen a month earlier but that was because I had wanted to and I had actually enjoyed thinking of what to get him.
I originally wanted to be the one to cook him a celebratory dinner but Nabiki had advised me against it, in her own dry manner of course.
Something along the lines of how it would be unfair for Ranma to die on his birthday.
In any case, I was about to let everyone know that he didn't have to and that their gifts had been enough when Ranma quietly placed a small box in my hand.
The box had been covered in Ranma's own rough manner with a bit of parcel paper and a yellow ribbon tied around it.
I opened it carefully so I could save the paper and ribbon and was surprised to find a pair of golden bracelets.
I was in awe of their beauty: there were deep grooves in both bracelets and, upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was an inscription inside each one.
Unfortunately, the words remained unread since I had to try to keep my gift out of everyone's grasp. It seemed that everyone wanted to take a closer look.
Ranma had instantly been bombarded with shouts of glee and requests that a wedding date be set. I had retreated to my room to put the bracelets in my special box, which is where I kept all the little things I held dear to my heart.
That's where they remained because I hadn't had a chance to wear them...until now.
As I placed a bracelet in each of my hands I remembered the inscriptions that I had never been able to read.
I took them off once more, turning one in my hand so I could see the words.
_Akane Tendo_
I pushed the disappointment I felt at not finding something a bit more meaningful and sighed. Ranma wasn't much for displays of affection so why was I surprised?
I turned to the other bracelet and expected to find something conventional, maybe the date of my birth, on it.
I felt my pulse quicken and my heart swell up. The wonderful, adorable jerk.
This bracelet didn't have an admission of love or some such nonsense. I hadn't really expected it, anyway.
I turned the bracelet over and over, trying to decided the many meanings attached to the one word.
_Kawaii_
He thought...I was beautiful?
I shook my head, no. It would have been too...no, it couldn't be.
The bracelets were beautiful?
That was stretching it a bit. Why not just take the word at face value?
_Life_ was beautiful?
I sighed, wondering why I always made things so hard on myself. Ranma had given me something precious and here I was trying to dissect the meaning of one word.
Honestly, I could be so dense sometimes.
I looked at Felix and decided that it was time to go down the stairs.
But then I felt the butterflies in my stomach. What if everyone made a big deal about this...about me dressing up?
I mean, it wasn't as if I was going anywhere special. Or maybe I was.
Then again, when had Akane Tendo ever cared about what people thought?
Always, I realized.
Oh well, I decided as I pushed my feet into the sandals. There was nothing left to do except get my spunky self down those stairs, everyone's reaction be damned.
As I walked down the stairs I couldn't push away the doubt that always rose in me whenever I did something different.
Would Ranma notice?
I had no time to dwell on that question this time as I descended the stairs and heard my father's trademark sobs.
*************************************************
"But I thought the Master was dead, Saotome!"
I watched in fascination as my father placed his head atop the shogi table and sobbed his poor heart out.
"I'm sorry Tendo, but this note says that we can expect the Master back soon...that is, if he doesn't find that nude beach in Kyoto beforehand. Why, we might not see him for another year if that happens!"
Genma was not, for once, in his panda form. He was actually sitting nonchalantly across from my father and he seemed calm for someone who had just found out that the person he most despised would be returning.
My father took a break from his sobbing to look quizzically at Genma.
"Why are you so calm in the face of such tragic news, Saotome? Have you forgotten the rigorous training practices the old perverted Master puts us through?"
Genma merely took a sip of sake before responding.
"You see, my dear friend, I have come to a realization. It does no good for us to whine and sob and curse the kami for this travesty...no, no. I figure that I must save my energy for the day the Master reappears. That is when I will strike."
Fresh tears formed in my father's eyes but he held them as he looked at Genma strangely. It was as if he had just found out Genma was actually a rocket scientist instead of a big, worthless slob.
"Translation, please?"
"I will drink myself into a stupor and forget about the whole matter and then, when the day comes..."
Genma jumped up into a fighting stance, knocking over the shogi table and causing Father to topple over.
"I WILL BEG, PLEAD, CRY AND SELL MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL IF NEEDED!"
He then sat back down, taking another sip of the sake.
"So dry those eyes my good man and save your dignity and self respect. You can rid yourself of both when the Master arrives."
I couldn't help but snicker at Genma's nonsense. Honestly, Father would not be so foolish as to-
"You're right, Saotome! Why appear weak and pathetic now when I can do it later!! Maybe, seeing me in such a state will disgust the Master so much that he will leave on another trip."
I watched as Genma poured sake in a cup and handed it to my father.
"To being weak---"
He took a swig.
"And pathetic-"
My father drank to that.
"After all---"
Both raised their cups in the air before shouting in unison.
"ANYTHING GOES WHERE THE MASTER'S CONCERNED!!!"
I rolled my eyes, deciding that maybe I could just tiptoe past them without having them notice.
"Say Tendo..."
My father looked up.
"You think that your girls would be willing to part with some of their unmentionables? You know, so we can set a trap for the Master and maybe push him into the volcanic-"
Suddenly, Mr. Waterworks was replaced by Daddy Demon-Head.
"HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK OF GETTING MY LITTLE GIRLS INVOLVED???!!!"
Genma quickly poured the cup of sake over himself and turned on the "poor innocent dumb panda" act.
It was just a thought. His sign read.
"Besides, Saotome, I already tried once and Kasumi told me it was not proper."
Tears welled up in his eyes once more as he recalled the event.
"My little girl scolded me!!!!"
Even I sweatdropped at that comment.
It was then that I decided that having my drunken, emotional father see me in his late wife's dress would not exactly be healthy at the moment so I made my way out to the koi pond.
I decided to grab a snack so I stopped by the kitchen first.
Kasumi was there, which didn't surprise me in the least. That was her own version of my dojo...a place where she felt calmest and happiest.
Her back was turned to me but, I had long since learned that Kasumi could identify everyone's step.
"I'm glad to see you're finally up, Akane."
She turned to me and her eyes widened in amazement and her mouth turned up into a radiant smile.
"You look...Mother's dress suits you."
I blushed and grabbed a pitcher of lemonade and a bowl of curry from the fridge.
"Um...thanks, oneechan."
It was odd, but as much as I felt the need to hear reassurances and compliments, I never quite knew how to take them. I guess it was that, as Nabiki would have pointed out, I didn't quite feel _worthy_ of them.
"It's such a nice day outside. Nabiki's gone off to some business meeting of hers and father and Mr. Saotome...well, you know them."
Kasumi grabbed a book from one of the kitchen drawers and turned to me.
"And I'm about to return this book to Dr. Tofu."
I didn't fail to notice the twinkle in my sister's eyes or the way she tried to act calm and composed.
Sometimes, I wondered just how much Kasumi knew and how much she pretended she didn't.
"If you'd like to come-"
I shook my head.
"No thanks, onee. I'm about to have my breakfast/lunch outside by the koi pond."
Kasumi walked out of the kitchen and just as she was about to exit the house I heard her call out to me.
"By the way, Ranma's outside and although he had a big breakfast-"
I could imagine her sly smile as she said the words.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you offered him a plate."
I rolled my eyes before grabbing a glass and an extra bowl, filling it to the brim with the curry.
Placing everything on a plate and making sure not to spill anything, I walked out to the old elm tree beside the koi pond.
Sure enough, Ranma was there, his eyes shut, his breathing slow and even. He looked so...I suddenly remembered why it was that I loved him so much.
"You never were too good at sneaking up on people, Akane."
Startled, I lost a grip on the tray I was holding and watched it make its decent to the ground.
Ranma, his eyes still closed, simply lifted a leg and balanced the tray and its contents with the flat of his foot.
Show off, I thought.
"Hey, the food smells good---did Kasumi make it?"
He never could ask about any food I gave him without that tone of worry in his voice creeping in.
"Yes."
I sighed and sat down next to him, crossing my legs as I did so. I grabbed the tray from him, making sure not to spill any of the lemonade in the process.
Of course, I _would_ be the one to forget the chopstick.
"I brought you a plate Ranma, but I forgot the chopsticks, so hold on a minute."
I paused a moment to slide out of the sandals and made my way across the yard barefoot. I'd always liked the feel of the cool grass between my toes anyway. Besides, they didn't call me tomboy for nothing.
After trying to remember which drawer Kasumi kept the chopsticks in I finally found them. I walked briskly towards Ranma, hoping that he hadn't gone on and finished the contents in his bowl---and mine, for that matter---. After all, Ranma was a bit too---eager, when it came to food.
Sure enough, there was Ranma, eyes wide open, about to dump the curry into his mouth. And I was only half kidding when I called him the human garbage disposal.
I giggled.
"Honestly, Ranma. I know you spent most of your life out in the wild but haven't you learned anything in the year and a half you've been here?"
He sighed, placing the bowl back on the tray.
"You just had to say something you macho uncu---"
Ranma stopped short as he finally took a good, long look at me.
I responded, my eyebrows raised in mock annoyance.
"Oh please do continue."
Ranma seemed, at least for the moment, at a loss for words. His mouth opened and closed and I decided that maybe I'd do him a favor and finish his oh-so-famous speech about my lack of femininity.
"All right, let's see...you were about to say uncute, violent, sexless tomboy, right?"
I leaned over, making sure that he could get a good whiff of my perfume. I was glad that I had decided to put a hint of lip gloss on my lips and a dab of makeup on my face.
"Uncute means _not_ cute and, I'm sorry, but I spent a little too much time getting ready, for you to be able to convince me of that."
Ranma grabbed the chopsticks out of my hands, mumbling something under his breath.
"What was that, Ranma?"
I grabbed a glass and poured lemonade in it. I took a small sip.
Ranma stabbed at the curry and I almost asked what he was doing---making sure that it was dead, or what?
He mumbled again, his mouth full this time.
"I _almost_ heard you that time." I hid my smile behind my glass.
"Thaz a cude ref."
He finally finished chewing and swallowed.
"Really, Ranma, could you be a bit more---"
"That's a cute dress," he whispered, a hint of a blush rising in his cheeks.
The glass trembled in my hands.
"Thanks, it belonged to my Mom."
We both settled back into the silence we both knew so well. Nothing more was said and we both finished our meal in silence.
I wondered what Ranma was thinking.
"Thanks."
My thoughts interrupted, I raised my eyes to Ranma.
"For the food, I mean."
At the moment I could think of nothing more than the fact that Ranma's blue-gray eyes were focused on me and the butterflies dancing around in my stomach did not help the situation at all.
My mouth suddenly became dry and I reached for the lemonade, happy to let the cool liquid slide down my tongue.
"No biggie. You know me, I can serve food as long as it's not my own. People seem to disappear whenever that happens."
I gave a half-hearted laugh, and wondered why I had brought the subject up. I mean, I was already self-conscious about my lack of skills where cooking was concerned. Besides, having Ranma agree with me would only worsen my already deteriorating self-esteem.
I must have looked as if I'd just lost a friend (either that or _really_ killed my inner child) because I suddenly felt Ranma's hand on my shoulder.
"Hey. Don't get so down about the cooking thing Akane. I mean, not everyone is good at everything."
I almost laughed at that. Not being good at everything wasn't my problem, it was not being good at _anything_ that stung.
"Thanks, Ranma. I'll take your words of wisdom into consideration next time I burn down the kitchen."
It would have been hilarious, really, if I hadn't really burned down the kitchen once.
Nabiki had never let me live that one down.
"C'mon, Akane, you know what I mean. There are some things you're good at, some things Kasumi's good at. I mean, why do you think Kasumi's never tried to pick up martial arts?"
That wasn't really true. My oneechan had, like all the Tendo girls, practiced the arts when she was a small child. Daddy had put us in his class and that's where my love for the art had grown.
But then again, Kasumi had never taken a liking to it at all. She had preferred to busy herself in the kitchen with Mother, preparing lunches for all the students in the class.
"I mean, Kasumi's great when it comes to cooking, Nabiki's good at stripping you of money, pride and any source of self-respect you have and you, well you're pretty good at the arts."
Those were words I'd longed to hear come out of Ranma's mouth ever since I'd had my first sparring session with him. My determination and stubbornness at practicing the art stemmed from the hope that I would one day hear Ranma tell me I was good. Not great, but I'd settle for good.
For some reason, the words weren't as convincing as I thought they'd be.
"But..." I paused, not sure whether or not I wanted to play a game of "guess Akane's insecurities".
"I'm _not_ that good at it Ranma. I mean, come one. When I'm up against Ukyo I'm barely able to keep standing on my two feet and forget about Shampoo. She could probably kick my ass blindfolded and with her hands tied behind her back. If that's being 'pretty good' I wonder what being a complete failure is."
I set my bowl down on the tray, my appetite suddenly gone.
"So you can stop trying to make me feel better by lying to me. Why not just admit the truth? The one thing that I thought I had a shot at, the one skill I used to have that my sisters didn't and it turns out that I'm really not that good at it at all."
It hurt like hell to admit it but honesty was becoming a major part of my life so why not just acknowledge that I was terrible at the one thing that had made me happy?
I ignored the lump in my throat and told myself that the tears in my eyes were due to the high pollen count in the area. Before I knew it, I was reaching down to get ahold of the tray and all its contents.
"I'm not lying."
Ranma said it softly, but the tone in his voice dared me to tell him otherwise. He was looking at me with a seriousness that sent chills down my spine.
My eyes traveled from his eyes to his strong jawbone, continuing along his broad shoulders and toned forearms. They stopped where his hand was firmly holding my wrist.
"C'mon Akane, don't you think it's time for you to stop second guessing yourself? Sure your form's sloppy, you get so eager to prove yourself that you lose concentration and I end up having to save you from your stupid mistakes but...damn Akane, you have so much potential."
No male had ever spoken to me the way Ranma just had and I had to fight the urge to take my mallet and smash Ranma into oblivion. After all, he was only telling me the truth.
"I see it every time you fight alongside me and...you have the potential of being my equal. But then the doubts run through your head and, well, you've convinced yourself that you're not good enough compared to everyone else and..."
Ranma loosened his grip on my wrist and turned my hand over. He continued once more and I wondered if he knew that he had started stroking my palm with his fingers.
"It's frustrating, Akane. Is it any wonder that I call you stupid sometimes? Or that I taunt you? I do it because that's the only way to draw out your fighting spirit and to get you out of the self-pity trip you've been on ever since our failed wed--- for awhile now."
His hand was so big compared to mine but it was surprisingly gentle and it thrilled and excited me. I stopped myself from reaching up to stroke his face. Things were moving too fast for me at the moment.
So I gently withdrew my hand from his. A look of disappointment briefly crossed Ranma's face but was gone just as suddenly.
"Why don't you say it, Ranma? You're right, ever since our _failed wedding_ I've been frustrated and disappointed and...tired."
My hands were shaking so I placed them on my lap, my fingers interlaced.
"Ukyo was right, you know. We've been in this situation for so long and, it's just not fun anymore Ranma. It's not fair to anyone and I'm just so...I'm not happy anymore Ranma."
I looked ahead because if I were to look at Ranma I would start crying and I had already promised myself that I wouldn't do that anymore.
"All the mayhem and drama...it was good when we were in high school and kept the days from being boring but...Ranma I almost died!"
My hands were shaking again but even my controlled breathing couldn't stop them from doing so.
"It's not your fault, don't you dare think that's what I'm trying to say. _I'm_ the one who followed you and I wouldn't think twice about doing it again. But things were supposed to change after that, Ranma."
That's the only relief I'd gotten from the horrible experience with Saffron. I'd hoped that we had all gone through that ordeal so that things could change.
"The wedding was supposed to mark that Ranma. Maybe it was good that we didn't go through with it because we obviously have a lot of growing up to do but...
I bit my lip until I tasted blood. I wanted to see how Ranma was taking all this but I jut couldn't. At least not without breaking down.
"Do you know how much I was looking forward to it? And then you said I looked beautiful and I thought that it wouldn't be so bad being married to you."
A laugh rose in my throat, or maybe it was a sob, I wasn't sure which.
"And then everything got ruined and here we are. So yeah, I understood what Ukyo said last night and she was right."
That was all I had to say. At that moment I didn't care what Ranma thought or maybe I cared too much and it was just painful. I was confused and calm and agitated all at once.
But I'd let it all go and maybe I'd given Ranma too much information or maybe he didn't care and maybe having a serious conversation with a guy was just too much.
"You ain-aren't the only one who feels that way."
I turned to Ranma, silent tears making their way down my cheeks and now it was he who was avoiding my gaze.
"I've thought about it even before the wedding day...with Saffron. I keep goin' through that day, again and again in my dreams."
I watched him tense, his hands clutching blades of grass, his jawbone clenched.
"You're not the only one who wonders sometimes, you know. I was holdin' you, in my arms, and.."
He turned his head, just as Ryoga had when I thought he was crying. But Ranma never cried!
"I thought you were dea--- gone and it hurt more'n any punch Pop's ever thrown at me and I wondered if maybe I wasn't as great as I thought I was."
It was my turn to place a hand on his shoulder. His muscles relaxed a little under my hands.
"Great, ain't it? There I was, Ranma Saotome, heir of the Anything Goes arts and the person I lo-- you almost die on me..."
My hand moved up and down Ranma's shoulders and it was sad how much trouble we could have avoided if Ranma'd talked to me like this.
"Don't think I'm cryin' or anythin'. Just...."
I watched him reach down to take the cold pitcher of lemonade but I stopped him.
It was always comfortable for Ranma to escape by activating his curse. Ranma Saotome cry? Of course not. So why not bring in the cute redheaded chick?
After all, it was better for a cute girl to cry than a big, strong martial artist, right?
"Don't."
I placed a tentative hand on Ranma's and held it tightly.
"You...for the first time you're telling me the truth and you're actually letting letting yourself feel something..."
My hand slowly rose until it was close enough to touch Ranma's cheek. I hesitated.
And then I placed my hand on it and stroked it, my fingers trembling as I did so. My resolve not to cry had long since left me.
"Real men can cry because it take a lot of courage to do that even when others make you feel shame but...I won't do that Ranma."
The tears in my eyes blurred my vision and I searched blindly for Ranma's mouth. I didn't care what Ranma's reaction would be because at the moment I needed his lips on mine, our tears mingling together, the taste intoxicating.
"I won't _ever_ do that."
I couldn't think. I only knew that this, _this_ felt so right and I couldn't believe that we'd avoided it for so long.
His breath was hot against my skin and my hands were on his shoulders, running through his hair then down his back.
"I thought I'd l-l-ost you..."
I kissed his eyes, his cheeks, his forehead...I couldn't stop.
"But you didn't and I'm here and we're both..."
In my dreams I'd never imagined that I, no, we'd be doing this, in broad daylight. No starry night, just the sunlight teasing my bare shoulders, his fingers caressing my back.
This is their cue, I thought. It's time for Ukyo to barge in, screaming for me to let her Ranchan go. Or maybe Shampoo'll come through the wall, balancing a bowl of ramen in her hand.
Nothing happened.
Nothing but his mouth on mine, our tongues caressing each other, and I felt a deep bliss I never thought I'd be able to feel.
"I love you..."
"I know..." I replied.
The words were said and in the end Ranma Saotome let his guard down, took the shoulder I offered, letting me comfort him. He was that boy who'd learned the Neko-ken when he was six, wished for a mother he couldn't see, bewildered by the attention others gave him.
He was crying on my shoulder in male form. He was a man amongst men.
"I'm scared."
"Me too." I whispered.
And in a strange way, it was nice, us not knowing what we'd do next. Together.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes: Well, what can I say? This is a long chapter (19 pages in Microsoft Word, to be exact) and nothing much happens until the end. I said I wouldn't do a rooftop scene and I didn't. It might have ended up being as sappy as one though, although I tried not to have it end that way. So what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Think it's mediocre? Let me know by commenting on the fanfiction.net review forum or by e-mailing me smijaresc@my-deja.com What's next? Like Ranma and Akane...I have no idea. At least until my fingers start a-typin' away. Now to wreak havoc on Nabiki and Kuno's barely blossoming relationship...
Until next time,
Sonia M.
"Why do fools fall in love?"