CRYSTAL TEARS
Chapter 6
*****
It was already early morning by the time Akane and Ukyo spotted the village
over a hill. Mousse had said they were about fifteen miles away, and he
was right. What he didn't mentione was that those little miles were
over a mountain and other various 'fun' obstacles. Neither women
were tired though; fueled by the desire to save Ranma, they showed
almost no signs of early fatigue.
The village in sight, Ukyo said, "Akane, looks like we made it."
Akane nodded, sitting down to regain her breath for a second. "Good.
Say, what time is it anyway?"
"Um," Ukyo checked her watch. "Ten 'till Eight. Nice and early."
Ukyo joined Akane in sitting. "Well, now we have to get him out of there.
What was the plan again?"
"Well, we're supposed to find Ranma first. We bring him out, if all goes
well, unnoticed. If we're spotted, we have to make sure we get Cologne
near us. That way, we can say all she's done."
"But, didn't the council have to be there for it to work?"
"Not necessarily. Mousse told me that if many people are present, the word
has to the the council. You know, like gossip."
"Okay, I get it. But, when do we go in?"
"Now's as good a time as any."
"Whoa there girl! It's broad daylight! We'd be spotted."
"I talked to Mousse about that too. He said not to worry, since female visitors
are welcome at any time."
Ukyo blinked. "Oh. Well, I hope he's right."
"Of course I'm right."
Akane and Ukyo jumped at screamed a little. They turned around and found Mousse
standing behind them.
"Mousse! We were just..." broke off Akane.
"Don't worry. I was expecting that you two sneak off like this. I just followed a
little ways behind you."
"Sheessh. You could have told us!" said Ukyo.
"No, because then our progress would have been slower."
"Hey, what about Nabiki?" asked Akane.
"She is fine. I left her just a two miles from here. We both knew, so we followed
you and brought your stuff. She sends her best wishes at our success."
Akane nodded and looked at the village. It was a rather large place, even from the
distance she was at. "So, how long before we get there?"
"Just a few minutes in fact," said Mousse. "The path Xangfie showed me is just beyond
those trees. It is pretty straight, so if we run, we could be there in about
twenty minutes."
"Well, what are we waiting for! Ran-chan needs us! Let's go!" yelled Ukyo as she ran
down the hill. Akane and Mousse looked at each other, said nothing and ran after
her.
Ten minutes later, they were just a mile away from the secret village entrance.
"Well, we made it," said Ukyo, slowing her run to a slow walk.
"Yes, we did. The path is much shorter than I expected. I didn't think we could get
here so soon."
"Well, the important thing is that we made it. Look!" Akane pointed where the bushes
ended, giving a good view of the village.
Quickly, the three of them got to the entrance, looked around and were satisfied that
the place was hard to spot.
"Well, I'm home..." said Mousse.
Akane felt sad for poor Mousse. Banished from his home by an old hag had to hurt.
"Hey, what do you suppose they're doing?" said Ukyo.
Akane and Mousse looked. Indeed, many people were running around, darting out of
their homes and heading towards some place.
"They are headed towards the center ring. It's like a plaza; they only use it
for tournaments and special events."
"Oh, so there must be a tournament today, huh?" said Ukyo.
"No, I don't think so."
"What?" asked both Akane and Ukyo.
"They are dressed in fine ceremonial garments. They must be on their way to celebrate
something."
Akane felt a sinking feeling as Mousse said that.
"Hey, maybe now we can move around more easily," said Ukyo. The place was deserted;
no one was left scurrying around.
"It must be a very important event," said Mousse.
Akane and Ukyo got up, and made slow progress as they cleared the bushes and
went into the village.
"Relax. No one is around."
Akane and Ukyo yelled as Mousse surprised them from behind.
"Mousse! I thought you said you couldn't come back here..." said Akane.
"It is time we take action. You will need all the help you can get." Without
another word, he took the lead, running slightly. Akane and Ukyo blinked, but
followed him. They sneaked around, carefully avoiding an occasional person
running by.
After a few minutes, they hid behind a huge tree; they plaza filled with people.
"The entire village is here. The ceremony must be very important."
"What do you think they're gonna do?" asked Akane.
"Don't know..."
They stopped talking as the crowd of people suddenly went quiet.
A figure made a path among the people. It hopped rather well on it's cane.
"It's Cologne," said Mousse.
"What is she gonna do?" asked Ukyo.
Akane did not take her eyes off the old woman. She was trying to see what was going
on, but she knew it had something to do with Ranma.
Cologne, dressed in a special ceremonial garb, made her way through the crowd.
The people opened up a path for her. She came up to a pedestal and stopped there,
letting a kneeling Ranma up from his cushion.
Akane held back a gasp. There he was. Ranma. It was really him.
"Look, it's Ran-chan!" Ukyo whispered. "Now's our chance..."
"Wait," said Mousse sternly. "Something is not right here."
"What?" said Ukyo.
He pointed towards Ranma, who was rising from a kneeling position. He looked at Cologne,
bowed and stood still.
"Oh no..." said Mousse.
"What's wrong?" asked Akane.
"Just as I feared..."
Akane didn't respond. She looked at Ranma, studying him. He was dressed in fine chinese
clothing, but they did look very formal.
"What's happening, Mousse?" asked Ukyo.
Akane shut their voices out. She concentrated on Ranma; a figure stepped into her line
of vision. She almost went mad with rage.
*Shampoo...*
Mousse and Ukyo looked at Shampoo, who came from a side of the crowd. She was dressed in
a red chinese out-fit which looked great on her. They were pants lined with small
ornamental decorations, a chinese shirt like Ranma wore and a hat which suited her.
"They're about to get..." Mousse said, but Akane shut it out. She didn't believe what
was happening before her eyes. Ranma looked at Shampoo, who was looking back at him;
she extended her hand...
No!
Something inside her snapped. She left her hiding spot and ran towards them.
"Akane wait! It's too dangerous!" yelled Mousse.
"Come back!" yelled out Ukyo. Akane obviously chose to ignore them, for she kept running.
"This is not good." Mousse rose and ran after her.
"Am I ever gonna regret this," said Ukyo, following them both.
Ranma stood facing Shampoo, hearing the elder Cologne speak. It was in chinese, so he
barely understood what she was saying. He couldn't believe this was his wedding.
He had woken up, filled with an inmense desire to be with Shampoo. When he had
found her, she was just outside, looking at the rising sun. He spoke to her
and she told him she was happy.
She didn't look very happy though.
He disregarded that though, once she told him she wanted to marry right away. He
didn't know why, but he couldn't protest her request. So, he dressed in clothes
that he was told were appropriate for the occasion, went to the plaza, as he
was told, sat and waited. The groom was supposed to meditate for an hour
prior to the event, or so they told him.
Now, Shampoo looking at him with eyes that only the word: 'adoring' could describe,
he leaned forward...
"RANMAAAAAA!"
Ranma flinched at the voice.
*That voice... I- I know that voice...*
He had tried so hard to remember his thoughts from the previous day, but was unable to.
He remembered nothing. Nowm as he heard that voice, he suddenly felt as if he was
doing something wrong here; being here. But why?
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young woman, slender and petite with
blue-black hair quickly coming towards him. Something in his mind snapped...
Shampoo stood transfixed as Akane rushed towards her and Ranma. Part of her was worried
at what this eant, but part of her was actually relieved that she was here. Why was that?
Cologne could barely keep from gasping. The girl was here! How? The village was guarded
well; no one could slip by them! When she saw the spatula girl and Mousse right behind
her, she started sweating.
*How did he survive the poison!? He should be dead by now!*
"Rannmaaa!" Akane yelled again, still running towards him.
The girl...
That girl...
He knew her...
He didn't know how, but he knew her. He was sure of it! Something in his mind went
berserk and the pain returned, stronger than ever. He fought against it, but to no avail.
He grabbed his head with both hands as the pain became unbearable. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
What is this!!!!!" He shook his head violently, trying to shy away the pain. His
knees gave out and he crumbled to the floor, shaking violently.
Shampoo panicked at Ranma's reaction to seeing Akane. The powder should have erased
all recolection of her! Why was this happening to Ranma!? "Ranma!" she screamed as she
kneeled next to him and tried to calm him down.
Cologner had to salvage this situation if the council was to remain unknowing.
"Seize them!" she yelled as she pointed to Akane, Mousse and Shampoo.
Akane stopped as Cologne yelled out something in chinese. Mousse and Ukyo stopped just
behind her.
"Brace yourselves!" yelled out Mousse as he assumed his stance.
Almost instantly, armed female guards came from the crowd and other places. They
surrounded them. Akane assesed the situation; there were about twenty guards
surrounding them. They were big women that weilded evil looking weapons.
*Ranma...*
The guards attacked. Akane ducked under an axe and jumped over a bladed stick. She
elbowed the axe guard in the stomach and kicked the stick one in the face. Both women
went flying, but two more immediately replaced them.
Mousse threw smoke bombs at the small crowd of five that was approaching him.
The women were suprised and stopped momentarily, coughing. Mousse released
his arsenal of chains and wrapped all five of them up. The women let go of their
weapons and began to struggle against their hold. Mousse jumped up high,
decending upon their group viciously, sending them all into dream land.
He retreaved his chains and produced a blade from his sleeve, using it to
block a bonbori attack from behind him. Not wasting a second, he threw a
round-house that connected with the woman's jaw. She went flying into
the crowd.
Ukyo threw her mini-spatula's at the three women quickly approaching her. The
sharp little blades cut off the head's of their weapons. The guards looked at
their weapons, trying to figure out how she had just cut through metal. Ukyo
brought her spatula down on one of them, rendering her unconscious. Using
her whole body momentum, she quickly pivoted and hit the side of one of the
guards. She clutched her side in pain, but she went flying, crashing into
the other two guards. The three women flew into two more.
Akane dispatched another guard using a guillotine throw*, who flew into two
more. She regain her composure and sweeped at the legs of a bare-handed fighter,
who was surprised and unable to jump over the attack. Akane admitted she was getting
tired. The guards would just not stop coming. One after the other, as if they
were waiting for her to finish off another so they could step into the fight.
One of them landed a punch to her arm; she countered with one of her famous
'Akane Air' kicks; the woman sailed up, taking three more with her. They landed
on the side of a house, leaving a big hole on the wodden wall.
To all this, Ranma still could not get rid of the pain, which steadily got worse.
The young woman sparked a fire in his being. Things rushed towards him. The house,
the people, all of it. It was just out of his grasp.
Shampoo tried to soothe Ranma, but she didn't help much. He kept shaking violently
and screaming. Suddenly, she hugged him, unable to control herself anymore. She
began crying.
Akane barely got rid of another opponent just as she saw Shampoo hugging her Ranma.
HER Ranma. The combined adrenaline and now this, it was a little too much for her
to bare.
"Akane behind you!" yelled out Ukyo.
Not bothering to give it a second thought, she quickly turned around, bringing her
mallet out. With one quick blow, the guard pulled a very good immitation of a baseball.
Swinging her mallet quickly, she began dispatching opponent after opponent, who flew
into other people, quickly getting rid of the problem. Once a path was clear, she
ran towards Ranma and Shampoo, quickly dispatching anyone who crossed her field
of vision.
Shampoo knew she had to take Ranma away. If Akane got to him, she would likely never
see him again. Even she doubted she could take on the mallet weilding enraged girl
at the moment.
Then, why couldn't she?
Her body seemed to lock up. She was paralyzed. Not in fear or anything; she just
couldn't move.
Ranma couldn't stop shaking. The pain was agonizing. The more he fought, the worse
it got. The girl, whoever she was, was reacking havoc on his mind. It was as if
she was painfully awakening all his memories. He couldn't take it anymore, so
he hugged Shampoo desperately in an attempt to soothe his pain.
"Shampoo, help... I can't stand it!"
Shampoo could feel Ranma hugging her, but she still couldn't move. She was frozen
in place.
As Ranma hugged Shampoo, something inside Akane 'clicked'. All the details she had
not understood earlier fell into place. She stopped and stood, her mallet vanishing.
This was a ceremony all right.
It was a wedding...
Ranma and Shampoo's...
Wedding.
*No, no...*
She suddenly lost all her will to fight. Her hand came to cover her mouth as she stiffled
a sob. Tears spilled from her eyes. She tore her eyes away and ran blindly, away from
all this, knocking away anyone who stood near her, crying.
Ranma didn't love her...
He was marrying Shampoo. Not her.
Her Ranma...
Didn't love her...
She ran into the forest, trying to outrun the pain. The hurt. The loneliness.
"Akane wait!" yelled out Ukyo as she saw Akane running away. The fighting had ceased
at Akane's rage. But, as she saw her running away, she knew she could have never
compared her emotions. She had never seen anyone in so much pain.
"Ukyo, we must go!" said Mousse as he took her arm and pulled her, running after
Akane. The guards were looking to fight them again, and now with Akane going away,
they were at more of a disadvantage.
With Mousse and Ukyo going after Akane, Cologne breathed again. She had to make
sure word of this did NOT reach the council.
"STOP!" she yelled at the guards who were starting to chase after the trio.
"Let them go. Guard all entrances to the village. Make sure they do not come
in here again!"
The guards looked at each other in awe. "But elder..." one of them said.
"My word is final!" She turned to the still stunned crowd. "No one will
speak of this matter, else they want to answer directly to me."
Everyone in the crowd shuddered, talked for a few moments and started to dissipate.
Until the moment when Ranma screamed again.
*What are you doing to me!? Stop it! Stop it!* Ranma thought. He was afraid
he could not stand the pain. He was sure he would faint soon enough.
Shampoo, having regained her composure, tried to calm Ranma. "Great-Grandmother, help
him! He needs help!"
Cologne nodded and approached them. She got off her cane and pressed a spot on
Ranma's back. He stiffened for a second, but then collapsed on Shampoo.
"He will sleep for a while."
"Why did this happen? Why was he like this?"
Cologne sighed, motioning for the crowd to leave before she spoke again. Most left
immediately at her hand wave. "I did not expect this. It seems our powder was
not entirely effective."
"What?"
"He almost remembered. I had truly no idea of the limits of his spirit."
Shampoo remained silent, carressing Ranma's chest.
"This is bad. The council must not hear of this. Take him back home. Once he wakes
up, feed him this," she gave her another small bag, "and tell him you two were married.
Then, consumate the marriage. He will feel honor-bound to you, thus he will no
longer attempt to leave."
Shampoo looked at the bag, Ranma and then at Cologne. She could no longer take it.
"NO!" she said sternly. "I will no longer play a part in this! It has gone long enough!
He will remember, no matter how much magic you use on him! And every time, his pain
just keeps getting worse.
"You do not own me! I'm not a piece of meat you can do with as you please! I love
Ranma, but even I know this is wrong! Please, can't you see!? We are only making
him suffer by keeping him here!"
Cologne was agast at Shampoo's sudden reaction. She had not expected her to be like
this. She was supposed to do as she was told, nothing more or nothing less. She
felt her blood boil.
SLAP
Shampoo's head was jerked to the side as she touched her cheek. It was reddened by
Cologne's slap. The woman may have been old, but she was increadably strong.
"You will respect you elders child! Your mother gave you to my care, so you will
do as I say! You will feed him this, bed him and make sure he does not leave.
This is all you have to do, so I will not tolerate any more disobedience!"
With that, she mounted her cane and hopped away.
Shampoo saw as Cologne left, without a doubt heading to the elders chambers to
make sure not a whiff of this reached the other members of the council. She looked
at Ranma's sleeping form, resting on her lap. She cooed to him, trying to figure
out something.
Anything.
"I'm sorry Ranma. This is all my fault. If I had not fallen in love with you, none
of this would have happened..." She hugged his body tightly to hers.
"I'm sorry!!!!" she screamed at the sky.
*****
It was hours later that Mousse and Ukyo gave up looking for Akane. She had run off
into the forest and dissapeared. They decided she would be fine on her own, so
they slowly made their way back to the camp site.
"Do you think she'll be alright, Mousse?"
"I hope so. It must have been quite a shock to her, but I'm certain she will come
back soon enough."
Ukyo nodded and kept walking. After a few minutes, they reached the campsite just as night
started to fall.
"Nabiki, we...." Ukyo said, breaking off as she saw the two figures near the fire.
Nabiki had Akane in a hug and was talking to the still crying girl.
"Akane!" said Ukyo as she rushed to their side. Akane was still sobbing loudly,
hugging at her sister.
"Don't worry Akane. Everything will work out, like it always does," said Nabiki
as she tried to comfort Akane.
"Why..." Akane went on, wailing as a lost soul.
"Don't worry Akane! Tomorrow, whe're gonna go back and take Ranma out..." said Ukyo.
"Don't bullshit me Ukyo!" screamed Akane, letting go of her sister and standing.
"Are you blind!? Ranma loves Shampoo! They were getting married! He doesn't love
me!" Her voice raised at the last part. Once she said this, she sat back down on
the log, cupped her face in her hands and cried.
"Nabiki. Ukyo," said Mousse. Both girls looked at him. "We need more firewood. Go
get some."
The girls looked at each other, then at pile of wood Nabiki had gathered. They got
the point and left to their tents.
"Akane," Mousse said as he sat beside her. "I know it hurts..." He was silent as
Akane hugged him and buried her face in his chest, sobbing loudly.
Hesitantly, he hugged her form, trying to comfort the girl. "It will be alright."
He repeated this over and over as he soothed her hair. Soon, her sobs turned into
sniffles.
"Akane, do you remember how Ranma acted when he saw you?" The girl slowly nodded
in between a sniffle.
"It has led me to believe that he may be under the influence of some kind of manipulation
magic."
Akane looked at his face, her face puffy and her eyes red from crying. "What?" she asked
in a weak tone.
"They may be trying to repress his memories with magic. If this is so, what we saw
today was him trying to remember. When he saw you, it must have triggered something
in his mind, erradicating the control of the magic. We may still have a chance
to get him back."
Hope swelled in her heart. "You mean..."
"Yes, we can still save him. Do not give up hope yet."
Akane smiled, rose a little and kissed his cheek. Mousse blushed, but smiled.
"Thank you, Mousse. You- I don't know how to thank you."
Mousse simply nodded, producing a box of tissues from his sleeve and giving them to Akane.
Akane blew her nose. "Well, I have to believe you. But, if you don't mind, I'd
like to be alone right now."
"No, not at all," he responded. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, I just need to think for a while. Don't worry, I'm not gonna run away like
I did earlier. I just need some time by myself."
Mousse smiled and unexpectadly kissed her cheek. Now it was Akane's turn to blush.
He stood, smiled at her and headed for his tent, leaving Akane sitting alone by the
fire. She sighed, picked up a small oil lamp that was next to her and walked
towards a place she had seen earlier. It wasn't far away; the perfect place
to think.
*****
Ranma slowly opened his eyes. He groaned at the pain the small night lamp caused
to his messed up vision. He sat up slowly, breathing in deeply.
*What happened to me?*
He remembered the afternoon's events. Who was that girl? And those people she had been
with that seemed so familiar?
"Ranma..." a voice beside him said.
Ranma turned so that he could look at Shampoo. She was dressed in one of her normal
outfits ad sitting in a chair next to the night lamp.
"Shampoo?"
"Please, let Shampoo talk." He nodded. She drew in a deep breath. "Ranma, Shampoo
is sorry. Is my fault Ranma here. She bring Ranma back to China."
"What?"
"Please, let me finish. Shampoo bring back Ranma because I in love with you. Always
has been. But I made mistake."
Ranma tilted his head to his side.
"I let old woman make descitions for Shampoo. Shampoo not live her own life, but that
which she told to."
Ranma looked down.
"Make you foret so it easier for me to make you think you love me. Used magic many
time to subdue Ranma, but always fail."
"Magic on me?"
"Remember Ramen you eat?" Ranma nodded. "It filled with Manipulation powder. Make Ranma
believe anything he is told. I tell you in love with Shampoo."
Now, Ranma understood some, but other things were still unanswered.
"Shampoo make big mistake. She keep Ranma against will with her, which only cause him
pain. Shampoo no want that. Want Ranma to be happy...
"Even if he is happy without me."
Shampoo cupped her face and cried. Ranma sat on the side of the bed, and drew her
into a hug.
"Shampoo love Ranma. That's why I let you go."
"What?"
She looked into his eyes. "You free to go. Free to go back home. I make sure you
never bothered again. I keep away Great-Grandmother so you no have to worry
again for her."
Ranma nodded.
Shampoo sat up straight, wiped a tear away and smiled. "You go now. Leave. Go back
to Japan. To Akane."
"Akane?"
She smiled. "You soon understand. Go now, while not much people is around."
Ranma was going to speak, but she placed a finger on his lips. He smiled at her.
She leaned forward and placed a feather-like kiss on his lips.
"Wo ai ni," she whispered softly into his ear. "Now go."
Shampoo got up, heading across the room and opened the door. Ranma followed her, stopped
at the door and bowed a her. She returned the gesture, closing the door behind her.
She rested her back against the wood, sank down and cried, cupping her face.
It hurt to let him go, but it would hurt more of he stayed.
But she knew...
She knew, deep down inside, she had done the right thing.
*****
Ranma sneaked out of the village like he had done before. He went unnoticed by the
guards. He found himself walking in circles.
Go back home... To Japan.
How?
Where to?
There were still so many things he did not remember.
After a while, he found himself near the lake he had been at yesterday. This place
brought him peace of mind, and he really needed some of that right now.
The moon reflected on the water's surface, granting illumination that seemed almost
magical.
He approached the lake, only to stop as he noticed a figure sitting near the shore.
There was a small lamp next to it, which granted more illumination.
Ranma almost gasped.
Same clothes...
Petite...
Bluish-black hair.
It was her. The girl that made his mind go crazy.
Suddenly, he felt that familiar sensation in his mind, only this time it didn't hurt.
It just wanted answers.
Making less noise than a mouse, he came close to the girl, whom he could tell was
hugging her knees to her chest.
"Who are you?" he asked softly.
Akane gasped and turned around. "Ranma?"
Ranma looked down, at his hands then at her. "Do you know who I am?"
Akane looked confused, but nodded after a second.
"Please, tell me."
Ranma came closer and sat down next to this stranger, who was so familiar.
"Ranma, do you know who I am?"
Ranma shook his head. "I remember you, but I don't know who you are."
Akane felt a great joy swell in her heart. This was her chance to get Ranma
back. "I'm Akane Tendo. Your..." She blushed as she tried to say it. "I'm
your fiance."
"Fiance?"
Akane nodded.
-----
"...been living with us for about a year now. You and your father."
"My father..."
"And your mother as well."
"My mother? My mother is not Yi Ling?"
"No. Her name is Nodoka..."
-----
"...then I engaged you to my sister."
"Engaged me to her?"
"Yeah, it was a wacky thing..."
-----
Akane spent the next hour talking to Ranma about his life. She told everything
as best as she could, trying not to leave out a single detail.
"From what you've told me, we do not get along very well, do we?"
Akane sighed. "Yeah, but it wasn't always like that. There were times when
we were alone and no one interrupted us. It was those moments I cherished. It
was just you and me."
Ranma looked down. In the last hour, he was told the events of his life. They
made little sense to him; how could one person live such an insane life?
He didn't know.
What he did understand was the bond he shared with this girl. It felt good
to be with her.
"Did I ever say it?"
"Say what?" she asked.
"We were engaged, but I ever tell you 'I love you'?"
Akane felt a blush creeping on her cheeks, but the answer made it go away.
"No. You didn't."
"Oh..."
"It doesn't mean anything though." She looked into his eyes, and took his hand.
"It was after that incident in Ryugenzawa forest. We left and you- you... held
my hand as we went back home. It was then that I realized..."
Ranma looked into her brown eyes, begging her to finish.
"That I love you. I loved you then. I still love you now." These words were
accompanied with tears.
Ranma smiled. It felt very good to hear her say that. "I believe you, Akane."
Akane smiled.
"I wish I could remember how I was, then I would be certain if this is love
I feel."
Akane thought for a moment about his words. It was true. If they went back to Japan,
Ranma would never regain his memories. He'd never remember who he was, what he
did and the like.
But...
They would start all over again. From the top. No more misunderstandings. No more
angry words.
They would live...
Together and not reminis over the past, but work to a future.
And they would love.
Akane smiled. She had never felt so happy. She brought her hand from Ranma's and
touched his face. He pulled away at first, but then he let her hand explore his
face. He closed his eyes as he snuggled his cheek to her hand. She traced all of
it; his jaw line, his nose; his forehead, wanting, wishing him to remember what
it was like to love.
To love her...
"Akane..."
Akane smiled and inched her face closer to his. She used her hand to pull his head
close to her's. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. Nothing passionate, just a small
peck that Akane savored as if it was the sweetest thing in the world.
Ranma knew what this girl meant to him. He kissed back, wanting to show her his
emotions.
Akane grabbed his head with both her hands and pulled her lips away from his,
panting for breath.
"I love you, Ranma Saotome..."
Ranma smiled.
"My fiance..."
Akane made their lips meet again.
Ranma knew...
In his heart...
He knew now...
How it felt to remember to truly love.
End of Chapter 6
Author's Notes
Whew! That took a while to write! I've been on this since yesterday.
DON'T get any ideas. The story still isn't finished. There are still two more
chapters and an epilogue to go through.
*A guillotine throw is an advanced move where you use your arms to support
your body over your opponent, lading behind him and using the momentum to
throw him. Believe me, you only learn that one when approaching Dan level...
-I'd like to dedicate this Chapter to a very dear friend of mine.
Ingrid...
Without your constant encouragement, and finding you after these long years of
separation, it feels good to know that emotions don't die at all. You just
have to remember...
'Till next time...
BlackDragon
Chapter 6
*****
It was already early morning by the time Akane and Ukyo spotted the village
over a hill. Mousse had said they were about fifteen miles away, and he
was right. What he didn't mentione was that those little miles were
over a mountain and other various 'fun' obstacles. Neither women
were tired though; fueled by the desire to save Ranma, they showed
almost no signs of early fatigue.
The village in sight, Ukyo said, "Akane, looks like we made it."
Akane nodded, sitting down to regain her breath for a second. "Good.
Say, what time is it anyway?"
"Um," Ukyo checked her watch. "Ten 'till Eight. Nice and early."
Ukyo joined Akane in sitting. "Well, now we have to get him out of there.
What was the plan again?"
"Well, we're supposed to find Ranma first. We bring him out, if all goes
well, unnoticed. If we're spotted, we have to make sure we get Cologne
near us. That way, we can say all she's done."
"But, didn't the council have to be there for it to work?"
"Not necessarily. Mousse told me that if many people are present, the word
has to the the council. You know, like gossip."
"Okay, I get it. But, when do we go in?"
"Now's as good a time as any."
"Whoa there girl! It's broad daylight! We'd be spotted."
"I talked to Mousse about that too. He said not to worry, since female visitors
are welcome at any time."
Ukyo blinked. "Oh. Well, I hope he's right."
"Of course I'm right."
Akane and Ukyo jumped at screamed a little. They turned around and found Mousse
standing behind them.
"Mousse! We were just..." broke off Akane.
"Don't worry. I was expecting that you two sneak off like this. I just followed a
little ways behind you."
"Sheessh. You could have told us!" said Ukyo.
"No, because then our progress would have been slower."
"Hey, what about Nabiki?" asked Akane.
"She is fine. I left her just a two miles from here. We both knew, so we followed
you and brought your stuff. She sends her best wishes at our success."
Akane nodded and looked at the village. It was a rather large place, even from the
distance she was at. "So, how long before we get there?"
"Just a few minutes in fact," said Mousse. "The path Xangfie showed me is just beyond
those trees. It is pretty straight, so if we run, we could be there in about
twenty minutes."
"Well, what are we waiting for! Ran-chan needs us! Let's go!" yelled Ukyo as she ran
down the hill. Akane and Mousse looked at each other, said nothing and ran after
her.
Ten minutes later, they were just a mile away from the secret village entrance.
"Well, we made it," said Ukyo, slowing her run to a slow walk.
"Yes, we did. The path is much shorter than I expected. I didn't think we could get
here so soon."
"Well, the important thing is that we made it. Look!" Akane pointed where the bushes
ended, giving a good view of the village.
Quickly, the three of them got to the entrance, looked around and were satisfied that
the place was hard to spot.
"Well, I'm home..." said Mousse.
Akane felt sad for poor Mousse. Banished from his home by an old hag had to hurt.
"Hey, what do you suppose they're doing?" said Ukyo.
Akane and Mousse looked. Indeed, many people were running around, darting out of
their homes and heading towards some place.
"They are headed towards the center ring. It's like a plaza; they only use it
for tournaments and special events."
"Oh, so there must be a tournament today, huh?" said Ukyo.
"No, I don't think so."
"What?" asked both Akane and Ukyo.
"They are dressed in fine ceremonial garments. They must be on their way to celebrate
something."
Akane felt a sinking feeling as Mousse said that.
"Hey, maybe now we can move around more easily," said Ukyo. The place was deserted;
no one was left scurrying around.
"It must be a very important event," said Mousse.
Akane and Ukyo got up, and made slow progress as they cleared the bushes and
went into the village.
"Relax. No one is around."
Akane and Ukyo yelled as Mousse surprised them from behind.
"Mousse! I thought you said you couldn't come back here..." said Akane.
"It is time we take action. You will need all the help you can get." Without
another word, he took the lead, running slightly. Akane and Ukyo blinked, but
followed him. They sneaked around, carefully avoiding an occasional person
running by.
After a few minutes, they hid behind a huge tree; they plaza filled with people.
"The entire village is here. The ceremony must be very important."
"What do you think they're gonna do?" asked Akane.
"Don't know..."
They stopped talking as the crowd of people suddenly went quiet.
A figure made a path among the people. It hopped rather well on it's cane.
"It's Cologne," said Mousse.
"What is she gonna do?" asked Ukyo.
Akane did not take her eyes off the old woman. She was trying to see what was going
on, but she knew it had something to do with Ranma.
Cologne, dressed in a special ceremonial garb, made her way through the crowd.
The people opened up a path for her. She came up to a pedestal and stopped there,
letting a kneeling Ranma up from his cushion.
Akane held back a gasp. There he was. Ranma. It was really him.
"Look, it's Ran-chan!" Ukyo whispered. "Now's our chance..."
"Wait," said Mousse sternly. "Something is not right here."
"What?" said Ukyo.
He pointed towards Ranma, who was rising from a kneeling position. He looked at Cologne,
bowed and stood still.
"Oh no..." said Mousse.
"What's wrong?" asked Akane.
"Just as I feared..."
Akane didn't respond. She looked at Ranma, studying him. He was dressed in fine chinese
clothing, but they did look very formal.
"What's happening, Mousse?" asked Ukyo.
Akane shut their voices out. She concentrated on Ranma; a figure stepped into her line
of vision. She almost went mad with rage.
*Shampoo...*
Mousse and Ukyo looked at Shampoo, who came from a side of the crowd. She was dressed in
a red chinese out-fit which looked great on her. They were pants lined with small
ornamental decorations, a chinese shirt like Ranma wore and a hat which suited her.
"They're about to get..." Mousse said, but Akane shut it out. She didn't believe what
was happening before her eyes. Ranma looked at Shampoo, who was looking back at him;
she extended her hand...
No!
Something inside her snapped. She left her hiding spot and ran towards them.
"Akane wait! It's too dangerous!" yelled Mousse.
"Come back!" yelled out Ukyo. Akane obviously chose to ignore them, for she kept running.
"This is not good." Mousse rose and ran after her.
"Am I ever gonna regret this," said Ukyo, following them both.
Ranma stood facing Shampoo, hearing the elder Cologne speak. It was in chinese, so he
barely understood what she was saying. He couldn't believe this was his wedding.
He had woken up, filled with an inmense desire to be with Shampoo. When he had
found her, she was just outside, looking at the rising sun. He spoke to her
and she told him she was happy.
She didn't look very happy though.
He disregarded that though, once she told him she wanted to marry right away. He
didn't know why, but he couldn't protest her request. So, he dressed in clothes
that he was told were appropriate for the occasion, went to the plaza, as he
was told, sat and waited. The groom was supposed to meditate for an hour
prior to the event, or so they told him.
Now, Shampoo looking at him with eyes that only the word: 'adoring' could describe,
he leaned forward...
"RANMAAAAAA!"
Ranma flinched at the voice.
*That voice... I- I know that voice...*
He had tried so hard to remember his thoughts from the previous day, but was unable to.
He remembered nothing. Nowm as he heard that voice, he suddenly felt as if he was
doing something wrong here; being here. But why?
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young woman, slender and petite with
blue-black hair quickly coming towards him. Something in his mind snapped...
Shampoo stood transfixed as Akane rushed towards her and Ranma. Part of her was worried
at what this eant, but part of her was actually relieved that she was here. Why was that?
Cologne could barely keep from gasping. The girl was here! How? The village was guarded
well; no one could slip by them! When she saw the spatula girl and Mousse right behind
her, she started sweating.
*How did he survive the poison!? He should be dead by now!*
"Rannmaaa!" Akane yelled again, still running towards him.
The girl...
That girl...
He knew her...
He didn't know how, but he knew her. He was sure of it! Something in his mind went
berserk and the pain returned, stronger than ever. He fought against it, but to no avail.
He grabbed his head with both hands as the pain became unbearable. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
What is this!!!!!" He shook his head violently, trying to shy away the pain. His
knees gave out and he crumbled to the floor, shaking violently.
Shampoo panicked at Ranma's reaction to seeing Akane. The powder should have erased
all recolection of her! Why was this happening to Ranma!? "Ranma!" she screamed as she
kneeled next to him and tried to calm him down.
Cologner had to salvage this situation if the council was to remain unknowing.
"Seize them!" she yelled as she pointed to Akane, Mousse and Shampoo.
Akane stopped as Cologne yelled out something in chinese. Mousse and Ukyo stopped just
behind her.
"Brace yourselves!" yelled out Mousse as he assumed his stance.
Almost instantly, armed female guards came from the crowd and other places. They
surrounded them. Akane assesed the situation; there were about twenty guards
surrounding them. They were big women that weilded evil looking weapons.
*Ranma...*
The guards attacked. Akane ducked under an axe and jumped over a bladed stick. She
elbowed the axe guard in the stomach and kicked the stick one in the face. Both women
went flying, but two more immediately replaced them.
Mousse threw smoke bombs at the small crowd of five that was approaching him.
The women were suprised and stopped momentarily, coughing. Mousse released
his arsenal of chains and wrapped all five of them up. The women let go of their
weapons and began to struggle against their hold. Mousse jumped up high,
decending upon their group viciously, sending them all into dream land.
He retreaved his chains and produced a blade from his sleeve, using it to
block a bonbori attack from behind him. Not wasting a second, he threw a
round-house that connected with the woman's jaw. She went flying into
the crowd.
Ukyo threw her mini-spatula's at the three women quickly approaching her. The
sharp little blades cut off the head's of their weapons. The guards looked at
their weapons, trying to figure out how she had just cut through metal. Ukyo
brought her spatula down on one of them, rendering her unconscious. Using
her whole body momentum, she quickly pivoted and hit the side of one of the
guards. She clutched her side in pain, but she went flying, crashing into
the other two guards. The three women flew into two more.
Akane dispatched another guard using a guillotine throw*, who flew into two
more. She regain her composure and sweeped at the legs of a bare-handed fighter,
who was surprised and unable to jump over the attack. Akane admitted she was getting
tired. The guards would just not stop coming. One after the other, as if they
were waiting for her to finish off another so they could step into the fight.
One of them landed a punch to her arm; she countered with one of her famous
'Akane Air' kicks; the woman sailed up, taking three more with her. They landed
on the side of a house, leaving a big hole on the wodden wall.
To all this, Ranma still could not get rid of the pain, which steadily got worse.
The young woman sparked a fire in his being. Things rushed towards him. The house,
the people, all of it. It was just out of his grasp.
Shampoo tried to soothe Ranma, but she didn't help much. He kept shaking violently
and screaming. Suddenly, she hugged him, unable to control herself anymore. She
began crying.
Akane barely got rid of another opponent just as she saw Shampoo hugging her Ranma.
HER Ranma. The combined adrenaline and now this, it was a little too much for her
to bare.
"Akane behind you!" yelled out Ukyo.
Not bothering to give it a second thought, she quickly turned around, bringing her
mallet out. With one quick blow, the guard pulled a very good immitation of a baseball.
Swinging her mallet quickly, she began dispatching opponent after opponent, who flew
into other people, quickly getting rid of the problem. Once a path was clear, she
ran towards Ranma and Shampoo, quickly dispatching anyone who crossed her field
of vision.
Shampoo knew she had to take Ranma away. If Akane got to him, she would likely never
see him again. Even she doubted she could take on the mallet weilding enraged girl
at the moment.
Then, why couldn't she?
Her body seemed to lock up. She was paralyzed. Not in fear or anything; she just
couldn't move.
Ranma couldn't stop shaking. The pain was agonizing. The more he fought, the worse
it got. The girl, whoever she was, was reacking havoc on his mind. It was as if
she was painfully awakening all his memories. He couldn't take it anymore, so
he hugged Shampoo desperately in an attempt to soothe his pain.
"Shampoo, help... I can't stand it!"
Shampoo could feel Ranma hugging her, but she still couldn't move. She was frozen
in place.
As Ranma hugged Shampoo, something inside Akane 'clicked'. All the details she had
not understood earlier fell into place. She stopped and stood, her mallet vanishing.
This was a ceremony all right.
It was a wedding...
Ranma and Shampoo's...
Wedding.
*No, no...*
She suddenly lost all her will to fight. Her hand came to cover her mouth as she stiffled
a sob. Tears spilled from her eyes. She tore her eyes away and ran blindly, away from
all this, knocking away anyone who stood near her, crying.
Ranma didn't love her...
He was marrying Shampoo. Not her.
Her Ranma...
Didn't love her...
She ran into the forest, trying to outrun the pain. The hurt. The loneliness.
"Akane wait!" yelled out Ukyo as she saw Akane running away. The fighting had ceased
at Akane's rage. But, as she saw her running away, she knew she could have never
compared her emotions. She had never seen anyone in so much pain.
"Ukyo, we must go!" said Mousse as he took her arm and pulled her, running after
Akane. The guards were looking to fight them again, and now with Akane going away,
they were at more of a disadvantage.
With Mousse and Ukyo going after Akane, Cologne breathed again. She had to make
sure word of this did NOT reach the council.
"STOP!" she yelled at the guards who were starting to chase after the trio.
"Let them go. Guard all entrances to the village. Make sure they do not come
in here again!"
The guards looked at each other in awe. "But elder..." one of them said.
"My word is final!" She turned to the still stunned crowd. "No one will
speak of this matter, else they want to answer directly to me."
Everyone in the crowd shuddered, talked for a few moments and started to dissipate.
Until the moment when Ranma screamed again.
*What are you doing to me!? Stop it! Stop it!* Ranma thought. He was afraid
he could not stand the pain. He was sure he would faint soon enough.
Shampoo, having regained her composure, tried to calm Ranma. "Great-Grandmother, help
him! He needs help!"
Cologne nodded and approached them. She got off her cane and pressed a spot on
Ranma's back. He stiffened for a second, but then collapsed on Shampoo.
"He will sleep for a while."
"Why did this happen? Why was he like this?"
Cologne sighed, motioning for the crowd to leave before she spoke again. Most left
immediately at her hand wave. "I did not expect this. It seems our powder was
not entirely effective."
"What?"
"He almost remembered. I had truly no idea of the limits of his spirit."
Shampoo remained silent, carressing Ranma's chest.
"This is bad. The council must not hear of this. Take him back home. Once he wakes
up, feed him this," she gave her another small bag, "and tell him you two were married.
Then, consumate the marriage. He will feel honor-bound to you, thus he will no
longer attempt to leave."
Shampoo looked at the bag, Ranma and then at Cologne. She could no longer take it.
"NO!" she said sternly. "I will no longer play a part in this! It has gone long enough!
He will remember, no matter how much magic you use on him! And every time, his pain
just keeps getting worse.
"You do not own me! I'm not a piece of meat you can do with as you please! I love
Ranma, but even I know this is wrong! Please, can't you see!? We are only making
him suffer by keeping him here!"
Cologne was agast at Shampoo's sudden reaction. She had not expected her to be like
this. She was supposed to do as she was told, nothing more or nothing less. She
felt her blood boil.
SLAP
Shampoo's head was jerked to the side as she touched her cheek. It was reddened by
Cologne's slap. The woman may have been old, but she was increadably strong.
"You will respect you elders child! Your mother gave you to my care, so you will
do as I say! You will feed him this, bed him and make sure he does not leave.
This is all you have to do, so I will not tolerate any more disobedience!"
With that, she mounted her cane and hopped away.
Shampoo saw as Cologne left, without a doubt heading to the elders chambers to
make sure not a whiff of this reached the other members of the council. She looked
at Ranma's sleeping form, resting on her lap. She cooed to him, trying to figure
out something.
Anything.
"I'm sorry Ranma. This is all my fault. If I had not fallen in love with you, none
of this would have happened..." She hugged his body tightly to hers.
"I'm sorry!!!!" she screamed at the sky.
*****
It was hours later that Mousse and Ukyo gave up looking for Akane. She had run off
into the forest and dissapeared. They decided she would be fine on her own, so
they slowly made their way back to the camp site.
"Do you think she'll be alright, Mousse?"
"I hope so. It must have been quite a shock to her, but I'm certain she will come
back soon enough."
Ukyo nodded and kept walking. After a few minutes, they reached the campsite just as night
started to fall.
"Nabiki, we...." Ukyo said, breaking off as she saw the two figures near the fire.
Nabiki had Akane in a hug and was talking to the still crying girl.
"Akane!" said Ukyo as she rushed to their side. Akane was still sobbing loudly,
hugging at her sister.
"Don't worry Akane. Everything will work out, like it always does," said Nabiki
as she tried to comfort Akane.
"Why..." Akane went on, wailing as a lost soul.
"Don't worry Akane! Tomorrow, whe're gonna go back and take Ranma out..." said Ukyo.
"Don't bullshit me Ukyo!" screamed Akane, letting go of her sister and standing.
"Are you blind!? Ranma loves Shampoo! They were getting married! He doesn't love
me!" Her voice raised at the last part. Once she said this, she sat back down on
the log, cupped her face in her hands and cried.
"Nabiki. Ukyo," said Mousse. Both girls looked at him. "We need more firewood. Go
get some."
The girls looked at each other, then at pile of wood Nabiki had gathered. They got
the point and left to their tents.
"Akane," Mousse said as he sat beside her. "I know it hurts..." He was silent as
Akane hugged him and buried her face in his chest, sobbing loudly.
Hesitantly, he hugged her form, trying to comfort the girl. "It will be alright."
He repeated this over and over as he soothed her hair. Soon, her sobs turned into
sniffles.
"Akane, do you remember how Ranma acted when he saw you?" The girl slowly nodded
in between a sniffle.
"It has led me to believe that he may be under the influence of some kind of manipulation
magic."
Akane looked at his face, her face puffy and her eyes red from crying. "What?" she asked
in a weak tone.
"They may be trying to repress his memories with magic. If this is so, what we saw
today was him trying to remember. When he saw you, it must have triggered something
in his mind, erradicating the control of the magic. We may still have a chance
to get him back."
Hope swelled in her heart. "You mean..."
"Yes, we can still save him. Do not give up hope yet."
Akane smiled, rose a little and kissed his cheek. Mousse blushed, but smiled.
"Thank you, Mousse. You- I don't know how to thank you."
Mousse simply nodded, producing a box of tissues from his sleeve and giving them to Akane.
Akane blew her nose. "Well, I have to believe you. But, if you don't mind, I'd
like to be alone right now."
"No, not at all," he responded. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, I just need to think for a while. Don't worry, I'm not gonna run away like
I did earlier. I just need some time by myself."
Mousse smiled and unexpectadly kissed her cheek. Now it was Akane's turn to blush.
He stood, smiled at her and headed for his tent, leaving Akane sitting alone by the
fire. She sighed, picked up a small oil lamp that was next to her and walked
towards a place she had seen earlier. It wasn't far away; the perfect place
to think.
*****
Ranma slowly opened his eyes. He groaned at the pain the small night lamp caused
to his messed up vision. He sat up slowly, breathing in deeply.
*What happened to me?*
He remembered the afternoon's events. Who was that girl? And those people she had been
with that seemed so familiar?
"Ranma..." a voice beside him said.
Ranma turned so that he could look at Shampoo. She was dressed in one of her normal
outfits ad sitting in a chair next to the night lamp.
"Shampoo?"
"Please, let Shampoo talk." He nodded. She drew in a deep breath. "Ranma, Shampoo
is sorry. Is my fault Ranma here. She bring Ranma back to China."
"What?"
"Please, let me finish. Shampoo bring back Ranma because I in love with you. Always
has been. But I made mistake."
Ranma tilted his head to his side.
"I let old woman make descitions for Shampoo. Shampoo not live her own life, but that
which she told to."
Ranma looked down.
"Make you foret so it easier for me to make you think you love me. Used magic many
time to subdue Ranma, but always fail."
"Magic on me?"
"Remember Ramen you eat?" Ranma nodded. "It filled with Manipulation powder. Make Ranma
believe anything he is told. I tell you in love with Shampoo."
Now, Ranma understood some, but other things were still unanswered.
"Shampoo make big mistake. She keep Ranma against will with her, which only cause him
pain. Shampoo no want that. Want Ranma to be happy...
"Even if he is happy without me."
Shampoo cupped her face and cried. Ranma sat on the side of the bed, and drew her
into a hug.
"Shampoo love Ranma. That's why I let you go."
"What?"
She looked into his eyes. "You free to go. Free to go back home. I make sure you
never bothered again. I keep away Great-Grandmother so you no have to worry
again for her."
Ranma nodded.
Shampoo sat up straight, wiped a tear away and smiled. "You go now. Leave. Go back
to Japan. To Akane."
"Akane?"
She smiled. "You soon understand. Go now, while not much people is around."
Ranma was going to speak, but she placed a finger on his lips. He smiled at her.
She leaned forward and placed a feather-like kiss on his lips.
"Wo ai ni," she whispered softly into his ear. "Now go."
Shampoo got up, heading across the room and opened the door. Ranma followed her, stopped
at the door and bowed a her. She returned the gesture, closing the door behind her.
She rested her back against the wood, sank down and cried, cupping her face.
It hurt to let him go, but it would hurt more of he stayed.
But she knew...
She knew, deep down inside, she had done the right thing.
*****
Ranma sneaked out of the village like he had done before. He went unnoticed by the
guards. He found himself walking in circles.
Go back home... To Japan.
How?
Where to?
There were still so many things he did not remember.
After a while, he found himself near the lake he had been at yesterday. This place
brought him peace of mind, and he really needed some of that right now.
The moon reflected on the water's surface, granting illumination that seemed almost
magical.
He approached the lake, only to stop as he noticed a figure sitting near the shore.
There was a small lamp next to it, which granted more illumination.
Ranma almost gasped.
Same clothes...
Petite...
Bluish-black hair.
It was her. The girl that made his mind go crazy.
Suddenly, he felt that familiar sensation in his mind, only this time it didn't hurt.
It just wanted answers.
Making less noise than a mouse, he came close to the girl, whom he could tell was
hugging her knees to her chest.
"Who are you?" he asked softly.
Akane gasped and turned around. "Ranma?"
Ranma looked down, at his hands then at her. "Do you know who I am?"
Akane looked confused, but nodded after a second.
"Please, tell me."
Ranma came closer and sat down next to this stranger, who was so familiar.
"Ranma, do you know who I am?"
Ranma shook his head. "I remember you, but I don't know who you are."
Akane felt a great joy swell in her heart. This was her chance to get Ranma
back. "I'm Akane Tendo. Your..." She blushed as she tried to say it. "I'm
your fiance."
"Fiance?"
Akane nodded.
-----
"...been living with us for about a year now. You and your father."
"My father..."
"And your mother as well."
"My mother? My mother is not Yi Ling?"
"No. Her name is Nodoka..."
-----
"...then I engaged you to my sister."
"Engaged me to her?"
"Yeah, it was a wacky thing..."
-----
Akane spent the next hour talking to Ranma about his life. She told everything
as best as she could, trying not to leave out a single detail.
"From what you've told me, we do not get along very well, do we?"
Akane sighed. "Yeah, but it wasn't always like that. There were times when
we were alone and no one interrupted us. It was those moments I cherished. It
was just you and me."
Ranma looked down. In the last hour, he was told the events of his life. They
made little sense to him; how could one person live such an insane life?
He didn't know.
What he did understand was the bond he shared with this girl. It felt good
to be with her.
"Did I ever say it?"
"Say what?" she asked.
"We were engaged, but I ever tell you 'I love you'?"
Akane felt a blush creeping on her cheeks, but the answer made it go away.
"No. You didn't."
"Oh..."
"It doesn't mean anything though." She looked into his eyes, and took his hand.
"It was after that incident in Ryugenzawa forest. We left and you- you... held
my hand as we went back home. It was then that I realized..."
Ranma looked into her brown eyes, begging her to finish.
"That I love you. I loved you then. I still love you now." These words were
accompanied with tears.
Ranma smiled. It felt very good to hear her say that. "I believe you, Akane."
Akane smiled.
"I wish I could remember how I was, then I would be certain if this is love
I feel."
Akane thought for a moment about his words. It was true. If they went back to Japan,
Ranma would never regain his memories. He'd never remember who he was, what he
did and the like.
But...
They would start all over again. From the top. No more misunderstandings. No more
angry words.
They would live...
Together and not reminis over the past, but work to a future.
And they would love.
Akane smiled. She had never felt so happy. She brought her hand from Ranma's and
touched his face. He pulled away at first, but then he let her hand explore his
face. He closed his eyes as he snuggled his cheek to her hand. She traced all of
it; his jaw line, his nose; his forehead, wanting, wishing him to remember what
it was like to love.
To love her...
"Akane..."
Akane smiled and inched her face closer to his. She used her hand to pull his head
close to her's. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. Nothing passionate, just a small
peck that Akane savored as if it was the sweetest thing in the world.
Ranma knew what this girl meant to him. He kissed back, wanting to show her his
emotions.
Akane grabbed his head with both her hands and pulled her lips away from his,
panting for breath.
"I love you, Ranma Saotome..."
Ranma smiled.
"My fiance..."
Akane made their lips meet again.
Ranma knew...
In his heart...
He knew now...
How it felt to remember to truly love.
End of Chapter 6
Author's Notes
Whew! That took a while to write! I've been on this since yesterday.
DON'T get any ideas. The story still isn't finished. There are still two more
chapters and an epilogue to go through.
*A guillotine throw is an advanced move where you use your arms to support
your body over your opponent, lading behind him and using the momentum to
throw him. Believe me, you only learn that one when approaching Dan level...
-I'd like to dedicate this Chapter to a very dear friend of mine.
Ingrid...
Without your constant encouragement, and finding you after these long years of
separation, it feels good to know that emotions don't die at all. You just
have to remember...
'Till next time...
BlackDragon