"Ranma. I...I won't be coming back." The words hit him like a shock of cold wind. His soul twisted in dread.
The Wolf's Eye
Written By Silver-chan
Ranma 1/2
"You're joking right? I mean...you can't leave and-and not come back! That's not fair!" Ranma felt his world close around him. His lungs were burning with each breath he swallowed.
Akane felt a spark of betrayal at his words. "You mean you're not happy for me!?" Angry tears now stung her hazel eyes. Her soft lips were now pulled into a frown.
Ranma glared at her for a moment before speaking. "Why should I be!? You're leaving me! Jus' like everyone else in my life! Why should I care anything about you!? You're NOTHING like her! You won't EVER BE!!"
As soon as the words were said, Ranma regretted them. He knew Akane hated being compared to others. It brought back memories that were best left in the past. However, what was said...was said. Nothing could change that.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean that Ak-"
"Save it! That's all you really want isn't it! You just wanted your precious best friend back! I'm nothing but-but a replacement!" Her small fist were clenched by her sides. The knuckles turning white.
"You can't even be happy that my father has finally looked at me without seeing my mother in me. That he doesn't bawl and whine that life isn't fair that his sweet Kaori was taken from him! Do you KNOW how it feels when your own Father won't LOOK at you!?!"
Ranma was stunned into silence. Akane had been moody before, but man oh man was she grouchy today! He held out a hand to try to calm her down. It didn't do any good. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her small hands brushed at the sides of her dress.
"Look, I'm going to leave now. Maybe one day, when you finally grow up, you'll see that I'm not abandoning you. I'm only following my destiny. You'll understand...someday."
Akane opened her eyes and looked up at Ranma. She bit her bottom lip and tears began to fall from her eyes. Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she stood up on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Don't forget me," she whispered before she pulled away from him. Before Ranma even had a chance to react, she turned and fled the garden the same way she came in.
That had been the last time he had seen Akane. His parents forbade his leave the palace to visit the Tendo Empire. It was if...they were trying to keep him from something. His father had thrown him into vigorous training for the next 10 years.
His anger at her betrayal in leaving him, slowly changed into regret. His last words to Akane weren't what he meant to say. He NEVER would have ever wanted he the think that she was a replacement for someone else who had also left him.
Shortly after he turned 13, he remembered that Akane and him were promised to be wed one day. He was surprised to find out that the betrothal had been nulled and void since the day she had left that last time. He questioned his father and received a threat to cut him from the throne in return. He was careful not to mention it again. He just wished he could take back what he said.
He always regretted saying what he said...always...
~~***--***~~
A hand waving in from of Ranma's face woke him from his trance with a start. "Huh? Oh sorry, Nabs! Didn't mean to zone out on you like that. You were saying?"
Nabiki frowned a bit at the look on Ranma's face. 'He was remembering something. And from that much grief reflected in those eyes, it must've been Hell.'
"The Project. Remember?" Nabiki internally smirked as confusion fled from his face to be replaced by a similar business mask of her own.
"Yeah. Akane mentioned it. She never did tell me what it was though. And where is she!? I figured she would've at least stopped by to say 'Hi' at least. I was her fiancé once."
Nabiki was again shocked by Ranma's apparent lack of knowledge. She carefully took a deep breath and tried to explain again.
"The reason Akane isn't here right now, has to do with the project she did for our Father, Ranma. You see, thirteen years ago, Akane was married to a neighboring empire."
Ranma felt the room slip away for a moment. His old fiancée, the girl who he thought about constantly for the past 17 years of his life...had gotten married...?
"I still don't see your point, Nabiki. Make it quick, before I lose interest in this conversation." Ranma bit back more angry words. This trip to Tendo's Empire was turning more and more into a living Hell.
"Ranma, no one is allowed to speak of her husband's name within the walls of this Royal Palace. It is considered high treason and death is always the result. Akane didn't want to marry him. Father was blackmailed into it."
The young man in front of her whirled around in shock. Cold gray eyes widened then glared at the slim figure.
"Tell me...how did YOU of all people let this happen?"
Nabiki inwardly shuddered at his gaze. It was so cold...and empty. Like cold fire.
"I-I didn't know you were kept from the truth. I didn't find out until-"
The young woman took a deep breath and stared into the crackling flames. A little girl flitted through her memory. Bright golden eyes and long dark hair. Smiles that could melt the snowy mountain tops...or even her cold heart.
Ranma watched Nabiki carefully. The emotions that flickered across her pale face. This was so strange. He was hoping any minute to wake up in his bed.
"Until what?"
Sad brown eyes turned and cut into Ranma's anger and impatience.
"Until it was too late for you to do anything to save her."
Nabiki shook herself out of her memories. The business mask fell into place again. Ranma felt a little saddened by this. Nabiki was finally showing she was human...and now she was hiding behind a mask that no one could crack.
"If you want the rest of the story, pry it out of my father and sister. It's they're fault you were kept from knowing. Take it up with them."
Ranma was startled to learn that Soun's eldest daughter had anything to do with this. 'This is getting to be to much...'
"Why have you come Ranma?? I'm sure I'm sure you didn't drag yourself down here just to pull skeletons out of my family's closet."
Ranma reached over his cloak and pulled out a small scroll wrapped with a red cord. Nabiki's eyes widened when she say the color of the cord. Red. War. 'Damn. I was hoping to keep them apart for a few days. Oh well. At least it'll be interesting.'
"War matters?"
Ranma nodded in agreement and Nabiki hid a chilling smirk.
"As you know, my father is no condition to see this. He's hasn't been in a long time. However, I'll be more than happy to take you to our War Master."
Confusion filled Ranma's eyes. 'What's going on?' Nabiki stood up from the chair and walked over to the door. "Today? Or when you get your strength up?"
Ranma glared at her and stalked over to the door. "You know, I never did like your sense of humor."
~~***--***~~
"The 3rd click just reported, sir."
"And?"
"Three villages were already taken..."
"Continue."
"Sir, four more sections have been converted. The wave seems to be rising more to the east than we first anticipated. The ITC has been moved up by 5 weeks."
"Then you'll just have to try harder next time, won't you."
"Sir...yes sir." Footsteps echoed out the door and down the hall.
"Damn you...bastard. It isn't enough to take innocence...now you must corrupt it. You'll pay. I swear it...you'll pay."
~~***--***~~
The pair walked slowly the War Room. Their thoughts filled with similar yet distant thoughts.
'Akane...I miss you.'
"Ranma, one more small thing."
They had stopped in front of a pair of large oak doors. A banner was placed above it bearing the Tendo Family Crest along with a line of ancient words no one knew how to read or speak anymore.
"What, Nabiki?"
Dark brown eyes stared hard at Ranma. The two guards standing beside the doors both inwardly shivered at the gaze.
"I've known you for a long time so I understand that you don't mean to be crude. You were born that way." Nabiki hurried on before Ranma could interrupt her.
"Diplomacy should be given freely and received freely. Watch your tongue. Its gotten you into trouble before. I don't doubt it now."
With that said, Nabiki nodded to the soldiers and the large doors were swung open.
Ranma was very aggitated by now. Waves of anger rolled off him. Nabiki wisely kept a few paces away from him. Cold grey eyes scanned the room. All had knelt down to one knee at their entrance...except for one figure. Said figure still stood tall at a large cheerywood table examining a series of maps.
"Princess, defiance is still punishable by death isn't it?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop a bit. Ranma turned to find Nabiki's amused eyes laughing at him.
"Of course, Ranma, but I'd like you to meet someone. This," she indicated with a slight nod, "is our War Master, Skye. The General bows to no one save the Emperor himself."
The figure standing at the table turned and tossed their dark blue cape over their left shoulder. Ranma's eyes widened at the surprise before him. This was to good...
"This...MUST be some kind of joke..."
Nabiki gently bit her tounge to keep the laughter form escaping. This was priceless. She took a deep breath and tried to explain.
"The General-"
"Can still speak for herself. Thank you, Princess."
The look on Ranma's face was priceless. Of all the times for Nabiki to forget to carry her special picture box the Warlock had given her. 'Oh well, no sense in crying over lost opportunites.'
"Close your mouth, Ranma. You're going to catch a fly."
The barb brought Ranma back to reality. His dark gray eyes burned with anger. He turned his glare towards Nabiki. But the General interrupted him.
"Good morning, Prince Ranma. What brings you to our humble empire?"
Ranma smirked and turned toward the figure in front of him.
"Information. But much to delicate for a...woman's ears. Perhaps you could find me a real man. Not someone who pretends to be one. Nabs?"
Nabiki frowned and took a step back. "A death wish is a death wish, Ranma. Leave me out of this. Skye, if you would, come by the Counting Room later with a...toned down version of what his Royal Pain-in-the-Rear has to say."
Skye allowed a small smile to grace her features. "As you wish, Princess. Good day."
She turned and gave a long suffering look at Ranma. She sighed and shook her head. 'Too much like his father for his own good.'
Ranma had turned to glare at Nabiki's exit. 'Damn woman. World would be a much nicer place without people like her.'
The sound of a throat clearing behind him brought his attention back to the General. "Sometime today, please. I have much to do before the moon rises."
Ranma tried to reighn in his anger and failed. "Mind your tongue."
"And you should watch your temper." Ranma was stunned into silence. No one talked back to him ever. Except a dark haired little girl...."No one has more power in this palace than me save Emperor Soun himself."
Dark eyes burned with anger. Ranma clenched a fist and fought his murderous rage. "I am heir to the Saotome throne. I am a Crown Prince."
A cruel smile lifted. "You are also loud, rude, and very very full of yourself."
Ranma's mouth fell open in shock. This wasn't a woman. This was some demon in the illusion of some woman. Yes. That must be it.
Skye laughed at the waves of anger floating off of Ranma. "Did you think I would bow and grovel at your feet?" Ranma gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger. He was a Crown Prince. He wouldn't drop down to a level below that. Never.
So...he is powerful. She smiled inwardly and gave Ranma an exaggerated bow. "Allow me to honor the ex-fiancée of our Great Princess Akane. Her pain was felt by all." Ranma blinked and stared at the figure in front of him for a moment. Maybe she could enlighten him...
"What are-"
"War Master!!" The frantic cries were heard through the thick oak doors. At her signal, the doors swung open. A young boy of no more than ten summers ran into the War Room and fell at her feet. The other solders looked on in shock as the boy continued to sob at her feet. His normally clean and neat clothes were covered in soot and mud. His hair was sticking up in several directions.
Skye frowned and immediately bent to lift the boy to his feet. He wilted and refused to stand without her support. She put a gloved hand under his chin and turned his face up. Wide, tear-stained eyes stared up at her. She bit her tongue and tried to control her anger. "Luca, what happened? Where is your father?" The young boy remained silent. Tears continued to fall silently down his cheeks.
Skye tried again. "Luca! Where is Captain Demar?" Silence. "Answer me, Luca!" He burst out into loud sobs and incoherent words tumbled form his lips. Her temper flared and tempted her to just throw the boy back out...but that would probably shock His Highness into a royal fit.
With a snarl she tossed the boy to the nearest solider. "Take him before I hurt him." She glared at the messenger waiting at the door. "Get Lady Kasumi here. Now. And tell her to bring Lord Ono as well." She dismissed him by turning back to the child. "Somebody attempt to calm him down. He's no good to me in hysterics."
Skye turned and walked toward a back table. More maps and calendars covered the dark wood surface. She pushed several papers out of the way and pulled down the bottom map. With a short cursory glance, she turned back to look at the small group tending Luca.
Ranma's curiosity perked at her tone. Most women he knew would've coddled the boy till he suffocated. Again, Skye proved that she was more than an oridinary woman. A small beam of sunlight came through the large windows on the side wall. Ranma watched as she stepped around it and back toward Luca.
It was interesting how she managed to stay in the shadows when the room was cloaked in sunshine. Something was up. And he was going to find out...
The boy shied away from the approaching figure. Before Skye could push him into a corner, the doors opened. As one, the soilders dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Ranma smiled at the figure standing in the doorway. Now here was a woman....
To be continued....
Author's Notes: Thank you very much for the wonderful reviews! ^.^ I know it's a bit confusing in the beginning, but ride it out, I promise it'll smooth out...or not. Where would be the fun in that?? Forgot to add this last time: Standard Disclaimers Apply. Wouldn't want to get sued now, would we? Expect the 3rd part anywhere from this week, till the end of December. What do you expect? I'm a college student. It's in my job description to put things off till the last minute. Once again, thankies very much for the reviews and I hope to see you in a lime jello dessert near you! See ya next time!! ~Silver-chan
