Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi.
Sliding Doors
By: Lotusmoon
Ring! Ring! "I got it!" Kasumi said as she ran to where the phone was, moving quickly so she won't miss the phone call. "Hello? Tendo residence"
"Hello Kasumi it's Ukyou. How are you?" Ukyou replied in a very gleeful voice.
"I'm fine Ukyou how are you? Don't you usually just come by? Since when did you get a phone?" Kasumi asked innocently.
"Oh no Kasumi I didn't get a phone! I'm in a cooking tournament as of now. I got into the semi finals and I want to tell Ranma the good news."
"Oh that's great Ukyou. I hope you get into the finals. Hold on I'll get Ranma for you."
Kasumi put the phone down and went outside to the yard where Ranma usually hangs out in the morning for his kata.
"You know Ranma, everything seems like a dream." Akane said out of the blue.
For a very unusual Saturday morning, this was one that seldomly happens. Silence.
"Why do you say that?" Ranma replied.
He didn't want to ask why but he was curious enough to want to know what she meant.
Did she mean like how he turns into a girl and how all these weird people come out of nowhere and ruin their lives?
Or the fact that with all these things going on, they still get to cope with it and seem to be doing fine.
Ranma looked above to watch the clouds drift by. It was a beautiful Saturday morning.
He's sparring went quiet with Genma, no fights with anyone at least not yet.
No Shampoo coming by and turning their house into rubbles. It seemed to him that this morning was perfect. It was too perfect.
"Because with how my life was before, I didn't have to worry about anybody trying to kidnap me or trying to kill me. All I had to worry about was school, my family and of course the boys at school." She giggled a little bit sending it out as a joke.
"It was quiet before, the silence was deafening. I'd do the same things; Nabiki would be up with her tricks but not on me. Kasumi, well, she stopped being my sister. I mean, she took up the role of our mother and it seems to me that it wasn't suppose to be this way."
Akane emitted this very helpless aura that pulled Ranma's interest to listen more to what she might say.
He thought that maybe this might be his opportunity to know Akane more, the real Akane.
He'd like to meet the one that doesn't hide beyond the big thick doors of her emotions, the one that doesn't mask her self with anger.
The beautiful Akane he'd always wanted to meet, like the first time.
~ Hi! I'm Akane. You wanna be friends?" ~
Akane, the one that he wishes to spend his day sitting on a bench at a park on a beautiful and say nothing at all.
And thinks of it as one of the best conversation they ever had. Just being by her side, and hoping that Akane will be there too.
"Not until you and your father came along, the craziness that followed you. The insane and beyond belief things that happen around here almost all the time."
Akane's face was visible enough to be seen by Ranma. It was an obvious expression of sadness and despair.
There was something in her that wants to Ranma lend out his hand and tell her everything will be fine.
But that is far from impossible to happen. For he is afraid that if he did show his concern she'll be scared.
She'll scared of the very protective and thoughtful Ranma she never had the chance to see the first time. If she does, he's scared he'll lose her.
-- Not yet, not right now. I don't want to lose Akane to my feelings just yet. If I show her I'm worried, everything will fall apart. --
Once again, he told his emotions to stay put and wait for the right moment.
He tried a lot of times and a lot of times and a lot of times everything just seems to go wrong.
-- Akane, I wish I know what's wrong, but you have to help me out here. --
"Me and my father? What do you mean Akane?"
Ranma was already afraid but a little bit more when he asked. He didn't want to hear what she has to say, but he can't help to know the answer so he can help her in his quiet way.
Akane let out a big sigh, the ones that don't sound very convincing. The one that makes you say ugh-oh.
"Ranma, when you came into my life and eventually into my family's, you took over. Things got interesting around here. Things happened when no one expects them too. People know it's weird but they act like everything is okay. Like it's not a big deal."
Akane was now turning red, with slight embarrassment from her answer. She had to say it but it wasn't the very worse turn of words she had prepared.
There's only the unimaginable and the impossible. If what she says will make Ranma understand what she means and what she wants. Or if she'll make Ranma understood what she feel but ends up on the situation again.
People find it easier to go back to the same situation they've been into because they feel comfort in it.
They're comfortable how things go, how things are and how it will turn out because they have the power to control it.
In Akane's case, she doesn't have control.
But for some, change is another play. New scenes, new lines, all the things they used to know will be different to them.
Some people sit by and wait what could happen if this and that was changed.
Some take charge and control that's how it's supposed to be. For Akane, she sits by and waits and watches the whole play take place.
Things that happen, will happen and the ones that will come by later.
-- Well I'm tired of waiting. I can't sit idle when somebody takes over me. I have to do something. --
"Do you mean to say that, that, you don't want me here anymore?" Ranma asked in a shaky tone.
He was scared. Of all things this was one of them, to actually be rejected again. To feel lonely once more and not have his family, his home, his comfort.
He lost it once and now it seems so close that it is a rude awakening for him. He made Akane his shelter.
Like a life support, a connection into which he feels he'll die if he was ever to be rejected again. In him, he has made her his warmth.
He lives his life everyday with the same predicaments and situations because he feels that it is what's going to bring them together.
And eventually one day, have each other. Maybe not one of the best possible to these point scenarios but just by being together he was sheltered.
Things like this couldn't be prevented but it can be controlled, he thought. Whatever she wants. I'll see if I can do anything.
"That's not it Ranma. This whole thing seems to be like a fairytale, a terrible fairytale. A story where I, I'm, not…."
Oh no, oh no. She said the word. She thinks I'm terrible, I'm horrible. Oh no what am I going to do.
Kasumi's footsteps can be heard from across, probably a few feet away. Akane knew that she'd say something to make the conversation end and knowing that, instinctively she fell silent.
"What Akane, what is it? Ranma asked trying to pull out the words. Just then Kasumi came out and called Ranma.
"Ranma, phone, it's for you. It's Ukyou!" Kasumi said sweetly.
"Ugh, Ukyou? Oh yeah. Why would she, oh well anyway, thanks Kasumi. Akane I'll be right back."
With that he ran to pick up the phone knowing that it's long distance.
"Akane is everything fine?" Kasumi asked.
"Yes everything is fine." Akane replied silently. Kasumi noticed Akane was slightly out of her self.
She seems confuse.
"Okay, I just want to make sure." Kasumi smiled and went back to the kitchen. "Yes Kasumi, I'm fine. I'm just fine."
i'll be fine from now on, I don't want to be in the same play.
"Hey Ucchan, how's it going? Did you win the grand prize yet?" Ranma was in such a good mood that it made Ukyou wonder.
"Everything is fine Ranma, it's going great. The audience loves me and the judges love my cooking."
"Well that's great Ucchan. I hope you win."
"Hey Ranma-honey, you sound very happy today? What's it all about? Are you happy I called you?"
Ukyou inquired teasingly.
"Ugh actually, ugh, oh hey breakfast is ready Kasumi is calling me I have to go now. Wish you luck Ucchan bye."
"Wait hold on Ran…" Click!
"Phew, that was close." Ranma hanged up the phone and went back outside.
"Man, I wish we weren't interrupted like that."
I need to know what she meant. I have to help her. Akane seems to be upset.
Ranma reached their house into the yard.
"Hey Akane about that…huh, where'd she go? I told her to stay here."
Ranma's face turned into a slightly irritated - concerned reaction.
"That tomboy never listens to me. Gee! Where'd could she have gone?"
Ranma walked back inside into the living room and turned on the television.
He let himself be pulled away from the thoughts he had on earlier making him enjoy more of his beautiful day.
At least for him it was. For someone else, it was a day to be taken advantage of for deep thinking. It's about how she can control her life and live it the way she wants to.
I have to find it, I have to.
Akane threw another rock into the dam and watched the rock gently sunk into the water.
A thick splatter was heard and all that was left to the abundance of that unusual day is how to formulate a plan of seeking what she wants.
"Ranma, I know I'm a money grubbing B, but face reality Ranma, nobody gets through to her thick protective wall of emotion. She will not and I'm telling you she will not open up to me. You're asking the impossible thing."
Nabiki pointed out as she nibbles on a rice cracker. Ranma was dissatisfied with Nabiki's answer.
"Come on Nabiki. It sounds like Akane is really upset about something and I want you to find out what it is that's bugging her."
For Ranma's character, this is the kind of behavior that it out of the ordinary.
He has too much pride to be asking Nabiki for this. But for Ranma anything for Akane is all he thinks of.
It may not be visible to the eye but that is what he chose to do. It is sensible enough for people who are good observers, like Nabiki to diagnose this kind of behavior.
"Oh Ranma, I see concern in your eyes. Is it possible you've finally admitted your feelings for Akane?" Nabiki was getting closer and closer to Ranma's face. It was a move she has perfected for years to manipulate someone.
"Hey, hey. I didn't say anything about anything like what you think I said but I didn't say, and, and…. NABIKI!"
Ranma yelled out. He was feeling awkward into almost spilling his concern but he knew that with Nabiki, no secrets remain hidden.
All hell breaks loose.
"Ranma, I know my sister and I know you. An with this business deal you want me to do, it's almost impossible."
"But she almost opened up to me this morning. I don't see why you she can't open up to you?" Ranma replied back in wonder.
"Ranma haven't you thought about it. If she was opening up to you wouldn't that mean that it's about you? Why else would she talk peacefully with you out of nowhere?"
Nabiki said slightly raising her eyebrow and putting a smirk on her face.
"But we were interrupted and I'm afraid she won't bring it up anymore."
Ranma scratched the back of his head.
"Well?"
"Well I need you to know what it is or maybe even better make her talk to me about it." Ranma said with all hope.
Nabiki struggled to straighten herself from irritation.
She knew that Akane wouldn't be able to open up to her because they never really get to be sisters who do sisterly things.
They did their own thing and kept their privacy. No one knows anything about but each other but they know how the other one behaves.
Each sister may be quiet but each one is also an observer.
"Nabiki what can I do?" Ranma asked with pleading eyes.
"Well, it may be impossible but it's do-able." Nabiki said.
"Add 5,000 more yen and we have a deal." Nabiki announced with a slight smirk on her face.
Ranma fell off his chair right after he heard Nabiki's new proposal.
"THIS IS IT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FINAL DECISION OF THE JUDGES FOR THE BEST OKONOMIYAKI CHEF IN JAPAN. REMEMBER THAT OUR LOVELY COMPETITORS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND WINNING MEANS BEING THE BEST."
Drum rolls were heard. Everybody was waiting for the decision.
Anticipation was clear and the heartbeats of the competitors can be heard from the silence of the audience.
"And the second-runner up for the title of Best Okonomiyaki Cooking Tournament is…" Drum role…
"Miss Keiko Samate!" Applause was heard from the audience.
A sigh of relief came from two other participants who are awaiting the final decision of the judges.
One thinks it will be a big honor to be named Best Okonomiyaki Chef. Oh, but one thinks another. For she wishes to win the tournament to capture the heart of the one she's been trying so hard to capture.
She crossed her fingers for good luck.
"And the first runner up is, oh by the way the winner of the grand prize will receive a trip to the best hotsprings in Japan.
All expenses and accommodations paid. Plus ¥300,000 in cash prize. A ¥50,000 shopping spree and a makeover for the winner. The first runner up however doesn't leave without a prize. She'll take home ¥100,000 and a year supply of okonomiyaki ingredients."
The audiences applauded for the announcer, a lot of people were anticipating the announcement of the winner and a lot have been waiting restlessly.
Several sighs can be heard including the participants standing on stage.
"Okay let's get on with this, I sense tension around here, Hehe."
"And the first runner up is Ms.."
-- I know it I'm going to be the winner. No doubt about it Ranma said so. All of Nerima agrees with that or else I wouldn't be here. This is it I'm going to win. --
"First runner up is Miss."
-- GASP! -- Final Judgment.
"Ukyou Kuonji. That means Miss Temi Ohari is this years-Best Okonomiyaki Cook in Japan. Congratulations."
-- NO! This can't be happening. I'm not the best; I'm not the best…Why? I'm not the best. This is a dream. It can't be…. I'm not the best! --