Makaze: Storm left by the Devil
By: Lotusmoon
Chapter 4:
The Story of a Girl who cried a River
It has been four days since Akane started her journey to the south to look for Ryoga. It stirred a lot of minds at home and sent one person fainting because of her disappearance. It ruined Nabiki's belief in Ranma and it shattered Ranma's concept of his self. He took her for granted and now that she's gone and far away, his suffering the results of his insolence. On Akane's part, it had nothing to do with any of Nabiki's assumptions or Ranma's rushed revelations of his actions.
To Akane it was all to save Ryoga. If Ranma was too tired and occupied to actually leave she'll do it for him. She knew what she has done was the same thing as what happened in Ryugenzawa. But this time, he needs to save Ryoga. He could be hurt and he is Ranma's friend too, which made more sense why she should help Ranma find Ryoga. In times of need, Ryoga was always there for her and for Ranma. Ryoga helped Ranma find her on times when she was in danger. So it should be the same thing for her, it would be her way of saying thank you to Ryoga. Countless times, she's seen Ryoga face the hands of danger. For instance, the seven gods because of the scroll kidnapped her. When they encountered battle with the Hirochi, he was there. When she was kidnapped by Pantyhose Taro and endangered her in his crazy stunts. Needless to say, Ryoga's been the closest savior she got besides Ranma. Of course, Ranma will always stay the only one.
Her plan went on like this: When she finds Ryoga she will phone home and tell Ranma that she has found him. The possibility of Ranma following her fell on a 99.99% scale. If Ranma ever finds her and he begins yammering about how she made him worry she'll just tell him the true deed why she left. It's all for you Ranma. So I can see you smile. Akane blushed at the sudden thought that surfaced in her mind. It sent her body tingling all over; it crept up a small stretch of her lips. She was smiling.
It has been days of unsuccessful everything. She tried to cook her meal for days and to actually ingest it was a blow to make her run behind tress. She has a cast iron stomach. Metaphorically speaking, she can take her foods fatal blow and live through it without ingesting antacids like Ranma. She's been on a tight diet. She lost a couple of pounds from all the hiking and the mixture of the hot temperature and dry humidity, which made the weather slightly, rise above temperature. Again, she felt tired and needed sleep.
She walked on a steep bank of a river on the foot of a hill. She tried not to slip. Dagger rocks hid under the smooth flowing water. She knew this for a fact because she received a wound on her leg when she tried to bathe herself two days ago from of hiking. She knew how fatal those hidden rocks were, so she skipped to sponging herself in the banks.
It has been four days of hiking and needless to say, she was tired. She couldn't stop to make camp at night because of the unfamiliar ground. So she treks the forest slowly at night, guarding herself of any possible danger lurking around. She camps on the daytime and snatches a couple hours of sleep when possible.
By mid afternoon she walked up a to a hill. There she saw a temple. It looked abandoned so she decided to rest there. "This looks much safer than outside. I'll probably camp here tonight. Then I'll leave in the morning." She walked up the steps of the temple. She opened the door and saw a statue of a god in the middle of the room. She couldn't figure out what god it was. She looked at its eyes. On the forehead, she saw a lotus flower blooming. She looked around the room and found a spot where she can set her things and rest. It was a sunny day. A little bit cloudy but nonetheless the sun peeks through every now and then. She then set her sleeping bed near a wall and lied down staring at the ceiling. She was thinking of her family and how worried they must be. She laughed at the thought that her father might have even fainted. She felt guilty for laughing. She was thinking of how she will get to Ryoga and how she will survive this journey. And then, she thought of Ranma. All the times they were together, enjoying the time walking alongside each other. Catching the other stealing a look, the pictures that Gosungkugi took and she ended up on the hospital when she broke her leg. Ranma standing on the front yard of Doctor Tofu's clinic with a sign saying "I'm sorry Akane I messed up!" She thought that was the sweetest thing ever. She couldn't hide her feelings at that moment. Her smile illuminated the whole place and it lit Ranma's face to see that she has forgiven him. The picture he gave her afterwards, that Ranma was keeping it all that time she was in the hospital. The picture of the one you love. She thought. She got up from her sleeping bed and went to search her backpack. She looked for her journal and found Ranma's picture inserted in one of the pages. Thanks to Nabiki who dropped it while she was hurrying up to get ready for school. She found it on the steps. Nabiki probably dropped it from her bag. She can be so careless at times. And that carelessness led Akane to the picture in where she didn't have to pay a big amount of money for her to acquire it. Thanks Nabiki! She giggled to herself and returned the picture into the journal. She crept back to her sleeping bed and found herself staring at the ceiling once more.
I've reached it this far I can do this. I have to. She gave herself encouragement and complimented herself on the rigorous journey she had endured for the past four days. And then out of nowhere, are all of these things I'm doing a way to make Ranma approve of my skills? Why did I even think of this? I mean Ryoga is my friend but why do I keep thinking of Ranma? Will he ever think that I'm worthy enough to be his…? Similar to Ukyo or Shampoo who can defend themselves and be independent. She rolled to her side and found herself facing the wooden wall of the room. Why am I even thinking of that? I don't need Ranma's approval to think if I'm worthy or not. Really I don't! She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She sighed. "Do I?" She said out loud. There was silence. No one to answer her but the passing wind and the dancing leaves on the tree branches. And so, she went to sleep. Dreaming her tired body away in exchange for peace and rest.
Ranma trekked the forest ahead of him. He was determined to the last bone in his body to find Akane as soon as possible. He hiked up a steep trail and reached the top of a hill. She looked around and saw a vast of trees spread all over. "How in the world does she think I'm going to find her like this?" Ranma's red shirt was dirty and he hasn't taken a bath in two days. "Damn it I smell!" He looked around to see if there's any river close by but to no avail he continued trekking until he reached the foot of the hill. He continued walking until he heard a gushing of water. "Waterfall!" He ran to the sound and soon found himself diving into the cold water. "Whoo! This feels great. So nice to actually take a bath." Ranma now on his girl form indulged herself to an endless supply of cold water. It set his mind at ease and found his inner self-more relaxed and comfortable.
She dried herself up and took out her teakettle and scooped up water from the waterfall. She decided it'd be better if she goes on as a guy rather than a girl. Besides, she hates herself turning into a girl anyway. When she was ready to build a fire, she saw ashes of burnt wood and twigs. "Yup! Akane was here. That's her signature." She then made her own fire and settled the kettle on the middle. After a few minutes she doused herself with hot water and he turned into a guy.
The whole time he was thinking about Akane. What he had done a few days ago and what could've happen. It still is inevitable what could happen but he knows he must find her fast.
All those times that we had to go through and actually surviving it. I can't believe we ended up this far. Always after each other, running around and then hiding. But then there were times where I didn't have to go around looking for you. Either you come to me or I deliver myself to you. It's just a shame how we can never work things out on simple matters. It's a shame how I always ran away from you. It's a shame how you always hide from me Akane. For once I wish we could speak out on what we want and not what other people think would be better for us. You… are… my…
He snapped out of his reverie and searched his backpack for his journal. He flipped the pages until he found what he was looking for.
Dear Journal,
Well it's Christmas time again and the whole neighborhood of Nerima was here. It was a scramble at the dojo today. It was a wreck! But I got to give Akane's present. She gave me a scarf that looked like a fishnet. When I said that she almost took the scarf back but I quickly shuffled it around my neck. She hand made that scarf so I know that it must be special. She probably spent a great deal of time creating that gift of mine. But you know what, the greatest thing about my gift was that my initials were also embroidered on it. I think that was the coolest thing ever. I never had anyone give me something with my name on it. She liked my gift. It was a picture frame with the only picture I could find. She liked it. I'm glad. Well to make the story short we fell from the ceiling of the dojo and straight into the crowd of people celebrating Christmas with us. It felt good to have her in my arms. I couldn't even think of the pain I got. After the party we went outside and it was amazing because there was a shower of stars at that moment. It was perfect. It might have been the first time I held her in my arms without any interruptions. And the most amazing thing happened. She rested her head on my shoulders. I wished it would be a never-ending happiness.
Ranma closed his journal and thought to himself for a while. There can be times when it was bitter between the two of them, but when it came to happiness, he could never ask for anything else. Getting to hold her hand or having the excuse to embrace her at times when danger was near by sends him in cloud nine. Those were the little things he couldn't exchange for the groping of Shampoo or her stolen kisses. The okonomiyaki of Ukyo that he likes to eat so much or the riches that Kodachi can give him. OK! Erase that last thought! How the heck did Kodachi get in the picture? Anyway, he thought to himself, I better get going I want to see her face again and strolling around like these won't make it happen.
He set himself up and started to pack his things, it would be another string of hours hiking. Although he didn't mind trekking, he just had to throw the last line.
"Akane you dummy!"
Akane woke up and she found herself in the room of the temple she rested on earlier. It was already dark outside. She didn't plan on sleeping that long. She wanted to be awake as much as possible so she can learn her surroundings. Her eyes were still blurry from the lost of sleep she's had the last couple of days. Her mind was alert to the extent that she felt someone else was in the room besides her. Her body--felt heavy and her eyes were also puffy. She could feel the other person in the room but she couldn't account if it was a man or a woman. She dragged herself from her sleeping bed and sensed the person one more time. If she could just make out on the senses he's trying to emit it would be easy. It was warm in the room like there was fire inside. Though it wasn't that kind of fire that would sent her snapping out of her dejected state and running out for safety, it was a fire for warmth.
Once again, she tried to open her eyes and although blurry she found herself on her feet with a defensive stand waiting to counter attack whatever the stranger was going to dish out. She sensed the stranger didn't move at all, he didn't twitch or even winced. He sat quietly and steadily. Although there was a peaceful aura around her she couldn't keep herself from letting that feeling creep up. She still needs to give this stranger a doubt that he could be a dangerous person. She stayed on her position until the stranger spoke to her.
"You will become tired if you keep that up." The stranger sounded like a man. He said the words calmly and with ease. The bursts of words only made Akane more alert and by the time, her body was light enough for her to blow a punch. She punched air, a whole lot of nothingness. She fell on the floor, which woke her up. It took her a couple of seconds to get to her feet. All were revealed when she cleared her eyes and saw a man sitting across her. Finally seeing the face of the stranger, her opponent. It was a…
"You're a priest?" She asked surprised.
"Yes. You seem shocked to see me." The priest sat in front of the fire he built. He was wearing a white sarong and he had another piece of white clothing wrapped around him. In his neck was a bead necklace with the beads as big as a marble toy. He was bald it was cleanly shaved. In his forehead was a small symbol of lotus flower, blooming. It was the same lotus flower she saw on the forehead of the statue in that temple. His face looked calm, no worries, no sign of fright.
"You shouldn't scare people like that you know." Akane declared angrily. "It's not right to tress pass a property." She recollected her words and she felt her self blush. What am I saying? I'm tress passing too!
"Who are you?" Akane asked sitting across from the fire. From her calculation, the guy looked like he was on his twenties. He was much like Dr. Tofu although he was a little bit more on the age. The guy remained silent. Akane did the same thing. The priest looked like he was meditating and so she sat there watching him. Moments passed and finally the priest spoke.
"You are looking for someone. And someone is looking for you." The priest eyes remained closed. What? Ranma! Akane gasped at the priest's announcement. She remained speechless until she found her voice to question the priest.
"How did you know that I was looking for someone?" Akane asked. The priest inhaled deeply and answered Akane's question.
"I can see it, your backpack. And you've been calling out a name of a certain person. I dare not speak his name. I am not associated with him." Akane's amazement fell into a sweat drop. Of course, how could she forget? Her backpack was an obvious sign and so were her dirty clothes. She felt embarrassed at her rush of questioning the man's knowledge.
"Oh…" She stared at the man across him and studied him carefully. What a fake! I actually thought he could help me find Ryoga. Oh well, he maybe of some help anyway.
Akane couldn't keep up with the silence surrounding her. Hoping to start a conversation she delivered the first question.
"So, do you have a name?"
Akane waited for the priest to answer. The priest opened his eyes and replied.
"Yes. My name is Shukoji. I am the caretaker of this temple." His reply was peculiar. Steady, calm and rhythmic. What do you expect he's a priest, all priests must be like him? Akane scolded herself for thinking such thoughts. She was snapped out of her thoughts when the priest asked her the same question.
"I'm Akane, Akane Tendo. " She replied with a smile.
The priest looked at her steadily. "Why did you come here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry for camping out in your temple. I didn't mean to tress pass like these. I apologize. I will leave in the morning so you don't have to worry." The priest didn't project any kind of emotion from Akane's answer and this made her wonder.
"Is there anything wrong?" She was answered but silence and a stare. "I don't mind you camping out in this temple. I do mind you leaving this place." His answer startled Akane. She began to get mad. Her anger was clearly showing on her aura.
"Excuse me? Are you telling me I can't leave? I'm sorry if I offended you but you can't tell me not to leave." As always, Akane burst her anger without hearing the explanation. This sudden action surprised Shukoji. He has never seen this kind of anger and it made him lose his self-control.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Clearly you misunderstood me!" Shukoji bowed three times in front of Akane and this display of manner made Akane face fault. What was that? She felt uncomfortable that this priest is bowing to her. It was awkward in her position as a stranger to the temple and this Shukoji person is asking for apology. She didn't realize that he's been bowing his head and he seemed kind of dizzy. In a quick motion, she scooped him up and told him to "Please stop!" Shukoji did so and he felt his head. Akane sat him down.
"I'm really sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to get angry." Akane smiled at Shukoji who shrugged off what happened.
"Oh, don't worry. It's not your fault." Shukoji gave out a loud laugh. Akane laughed along.
"Say, you are the priest right? So how come your temple is in the middle of nowhere?" Akane asked.
"Well, I'm a new priest. I began tending to this temple last year but I've been helping my grandfather care for it since I was small."
"Oh."
"There is a village not far from here but only a count of people live there." Shukoji was now becoming more relaxed. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I…" He was interrupted by Akane.
"Oh no, that's fine. I'm the one who should apologize to you. I'm sorry." Akane bowed to him to show her sincerity. Shukoji laughed it off.
"Oh no please Miss Akane, it's all right. No need. Really." Akane did what was said and smiled at him.
"It just that it's really dangerous around here you know. The god of this temple must really favor you tonight. He showed you how to get here." Shukoji noticed Akane's face suddenly became of wonder.
"I guess so." Akane replied. "Say what kind of god is that statue anyway?"
Shukoji stood up and walked towards the statue that reached the height of the room. He looked at the lotus flower in the forehead of the statue. He was born with the same symbol in his forehead. The town at the time treated him as a deliverer from the gods. His parents couldn't believe that their son was bearing a lotus flower symbol in his forehead. Much like what the god in the temple they've been taking care of had. The villagers treated him with great respect and announced that he was a "descendant from above". It was a scramble at the village. Old people with ailments would go to him for cures and little kids with sickness would ask him to cure them too. It wasn't until a fateful day that the perception of the villagers changed and their view of the "deliverer from heaven" staggered.
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"Oy! Shukoji! Time to come back inside. It's going to rain." His mother called out for him. "Hai!" He called back. He was tending the chickens and he was ready be fed himself. He was in his fruitful age of eighteen and in this age, he didn't expect the worse to happen.
There was a sound of thunder. It was coming fast. It was like a rushing sound of water. He wondered what it was and walked a few steps away from his home to see what it could be. Then it fell quiet. He thought it was a little strange to hear a roaring sound and disappear all of a sudden. And so he tried to follow where the sound came from. He walked and walked and he tried to listen, but he heard only faint sounds of trickling water. He looked back behind him. He was walking far from his home and if he keeps it up he will soon be far from his house. Then, another sound came. It was a voice. It was calling him and he could calculate where it led. It was far into the trees. He didn't dare to follow the voice although something was telling him that he should. He was having second thoughts. He looked back at his house and then back at the trees. He composed himself and decided, he will go back to his house. Shukoji was a few steps away from his house when he heard the rushing thunder again. To his amazement, it wasn't anything of a thunder. It imitated the sound of thunder but in truth, it was water. Vast amount of water came rushing to his village like a wind sweeping through. The height was enormous, as tall as the roof f his house. Shukoji's legs were immobile. His body was stuck into a state of shock. His mind thought of a lot of things. All to many to be contained in one mind. Then he thought of his home, the village the place he grew up in, the things that he love, and his parents.
"Oh no, Ma!" Finally he moved his legs. But they were too slow for the rushing waters to reach his parents inside the house. He has to warn them, he has to save them. He is a deliverer from the above; and he does bear the symbol. He should have the power to save his home and his family.
"MAAAAAAA!" He screamed out. He screamed over and over again his mother and his father to come out quickly. But no one came out. Neither of his parents looked outside what was happening. And then it began. The water reached the first house of the village and a scream was heard. Then the second house until the water came in like a force that wrecked a tile of dominoes. All the houses started collapsing and the animals on the barn started panicking. The water was rising fast as the following waters rushed in. It was coming too soon and too fast for him to reach out to his parents and pull them into safety. He was a few paces away when *SWOOSH*. The water engulfed him and knocked him away. He kept screaming. "MAAAAA!" He screamed louder and louder until his own voice gave up on him.
And when he saw his home, his house of memories and his parents get taken away; he fainted into a miserable spell.
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"Uhm, Shukoji? Are you okay?" Akane came up behind him. He didn't notice that he had ignored his visitor and paid complete attention to the statue. "Oh yes, I'm fine!" He answered.
Shukoji is a humble gentleman. Often being portrayed as a modest, down to earth guy, he was the subject of all marriage proposals and arrangements back in his teen days.
He was in his mere sixteenth year when the proposals came. His parents were proud of their son and his grandfather was a respected temple caretaker. They thought he would be pleased. But as a lot of people predicted he wouldn't agree. He was a priest after all. His grandfather argued that bearing the symbol of the god represented on the statue was a gift. And so, in return, he must serve the god who has given him that gift. With this proposal, the villagers' possible fiancees were disappointed. But they came to view the priests' decision as wise for him, the villagers and for the deity. He trained Shukoji into becoming a priest. The decision never failed. After a year, the village grew wealthy and the herds were multiplying rapidly. All the needs of the villagers were being met, and the people lived happily. In unison with the god and of the gifted child they have come to respect.
"I see that you carry the same symbol on your forehead as this statue."
Akane stared at the statue's forehead. She studied it very care fully and compared it to Shukoji's symbol. It was a mirror reflection. It was the same, the exact kind.
"You must be treated with great respect. You bear the same symbol on your forehead as this statue."
When Shukoji heard this, he fell into his silent grief. He didn't know what to say or how to react. If only she knew the whole story. Shukoji felt that what she said was a mistake and finding his courage to correct this he turned to face her. Shukoji found himself staring at Akane's eyes. They were a beautiful color of blue. He was wondering what she was looking at and when he turned to face her, he found her staring at him. He felt his blood crept up to his cheeks. He felt awkward.
"Uhm, Miss Tendo, is there something wrong?" Shukoji asked while he slapped his cheeks. This is a good way of letting the blood flow again. Just keep doing it and she won't notice. And on did Shukoji slap his cheeks over and over. When Akane came to realize what he was doing, she laughed. "Huh?" Shukoji stopped slapping his cheeks.
"What's so funny?" Akane calmed herself down. "Nothing Shukoji, you're so silly!" And again, he felt the same process crept back up to his cheeks. In surprise he quickly slapped his cheeks hard and felt the stinging burn of his hand. "YEEEOOWWW!" He screamed. Akane laughed hard.
"Shukoji, you're so silly. What are you doing?" Akane continued to laugh. She hasn't laughed this hard on a long time. She felt guilty laughing at the extent of another person's silliness. And yet, she felt relaxed and calm to be laughing. Shukoji was still holding his cheek from his clumsiness and when she saw Akane laughing, he felt that the world once more lit up for him. He forgot all about his pain and his memory of sorrow. He laughed along with her, laughing at his mistake. Laughing his hidden grief away.
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"Ugh…mm…" He opened his eyes to see a sight that shivered his spine. An unexpected encounter with nature sent him terrified for his years to come. "What? What happened?" Still dazed from the occurrence he tried to stand up but failed so. "The village what happened to the village?" He cried out. No one responded to him but the silence. It was a deafening silence. He looked around; trees and barks were everywhere. Parts of houses were scattered around. He once again stood up and when he realized he could walk without falling he started to scan the area. Bamboos, plates, pillows socks and all kinds personal belongings were lying on the ground. He scoured through the pile to see if there's anything he could find to give him a clue of what might have happened. He started to feel his head hurt, like it was splitting in two. He started having a headache and visions cam rushing to his mind.
The visions were flickers of images all rushing into one movement. It was so fast that he almost fell down. "This place was my home and now I have to leave everything behind." He started to walk down the path where it will lead him out of the mud field. He kept walking until he tripped and fell. He was upset and depressed and regretting. He was upset that he had to leave the place he has come to love, depressed for loosing everything. He lost his home, his family and all the happiness that once fruitfully blossomed within him. How can someone like him who bears the symbol of a god be caught up in a tragedy like this? He was respected and loved. People knew him as a deliverer from heaven, a descendant of the holy and yet, he couldn't save his family or the people in the village. Did he lose faith and this is the god's way of punishing him? Or was all this coincidence? He didn't know if anyone survived, how many people died, or if the entire village destroyed. He couldn't sense if there was anyone else alive. And if he is the only one alive, then that would mean that the god saved him from death. He clenched his fist and he sobbed madly. He cried his anger and his misery out.
"What about my family? You saved me but what about the other villagers. You lied to me. Your gift is as illusive as you!" He cursed out. Out of his anger, he couldn't help himself become shocked at what happened. The death that surrounds him was immense. His chest was heavy with grief and his heart was shadowed with loss.
"How could you let me survive? How could you?" He asked over and over again but no one was there to answer.
Suddenly, a wind gust past him and his tear streaked eyes started to dry.
"Don't cry," said the wind. He heard it, he was sure he heard it. It was the same sound her heard before everything came to happen. Something sweet, it sounded so sweet. The voice was perfect and the sound was coming from, back there! He started to trace the sound; it was under the mud somewhere in the barricades. He took one log and threw it aside until he was doing so continuously. He was digging in the mud, digging and digging. Until he could dig no more. He found the sound to have vanished like the voice that he heard. Then, it came back and he listened intently. He heard the same sound over and over until he can make sure that it was the same one. It was close by, like it was in front of him. Not far from where he was, he saw a glittering box. It was gleaming in the dark clouded day. It was calling him.
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By: Lotusmoon
Chapter 4:
The Story of a Girl who cried a River
It has been four days since Akane started her journey to the south to look for Ryoga. It stirred a lot of minds at home and sent one person fainting because of her disappearance. It ruined Nabiki's belief in Ranma and it shattered Ranma's concept of his self. He took her for granted and now that she's gone and far away, his suffering the results of his insolence. On Akane's part, it had nothing to do with any of Nabiki's assumptions or Ranma's rushed revelations of his actions.
To Akane it was all to save Ryoga. If Ranma was too tired and occupied to actually leave she'll do it for him. She knew what she has done was the same thing as what happened in Ryugenzawa. But this time, he needs to save Ryoga. He could be hurt and he is Ranma's friend too, which made more sense why she should help Ranma find Ryoga. In times of need, Ryoga was always there for her and for Ranma. Ryoga helped Ranma find her on times when she was in danger. So it should be the same thing for her, it would be her way of saying thank you to Ryoga. Countless times, she's seen Ryoga face the hands of danger. For instance, the seven gods because of the scroll kidnapped her. When they encountered battle with the Hirochi, he was there. When she was kidnapped by Pantyhose Taro and endangered her in his crazy stunts. Needless to say, Ryoga's been the closest savior she got besides Ranma. Of course, Ranma will always stay the only one.
Her plan went on like this: When she finds Ryoga she will phone home and tell Ranma that she has found him. The possibility of Ranma following her fell on a 99.99% scale. If Ranma ever finds her and he begins yammering about how she made him worry she'll just tell him the true deed why she left. It's all for you Ranma. So I can see you smile. Akane blushed at the sudden thought that surfaced in her mind. It sent her body tingling all over; it crept up a small stretch of her lips. She was smiling.
It has been days of unsuccessful everything. She tried to cook her meal for days and to actually ingest it was a blow to make her run behind tress. She has a cast iron stomach. Metaphorically speaking, she can take her foods fatal blow and live through it without ingesting antacids like Ranma. She's been on a tight diet. She lost a couple of pounds from all the hiking and the mixture of the hot temperature and dry humidity, which made the weather slightly, rise above temperature. Again, she felt tired and needed sleep.
She walked on a steep bank of a river on the foot of a hill. She tried not to slip. Dagger rocks hid under the smooth flowing water. She knew this for a fact because she received a wound on her leg when she tried to bathe herself two days ago from of hiking. She knew how fatal those hidden rocks were, so she skipped to sponging herself in the banks.
It has been four days of hiking and needless to say, she was tired. She couldn't stop to make camp at night because of the unfamiliar ground. So she treks the forest slowly at night, guarding herself of any possible danger lurking around. She camps on the daytime and snatches a couple hours of sleep when possible.
By mid afternoon she walked up a to a hill. There she saw a temple. It looked abandoned so she decided to rest there. "This looks much safer than outside. I'll probably camp here tonight. Then I'll leave in the morning." She walked up the steps of the temple. She opened the door and saw a statue of a god in the middle of the room. She couldn't figure out what god it was. She looked at its eyes. On the forehead, she saw a lotus flower blooming. She looked around the room and found a spot where she can set her things and rest. It was a sunny day. A little bit cloudy but nonetheless the sun peeks through every now and then. She then set her sleeping bed near a wall and lied down staring at the ceiling. She was thinking of her family and how worried they must be. She laughed at the thought that her father might have even fainted. She felt guilty for laughing. She was thinking of how she will get to Ryoga and how she will survive this journey. And then, she thought of Ranma. All the times they were together, enjoying the time walking alongside each other. Catching the other stealing a look, the pictures that Gosungkugi took and she ended up on the hospital when she broke her leg. Ranma standing on the front yard of Doctor Tofu's clinic with a sign saying "I'm sorry Akane I messed up!" She thought that was the sweetest thing ever. She couldn't hide her feelings at that moment. Her smile illuminated the whole place and it lit Ranma's face to see that she has forgiven him. The picture he gave her afterwards, that Ranma was keeping it all that time she was in the hospital. The picture of the one you love. She thought. She got up from her sleeping bed and went to search her backpack. She looked for her journal and found Ranma's picture inserted in one of the pages. Thanks to Nabiki who dropped it while she was hurrying up to get ready for school. She found it on the steps. Nabiki probably dropped it from her bag. She can be so careless at times. And that carelessness led Akane to the picture in where she didn't have to pay a big amount of money for her to acquire it. Thanks Nabiki! She giggled to herself and returned the picture into the journal. She crept back to her sleeping bed and found herself staring at the ceiling once more.
I've reached it this far I can do this. I have to. She gave herself encouragement and complimented herself on the rigorous journey she had endured for the past four days. And then out of nowhere, are all of these things I'm doing a way to make Ranma approve of my skills? Why did I even think of this? I mean Ryoga is my friend but why do I keep thinking of Ranma? Will he ever think that I'm worthy enough to be his…? Similar to Ukyo or Shampoo who can defend themselves and be independent. She rolled to her side and found herself facing the wooden wall of the room. Why am I even thinking of that? I don't need Ranma's approval to think if I'm worthy or not. Really I don't! She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She sighed. "Do I?" She said out loud. There was silence. No one to answer her but the passing wind and the dancing leaves on the tree branches. And so, she went to sleep. Dreaming her tired body away in exchange for peace and rest.
Ranma trekked the forest ahead of him. He was determined to the last bone in his body to find Akane as soon as possible. He hiked up a steep trail and reached the top of a hill. She looked around and saw a vast of trees spread all over. "How in the world does she think I'm going to find her like this?" Ranma's red shirt was dirty and he hasn't taken a bath in two days. "Damn it I smell!" He looked around to see if there's any river close by but to no avail he continued trekking until he reached the foot of the hill. He continued walking until he heard a gushing of water. "Waterfall!" He ran to the sound and soon found himself diving into the cold water. "Whoo! This feels great. So nice to actually take a bath." Ranma now on his girl form indulged herself to an endless supply of cold water. It set his mind at ease and found his inner self-more relaxed and comfortable.
She dried herself up and took out her teakettle and scooped up water from the waterfall. She decided it'd be better if she goes on as a guy rather than a girl. Besides, she hates herself turning into a girl anyway. When she was ready to build a fire, she saw ashes of burnt wood and twigs. "Yup! Akane was here. That's her signature." She then made her own fire and settled the kettle on the middle. After a few minutes she doused herself with hot water and he turned into a guy.
The whole time he was thinking about Akane. What he had done a few days ago and what could've happen. It still is inevitable what could happen but he knows he must find her fast.
All those times that we had to go through and actually surviving it. I can't believe we ended up this far. Always after each other, running around and then hiding. But then there were times where I didn't have to go around looking for you. Either you come to me or I deliver myself to you. It's just a shame how we can never work things out on simple matters. It's a shame how I always ran away from you. It's a shame how you always hide from me Akane. For once I wish we could speak out on what we want and not what other people think would be better for us. You… are… my…
He snapped out of his reverie and searched his backpack for his journal. He flipped the pages until he found what he was looking for.
Dear Journal,
Well it's Christmas time again and the whole neighborhood of Nerima was here. It was a scramble at the dojo today. It was a wreck! But I got to give Akane's present. She gave me a scarf that looked like a fishnet. When I said that she almost took the scarf back but I quickly shuffled it around my neck. She hand made that scarf so I know that it must be special. She probably spent a great deal of time creating that gift of mine. But you know what, the greatest thing about my gift was that my initials were also embroidered on it. I think that was the coolest thing ever. I never had anyone give me something with my name on it. She liked my gift. It was a picture frame with the only picture I could find. She liked it. I'm glad. Well to make the story short we fell from the ceiling of the dojo and straight into the crowd of people celebrating Christmas with us. It felt good to have her in my arms. I couldn't even think of the pain I got. After the party we went outside and it was amazing because there was a shower of stars at that moment. It was perfect. It might have been the first time I held her in my arms without any interruptions. And the most amazing thing happened. She rested her head on my shoulders. I wished it would be a never-ending happiness.
Ranma closed his journal and thought to himself for a while. There can be times when it was bitter between the two of them, but when it came to happiness, he could never ask for anything else. Getting to hold her hand or having the excuse to embrace her at times when danger was near by sends him in cloud nine. Those were the little things he couldn't exchange for the groping of Shampoo or her stolen kisses. The okonomiyaki of Ukyo that he likes to eat so much or the riches that Kodachi can give him. OK! Erase that last thought! How the heck did Kodachi get in the picture? Anyway, he thought to himself, I better get going I want to see her face again and strolling around like these won't make it happen.
He set himself up and started to pack his things, it would be another string of hours hiking. Although he didn't mind trekking, he just had to throw the last line.
"Akane you dummy!"
Akane woke up and she found herself in the room of the temple she rested on earlier. It was already dark outside. She didn't plan on sleeping that long. She wanted to be awake as much as possible so she can learn her surroundings. Her eyes were still blurry from the lost of sleep she's had the last couple of days. Her mind was alert to the extent that she felt someone else was in the room besides her. Her body--felt heavy and her eyes were also puffy. She could feel the other person in the room but she couldn't account if it was a man or a woman. She dragged herself from her sleeping bed and sensed the person one more time. If she could just make out on the senses he's trying to emit it would be easy. It was warm in the room like there was fire inside. Though it wasn't that kind of fire that would sent her snapping out of her dejected state and running out for safety, it was a fire for warmth.
Once again, she tried to open her eyes and although blurry she found herself on her feet with a defensive stand waiting to counter attack whatever the stranger was going to dish out. She sensed the stranger didn't move at all, he didn't twitch or even winced. He sat quietly and steadily. Although there was a peaceful aura around her she couldn't keep herself from letting that feeling creep up. She still needs to give this stranger a doubt that he could be a dangerous person. She stayed on her position until the stranger spoke to her.
"You will become tired if you keep that up." The stranger sounded like a man. He said the words calmly and with ease. The bursts of words only made Akane more alert and by the time, her body was light enough for her to blow a punch. She punched air, a whole lot of nothingness. She fell on the floor, which woke her up. It took her a couple of seconds to get to her feet. All were revealed when she cleared her eyes and saw a man sitting across her. Finally seeing the face of the stranger, her opponent. It was a…
"You're a priest?" She asked surprised.
"Yes. You seem shocked to see me." The priest sat in front of the fire he built. He was wearing a white sarong and he had another piece of white clothing wrapped around him. In his neck was a bead necklace with the beads as big as a marble toy. He was bald it was cleanly shaved. In his forehead was a small symbol of lotus flower, blooming. It was the same lotus flower she saw on the forehead of the statue in that temple. His face looked calm, no worries, no sign of fright.
"You shouldn't scare people like that you know." Akane declared angrily. "It's not right to tress pass a property." She recollected her words and she felt her self blush. What am I saying? I'm tress passing too!
"Who are you?" Akane asked sitting across from the fire. From her calculation, the guy looked like he was on his twenties. He was much like Dr. Tofu although he was a little bit more on the age. The guy remained silent. Akane did the same thing. The priest looked like he was meditating and so she sat there watching him. Moments passed and finally the priest spoke.
"You are looking for someone. And someone is looking for you." The priest eyes remained closed. What? Ranma! Akane gasped at the priest's announcement. She remained speechless until she found her voice to question the priest.
"How did you know that I was looking for someone?" Akane asked. The priest inhaled deeply and answered Akane's question.
"I can see it, your backpack. And you've been calling out a name of a certain person. I dare not speak his name. I am not associated with him." Akane's amazement fell into a sweat drop. Of course, how could she forget? Her backpack was an obvious sign and so were her dirty clothes. She felt embarrassed at her rush of questioning the man's knowledge.
"Oh…" She stared at the man across him and studied him carefully. What a fake! I actually thought he could help me find Ryoga. Oh well, he maybe of some help anyway.
Akane couldn't keep up with the silence surrounding her. Hoping to start a conversation she delivered the first question.
"So, do you have a name?"
Akane waited for the priest to answer. The priest opened his eyes and replied.
"Yes. My name is Shukoji. I am the caretaker of this temple." His reply was peculiar. Steady, calm and rhythmic. What do you expect he's a priest, all priests must be like him? Akane scolded herself for thinking such thoughts. She was snapped out of her thoughts when the priest asked her the same question.
"I'm Akane, Akane Tendo. " She replied with a smile.
The priest looked at her steadily. "Why did you come here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry for camping out in your temple. I didn't mean to tress pass like these. I apologize. I will leave in the morning so you don't have to worry." The priest didn't project any kind of emotion from Akane's answer and this made her wonder.
"Is there anything wrong?" She was answered but silence and a stare. "I don't mind you camping out in this temple. I do mind you leaving this place." His answer startled Akane. She began to get mad. Her anger was clearly showing on her aura.
"Excuse me? Are you telling me I can't leave? I'm sorry if I offended you but you can't tell me not to leave." As always, Akane burst her anger without hearing the explanation. This sudden action surprised Shukoji. He has never seen this kind of anger and it made him lose his self-control.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Clearly you misunderstood me!" Shukoji bowed three times in front of Akane and this display of manner made Akane face fault. What was that? She felt uncomfortable that this priest is bowing to her. It was awkward in her position as a stranger to the temple and this Shukoji person is asking for apology. She didn't realize that he's been bowing his head and he seemed kind of dizzy. In a quick motion, she scooped him up and told him to "Please stop!" Shukoji did so and he felt his head. Akane sat him down.
"I'm really sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to get angry." Akane smiled at Shukoji who shrugged off what happened.
"Oh, don't worry. It's not your fault." Shukoji gave out a loud laugh. Akane laughed along.
"Say, you are the priest right? So how come your temple is in the middle of nowhere?" Akane asked.
"Well, I'm a new priest. I began tending to this temple last year but I've been helping my grandfather care for it since I was small."
"Oh."
"There is a village not far from here but only a count of people live there." Shukoji was now becoming more relaxed. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I…" He was interrupted by Akane.
"Oh no, that's fine. I'm the one who should apologize to you. I'm sorry." Akane bowed to him to show her sincerity. Shukoji laughed it off.
"Oh no please Miss Akane, it's all right. No need. Really." Akane did what was said and smiled at him.
"It just that it's really dangerous around here you know. The god of this temple must really favor you tonight. He showed you how to get here." Shukoji noticed Akane's face suddenly became of wonder.
"I guess so." Akane replied. "Say what kind of god is that statue anyway?"
Shukoji stood up and walked towards the statue that reached the height of the room. He looked at the lotus flower in the forehead of the statue. He was born with the same symbol in his forehead. The town at the time treated him as a deliverer from the gods. His parents couldn't believe that their son was bearing a lotus flower symbol in his forehead. Much like what the god in the temple they've been taking care of had. The villagers treated him with great respect and announced that he was a "descendant from above". It was a scramble at the village. Old people with ailments would go to him for cures and little kids with sickness would ask him to cure them too. It wasn't until a fateful day that the perception of the villagers changed and their view of the "deliverer from heaven" staggered.
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"Oy! Shukoji! Time to come back inside. It's going to rain." His mother called out for him. "Hai!" He called back. He was tending the chickens and he was ready be fed himself. He was in his fruitful age of eighteen and in this age, he didn't expect the worse to happen.
There was a sound of thunder. It was coming fast. It was like a rushing sound of water. He wondered what it was and walked a few steps away from his home to see what it could be. Then it fell quiet. He thought it was a little strange to hear a roaring sound and disappear all of a sudden. And so he tried to follow where the sound came from. He walked and walked and he tried to listen, but he heard only faint sounds of trickling water. He looked back behind him. He was walking far from his home and if he keeps it up he will soon be far from his house. Then, another sound came. It was a voice. It was calling him and he could calculate where it led. It was far into the trees. He didn't dare to follow the voice although something was telling him that he should. He was having second thoughts. He looked back at his house and then back at the trees. He composed himself and decided, he will go back to his house. Shukoji was a few steps away from his house when he heard the rushing thunder again. To his amazement, it wasn't anything of a thunder. It imitated the sound of thunder but in truth, it was water. Vast amount of water came rushing to his village like a wind sweeping through. The height was enormous, as tall as the roof f his house. Shukoji's legs were immobile. His body was stuck into a state of shock. His mind thought of a lot of things. All to many to be contained in one mind. Then he thought of his home, the village the place he grew up in, the things that he love, and his parents.
"Oh no, Ma!" Finally he moved his legs. But they were too slow for the rushing waters to reach his parents inside the house. He has to warn them, he has to save them. He is a deliverer from the above; and he does bear the symbol. He should have the power to save his home and his family.
"MAAAAAAA!" He screamed out. He screamed over and over again his mother and his father to come out quickly. But no one came out. Neither of his parents looked outside what was happening. And then it began. The water reached the first house of the village and a scream was heard. Then the second house until the water came in like a force that wrecked a tile of dominoes. All the houses started collapsing and the animals on the barn started panicking. The water was rising fast as the following waters rushed in. It was coming too soon and too fast for him to reach out to his parents and pull them into safety. He was a few paces away when *SWOOSH*. The water engulfed him and knocked him away. He kept screaming. "MAAAAA!" He screamed louder and louder until his own voice gave up on him.
And when he saw his home, his house of memories and his parents get taken away; he fainted into a miserable spell.
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"Uhm, Shukoji? Are you okay?" Akane came up behind him. He didn't notice that he had ignored his visitor and paid complete attention to the statue. "Oh yes, I'm fine!" He answered.
Shukoji is a humble gentleman. Often being portrayed as a modest, down to earth guy, he was the subject of all marriage proposals and arrangements back in his teen days.
He was in his mere sixteenth year when the proposals came. His parents were proud of their son and his grandfather was a respected temple caretaker. They thought he would be pleased. But as a lot of people predicted he wouldn't agree. He was a priest after all. His grandfather argued that bearing the symbol of the god represented on the statue was a gift. And so, in return, he must serve the god who has given him that gift. With this proposal, the villagers' possible fiancees were disappointed. But they came to view the priests' decision as wise for him, the villagers and for the deity. He trained Shukoji into becoming a priest. The decision never failed. After a year, the village grew wealthy and the herds were multiplying rapidly. All the needs of the villagers were being met, and the people lived happily. In unison with the god and of the gifted child they have come to respect.
"I see that you carry the same symbol on your forehead as this statue."
Akane stared at the statue's forehead. She studied it very care fully and compared it to Shukoji's symbol. It was a mirror reflection. It was the same, the exact kind.
"You must be treated with great respect. You bear the same symbol on your forehead as this statue."
When Shukoji heard this, he fell into his silent grief. He didn't know what to say or how to react. If only she knew the whole story. Shukoji felt that what she said was a mistake and finding his courage to correct this he turned to face her. Shukoji found himself staring at Akane's eyes. They were a beautiful color of blue. He was wondering what she was looking at and when he turned to face her, he found her staring at him. He felt his blood crept up to his cheeks. He felt awkward.
"Uhm, Miss Tendo, is there something wrong?" Shukoji asked while he slapped his cheeks. This is a good way of letting the blood flow again. Just keep doing it and she won't notice. And on did Shukoji slap his cheeks over and over. When Akane came to realize what he was doing, she laughed. "Huh?" Shukoji stopped slapping his cheeks.
"What's so funny?" Akane calmed herself down. "Nothing Shukoji, you're so silly!" And again, he felt the same process crept back up to his cheeks. In surprise he quickly slapped his cheeks hard and felt the stinging burn of his hand. "YEEEOOWWW!" He screamed. Akane laughed hard.
"Shukoji, you're so silly. What are you doing?" Akane continued to laugh. She hasn't laughed this hard on a long time. She felt guilty laughing at the extent of another person's silliness. And yet, she felt relaxed and calm to be laughing. Shukoji was still holding his cheek from his clumsiness and when she saw Akane laughing, he felt that the world once more lit up for him. He forgot all about his pain and his memory of sorrow. He laughed along with her, laughing at his mistake. Laughing his hidden grief away.
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"Ugh…mm…" He opened his eyes to see a sight that shivered his spine. An unexpected encounter with nature sent him terrified for his years to come. "What? What happened?" Still dazed from the occurrence he tried to stand up but failed so. "The village what happened to the village?" He cried out. No one responded to him but the silence. It was a deafening silence. He looked around; trees and barks were everywhere. Parts of houses were scattered around. He once again stood up and when he realized he could walk without falling he started to scan the area. Bamboos, plates, pillows socks and all kinds personal belongings were lying on the ground. He scoured through the pile to see if there's anything he could find to give him a clue of what might have happened. He started to feel his head hurt, like it was splitting in two. He started having a headache and visions cam rushing to his mind.
The visions were flickers of images all rushing into one movement. It was so fast that he almost fell down. "This place was my home and now I have to leave everything behind." He started to walk down the path where it will lead him out of the mud field. He kept walking until he tripped and fell. He was upset and depressed and regretting. He was upset that he had to leave the place he has come to love, depressed for loosing everything. He lost his home, his family and all the happiness that once fruitfully blossomed within him. How can someone like him who bears the symbol of a god be caught up in a tragedy like this? He was respected and loved. People knew him as a deliverer from heaven, a descendant of the holy and yet, he couldn't save his family or the people in the village. Did he lose faith and this is the god's way of punishing him? Or was all this coincidence? He didn't know if anyone survived, how many people died, or if the entire village destroyed. He couldn't sense if there was anyone else alive. And if he is the only one alive, then that would mean that the god saved him from death. He clenched his fist and he sobbed madly. He cried his anger and his misery out.
"What about my family? You saved me but what about the other villagers. You lied to me. Your gift is as illusive as you!" He cursed out. Out of his anger, he couldn't help himself become shocked at what happened. The death that surrounds him was immense. His chest was heavy with grief and his heart was shadowed with loss.
"How could you let me survive? How could you?" He asked over and over again but no one was there to answer.
Suddenly, a wind gust past him and his tear streaked eyes started to dry.
"Don't cry," said the wind. He heard it, he was sure he heard it. It was the same sound her heard before everything came to happen. Something sweet, it sounded so sweet. The voice was perfect and the sound was coming from, back there! He started to trace the sound; it was under the mud somewhere in the barricades. He took one log and threw it aside until he was doing so continuously. He was digging in the mud, digging and digging. Until he could dig no more. He found the sound to have vanished like the voice that he heard. Then, it came back and he listened intently. He heard the same sound over and over until he can make sure that it was the same one. It was close by, like it was in front of him. Not far from where he was, he saw a glittering box. It was gleaming in the dark clouded day. It was calling him.
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