I do not own Ranma ½, rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi and whatever
companies publishing her work around the world.
for thought '' '' for dialogue
CHAPTER 3. ROUTINES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
It didn't take long for Mousse and Akane to meet again at the park. With a simple nod, they headed for the ice-cream parlour. It was the same old story, so they didn't even talk about it. Why put more salt on the wound? They spent most of the evening talking about simple things (or maybe not so simple) as their dreams.
Akane told him about her ideas for running the dojo. She had always been the one in the family interested in martial arts and had been the local champion for many years, that is, until Ranma stopped by and then all the mayhem started and she was cast out of the olympus. She was more than hurt for all the times she had asked him to help her and he refused with the excuse of no hitting her. So, he fought Shampoo, Ukyo, Kodachi and many more, but he would not fight her. It was kind of flattering in a way, but she had never wanted to play the role of damsel in distress, that was ok for films, but not for her life.
Talking of dreams. Mousse had always wanted to study traditional medicine, but that was strictly forbidden for males in his society, unless an Elder chose to teach him.
Hell would freeze before this ever happened, of course. Most men falling ill would indeed die unless they were treated outside their village, for Amazon women would refuse to help them. Men were some kind of disposable material. So one dies, well, we replace him. If he's not willing to cooperate, we make his life a hell until he commits himself or we put some spice in their food and he becomes some kind of slave. No wonder men died pretty young there. And males could count themselves lucky. At least, Chinese Amazons didn't kill males as the Greek founders used to do. Slavery was such a better idea.
He had rebelled against those rules, with the help of his grandmother, who by some chance, didn't share the views of her warmates. She had told him time and again not to give away this secret, and in exchange, taught him all the medicine she knew and her martial arts school, Hidden Weapons, which he had perfectioned by working in a circus. She had even encouraged him to take an education at a nearby chinese school. Her talents could not match Cologne's but it was enough to make him survive.
His grandmother had been wise enough to keep him away from Shampoo even after his defeat when they were three, but the damage was already done. He was already in love with the brave and careless Amazon girl. He had actively pursued her when the laws forbid that, he had lost the first match and could not ask for a second chance, unless Shampoo clearly stated she would give him one... which was not the case. And of course, telling a good word about him to her great-grandmother so he could learn medicine or even get some treatment for his sight was out of the question.
So there they were, their dreams shattered in some way, because the person they wanted to share them with didn't give a damn about them or if they did, didn't care to show it. Akane (and Mousse too) had been pretty sure Ranma loved her after the Jusendo episode, but... doubt is a seed with a bitter taste, once planted in one's soul, you will feel it your mouth and engrained in your brain and it grew each passing day, unless stronger evidence against it is sown in your heart. So, bitterness overcame their souls. They said their goodbyes and headed home.
Akane sat that night by the porch, staring at the koi-pond and sipping some tea, perhaps waiting for a koi jumping out of the water with an answer for her doubts. Ranma passed by and made one of his smart remarks about meditating tomboys. She failed to answer back. What was the use of all that bickering? She felt it wasn't worth the effort. She went to bed, feeling a cold void growing inside her.
****************
It didn't take too long for another meeting, just two days. This time she had to help Mousse get to a clinic when she found him on the floor near Furinkan High. Since the local doctor (Tofu was coming back soon, he told them) was pretty busy, Akane tended for Mousse's bruises when he handed her a first aid kit. He had nothing serious after all, though his arm hurt like hell. They thanked him and went for a stroll around the park. They walked in silence for a time. Akane motioned for a bench and they sat, facing each other.
"Well, what happened this time?" she put her hand on his. "You know you can tell me".
He looked at his feet and then at the park. "I tried to stop one's of Cologne's plots to win Ranma for Shampoo. This was my reward" he still wasn't looking at her, but hold her hand in his.
"You mean those noodles she tried to feed him?"
"Yeah, the same"
"I see. Well, you're lucky, Ukyo started one of her usual fights with Shampoo about it and ended spilling it over the grass, so he scaped by a narrow chance." She smirked, remembering the episode. She had thought about stopping the chinese hussy handing Ranma her food, but then she walked by, she didn't see the need to receive her typical share of insults. Let him handle the little Amazon alone. Ukyo should be asking for a reward for helping him by now. She didn't want to see that either.
"Remember the first time we had a little talk in the park?-Mousse was shaking in anger- I'm tired, I'm sick tired of it all, I guess today I crossed the threshold to reality and I stand here and see that all the love I ever had for Shampoo was useless and I made myself a fool for her. Today I tried to make her understand for the millionth time that whatever she got from a love potion would never be called love, she would just make a mindless robot out of Ranma, just like she was when Kira made her an slave to the Phoenix tribe, but she just doesn't care, and gave me a lecture about amazon law and honor. I told her she didn't have a clue as to was honor really is even if I threw it at her face... Man, she got mad. It's the first time I've defended myself physically against her, though I could not make myself use my weapons. She beat me senseless in a few minutes, I'm not very good at close combat. That was enough. After this, I know I won't be welcome at the Neko-hanten anymore, not that I regret it. I'll pick up my things now and look for some place to stay..."
"Why don't you come to my house? There's plenty of space and Kasumi won't mind having a guest..."
"Thanks, Akane, but I don't want to impose on your family... and I don't think I could stand Ranma right now.. He might not be the direct cause of my problems, I know he doesn't encourage Shampoo but he doesn't do anything to stop her from harassing him either. I'm not in the mood for a fight" he said with a hint of disgust.
"Yeah, I guess, he would throw one of his smart-ass remarks and you will be at each other's throats in a second - she sighed.- It's a pity Dr. Tofu hasn't arrived yet, I was really glad to hear he would be back. You would be able to stay at his place-she stopped in mid-thought and them beamed- Mousse, maybe you can ask him to teach you some about medicine!"
She gave him one of her trade-mark smiles, making Mousse think she was beyond cute. "Com'on! We have to plan about this! You can stay here in Japan and study medicine or quiropraxis. How far went your education?"
"Um, I don't know if chinese and japanese systems can be made equal somehow, I finished school but I didn't have the chance to enrol for high school..."
" No worries, then, Kasumi will tell us about some night classes, she took them to finish her highschooling. I hope you don't mind, you know, it might be weird if you had to enrol for first course at Furinkan now and share a class with people 2 years younger than you..."
"No, I don't mind. And I guess I could camp somewhere near here, just as Ryoga when he's around."
"And I could help you with your studies if you need it..."
He looked at Akane while she was still talking, a small smile in his face. It was the first time since he had left China that someone had cared enough about him and encouraged him to do something he wanted. Perhaps... perhaps he could help her with her own dreams.
"Ok, just as long as you let me help you with your own projects, right?"
Akane looked puzzled.
"Uh?"
"I could help with your training. You know I'm not a great martial artist but we could learn something from each other and..."
He could not continue as the air left his lungs, pushed by a fierce embrace from Akane. She looked thrilled. She let him go (specially when his face turned violet and then green) and then took his hand. "Thank you for being there".
"It's me who should thank you".
"Well, what the hell? Between friends... The perfect way to end our little meeting: race you for an ice-cream! Loser pays!"
She left him dazed on the clinic bench and ran for the door, while running and making faces at him. After a few seconds, Mousse gathered his senses and ran after her.
"Hey! That's cheating!" he screamed laughing.
************
They were enjoying a milk-shake in silence some time later. Akane looked at the chinese boy, like pondering something. After a few seconds, she made up her mind.
"Uh, Mousse, there's... something I've wanted to know for a while. I know little about your culture, most from what you told me the other day. If I'm not too mistaken, amazons take great pride about being female. But, frankly, the way Shampoo behaves puzzles me. It's kinda... the opposite, like she's throwing herself at Ranma every chance she gets. I wouldn't say that's ..."
" ...doesn't look like Amazon ways? You're 100% right. I can't understand how an Elder like Cologne would allow her great-grand daughter doing that. I did remind Shampoo of her own behavioural code this morning and you see the results. I guess this is some kind of trap for Ranma, making him see Shampoo's good side so he acknowledges our marriage laws and goes back to China with them. They know he won't be able to leave the village once he puts his feet there, the Elder's Council will make sure of that. The Phoenix tribe are not the only ones to do that trick with the magical eggs, you know".
Akane sat pensive, her head on her hand.
"I wonder how Ranma would look playing the househusband..."
They looked at each other and broke in laughter.
" Hehehe, too good, you picture him with an apron and a child on his back, doing the dishes?"
"Mwhahahahaha!"
The rest of the people at the ice-cream shop were giving them weird looks.
After some minutes and deep breathing, they calmed a little bit.
"Ouch, my abs! I haven't laughed like this in ages..." Akane was rubbing her stomach, it ached like hell.
Mousse was trying to get his contact lenses in its proper place, he was crying so much. He sighed. "Thanks, Akane, I really needed this"
"Me, too. Hey, we should do this more often" She offered her hand to help his on his feet and they left the local.
************
When she went back home, she was surprised to see Ranma standing by the porch. He didn't say a word, though, just nodded his head.
Was he waiting for me? she wondered.
"I'm home" she announced, while taking off her shoes. She waved her hand at Ranma and passed by in the way to the kitchen. She knew she was late for dinner, but hoped that the Saotome's Vacuum Cleaner Ltd TM would have spared some leftovers.
She wasn't disappointed and wolfed them down, while going through her chat with Mousse. Today was the beginning of something new. A new hope. She had almost gave up all her dreams and had despaired she would have to submitt to any idea Ranma and their parents had for their marriage, that is, that he would run the dojo and she would got to play the housewife and children- bearer. Even if she didn't mind caring for a family, she had other ideas in mind. She would need to talk to Ranma about it sometime soon.
*************
The way to school was a nice occasion to try for a little chat. Ranma was walking on the fence as usual. After Jusendo, he had walked occasionally by her side, but stopped when the rumor horde began making a soap-opera out of that. She didn't know if she should be disappointed. She cleared her throat. "Say, um, Ranma, er, can we talk a bit?"
"Uh? 'bout what?".
She blushed a bit.
"Um, about. about us. I mean, not as a couple but.um, er, well, you know, the engagement thing and, uh, the future." Crap! Why can't I talk to him about these things as I can do with Mousse?
Ranma blushed a bit, he had been thinking about the same lines for the past few weeks, but could not bring himself to make any move. He still was unsure about Akane's reasons to go all out for the wedding, after, what, nearly two months?.
Did she do it only so I could get a cure?. She certainly hadn't hit him that much after that, but it just made him uneasy around her. She even showed some signs of uneasiness when he was around too much. He was no fool not to detect it. Just give her some personal space, so he went back on his patterns before the Saffron affair.
He didn't want anything to change around him. He had spent so many years in the wild with his father, with nothing stable, nothing to call his own, no friends, no real family. Staying with the Tendos had been his first approach to a real life and then when all his enemies and fiancés appeared, he enjoyed being the center of attention, something he never got from his careless father. He just wanted to take things easy and enjoy his martial arts and his life and, um, well, spending some time with the tomboy. Did I just think that?.
But he didn't want any change, that was clear. Deep down he knew if he made any choice, a lot of people would be hurt and he would lose the few closest people he would consider as friends. So he decided to keep his role on the play and say his lines.
"Geez, Akane, by this time you should already know I'm not marrying an uncute tomboy like you" and stuck his tongue at her.
Akane stopped. Why do I bother to ask?. It hurt, god, it still hurt to hear the same insults. I won't be for him anything but a tomboy - she bowed her head low, a mischivious smile in her face- well, let's give him his tomboy. She flashed a sidekick to the fence, making him stumble and fall to the puddle of water in the bottom.
"Man, that was soooooo uncute!". Ranma-chan said while adjusting her clothes.
Akane kept walking, not caring about Ranma following her. Triggering the change had appeased her in the past, she knew he hated his curse, so whenever he hurt her, she would make sure to make him change if water was available. But now, it didn't give her any confort. I must be really tired. and she headed for school, her head still down, not even looking at Kuno when she kicked him into LEO, sparing the crowd his endless poetry. She sat by the window, looking at the horizon and sighed.
This is just a non-ending, vicious cycle, but do I want to take part in it? She fixed her eyes on the grounds and saw Ranma-chan trying to escape from a ribbon-armed Kodachi. She didn't get angry, though, just sad.
Well, I can't make Ranma change, but I can change my life enough to not be engulfed in his chaos. Then the bell rang and she decided to pay some attention to her class. This might very well be the first day of the rest of her life.
for thought '' '' for dialogue
CHAPTER 3. ROUTINES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
It didn't take long for Mousse and Akane to meet again at the park. With a simple nod, they headed for the ice-cream parlour. It was the same old story, so they didn't even talk about it. Why put more salt on the wound? They spent most of the evening talking about simple things (or maybe not so simple) as their dreams.
Akane told him about her ideas for running the dojo. She had always been the one in the family interested in martial arts and had been the local champion for many years, that is, until Ranma stopped by and then all the mayhem started and she was cast out of the olympus. She was more than hurt for all the times she had asked him to help her and he refused with the excuse of no hitting her. So, he fought Shampoo, Ukyo, Kodachi and many more, but he would not fight her. It was kind of flattering in a way, but she had never wanted to play the role of damsel in distress, that was ok for films, but not for her life.
Talking of dreams. Mousse had always wanted to study traditional medicine, but that was strictly forbidden for males in his society, unless an Elder chose to teach him.
Hell would freeze before this ever happened, of course. Most men falling ill would indeed die unless they were treated outside their village, for Amazon women would refuse to help them. Men were some kind of disposable material. So one dies, well, we replace him. If he's not willing to cooperate, we make his life a hell until he commits himself or we put some spice in their food and he becomes some kind of slave. No wonder men died pretty young there. And males could count themselves lucky. At least, Chinese Amazons didn't kill males as the Greek founders used to do. Slavery was such a better idea.
He had rebelled against those rules, with the help of his grandmother, who by some chance, didn't share the views of her warmates. She had told him time and again not to give away this secret, and in exchange, taught him all the medicine she knew and her martial arts school, Hidden Weapons, which he had perfectioned by working in a circus. She had even encouraged him to take an education at a nearby chinese school. Her talents could not match Cologne's but it was enough to make him survive.
His grandmother had been wise enough to keep him away from Shampoo even after his defeat when they were three, but the damage was already done. He was already in love with the brave and careless Amazon girl. He had actively pursued her when the laws forbid that, he had lost the first match and could not ask for a second chance, unless Shampoo clearly stated she would give him one... which was not the case. And of course, telling a good word about him to her great-grandmother so he could learn medicine or even get some treatment for his sight was out of the question.
So there they were, their dreams shattered in some way, because the person they wanted to share them with didn't give a damn about them or if they did, didn't care to show it. Akane (and Mousse too) had been pretty sure Ranma loved her after the Jusendo episode, but... doubt is a seed with a bitter taste, once planted in one's soul, you will feel it your mouth and engrained in your brain and it grew each passing day, unless stronger evidence against it is sown in your heart. So, bitterness overcame their souls. They said their goodbyes and headed home.
Akane sat that night by the porch, staring at the koi-pond and sipping some tea, perhaps waiting for a koi jumping out of the water with an answer for her doubts. Ranma passed by and made one of his smart remarks about meditating tomboys. She failed to answer back. What was the use of all that bickering? She felt it wasn't worth the effort. She went to bed, feeling a cold void growing inside her.
****************
It didn't take too long for another meeting, just two days. This time she had to help Mousse get to a clinic when she found him on the floor near Furinkan High. Since the local doctor (Tofu was coming back soon, he told them) was pretty busy, Akane tended for Mousse's bruises when he handed her a first aid kit. He had nothing serious after all, though his arm hurt like hell. They thanked him and went for a stroll around the park. They walked in silence for a time. Akane motioned for a bench and they sat, facing each other.
"Well, what happened this time?" she put her hand on his. "You know you can tell me".
He looked at his feet and then at the park. "I tried to stop one's of Cologne's plots to win Ranma for Shampoo. This was my reward" he still wasn't looking at her, but hold her hand in his.
"You mean those noodles she tried to feed him?"
"Yeah, the same"
"I see. Well, you're lucky, Ukyo started one of her usual fights with Shampoo about it and ended spilling it over the grass, so he scaped by a narrow chance." She smirked, remembering the episode. She had thought about stopping the chinese hussy handing Ranma her food, but then she walked by, she didn't see the need to receive her typical share of insults. Let him handle the little Amazon alone. Ukyo should be asking for a reward for helping him by now. She didn't want to see that either.
"Remember the first time we had a little talk in the park?-Mousse was shaking in anger- I'm tired, I'm sick tired of it all, I guess today I crossed the threshold to reality and I stand here and see that all the love I ever had for Shampoo was useless and I made myself a fool for her. Today I tried to make her understand for the millionth time that whatever she got from a love potion would never be called love, she would just make a mindless robot out of Ranma, just like she was when Kira made her an slave to the Phoenix tribe, but she just doesn't care, and gave me a lecture about amazon law and honor. I told her she didn't have a clue as to was honor really is even if I threw it at her face... Man, she got mad. It's the first time I've defended myself physically against her, though I could not make myself use my weapons. She beat me senseless in a few minutes, I'm not very good at close combat. That was enough. After this, I know I won't be welcome at the Neko-hanten anymore, not that I regret it. I'll pick up my things now and look for some place to stay..."
"Why don't you come to my house? There's plenty of space and Kasumi won't mind having a guest..."
"Thanks, Akane, but I don't want to impose on your family... and I don't think I could stand Ranma right now.. He might not be the direct cause of my problems, I know he doesn't encourage Shampoo but he doesn't do anything to stop her from harassing him either. I'm not in the mood for a fight" he said with a hint of disgust.
"Yeah, I guess, he would throw one of his smart-ass remarks and you will be at each other's throats in a second - she sighed.- It's a pity Dr. Tofu hasn't arrived yet, I was really glad to hear he would be back. You would be able to stay at his place-she stopped in mid-thought and them beamed- Mousse, maybe you can ask him to teach you some about medicine!"
She gave him one of her trade-mark smiles, making Mousse think she was beyond cute. "Com'on! We have to plan about this! You can stay here in Japan and study medicine or quiropraxis. How far went your education?"
"Um, I don't know if chinese and japanese systems can be made equal somehow, I finished school but I didn't have the chance to enrol for high school..."
" No worries, then, Kasumi will tell us about some night classes, she took them to finish her highschooling. I hope you don't mind, you know, it might be weird if you had to enrol for first course at Furinkan now and share a class with people 2 years younger than you..."
"No, I don't mind. And I guess I could camp somewhere near here, just as Ryoga when he's around."
"And I could help you with your studies if you need it..."
He looked at Akane while she was still talking, a small smile in his face. It was the first time since he had left China that someone had cared enough about him and encouraged him to do something he wanted. Perhaps... perhaps he could help her with her own dreams.
"Ok, just as long as you let me help you with your own projects, right?"
Akane looked puzzled.
"Uh?"
"I could help with your training. You know I'm not a great martial artist but we could learn something from each other and..."
He could not continue as the air left his lungs, pushed by a fierce embrace from Akane. She looked thrilled. She let him go (specially when his face turned violet and then green) and then took his hand. "Thank you for being there".
"It's me who should thank you".
"Well, what the hell? Between friends... The perfect way to end our little meeting: race you for an ice-cream! Loser pays!"
She left him dazed on the clinic bench and ran for the door, while running and making faces at him. After a few seconds, Mousse gathered his senses and ran after her.
"Hey! That's cheating!" he screamed laughing.
************
They were enjoying a milk-shake in silence some time later. Akane looked at the chinese boy, like pondering something. After a few seconds, she made up her mind.
"Uh, Mousse, there's... something I've wanted to know for a while. I know little about your culture, most from what you told me the other day. If I'm not too mistaken, amazons take great pride about being female. But, frankly, the way Shampoo behaves puzzles me. It's kinda... the opposite, like she's throwing herself at Ranma every chance she gets. I wouldn't say that's ..."
" ...doesn't look like Amazon ways? You're 100% right. I can't understand how an Elder like Cologne would allow her great-grand daughter doing that. I did remind Shampoo of her own behavioural code this morning and you see the results. I guess this is some kind of trap for Ranma, making him see Shampoo's good side so he acknowledges our marriage laws and goes back to China with them. They know he won't be able to leave the village once he puts his feet there, the Elder's Council will make sure of that. The Phoenix tribe are not the only ones to do that trick with the magical eggs, you know".
Akane sat pensive, her head on her hand.
"I wonder how Ranma would look playing the househusband..."
They looked at each other and broke in laughter.
" Hehehe, too good, you picture him with an apron and a child on his back, doing the dishes?"
"Mwhahahahaha!"
The rest of the people at the ice-cream shop were giving them weird looks.
After some minutes and deep breathing, they calmed a little bit.
"Ouch, my abs! I haven't laughed like this in ages..." Akane was rubbing her stomach, it ached like hell.
Mousse was trying to get his contact lenses in its proper place, he was crying so much. He sighed. "Thanks, Akane, I really needed this"
"Me, too. Hey, we should do this more often" She offered her hand to help his on his feet and they left the local.
************
When she went back home, she was surprised to see Ranma standing by the porch. He didn't say a word, though, just nodded his head.
Was he waiting for me? she wondered.
"I'm home" she announced, while taking off her shoes. She waved her hand at Ranma and passed by in the way to the kitchen. She knew she was late for dinner, but hoped that the Saotome's Vacuum Cleaner Ltd TM would have spared some leftovers.
She wasn't disappointed and wolfed them down, while going through her chat with Mousse. Today was the beginning of something new. A new hope. She had almost gave up all her dreams and had despaired she would have to submitt to any idea Ranma and their parents had for their marriage, that is, that he would run the dojo and she would got to play the housewife and children- bearer. Even if she didn't mind caring for a family, she had other ideas in mind. She would need to talk to Ranma about it sometime soon.
*************
The way to school was a nice occasion to try for a little chat. Ranma was walking on the fence as usual. After Jusendo, he had walked occasionally by her side, but stopped when the rumor horde began making a soap-opera out of that. She didn't know if she should be disappointed. She cleared her throat. "Say, um, Ranma, er, can we talk a bit?"
"Uh? 'bout what?".
She blushed a bit.
"Um, about. about us. I mean, not as a couple but.um, er, well, you know, the engagement thing and, uh, the future." Crap! Why can't I talk to him about these things as I can do with Mousse?
Ranma blushed a bit, he had been thinking about the same lines for the past few weeks, but could not bring himself to make any move. He still was unsure about Akane's reasons to go all out for the wedding, after, what, nearly two months?.
Did she do it only so I could get a cure?. She certainly hadn't hit him that much after that, but it just made him uneasy around her. She even showed some signs of uneasiness when he was around too much. He was no fool not to detect it. Just give her some personal space, so he went back on his patterns before the Saffron affair.
He didn't want anything to change around him. He had spent so many years in the wild with his father, with nothing stable, nothing to call his own, no friends, no real family. Staying with the Tendos had been his first approach to a real life and then when all his enemies and fiancés appeared, he enjoyed being the center of attention, something he never got from his careless father. He just wanted to take things easy and enjoy his martial arts and his life and, um, well, spending some time with the tomboy. Did I just think that?.
But he didn't want any change, that was clear. Deep down he knew if he made any choice, a lot of people would be hurt and he would lose the few closest people he would consider as friends. So he decided to keep his role on the play and say his lines.
"Geez, Akane, by this time you should already know I'm not marrying an uncute tomboy like you" and stuck his tongue at her.
Akane stopped. Why do I bother to ask?. It hurt, god, it still hurt to hear the same insults. I won't be for him anything but a tomboy - she bowed her head low, a mischivious smile in her face- well, let's give him his tomboy. She flashed a sidekick to the fence, making him stumble and fall to the puddle of water in the bottom.
"Man, that was soooooo uncute!". Ranma-chan said while adjusting her clothes.
Akane kept walking, not caring about Ranma following her. Triggering the change had appeased her in the past, she knew he hated his curse, so whenever he hurt her, she would make sure to make him change if water was available. But now, it didn't give her any confort. I must be really tired. and she headed for school, her head still down, not even looking at Kuno when she kicked him into LEO, sparing the crowd his endless poetry. She sat by the window, looking at the horizon and sighed.
This is just a non-ending, vicious cycle, but do I want to take part in it? She fixed her eyes on the grounds and saw Ranma-chan trying to escape from a ribbon-armed Kodachi. She didn't get angry, though, just sad.
Well, I can't make Ranma change, but I can change my life enough to not be engulfed in his chaos. Then the bell rang and she decided to pay some attention to her class. This might very well be the first day of the rest of her life.