Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or Inu yasha.
Chapter 3"They don't know?" Ranma echoed, his voice filled with shock and disbelief. Akane bit her lip and shook her head sharply, her eyes becoming dewy. When the scent of her tears reached his nose, Ranma panicked, and leapt up, making what he hoped were soothing gestures. "No – wait! Don't cry! Please?"
"I'm not crying, you jerk!" said Akane, furiously rubbing at her eyes.
"Yes, you are! I can smell it," Ranma said, while inwardly he cringed. Jerk…? What'd I do this time? "Anyway, what've you got to cry about?"
"You wouldn't understand!"
Akane stood angrily, and prepared to leave when Ranma got a hold of her scent. It was spicy, and sweet, and warm - much like cinnamon – and it was heavy with depression, both beautiful and heartbreaking at once. And Ranma was sure if he let her leave like that, he would regret it for a long time.
"I can't understand," he said. "If you don't explain it to me."
Akane turned and stared him for a moment, and for that moment she looked as if she would spill her heart out to him, but then the moment passed and she regarded him coldly. "I'll tell you why, only if you swear never to say a thing about it. Not to Kasumi, not to Nabiki, and especially not to Daddy. Got that?"
Ranma paused before nodding. One minute she was all tears and sadness, and the next you could make ice with her expression. Talk about mood swings. Jeez, she's sensitive. "Okay, then."
Akane sat next to him again, at the top of the shrine steps and looked at her lap, taking a deep breath before beginning. "This is the Tendo Shrine. Daddy built it a long time ago. It was just after he, and your father too, had finished training under their old master. It used to be the Tendo dojo, but after it happened Daddy tore down most of the dojo and built this in its place."
"Uh… after what happened?" Ranma asked, confused. Akane frowned at him.
"Don't interrupt me. I was getting to that. Anyways, My father was married soon after he was finished training. He taught classes at the dojo for a year, with his wife, when she became pregnant. His old master had been a full demon, and he… once their child was born – it was a girl – Daddy's master took her. Then he attacked them, and they were unable to have any more children after that. So, Daddy and his wife adopted all of us, and we were happy for a while, but his wife was never the same. A few years later, her injuries killed her."
Akane's voice had started out strong and indifferent, but as she neared the end, her voice began to shake, and Ranma could tell – from the weakness in her scent, and the fluttering beat of her heart – that she was crumbling inside, but she continued to speak.
"So, I suppose, we're really just replacements, my 'sisters' and I. That's fine. But this is my home, and they are my family, and… and if they knew, if Daddy knew, they would hate me!" Abruptly she dropped her disguise, and Ranma spread his senses in case any one was within viewing distance. When he found that they were all in the house, he turned back to Akane. A stronger tint of blue had washed over her short hair and her eyes became a strong shade of golden brown around slitted pupils. Above her more definite features a pair of ears appeared to replace her human ones. Akane hugged her knees and mumbled incoherently about her father hating demons as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ranma was at a loss as to what would be the best thing to do or say, so he dropped his disguise as well and watched Akane. When she finally looked up at him, Ranma's hair was streaked with red and his features were slightly more canine. His eyes remained blue, but it was more of a wild, electric color behind his vertical pupils. His ears swiveled in her direction to pick up her words when she spoke.
"I don't think I've ever said that to anyone," Akane said, her voice weak and thin.
"No sweat," Ranma smiled. "And don't worry about Pops. He's an old fool, but he if he wants me to marry one of you he won't say anything."
"Thanks," Akane said, smiling gratefully up at him.
"Besides," Ranma hid his demonic features as he spoke. "Even if they did find out, I'm sure a violent chick like you could take care of yourself. I mean, if you could throw me across Nerima…"
Ranma was unable to finish that remark due to the face-full of dirt he received upon landing in front of the koi pond on the other side of the Tendo compound. Kasumi's call of 'lunch is ready' and her soft 'oh my' upon seeing him further distracted him from finishing the comment, in favor of an explanation. And once Akane and the rest of the Tendos had gathered at the porch Ranma and his father, in all seriousness, gave one. Though it is impossible to say just how serious a bickering redhead and a large panda can be.
And when the explanations were finished, Akane – despite her protests – was chosen as the one to carry out the duty of a Tendo and uphold the family honor by marrying a Saotome. As proud as she and Ranma were to be chosen for these most respected roles, they could not help but express their happiness at being together in the way they did it best. Needless to say, the day came to an early close for Ranma. The last thing she remembered being Akane's angry face and a very heavy coffee table.
So, Ranma was unaware when lunch passed. She was unaware as Kasumi began to prepare dinner. She was unaware as a stranger set foot in Nerima, with murder in her eyes.
A/N: Sorry, this chapter is really short, but I think this was the best place to end. Ok, This is VERY IMPORTANT, I need to know if anybody wants me to actually put Inu Yasha and co. in the story or if I should just stick with using elements from that story. I can write it either way, so please REVIEW, and tell me which one. Sorry, they were sort of OOC and the chapter is short and I don't really have a plot going yet, but I promise I will start one as soon as I know whether to put Inu yasha in or not. I'll start the plot in the next chapter, so the more you review the sooner the next chapter comes out. Thank you for reading! Bai-bai!