SINS OF EDEN
Chapter 4
*****
"W- wife?" Akane asked, unable to process 'Ranma' and 'wife' together.
"Yes. MY wife."
"I- I..."
Akane could feel tears pinching behind her eyes. She would not let them fall, no
matter what.
"Um... Ah... whe- when did you two get, um..."
Ranma sighed. "Two years ago."
Akane did not know what to do. She really had not been expecting this. What could she
say now?
"Ranma... can we, um, still talk?"
"Akane, you know that..."
"I know, but there are a few things I want to ask."
"Fine," he said as he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
"Talk," he said.
Akane nodded. "So, um, why did you two?"
"That's a pointless question."
"Yeah, sorry. I mean, Where did you two meet?"
Ranma sighed. "When I left that time."
"What?"
"You heard me."
Akane's heart beat faster. When he had left? In other words, when she had kicked him
out? Then...
It was her doing they had ended up married!?
"I don't... I..."
"What else do you want to know?"
"Um, well, did you two, I mean, did you two marry..." she gulped at her words, "..out of
love?"
Ranma looked down for a moment. He turned to walk down the corridor. "You wouldn't
understand."
*What did that mean?* she thought.
"Try me," she said firmly.
"Why should I!?" he said, his demeanor turning angry once more. "Why should I waste my
breath on you?"
Akane blinked. That hurt. "That was unfair."
"Unfair? Oh, so sorry," he said sarcastically. "Did I hurt your feelings? Well, I guess
now you know what it feels like."
"Ranma, how many times do I have to say, I'm sorry!?"
"You still don't get it, do you? It's waaay past the time for forgiveness from my part.
I tried to help you. Leaving was the ONLY way I would be sure you'd be safe. And what
do I get for all I did? I get insulted, treated like shit and, need I go on?
"You are still the same person. You haven't changed a bit. It was always your way or the highway.
Well, guess what? I DON'T want to live like that anymore! I don't want to live being the
object of all that went wrong! I'm sick and tired of being treated like a freak or
just a piece of meat! I've done so much for so many and what are the thanks I get!?
"I end up cursed! I end up hiding like a coward from my mother! And what hurts the most,"
he said, his voice shaking a bit. "Is being treated like I don't matter. And I have you to thank
for that."
"Ranma... you always mattered to me..."
"Yeah, well, you did a real good job at letting me know."
A tear slid down her cheek. What he had said was all true. She had always used him
to vent out her anger. From the very beggining.
"I want you to do one thing for me," he said. She looked at him with hope. "NEVER try
to reach me again. I NEVER want to see you again. We have nothing to say to each other
anymore. To me, you are another stranger."
Akane let a choked sob escape her. She wanted to argue back, but he had always had that
effect on her. She had always valued what he thought of her. And listening to him talking
like that was just too much. She put her hand on her mouth and ran down the hall,
tears streaming down her cheeks.
Ranma sighed and went back into his apartment. He went into the small kitchen and drank
a cup of water. He then went to the living room and stared out the window at the skyline.
The sky was just starting to get dusky. He rested his forehead on the cool glass and
closed his eyes.
"You really need to take things a little easier," said a female voice.
"Leave me alone, Chijaru."
"You know me too well to know I'm not about to do that." She put her hand on his
shoulder and made him turn around. Chijaru was tall, with mocha-colored hair. She
was a woman of much beauty, easily displayed on any fashion magazine.
"Sit down," she ordered.
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"That's too bad. Park yourself down, mister."
Ranma shook his head. Arguing with this woman was pointless. He sat on the couch.
"Now, I heard the commotion out there," she said as she sat next to him. "You really
let her have it. I just have one question."
"What?" he asked as he ran his hands through his hair.
"Was that the Tendo girl you mentioned?"
Ranma sighed. "Yeah, it was."
Chijaru shook her head. "You're still as dense as the day I met you. What the hell are
you still doing here!? Go! Go after her! That's you want to do!"
"That's NOT what I want to do," he answered back.
"WHO do you think you're talking to? I know you better than you know yourself. You may
not be able to admit it, but I know what you want. Just go already! She has a head start!"
"Chijaru, for once, I will say what the hell I want. This is something you have no say
in. I don't want to see her, so I wont. End of disscussion."
"No damn way!" She softened her gaze. "I want you to be happy," she said as she took
his hand. "I don't like to see you like this. I know you're hurting, I just know it.
Just go to her."
"Chijaru, she is the last person I want to be with right now. If you'll excuse
me, I think I'm gonna go lie down." He stood and headed to the bedroom, leaving
her sitting alone.
*Men, when will they learn? Poor Ranma, still can't admit what he really feels.*
She stood and headed to the bedroom. She stood at the door, watching him. He had one
arm behind his head and one knee up.
He was really a very handsome man. She had always thought so. And he had helped her so
much, it was hard to think where she'd be now.
Watching him rest gave her an idea. She headed for the living room, taking with her
a pen and some paper.
*Now, it's time to payback your kindness honey,* she thought as she wrote.
*****
Akane had run home. She had not taken the bus, but it wasn't that far away, in any event.
Once in her home, she threw her stuff and landed on the bed, digging her head into the
pillow. She sobbed incontrollably, unable to cope with today's events.
To pu it simply, her worst fears had been confimed. He HATED her. The man she cared so
deeply for hated her...
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Mechanically, she reached for the cordless phone and dialed.
"Hello?" a voice on the other side said.
"Nui..."
There was a short silence. "Don't want to be alone right now?"
Akane answered with a short silence.
"I'll be over there soon," Nui said. She hung up.
Akane put the phone back and sighed. Her eyes felt swollen and her mouth felt dry, but
she didn't care. She didn't care about anything right now.
Except...
How she was going to get through this whole ordeal without being utterly crushed by
her emotions.
End of Chapter 4
Authors Notes
What's wrong with me? No matter how many times I add stuff to it, these chapters keep
coming out short! Oh well...
I'm sorry to those who wanted a quick resolution to this whole situation, but the
truth is that the story will get that much more complicated. I was up late the other night,
thinking of some later plots, when this whole new idea came into my head. It involves
this story, but it will make it very long. It will extend on the events of Ranma's departure
and his wife, so to speak. If I can turn it around, I can make my expectation come true;
to create a saga. Not just some other story, but a saga.
Here is where you guys come in.
Ultimately, a writer writes for people to read. You guys have been wonderfully supportive
of my work, and I have no words to thank you. So I need something from you that I value
greatly...
Your opinion.
If you want me to write a story that I promise will be full of excitement, drama and
so many different elements, then tell me. If not, then I will stick with the original
design for the story, and will write the saga later, although it would fit this story
almost perfectly. I need you guys to tell me which would be better. Please, let me know
if you want this, keeping in mind that it would take a little longer than usual to be
completed. Don't be afraid to tell me your opinions, I won't be angry.
I need you guys on this one, so let me know what YOU want to read.
I will greatly appreciate any and all opinions for this.
'Till next time...
BlackDragon