Everything You Want
* * * * * * * * * * *
Disclaimer: Hey, I didn't create Ranma ½. Rumiko Takahashi did. So don't even attempt to sue me! Author's Note: The song is "Running Away" by Hoobastank. It just seems like a song between to friends who broke up, which is why I chose it. Urgent Author's Note: I know! This chapter will be just too much out of character! But the chorus of the song forced me to, even though the rest of the song seemed to fit. Really Urgent Author's Note: No flames on this! PLEASE!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 5
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryoga looked shocked. "You... you knew?" he asked, hardly able to keep the incredulity, sadness and pity out of his voice.
The corners of Ukyo's mouth stretched in a caricature of a smile. It gave her face the look of a bleak and tormented soul. "I didn't know that Ranma was telling Akane that he loved her, but I knew that Ranma loved her."
"How did you find out?"
Ukyo winced, and her eyes started to tear up immediately; evidently the memory still pained her. "It was a few days ago...."
* * *
Ukyo was sick of it. Sick of it all. Sick of the many fiancés chasing her Ranma-honey, sick of the way Akane always maltreated him, sick of all the ditzes that constantly fought her like Kodachi and Shampoo, and most of all, sick of the way her Sugar always avoided answering her question. 'What is with Ranchan? Why doesn't he ever tell me he loves me?' she thought to herself, her frustration so obvious that it was a miracle she didn't hurt anything. But tonight... tonight she was going to corner him; corner him and find out if he really loved her or was just keeping her hanging so he could get free food.
'Tonight is so beautiful...,' Ukyo thought as she wandered down the empty streets of Nerima. And it truly was. The sky was cobalt-blue, and it gleamed with stars that seemed like miniscule shards of crystal. It was almost completely silent except for the normal night sounds, like crickets and night birds. A perfect night for Ranma to profess her his love for her. Ukyo smiled to herself, a smile full of hope, content, and pleasure. 'Yes... a very perfect night.'
Her footsteps echoed in the clear streets, and she decided she would speed up just a little. She started running silently, her feet making no sound as the touched the ground with each stride. And very soon, she reached her destination: the Tendo Dojo. She leapt over the fence and quietly stole into the backyard, avoiding the koi pond lest something fell into and made a noise. Once there, she jumped to the tree, and onto the roof. Ukyo checked to make sure no one had awoken, and then walked along the roof. She finally found Ranma-honey's window, open to the summer air, and without a whisper of sound swung into the dark room.
She was immediately assaulted by a noise louder than a fog horn. Startled at first, she then realized that it was just Ranchan's father. 'Good. No one will be able to hear anything.' Slowly she moved towards Ranma, not even making an attempt to be silent when all sound was covered. Finally, she reached her blue-gray eyed fiancé, and gently shook his shoulder while speaking loudly, "Ranma-honey, wake up."
The boy she was speaking to arose soundlessly, and stared at her, surprised. "Ukyo, why are you here?"
"C'mon, Ranma-honey, I need some questions answered," the amber-eyed girl told him in a tone that merited no argument. "Come to the roof--it's quieter there." Ukyo went back through the window, and vaulted onto the roof. She didn't need to look back--she knew Ranma would follow from sheer curiosity.
She was right. The moment she had reached a comfortable position on the roof, the black-haired boy leaped up with a hastily pulled on shirt. Ukyo, why are you here?" he asked again, a yawn punctuating his sentence. Ukyo could tell that Ranma was half-asleep. 'Good. Maybe I'll get a direct, honest answer.'
"I need an answer Ranma-kun... I need to know. I am tired of the way your fiancées come into my restaurant and destroy it every now and then. I'm tired of the times that fiancées come and disrupt my moments with you. I'd like to know if my putting up with it is all worthwhile, and if you love me."
Ranma woke up completely at that. 'Aw...! She wants ta know how I feel! It'll hurt her if I tell her the truth!' So Ranma did what he had to do.
"Ranma, you jerk!" Ukyo yelled after his fleeing figure. 'That idiot! He's trying to escape answering!' Ukyo then realized what that could mean. 'He... he might not love me.... But I have to find out! I have to follow him!' She gave chase over the rooftops, following him the best she could. Ukyo was just glad that he was still a little tired; otherwise, she would never catch him. Finally, after taking a few shortcuts, she caught up to him.
She grabbed his arm, and jerked him around. She looked him straight in his eyes--they seemed like blue flames--and asked him with a resigned tone, "Ranma, answer me. Don't run away. Do you love me or not?"
Ranma panicked. 'What am I s'posed ta do? I can't just tell her! She'll hate me! I'll lose one of my best friends! She might also just DO NOTHIN' after, just sit there and cry!'
*I don't want you to give it all up And leave your own life collecting dust*
Shaking his head, he finally reached a conclusion. 'Just... just do it gently....' He took a deep breath, and tried to comfort her.
"Look, Ukyo, I, um... well, uh, ya see, I don't think we were, uh, meant for each other, an'-- "
The brunette cut him off, anger and hurt in her face. "Don't try comforting me! And you can't say that we were never meant for each other! You never even tried to see!" Tears started to flood her eyes, making it difficult to see Ranma-honey's face.
*And I don't want you to feel sorry for me You never gave us a chance to be*
Ranma felt unsure of what to do. 'What does Kasumi do for 'kane when she's feelin' bad?' He thought a moment, and then remembered. 'Oh yeah! She pats her back or lets her cry on her shoulder!' The pig-tailed boy walked over to his friend, and awkwardly put an arm on her shoulder. "Um, it's O.K. Ukyo-- " he started again, and was again interrupted by Ukyo, this time when she threw his arm off her shoulder.
"Stop it, Ranma!" she cried, half in tears and half enraged. "I don't need you to come and try to treat me like some little kid, telling me, 'It's O.K. Ukyo'!"
*And I don't need you to be by my side To tell me that everything's alright*
Wiping her eyes as best as she could with her sleeve and failing miserably, she told Ranma, "You don't have to diplomatic about it. You can just tell me straight out, 'Ukyo, I don't like you.' Just tell me the reality, not what I want to hear! Isn't that what friends do?! Be honest with each other?!"
*I just wanted you to tell me the truth You know I'd do that for you*
"Look, Ranma, you know that old saying 'never run away from the truth'?! That's what you should be doing. Tell me already, bluntly or not! What's keeping you from doing it?!" Ukyo shouted, her voice growing hoarse from sadness, tears, anger, and screaming too much.
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
Ranma was bewildered. 'Ukyo? Why... why're you doin' this? You were never like this b'fore! Can't ya see I don't wanna hurt you?' He cast his mind around, trying to think of an excuse that wouldn't hurt her, and finally hit one. "Ukyo... I... I... I don't think we could, ya know, be together. We were, uh, too different."
Ukyo scowled at him, angered that he was telling such an outright lie in an attempt to make her see that they couldn't get married. "Ranma, that is not an excuse! I was ready to give up everything I loved just to be with you! I tried to stop okonomiyaki for you for god's sake! So you can't even begin to tell me that load of garbage!"
*'Cause I did enough to show you that I Was willing to give and sacrifice*
The caramel-eyed woman breathed in deeply, and tried to think what the reason was Ranma didn't like her. 'I don't know! I was always there for him, even as kids! I helped you when you were in trouble, then and now!'
*And I was the one who was lifting you up When you thought your life had had enough*
Finally all the anger just surged right out of her. Ukyo could have sent up a heart-wrenching wail her for her misery was so intense. 'Ranma, why don't you love me? Why?' Now that she thought about it, Ranma had always been like that ever since he was with Akane. 'Like at that Christmas party... when we were on the bench on the roof, he went all the way into the corner, away from me. Does he hate me that much?'
*And when I get close you turn away There's nothing that I can do or say*
Turning her tear streaked face up to Ranma's clear one, she asked him softly, "I'll say it again... why won't you tell me the truth? Do you hate me that much that you have to leave me hanging on to my hopes when you know they're unreachable?"
*So now I need you to tell me the truth You know I'd do that for you*
"Ukyo, you know I don't hate you," Ranma said quietly, for once in his life saying the right thing.
Ukyo's wet face shone whitely in the moonlight, making her look like a fleeting spirit. "If you didn't hate me, you'd tell me openly what you felt."
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
Ukyo was getting nowhere with this, and she refused to leave with assumptions instead of Ranma's actual thoughts. She decided to try something different.
"Ranma... I know you don't love me. But is there anything I can change about myself or do to make you love me? I need to know, know that I have at least a chance."
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do To make you change your mind*
Ranma maintained his quiet, and looked away from her to the starry night sky.
'Ranma... is my waiting for you to answer nothing? Should I just stop staying here and leave, to keep myself from fading away?'
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do Is it a waste of time?*
Trying to make herself look stronger than she felt, she ordered him with a firm voice, "Ranma, answer me. You aren't telling me what I can do to make you love me."
But Ranma remained silent, which was answer enough.
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do To make you change your mind*
'Ranma... this isn't working either,' Ukyo sobbed mentally to herself. 'Please, please, please just tell me, and stop making my heart bleed to death. Every moment of your silence is like a knife stabbing my back! Please... just end my torment and tell me! It wouldn't kill me... I think....'
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
The chocolate-haired girl shivered in anguish, but Ranma couldn't see because his eyes were averted from her. 'Please, Ranma... Just tell me. What should I tell you to make you tell me?'
*...What is it I've got to say...*
"Ranma... please. Can you please tell me? I... I don't want to leave with any guesses. I want what you really feel," Ukyo said, while her heart was being smashed into shards and fragments.
Ranma turned around, and noticed with alarm her face and how twisted in sorrow it was. "Ukyo... I...."
*So why are you running away?*
Ranma stopped talking. 'Ukyo... I can tell I'm breaking you into pieces.... I scared that you'll do somethin' desperate!'
"Please, Ranma.... Tell me. I need to hear."
*...To make you admit you're afraid...*
"But, Ukyo...!"
"Tell me."
*Why are you running away?*
Taking a deep breath, Ranma said it. "Ukyo... I don't love you like that, the way you love me." He jabbed his finger at his chest for emphasis, and looked meaningfully into her anguished eyes. "I love you like I'd love a sister."
Whatever was left of Ukyo's heart splintered at that, and she hunched her shoulders over in defeat, dejection, and exhaustion. "I... I understand, Ranma." Just as she started to leave, she turned around again. "Ranma, who do you love? I won't harm her or anything... I'll leave you in peace. It won't hurt me anymore. Who?" 'He can't love Kodachi, she's just insane... and he might not love Shampoo, he's always pushing her away... so that means he loves--'
Ranma looked at her seriously, and said, "Ukyo, I don't want you to do nothin', 'kay? Don't do anythin' you'll regret later." And as an afterthought, he added sincerely, with a hint of a blush in his voice, "I... I... I...Akane."
And with that, Ukyo leaped away, leaving behind who she had thought was her best friend and love.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: So what did you think? Good? Bad? (I think it was bad... awfully repetitive...) Yes, I know the characters are a little out of character... no need to tell me. (Yes, if you want, you can refer to the series of A/N's at the top of the piece, before the chapter started.) So anyway, please review! I'd really appreciate it! ~ AmberWings
* * * * * * * * * * *
Disclaimer: Hey, I didn't create Ranma ½. Rumiko Takahashi did. So don't even attempt to sue me! Author's Note: The song is "Running Away" by Hoobastank. It just seems like a song between to friends who broke up, which is why I chose it. Urgent Author's Note: I know! This chapter will be just too much out of character! But the chorus of the song forced me to, even though the rest of the song seemed to fit. Really Urgent Author's Note: No flames on this! PLEASE!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 5
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryoga looked shocked. "You... you knew?" he asked, hardly able to keep the incredulity, sadness and pity out of his voice.
The corners of Ukyo's mouth stretched in a caricature of a smile. It gave her face the look of a bleak and tormented soul. "I didn't know that Ranma was telling Akane that he loved her, but I knew that Ranma loved her."
"How did you find out?"
Ukyo winced, and her eyes started to tear up immediately; evidently the memory still pained her. "It was a few days ago...."
* * *
Ukyo was sick of it. Sick of it all. Sick of the many fiancés chasing her Ranma-honey, sick of the way Akane always maltreated him, sick of all the ditzes that constantly fought her like Kodachi and Shampoo, and most of all, sick of the way her Sugar always avoided answering her question. 'What is with Ranchan? Why doesn't he ever tell me he loves me?' she thought to herself, her frustration so obvious that it was a miracle she didn't hurt anything. But tonight... tonight she was going to corner him; corner him and find out if he really loved her or was just keeping her hanging so he could get free food.
'Tonight is so beautiful...,' Ukyo thought as she wandered down the empty streets of Nerima. And it truly was. The sky was cobalt-blue, and it gleamed with stars that seemed like miniscule shards of crystal. It was almost completely silent except for the normal night sounds, like crickets and night birds. A perfect night for Ranma to profess her his love for her. Ukyo smiled to herself, a smile full of hope, content, and pleasure. 'Yes... a very perfect night.'
Her footsteps echoed in the clear streets, and she decided she would speed up just a little. She started running silently, her feet making no sound as the touched the ground with each stride. And very soon, she reached her destination: the Tendo Dojo. She leapt over the fence and quietly stole into the backyard, avoiding the koi pond lest something fell into and made a noise. Once there, she jumped to the tree, and onto the roof. Ukyo checked to make sure no one had awoken, and then walked along the roof. She finally found Ranma-honey's window, open to the summer air, and without a whisper of sound swung into the dark room.
She was immediately assaulted by a noise louder than a fog horn. Startled at first, she then realized that it was just Ranchan's father. 'Good. No one will be able to hear anything.' Slowly she moved towards Ranma, not even making an attempt to be silent when all sound was covered. Finally, she reached her blue-gray eyed fiancé, and gently shook his shoulder while speaking loudly, "Ranma-honey, wake up."
The boy she was speaking to arose soundlessly, and stared at her, surprised. "Ukyo, why are you here?"
"C'mon, Ranma-honey, I need some questions answered," the amber-eyed girl told him in a tone that merited no argument. "Come to the roof--it's quieter there." Ukyo went back through the window, and vaulted onto the roof. She didn't need to look back--she knew Ranma would follow from sheer curiosity.
She was right. The moment she had reached a comfortable position on the roof, the black-haired boy leaped up with a hastily pulled on shirt. Ukyo, why are you here?" he asked again, a yawn punctuating his sentence. Ukyo could tell that Ranma was half-asleep. 'Good. Maybe I'll get a direct, honest answer.'
"I need an answer Ranma-kun... I need to know. I am tired of the way your fiancées come into my restaurant and destroy it every now and then. I'm tired of the times that fiancées come and disrupt my moments with you. I'd like to know if my putting up with it is all worthwhile, and if you love me."
Ranma woke up completely at that. 'Aw...! She wants ta know how I feel! It'll hurt her if I tell her the truth!' So Ranma did what he had to do.
"Ranma, you jerk!" Ukyo yelled after his fleeing figure. 'That idiot! He's trying to escape answering!' Ukyo then realized what that could mean. 'He... he might not love me.... But I have to find out! I have to follow him!' She gave chase over the rooftops, following him the best she could. Ukyo was just glad that he was still a little tired; otherwise, she would never catch him. Finally, after taking a few shortcuts, she caught up to him.
She grabbed his arm, and jerked him around. She looked him straight in his eyes--they seemed like blue flames--and asked him with a resigned tone, "Ranma, answer me. Don't run away. Do you love me or not?"
Ranma panicked. 'What am I s'posed ta do? I can't just tell her! She'll hate me! I'll lose one of my best friends! She might also just DO NOTHIN' after, just sit there and cry!'
*I don't want you to give it all up And leave your own life collecting dust*
Shaking his head, he finally reached a conclusion. 'Just... just do it gently....' He took a deep breath, and tried to comfort her.
"Look, Ukyo, I, um... well, uh, ya see, I don't think we were, uh, meant for each other, an'-- "
The brunette cut him off, anger and hurt in her face. "Don't try comforting me! And you can't say that we were never meant for each other! You never even tried to see!" Tears started to flood her eyes, making it difficult to see Ranma-honey's face.
*And I don't want you to feel sorry for me You never gave us a chance to be*
Ranma felt unsure of what to do. 'What does Kasumi do for 'kane when she's feelin' bad?' He thought a moment, and then remembered. 'Oh yeah! She pats her back or lets her cry on her shoulder!' The pig-tailed boy walked over to his friend, and awkwardly put an arm on her shoulder. "Um, it's O.K. Ukyo-- " he started again, and was again interrupted by Ukyo, this time when she threw his arm off her shoulder.
"Stop it, Ranma!" she cried, half in tears and half enraged. "I don't need you to come and try to treat me like some little kid, telling me, 'It's O.K. Ukyo'!"
*And I don't need you to be by my side To tell me that everything's alright*
Wiping her eyes as best as she could with her sleeve and failing miserably, she told Ranma, "You don't have to diplomatic about it. You can just tell me straight out, 'Ukyo, I don't like you.' Just tell me the reality, not what I want to hear! Isn't that what friends do?! Be honest with each other?!"
*I just wanted you to tell me the truth You know I'd do that for you*
"Look, Ranma, you know that old saying 'never run away from the truth'?! That's what you should be doing. Tell me already, bluntly or not! What's keeping you from doing it?!" Ukyo shouted, her voice growing hoarse from sadness, tears, anger, and screaming too much.
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
Ranma was bewildered. 'Ukyo? Why... why're you doin' this? You were never like this b'fore! Can't ya see I don't wanna hurt you?' He cast his mind around, trying to think of an excuse that wouldn't hurt her, and finally hit one. "Ukyo... I... I... I don't think we could, ya know, be together. We were, uh, too different."
Ukyo scowled at him, angered that he was telling such an outright lie in an attempt to make her see that they couldn't get married. "Ranma, that is not an excuse! I was ready to give up everything I loved just to be with you! I tried to stop okonomiyaki for you for god's sake! So you can't even begin to tell me that load of garbage!"
*'Cause I did enough to show you that I Was willing to give and sacrifice*
The caramel-eyed woman breathed in deeply, and tried to think what the reason was Ranma didn't like her. 'I don't know! I was always there for him, even as kids! I helped you when you were in trouble, then and now!'
*And I was the one who was lifting you up When you thought your life had had enough*
Finally all the anger just surged right out of her. Ukyo could have sent up a heart-wrenching wail her for her misery was so intense. 'Ranma, why don't you love me? Why?' Now that she thought about it, Ranma had always been like that ever since he was with Akane. 'Like at that Christmas party... when we were on the bench on the roof, he went all the way into the corner, away from me. Does he hate me that much?'
*And when I get close you turn away There's nothing that I can do or say*
Turning her tear streaked face up to Ranma's clear one, she asked him softly, "I'll say it again... why won't you tell me the truth? Do you hate me that much that you have to leave me hanging on to my hopes when you know they're unreachable?"
*So now I need you to tell me the truth You know I'd do that for you*
"Ukyo, you know I don't hate you," Ranma said quietly, for once in his life saying the right thing.
Ukyo's wet face shone whitely in the moonlight, making her look like a fleeting spirit. "If you didn't hate me, you'd tell me openly what you felt."
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
Ukyo was getting nowhere with this, and she refused to leave with assumptions instead of Ranma's actual thoughts. She decided to try something different.
"Ranma... I know you don't love me. But is there anything I can change about myself or do to make you love me? I need to know, know that I have at least a chance."
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do To make you change your mind*
Ranma maintained his quiet, and looked away from her to the starry night sky.
'Ranma... is my waiting for you to answer nothing? Should I just stop staying here and leave, to keep myself from fading away?'
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do Is it a waste of time?*
Trying to make herself look stronger than she felt, she ordered him with a firm voice, "Ranma, answer me. You aren't telling me what I can do to make you love me."
But Ranma remained silent, which was answer enough.
*Is it me, is it you Nothing that I can do To make you change your mind*
'Ranma... this isn't working either,' Ukyo sobbed mentally to herself. 'Please, please, please just tell me, and stop making my heart bleed to death. Every moment of your silence is like a knife stabbing my back! Please... just end my torment and tell me! It wouldn't kill me... I think....'
*So why are you running away? Why are you running away?*
The chocolate-haired girl shivered in anguish, but Ranma couldn't see because his eyes were averted from her. 'Please, Ranma... Just tell me. What should I tell you to make you tell me?'
*...What is it I've got to say...*
"Ranma... please. Can you please tell me? I... I don't want to leave with any guesses. I want what you really feel," Ukyo said, while her heart was being smashed into shards and fragments.
Ranma turned around, and noticed with alarm her face and how twisted in sorrow it was. "Ukyo... I...."
*So why are you running away?*
Ranma stopped talking. 'Ukyo... I can tell I'm breaking you into pieces.... I scared that you'll do somethin' desperate!'
"Please, Ranma.... Tell me. I need to hear."
*...To make you admit you're afraid...*
"But, Ukyo...!"
"Tell me."
*Why are you running away?*
Taking a deep breath, Ranma said it. "Ukyo... I don't love you like that, the way you love me." He jabbed his finger at his chest for emphasis, and looked meaningfully into her anguished eyes. "I love you like I'd love a sister."
Whatever was left of Ukyo's heart splintered at that, and she hunched her shoulders over in defeat, dejection, and exhaustion. "I... I understand, Ranma." Just as she started to leave, she turned around again. "Ranma, who do you love? I won't harm her or anything... I'll leave you in peace. It won't hurt me anymore. Who?" 'He can't love Kodachi, she's just insane... and he might not love Shampoo, he's always pushing her away... so that means he loves--'
Ranma looked at her seriously, and said, "Ukyo, I don't want you to do nothin', 'kay? Don't do anythin' you'll regret later." And as an afterthought, he added sincerely, with a hint of a blush in his voice, "I... I... I...Akane."
And with that, Ukyo leaped away, leaving behind who she had thought was her best friend and love.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: So what did you think? Good? Bad? (I think it was bad... awfully repetitive...) Yes, I know the characters are a little out of character... no need to tell me. (Yes, if you want, you can refer to the series of A/N's at the top of the piece, before the chapter started.) So anyway, please review! I'd really appreciate it! ~ AmberWings