Inner Child
by Darth Wraith

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is not mine.

' ' - thoughts | " " - speaking
[ ] -Ranma's thoughts, heard by Akane

It was dinnertime. Akane has just woken up from an eventless sleep after the scene with Ryoga. She felt strangely detached; she never spoke a word during dinner, and half-heartedly ate her share. Of course, when she's this way, everyone in the dojo would look at Ranma with glares and suspicious looks, and this time was no exception. Soun broke the silence first.

"Ranma! I thought you said you'd take care of the situation!!" A demon head sprouted and rushed towards Ranma.

In a panic, Ranma protested, and in a situation like this, foot-in-mouth was inevitable. "I did! I didn't expect that tomboy to act all cold and stuff!" [Oh no...this is bad...well better than if I told the truth, or else Tendo-san would have me married me right away...hell no I ain't ready for that!] Nabiki simply rolled her eyes. Akane loudly sighed, which naturally made everyone turn to her.

"I'm fine, Daddy, don't worry about me...Ranma didn't do anything...not this time. Besides, it's all that piggish jerk's fault!" Akane said with a hint of acid on mentioning piggish. "Please excuse me. I think I'll go to bed again. I feel so sleepy for some weird reason. Good night everyone." She dismissed herself. Ranma could only watch in disbelief. He didn't expect the whole P-chan situation to be THAT serious.

[Poor Akane. I just wish that I could follow her and talk to her, but her stupid dad would just marry us on the spot if I did anything like that...as if it wasn't enough stress already.] Suddenly a sharp slap on his back regained his thoughts. He turned around to see an irritated looking Genma.

"Hey boy! As her fiancée you should go with her and take care of her!" he scowled.

[Hrm..that means I can go with Akane now...but then they'd still be suspicious if I said yes on the first try...ah hah!]. "Feh! Why should I? She can take care of herself...she is a macho martial artist after all...hyuk hyuk."

Soun narrowed his eyes. "And just what did you mean by that?" Ranma ignored him. Then Soun produced the most demonic looking head ever to behold. "HUH?!"

Ranma immediately went up the stairs to go to Akane's room. [Got rid of them, thank God.]

Akane was ready to sleep once again when Ranma knocked on the door.

"Come in," she drawled.

"Hey 'Kane," Ranma smirked, closing the door.

"Hi...and uh...I appreciate it."

"Huh? Do what?" Ranma raised an eyebrow.

'Oh no! Not again! I can't let the mind-reading secret out now!' "Uh...nothing! Never mind!"

Ranma frowned. "Akane, is there something wrong?"

"No! Why?!" Akane was surprised at the volume of her voice.

"Look, just tell me what's wrong ok? It's not like I haven't helped you so many times before."

"No."

"Sheez, so uncute, think you can solve everything yourself, then you come whining to me when you can't help yourself." Ranma shook his head.

*Slap!* *ba-bump* *ba-bump* Ranma widened his eyes, hands on his cheek, recalling the fateful moment where Akane slapped him. It was painful, real painful. Even more so than Ryoga's Shi Shi Hokodan. It was so emotionally painful that even Ranma thought he could cast out a perfect Shi Shi Hokodan right at this moment. Instead, he sat there, silent. Akane cracked, "So is that all you think of me?! Some damsel on distress!? Sure I may be stubborn. Sure I may be uncute, so what?! I'm a MARTIAL ARTIST TOO! I STRIVE TO BE THE BEST I CAN! IF YOU'RE GONNA BE SUCH A JERK ABOUT BEING SUPERIOR OVER ME THEN GO AHEAD! IT'S NOT LIKE I HAD A CHANCE TO BE BETTER THAN YOU! YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME AT FIGHTING, AT POPULARITY, HELL EVEN BETTER THAN ME AT COOKING! WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED A FIANCÉE LIKE ME IF YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME AT EVERYTHING?!" Finally Akane's tears could not hold back anymore. It flowed like a waterfall, almost rivaling Soun's, but one of breaking sadness.

Ranma slumped his shoulder. He felt as if a ton of bricks just fell on him. Those words were real harsh, and Ranma felt every sting and bite each time Akane said something about herself Ranma insulted. He looked at her crying face. [Don't cry, Akane...Garrh!!! I'm such a loser and a jerk...there you are, just trying to be yourself...be the best you can...and I come and ruin your life. Damn it. Why, among all persons, does it have to be you I fall in love to? Why? WHY?! WHY AM I ALWAYS HURTING YOUR FEELINGS!? I just wish...I can find the courage to say I love you. I was gonna say it tonight...but me and my big mouth. DAMN THIS FOOT-IN-MOUTH DISEASE! But now...I don't think I can. Because of this, I'll probably receive another mallet blow, or even worse, a slap, saying that I'm toying around with her feelings. I..I'm worse than Ryoga...I don't deserve any of your kindness Akane.]

A pained expression covered his face; devoid of any smirk or confidence...just raw emotional pain. Sadly, he said, "Akane...I..I'm so sorry I ruined your life....I'm sorry I call you uncute macho jock tomboy chick....I'm sorry for not having enough courage to push off my other fiancées...I think if I leave, you will be happier. Life would return to normal, and you can pursue your martial arts again..." When he received no answer, he stood up, and proceeded to the door. He didn't care as a single drop of tear flowed down his cheek, dripping to the floor. "...bye Akane...you...you'll hold a place in my heart. Forever."

Akane was too numb to say anything. She digested what he thought and what he said. Slowly, she reached out and grabbed Ranma's hand. Ranma turned over, and Akane was surprised to see red eyes and a few drops of tears running down his face. She too, felt like crying again, but she managed to hold back her tears. With much effort, she finally pleaded, "Don't leave Ranma. Please?" 'I love you,' she mentally added. She chided herself for not being able to say it out loud, in fear for Ranma rejecting her.

Ranma looked at Akane. [Geez, you're so pretty, I wonder why I call you uncute. But...I have to leave...she's probably just pitying me or something.]

"No, I'm not Ranma....please stay."

Ranma widened his eyes. "What?! I didn't say anything just now!" [What the? Is she reading my mind?]

Akane knew this time Ranma wasn't going to be fooled by some dumb excuse. "Ranma, I have to tell you something. Hear me out, ok? Don't interrupt me or anything got that?"

"Are...are you reading my mind or something?" Ranma asked with a hint of shock.

"...Yes...this is what happened..." Akane explained her meeting with Eggplant at the carnival and her temporary ability to read a selected target's mind. Ranma gaped. [All my innermost thoughts...were heard by her?!]

Akane sighed, and nodded.

"...Oh my goodness......."

NOTES: Sorry for the lack of humor. If this is a bit too angsty for you or you just wanna have a little lightening-up (er..sort of), read on, otherwise...STOP! In any case, once you're done, please read and review. Thanks! I'd actually recommend you read everything though, but it's up to you ^_^

Pig 1: Har har! This grain is top-notch! I bet it came from Australia!

Pig 2: ...You are in Australia. We're known as air-pork...

Pig 1: Duhhh....oh yeah! So we can fly? I've seen it happen!

Pig 3: Sheez...what an idiot. Of course not! And you must be dreaming again.

Pig 2: *snickers*

Pig 1: I swear! There! Look! A flying pig!

Pig 2: Yeah right, I'm not falling for that stupid trick of yours again. Last time you said that I nearly became somebody's breakfast.

Pig 1: I'm not joking!

Pig 2: *sweatdrops* Will you cut it out?!

*WHAM!*

Pig 3: Wow...#1 was actuallly right this time around. What's this? Oh a black piglet. Now that's rare. And what's with that yellow scarf thingy?

Pig 1: *groans* Damn...(looks at P-chan)...who the hell are you?

P-chan: SAOTOME! I SWEAR I WILL HUNT YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND GUT YOU AND DEEP FRY YOU AND MAKE SPARE RIBS OUT OF YOU! (gets whacked by Pig 3). WHO DID THAT?!

Pig 3: Shut up, Sow Tomato or whatever the hell your name is. I'm not gonna spend time with another psychotic porker. We got one already, we don't need two.

P-chan: YOU DARE SAY THAT AGAIN?! (Pig 3 says it again)...DAMN YOU...DIE YOU ALL! SHI SHI HOKO-OW!

Farm owner: (throws a rock and hits P-chan) Shut up back there! Stupid porkers...maybe I should have double portion pork ribs tomorrow night...