Quick note to readers: There were two people who reviewed first when I
first had the fic up. I kinda messed up and deleted the reviews when I
removed my story. I did it by accident, though. It's my first fic so if
one person has a problem with it, I can't do much. If you had read
carefully, most of the important details that were requested are now in the
story. At least the ones that I didn't mean to put later in the story. I
aim to please as much as possible, but I AM NOT GOING TO FIX AROUND MY
WHOLE STORY and mess up the stuff that I already did. And I'm pretty sure
that other people like the story as is. I apologize, and now have the
posting and editing figured out. Thanks for your patience. Unless it's a
flame, I will not delete any more reviews, (specifically since I want to
keep them for future reference). And if it offended anybody that I
explained a bit more about what was going on in chapter one, I sincerely
apologize. I hope that this clears everything up, and from now on, I'm not
going to do these long intros just because I offend anyone anymore.
Because I'm certain it gets tiresome to some people who want to read and
enjoy fanfiction. Anyways, off of that note.
Well, here's the long-awaited chapter 2. Read on and enjoy. Nothing much
for me to say right at this point, except for I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter. Anyway, feel free to review this chapter and tell me how you like it. Any suggestions would be helpful, as I try to please the readers
as much as possible, without changing my story around too much. But as much as you review, remember, NO FLAMES. Well. Happy reading everybody!!
^^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, even the rights to the toys
used in this chapter. The only original character I have is Jina.
Otherwise, I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter 2
"Mom, tomorrow can we go to the park?" Jina yawned as her mother lifted the covers to her chin.
Sighing, Akane leaned over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Well, the weatherman said it might rain, but we'll see. And I have plenty of work to catch up on over the weekend."
The little girl looked up at her mother with her big brown eyes. "Momma, tell me a story," she said. "Please?"
"Oh, all right," Akane said. "She paused a moment, trying to think of a story. "Have I ever told you of the cursed China springs?" She finally started.
Jina settled back on her pillow. "No, Momma, you haven't."
"Well, then why don't we start there? In a remote place in China, there are cursed training grounds called Jusenkyo. The springs there are cursed, you see. If you happen to fall into a spring, you become whatever drowned there years ago," Akane explained.
Her daughter blinked. "What kinds of things? Could you become a cat?"
Smiling, Akane ruffled her daughter's hair. "I knew someone that happened to."
"That would be so cool!"
Akane chuckled at her daughter. "Oh, yes. Cool. Now get some sleep, Baby. 'Night 'night."
"I love you, Momma," Jina said with a yawn.
"I love you, too, Jina," Akane said as she shut off the light in her daughter's room. She walked out into the living room and lifted a few weights before taking a bath. Then, she took her bathrobe and headed into the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and turned on the water, when a knock sounded on the bathroom door. "Yes?" She called.
Jina's voice sounded somewhat muffled through the door and with the water running inside. "Momma, something's scratching at the door."
"Go back to bed, Jina," Akane called. "I'll see what it is." She slipped on her bathrobe and cautiously opened up the door, letting out a small cry when a small black blur rushed past her feet. "What on earth-?" She chased after it. "Oh, no! It's headed toward Jina's room!" She jumped in front of the door. "You keep away from my child," she hissed. "Stay away!"
"Kwee?" The blur stopped, revealing a small black piglet wearing a bandana around its neck.
Akane stopped there in shock for a moment. Then she gasped in disbelief. "P-Chan?"
The pig hung its head and turned away. "Kweee." It began to trot away.
"P-Chan, w-wait! I didn't mean to yell at you but you frightened me! I thought you were going to hurt my daughter," Akane said softly. She saw the wide-eyed expression on the pig. "It's funny, P-Chan, but sometimes I think that you understand me. Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it? I have a little girl now, P-Chan." She picked the piglet up and brought him into Jina's room. She set him down on the foot of the little girl's bed, where he crawled up to the head of the bed and peered over the blanket down at the little girl. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
P-Chan nodded. "Kwee, kwee," he quietly squealed.
"Sometimes I wonder how it is that a child of rape could ever be so beautiful," Akane whispered. "But the minute the doctor placed her in my arms for the first time, I knew I couldn't let her go. She was all I had."
The pig grunted. It seemed stunned at her confession. Actually, it was thinking, and thinking a lot. "Eeee."
She continued. "When it happened, I was in New York. I felt so ashamed that I was a martial artist and a man like that was able to overpower me. I couldn't admit it to Ranma, or my family. So, they thought that I had been unfaithful to Ranma. I don't blame them. Sometimes, I wonder if Ranma told Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mousse what happened? I wonder what they think of me now."
"Momma?" Jina mumbled.
"Jina, wake up. See this? This is my pet pig P-Chan." She set the piglet on her daughter's pillow. "Isn't he cute?"
The piglet sneezed. Akane picked him up. "Jina, go back to sleep, now. I'm going to give P-Chan a bath, okay?" She was aware of the pig squealing and protesting in her arms.
"Momma, tomorrow, I want P-Chan to sleep by me. Can I keep him?" Jina asked.
"We'll see, Jina," Akane said as she carried the piglet out, squealing all the way. She took him into the bathroom, and took off her bathrobe, not noticing that when she removed her clothes, the pig froze in place. "You just wait there, P-Chan." She washed up, and then stepped out of the shower. She picked the piglet up before he could recover from his initial shock and lowered him into the water. She turned to pick up her bathrobe, and stood, coming face to face with a very wet and nude Ryoga. She scrambled to cover herself. "R-Ryoga! What is the meaning of THIS!?"
Ryoga turned beet red. "I-I didn't want it to turn out like this, Akane, but. I'm P-Chan."
This confession stunned Akane as if Ryoga had just slapped her. She had the robe over her shoulders, but not covering anything. "P-Chan."
He reached out and tied the sash on her waist, covering her up. "Whew, here's hoping I don't get a nosebleed."
"YOU HENTAI!" Akane slapped him as hard as she could, leaving an almost blue mark on his face. "All this time YOU were P-Chan and you never TOLD me! DON'T TOUCH ME!"
He recoiled from her. "A-Akane, I n-never meant to do this. The first time you picked me up, I tried to get away. It was an honor thing. That's why I didn't tell you! It was just like the rape was to you!"
"All those times Ranma and you tried to hint to me. I never got it. I'm really the one at fault." Akane sniffled. "You and Ranma were the last people I wanted to tell. But I told you. Oh, Ryoga!" Akane hid her face in her hands.
Ryoga grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. "Akane, I'm so sorry, but, I tried to tell you even though I feared telling you. You see, Akane, I loved you. I don't know what I would have done if you ever found out and rejected me."
"I don't hate you, Ryoga. I just wish you would have told me, but then I realize that back then, I would have hated you, so I don't blame you." Akane wiped a tear away. "Ryoga, please don't tell anyone else about what I told you. PLEASE!"
"Akane, hearing this, I should have known that you never would have done those things. You loved Ranma, didn't you? You still love him." Ryoga looked down at the floor.
"Oh, Ryoga!" Akane flung her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.
He trembled with anger. "If I ever find the bastard that did this to you. He's a goner!"
She rested her cheek on his arm. "Please. Don't tell anyone, especially Jina. Or Ranma. I will tell Ranma."
He let out a sigh. "Okay, I promise, I won't tell. But don't hate me for the P-Chan thing."
"Ryoga, I'm too worn out to be angry at anyone," Akane said softly. "Much less hate them."
The martial artist looked at her. He hated hearing that come out of Akane's mouth. She always had energy to spare when he last saw her. But this Akane was different. She had been so changed for the obstacles that life had thrown upon her. He saw her, and felt bad. "Oh, Akane."
She looked back up at him and pulled back. "Why don't I get you something else to wear? Not that the towel doesn't look good on you, but there's a little girl nearby."
He blushed slightly. "O-oh. Yeah. I think I'll do that now."
* * *
A knock on the door awoke Akane with a jolt. She sat up on the couch, looking around. "R-Ryoga?" She couldn't see him anywhere. Was it all just a dream? Surely it was! Ryoga had never been in love with Akane, and he certainly could never be P-Chan! She must have fallen asleep on the couch before even taking her bath. P-Chan was probably still asleep on her daughter's bed. Sighing to herself, she thought, 'Maybe I should cut out some on the chocolate.' She opened the door, and her mouth almost fell to the floor. "Ukyo? Ukyo Kuonji?" Akane asked in disbelief.
"Hello, Akane. Did Ryoga pass by here?" Ukyo stood there before Akane, almost the same as she always had been, even with her spatula. The only difference was that she now wore more feminine attire, and definitely looked more like a woman, and a stunningly lovely one at that.
Akane fought back a pang of jealousy at her old rival. She knew that Ukyo and Ranma probably got married and had a child by now, so it was over. "Yes," she answered her uncertainly. "I think he was. At first I thought I was dreaming, but now that you're here-"
"Oh, wonderful! I was so worried about Ryoga-honey when he disappeared in the crowd. Then it began to rain." Ukyo trailed off, fearing that she wasn't supposed to reveal this part of the story to Akane.
'So then it wasn't a dream,' Akane thought. "Oh yes," she said, "P-Chan paid me a visit. Then I gave him a bath."
Ukyo smiled. "So you finally figured it out? After almost seven years?"
"Yep," Akane giggled. "It's funny. Five years ago, if I had found out, I would have killed him." She shook her head and looked over at Ukyo. "You look really nice, Ukyo."
Ukyo met Akane's gaze. "So do you, Akane." She meant it. Looking at Akane now, she realized that she never had a chance with Ranma then, because of how cute Akane had been. Now, there was no doubt. Akane Tendo was really one of heartbreaking beauty. She idly wondered how Ryoga could stand being with the same exact person whom he had loved so dearly for so long, especially when she'd changed into something even more lovely than before, and not go crazy wanting to touch her. Now, Ukyo realized whom Ranma had really meant to refer to as his "cute fiancée." It had been Akane all along.
"Please, come in," Akane finally said, flustered. "S-so, how's the family? How's. Ranma?" She offered Ukyo a seat on her couch.
The okonomiyaki chef cleared her throat. "I don't know."
"It's just, aren't you both married by now?" Akane blurted out, unable to stop herself.
"We never got married." 'Ranma was always yours, even back then,' Ukyo wanted to add venomously. She said something else, instead. "Ryoga and I decided to stop following fantasies and dreams, and we have each other now."
Akane blinked, stunned by what Ukyo had to say. "Oh, I. See. I'm glad for you both."
The other girl nodded. "Where is Ryoga-honey, anyway?"
"I don't know," Akane said, looking around. "Let's find him, shall we?"
Just then, Jina's bedroom door opened and the little girl came out screaming words that Ukyo couldn't understand. The little girl had to have been speaking English. She turned to Akane, who seemed to be comforting her in that strange tongue as well. "What's she saying?"
"She says there's a man in her closet," Akane replied, rolling her eyes. "Sounds like Ryoga got lost again. I'll go get him. Can you stay with Jina?"
Ukyo moved closer to Jina. "Yes. I'll stay with her."
Then, Akane walked into Jina's room. "Ryoga?"
"Sorry, Akane. I got lost trying to find the bathroom. I think I may have scared your daughter," Ryoga said sheepishly.
"What'll we do with you? Come on." Akane took him by the arm, leading him to the bathroom. She patiently waited for him to finish his "business" and then led him out to the other room where Ukyo and Jina awaited.
In an instant, Ukyo had flung her arms around his neck. "Ryoga! You're okay! You little piggy! You had me worried sick!"
Jina, ever curious, and perceptive a child as she was, took in the scene before her. The man and woman looked vaguely familiar. She cautiously approached them and poked Ryoga on the side. "Ryoga," she said softly. She looked up at the woman. "Ukyo?" She guessed, and backed up, again beside her mother.
Ryoga let go of Ukyo and turned toward Akane and Jina. "Yes, those are out names, little one," he said in careful English. "How did you know?"
"My momma and you were friends," Jina explained, as if she were a scientist stating a theory.
"Jina," Akane said softly, leading her daughter to the bathroom. "Gather your toys. It's time for a bath."
The little girl groaned good-naturedly. "Aw, Mom," she protested as she made her way to her room. Moments later, she returned with an armful of toys into the bathtub, which was already half-full of warm water and soap bubbles. "There, Momma, I'm ready!"
"Oh, my, Jina," Akane said in amazement. "Will there be enough room for you in thee?" She laughed softly as she helped her daughter out of the nightgown she was wearing and shut off the water as Jina stepped in. "Okay, I'll be in to check on you in a little bit. I'll leave the door shut. Holler if you need anything."
"Momma!" Jina shrieked. "There's a boy out there! I don't' want him to come in and see me!"
With a sigh, Akane answered her daughter. "Ryoga is a better man than that, Baby. He would die protecting you rather than do anything of that sort." She wondered why Jina was suddenly so concerned about that. At four years old, she shouldn't worry about such things. She wondered if Jina had overheard Ryoga in the bathroom with her mother the previous night. Finally she just shrugged it off.
Satisfied with her mother's assurance, Jina picked up her toys and began playing with them. "Now, here comes the princess," she said, playing with her toys. "Now, bow, Sonic, before Mario beats you up! Oh, no! No one can catch Sonic! Zoom! There he goes!"
Watching her daughter playing for a moment, Akane smiled. True, she gave up everything for her daughter, but Jina was HER child alone. No one else had a claim on this beautiful miracle child whom Akane bore of her own free will. No man had been by Akane's side when she gave birth to her daughter, so in Akane's eyes, no one else in the world could even dare lay claim to having fathered Jina. "You're MINE, Baby, and no one will ever take you from me," she whispered. Then she walked out to properly greet her guests. "Ryoga, Ukyo, this is a huge surprise! I really am glad you visited me, but, why all of a sudden?"
Both Ukyo and Ryoga exchanged glances. Ryoga cleared his throat. "A- Akane? Um. Did Kasumi tell you that she was getting married?" He could already tell that he had asked the wrong question at the wrong time. He saw how Akane flinched, and how she turned away. " I mean-"
"Would you both like something to drink? Or to eat? I can make you some breakfast, like pancakes-" Akane started toward the kitchen.
"NO!" Ryoga and Ukyo shouted simultaneously. Then Ukyo pulled out some okonomiyaki. "I made brunch," she added quickly.
Determined not to let her hurt show, Akane stepped into the kitchen and brought out two glasses of water for them both. "Here," she said.
Ryoga decided to try again. "Did Kasumi invite you to her wedding?" He asked as both he and Ukyo accepted the water and sat down on the couch.
"Yes," Akane quietly answered. "I received invitations from her."
"Why didn't you answer her letters?" Ukyo demanded. "You really worried her! Some sister you are!"
Akane glared at Ukyo. "What the hell did you come here for?! Do you want to rub my loneliness in my face!?"
"You're one to talk about loneliness!" Ukyo shot back. "You CHOSE to come back here, or have you forgotten?"
"Some choice! I chose to come here because I didn't want to be looked on with disgust or hatred," Akane cried, turning away. "I'm finally fitting in here, and people understand! At home, no one understands, and Ranma doesn't know-"
"Oh, RANMA knows, all right!" Ukyo seethed. "He knows that you're a little hussy who cheated on him with some American guy who happened to happen across your path and then gave birth to that bastard child!"
Sensing the rage coming from Akane, Ryoga wisely stepped in between them. "Akane, you're going to have to start telling the truth if you ever want to be able to win the respect back from your friends and family," he said.
Ukyo snorted. "What truth? Okay, how about this, Sugar? Was it worth it? Was it REALLY that good? To lose Ranma? For some stupid reason, he's holding onto you, Akane. He'll never take you back, but he'll never have another girl. All for you. Isn't that sweet?" She sneered.
"Momma, I'm done." Jina was standing there, completely oblivious to the fight occurring because of the language difference. "Momma?"
Unable to take any more of this, Akane ran into her room and slammed the door. She threw herself on her bed, crying and kicking and screaming. "I HATE YOU!" She screamed in her Japanese tongue. "I hate you, Japan, for never getting out of my life! For always tormenting me!"
After watching how upset her mother was, Jina stood there, whimpering. She then began to cry softly, and looked up at Ukyo with sad, yet frightened eyes. "What did you do to my mommy?"
Ryoga looked down at the little girl. He knelt to her level and stroked her cheek softly. "Your mother will be fine, Jina,' he said. "Ukyo and her had a little fight but Akane will be fine."
"Jina?" Ukyo had no idea what the little girl was saying. "Ryoga?"
He stood. "She's upset at you for hurting her mother," he explained. "She doesn't understand Japanese, so she didn't hear anything of what you said. Still, she such a smart little one, isn't she? Extremely beautiful for being a child of rape, don't you think?" He nodded at her.
"R-rape?" Ukyo sunk to her knees. She had been wrong? Poor Akane! Having to sit there and take all of that! Suddenly Ukyo understood everything, and she felt very sick. Slowly, she stood and shakily made her way to Akane's closed door. She knocked timidly. Then, finding it open, she opened it and stepped in, closing it behind her. She found Akane sobbing softly on the bed. "Raped?" She said softly.
"Ryoga told you?" Akane was up.
She nodded. "Akane, I'm sorry. I had no idea-"
"DON'T." Akane's glare cut through her. "Don't you dare pity me. I am a martial artist, dammit! I have my pride! And I don't need pity!" She raised her teary face proudly.
But Ukyo still felt bad. "Kasumi wants you to come. Akane, please. Do it for her. She still loves you. And maybe, if you only told Ran-chan the truth-"
"I'm NOT going to embarrass myself in front of him!" Akane said, folding her arms and turning away.
"But he loves you! Akane, he's still looking for you! And I know you love him. Don't bother to deny it." Ukyo took Akane's hand. "Please, I'll do anything if you do this, Akane. For Kasumi! Please?"
She withdrew her hand from Ukyo's. "I REFUSE to embarrass myself in front of Ranma, but I'm going- for Kasumi."
* * *
Author's note: Okay so how did you like this chapter? As you notice and probably wanna kill me for, I stuck some video game characters in for a cameo. Yep, little Jina sure likes Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario! Hehe. Tell me how you like it anyways.
I'll update soon. Promise ^^
See ya around.
-halliegirl-
Hentai- pervert
Well, here's the long-awaited chapter 2. Read on and enjoy. Nothing much
for me to say right at this point, except for I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter. Anyway, feel free to review this chapter and tell me how you like it. Any suggestions would be helpful, as I try to please the readers
as much as possible, without changing my story around too much. But as much as you review, remember, NO FLAMES. Well. Happy reading everybody!!
^^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, even the rights to the toys
used in this chapter. The only original character I have is Jina.
Otherwise, I OWN NOTHING!
Chapter 2
"Mom, tomorrow can we go to the park?" Jina yawned as her mother lifted the covers to her chin.
Sighing, Akane leaned over and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Well, the weatherman said it might rain, but we'll see. And I have plenty of work to catch up on over the weekend."
The little girl looked up at her mother with her big brown eyes. "Momma, tell me a story," she said. "Please?"
"Oh, all right," Akane said. "She paused a moment, trying to think of a story. "Have I ever told you of the cursed China springs?" She finally started.
Jina settled back on her pillow. "No, Momma, you haven't."
"Well, then why don't we start there? In a remote place in China, there are cursed training grounds called Jusenkyo. The springs there are cursed, you see. If you happen to fall into a spring, you become whatever drowned there years ago," Akane explained.
Her daughter blinked. "What kinds of things? Could you become a cat?"
Smiling, Akane ruffled her daughter's hair. "I knew someone that happened to."
"That would be so cool!"
Akane chuckled at her daughter. "Oh, yes. Cool. Now get some sleep, Baby. 'Night 'night."
"I love you, Momma," Jina said with a yawn.
"I love you, too, Jina," Akane said as she shut off the light in her daughter's room. She walked out into the living room and lifted a few weights before taking a bath. Then, she took her bathrobe and headed into the bathroom. She stripped off her clothes and turned on the water, when a knock sounded on the bathroom door. "Yes?" She called.
Jina's voice sounded somewhat muffled through the door and with the water running inside. "Momma, something's scratching at the door."
"Go back to bed, Jina," Akane called. "I'll see what it is." She slipped on her bathrobe and cautiously opened up the door, letting out a small cry when a small black blur rushed past her feet. "What on earth-?" She chased after it. "Oh, no! It's headed toward Jina's room!" She jumped in front of the door. "You keep away from my child," she hissed. "Stay away!"
"Kwee?" The blur stopped, revealing a small black piglet wearing a bandana around its neck.
Akane stopped there in shock for a moment. Then she gasped in disbelief. "P-Chan?"
The pig hung its head and turned away. "Kweee." It began to trot away.
"P-Chan, w-wait! I didn't mean to yell at you but you frightened me! I thought you were going to hurt my daughter," Akane said softly. She saw the wide-eyed expression on the pig. "It's funny, P-Chan, but sometimes I think that you understand me. Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it? I have a little girl now, P-Chan." She picked the piglet up and brought him into Jina's room. She set him down on the foot of the little girl's bed, where he crawled up to the head of the bed and peered over the blanket down at the little girl. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
P-Chan nodded. "Kwee, kwee," he quietly squealed.
"Sometimes I wonder how it is that a child of rape could ever be so beautiful," Akane whispered. "But the minute the doctor placed her in my arms for the first time, I knew I couldn't let her go. She was all I had."
The pig grunted. It seemed stunned at her confession. Actually, it was thinking, and thinking a lot. "Eeee."
She continued. "When it happened, I was in New York. I felt so ashamed that I was a martial artist and a man like that was able to overpower me. I couldn't admit it to Ranma, or my family. So, they thought that I had been unfaithful to Ranma. I don't blame them. Sometimes, I wonder if Ranma told Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mousse what happened? I wonder what they think of me now."
"Momma?" Jina mumbled.
"Jina, wake up. See this? This is my pet pig P-Chan." She set the piglet on her daughter's pillow. "Isn't he cute?"
The piglet sneezed. Akane picked him up. "Jina, go back to sleep, now. I'm going to give P-Chan a bath, okay?" She was aware of the pig squealing and protesting in her arms.
"Momma, tomorrow, I want P-Chan to sleep by me. Can I keep him?" Jina asked.
"We'll see, Jina," Akane said as she carried the piglet out, squealing all the way. She took him into the bathroom, and took off her bathrobe, not noticing that when she removed her clothes, the pig froze in place. "You just wait there, P-Chan." She washed up, and then stepped out of the shower. She picked the piglet up before he could recover from his initial shock and lowered him into the water. She turned to pick up her bathrobe, and stood, coming face to face with a very wet and nude Ryoga. She scrambled to cover herself. "R-Ryoga! What is the meaning of THIS!?"
Ryoga turned beet red. "I-I didn't want it to turn out like this, Akane, but. I'm P-Chan."
This confession stunned Akane as if Ryoga had just slapped her. She had the robe over her shoulders, but not covering anything. "P-Chan."
He reached out and tied the sash on her waist, covering her up. "Whew, here's hoping I don't get a nosebleed."
"YOU HENTAI!" Akane slapped him as hard as she could, leaving an almost blue mark on his face. "All this time YOU were P-Chan and you never TOLD me! DON'T TOUCH ME!"
He recoiled from her. "A-Akane, I n-never meant to do this. The first time you picked me up, I tried to get away. It was an honor thing. That's why I didn't tell you! It was just like the rape was to you!"
"All those times Ranma and you tried to hint to me. I never got it. I'm really the one at fault." Akane sniffled. "You and Ranma were the last people I wanted to tell. But I told you. Oh, Ryoga!" Akane hid her face in her hands.
Ryoga grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. "Akane, I'm so sorry, but, I tried to tell you even though I feared telling you. You see, Akane, I loved you. I don't know what I would have done if you ever found out and rejected me."
"I don't hate you, Ryoga. I just wish you would have told me, but then I realize that back then, I would have hated you, so I don't blame you." Akane wiped a tear away. "Ryoga, please don't tell anyone else about what I told you. PLEASE!"
"Akane, hearing this, I should have known that you never would have done those things. You loved Ranma, didn't you? You still love him." Ryoga looked down at the floor.
"Oh, Ryoga!" Akane flung her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.
He trembled with anger. "If I ever find the bastard that did this to you. He's a goner!"
She rested her cheek on his arm. "Please. Don't tell anyone, especially Jina. Or Ranma. I will tell Ranma."
He let out a sigh. "Okay, I promise, I won't tell. But don't hate me for the P-Chan thing."
"Ryoga, I'm too worn out to be angry at anyone," Akane said softly. "Much less hate them."
The martial artist looked at her. He hated hearing that come out of Akane's mouth. She always had energy to spare when he last saw her. But this Akane was different. She had been so changed for the obstacles that life had thrown upon her. He saw her, and felt bad. "Oh, Akane."
She looked back up at him and pulled back. "Why don't I get you something else to wear? Not that the towel doesn't look good on you, but there's a little girl nearby."
He blushed slightly. "O-oh. Yeah. I think I'll do that now."
* * *
A knock on the door awoke Akane with a jolt. She sat up on the couch, looking around. "R-Ryoga?" She couldn't see him anywhere. Was it all just a dream? Surely it was! Ryoga had never been in love with Akane, and he certainly could never be P-Chan! She must have fallen asleep on the couch before even taking her bath. P-Chan was probably still asleep on her daughter's bed. Sighing to herself, she thought, 'Maybe I should cut out some on the chocolate.' She opened the door, and her mouth almost fell to the floor. "Ukyo? Ukyo Kuonji?" Akane asked in disbelief.
"Hello, Akane. Did Ryoga pass by here?" Ukyo stood there before Akane, almost the same as she always had been, even with her spatula. The only difference was that she now wore more feminine attire, and definitely looked more like a woman, and a stunningly lovely one at that.
Akane fought back a pang of jealousy at her old rival. She knew that Ukyo and Ranma probably got married and had a child by now, so it was over. "Yes," she answered her uncertainly. "I think he was. At first I thought I was dreaming, but now that you're here-"
"Oh, wonderful! I was so worried about Ryoga-honey when he disappeared in the crowd. Then it began to rain." Ukyo trailed off, fearing that she wasn't supposed to reveal this part of the story to Akane.
'So then it wasn't a dream,' Akane thought. "Oh yes," she said, "P-Chan paid me a visit. Then I gave him a bath."
Ukyo smiled. "So you finally figured it out? After almost seven years?"
"Yep," Akane giggled. "It's funny. Five years ago, if I had found out, I would have killed him." She shook her head and looked over at Ukyo. "You look really nice, Ukyo."
Ukyo met Akane's gaze. "So do you, Akane." She meant it. Looking at Akane now, she realized that she never had a chance with Ranma then, because of how cute Akane had been. Now, there was no doubt. Akane Tendo was really one of heartbreaking beauty. She idly wondered how Ryoga could stand being with the same exact person whom he had loved so dearly for so long, especially when she'd changed into something even more lovely than before, and not go crazy wanting to touch her. Now, Ukyo realized whom Ranma had really meant to refer to as his "cute fiancée." It had been Akane all along.
"Please, come in," Akane finally said, flustered. "S-so, how's the family? How's. Ranma?" She offered Ukyo a seat on her couch.
The okonomiyaki chef cleared her throat. "I don't know."
"It's just, aren't you both married by now?" Akane blurted out, unable to stop herself.
"We never got married." 'Ranma was always yours, even back then,' Ukyo wanted to add venomously. She said something else, instead. "Ryoga and I decided to stop following fantasies and dreams, and we have each other now."
Akane blinked, stunned by what Ukyo had to say. "Oh, I. See. I'm glad for you both."
The other girl nodded. "Where is Ryoga-honey, anyway?"
"I don't know," Akane said, looking around. "Let's find him, shall we?"
Just then, Jina's bedroom door opened and the little girl came out screaming words that Ukyo couldn't understand. The little girl had to have been speaking English. She turned to Akane, who seemed to be comforting her in that strange tongue as well. "What's she saying?"
"She says there's a man in her closet," Akane replied, rolling her eyes. "Sounds like Ryoga got lost again. I'll go get him. Can you stay with Jina?"
Ukyo moved closer to Jina. "Yes. I'll stay with her."
Then, Akane walked into Jina's room. "Ryoga?"
"Sorry, Akane. I got lost trying to find the bathroom. I think I may have scared your daughter," Ryoga said sheepishly.
"What'll we do with you? Come on." Akane took him by the arm, leading him to the bathroom. She patiently waited for him to finish his "business" and then led him out to the other room where Ukyo and Jina awaited.
In an instant, Ukyo had flung her arms around his neck. "Ryoga! You're okay! You little piggy! You had me worried sick!"
Jina, ever curious, and perceptive a child as she was, took in the scene before her. The man and woman looked vaguely familiar. She cautiously approached them and poked Ryoga on the side. "Ryoga," she said softly. She looked up at the woman. "Ukyo?" She guessed, and backed up, again beside her mother.
Ryoga let go of Ukyo and turned toward Akane and Jina. "Yes, those are out names, little one," he said in careful English. "How did you know?"
"My momma and you were friends," Jina explained, as if she were a scientist stating a theory.
"Jina," Akane said softly, leading her daughter to the bathroom. "Gather your toys. It's time for a bath."
The little girl groaned good-naturedly. "Aw, Mom," she protested as she made her way to her room. Moments later, she returned with an armful of toys into the bathtub, which was already half-full of warm water and soap bubbles. "There, Momma, I'm ready!"
"Oh, my, Jina," Akane said in amazement. "Will there be enough room for you in thee?" She laughed softly as she helped her daughter out of the nightgown she was wearing and shut off the water as Jina stepped in. "Okay, I'll be in to check on you in a little bit. I'll leave the door shut. Holler if you need anything."
"Momma!" Jina shrieked. "There's a boy out there! I don't' want him to come in and see me!"
With a sigh, Akane answered her daughter. "Ryoga is a better man than that, Baby. He would die protecting you rather than do anything of that sort." She wondered why Jina was suddenly so concerned about that. At four years old, she shouldn't worry about such things. She wondered if Jina had overheard Ryoga in the bathroom with her mother the previous night. Finally she just shrugged it off.
Satisfied with her mother's assurance, Jina picked up her toys and began playing with them. "Now, here comes the princess," she said, playing with her toys. "Now, bow, Sonic, before Mario beats you up! Oh, no! No one can catch Sonic! Zoom! There he goes!"
Watching her daughter playing for a moment, Akane smiled. True, she gave up everything for her daughter, but Jina was HER child alone. No one else had a claim on this beautiful miracle child whom Akane bore of her own free will. No man had been by Akane's side when she gave birth to her daughter, so in Akane's eyes, no one else in the world could even dare lay claim to having fathered Jina. "You're MINE, Baby, and no one will ever take you from me," she whispered. Then she walked out to properly greet her guests. "Ryoga, Ukyo, this is a huge surprise! I really am glad you visited me, but, why all of a sudden?"
Both Ukyo and Ryoga exchanged glances. Ryoga cleared his throat. "A- Akane? Um. Did Kasumi tell you that she was getting married?" He could already tell that he had asked the wrong question at the wrong time. He saw how Akane flinched, and how she turned away. " I mean-"
"Would you both like something to drink? Or to eat? I can make you some breakfast, like pancakes-" Akane started toward the kitchen.
"NO!" Ryoga and Ukyo shouted simultaneously. Then Ukyo pulled out some okonomiyaki. "I made brunch," she added quickly.
Determined not to let her hurt show, Akane stepped into the kitchen and brought out two glasses of water for them both. "Here," she said.
Ryoga decided to try again. "Did Kasumi invite you to her wedding?" He asked as both he and Ukyo accepted the water and sat down on the couch.
"Yes," Akane quietly answered. "I received invitations from her."
"Why didn't you answer her letters?" Ukyo demanded. "You really worried her! Some sister you are!"
Akane glared at Ukyo. "What the hell did you come here for?! Do you want to rub my loneliness in my face!?"
"You're one to talk about loneliness!" Ukyo shot back. "You CHOSE to come back here, or have you forgotten?"
"Some choice! I chose to come here because I didn't want to be looked on with disgust or hatred," Akane cried, turning away. "I'm finally fitting in here, and people understand! At home, no one understands, and Ranma doesn't know-"
"Oh, RANMA knows, all right!" Ukyo seethed. "He knows that you're a little hussy who cheated on him with some American guy who happened to happen across your path and then gave birth to that bastard child!"
Sensing the rage coming from Akane, Ryoga wisely stepped in between them. "Akane, you're going to have to start telling the truth if you ever want to be able to win the respect back from your friends and family," he said.
Ukyo snorted. "What truth? Okay, how about this, Sugar? Was it worth it? Was it REALLY that good? To lose Ranma? For some stupid reason, he's holding onto you, Akane. He'll never take you back, but he'll never have another girl. All for you. Isn't that sweet?" She sneered.
"Momma, I'm done." Jina was standing there, completely oblivious to the fight occurring because of the language difference. "Momma?"
Unable to take any more of this, Akane ran into her room and slammed the door. She threw herself on her bed, crying and kicking and screaming. "I HATE YOU!" She screamed in her Japanese tongue. "I hate you, Japan, for never getting out of my life! For always tormenting me!"
After watching how upset her mother was, Jina stood there, whimpering. She then began to cry softly, and looked up at Ukyo with sad, yet frightened eyes. "What did you do to my mommy?"
Ryoga looked down at the little girl. He knelt to her level and stroked her cheek softly. "Your mother will be fine, Jina,' he said. "Ukyo and her had a little fight but Akane will be fine."
"Jina?" Ukyo had no idea what the little girl was saying. "Ryoga?"
He stood. "She's upset at you for hurting her mother," he explained. "She doesn't understand Japanese, so she didn't hear anything of what you said. Still, she such a smart little one, isn't she? Extremely beautiful for being a child of rape, don't you think?" He nodded at her.
"R-rape?" Ukyo sunk to her knees. She had been wrong? Poor Akane! Having to sit there and take all of that! Suddenly Ukyo understood everything, and she felt very sick. Slowly, she stood and shakily made her way to Akane's closed door. She knocked timidly. Then, finding it open, she opened it and stepped in, closing it behind her. She found Akane sobbing softly on the bed. "Raped?" She said softly.
"Ryoga told you?" Akane was up.
She nodded. "Akane, I'm sorry. I had no idea-"
"DON'T." Akane's glare cut through her. "Don't you dare pity me. I am a martial artist, dammit! I have my pride! And I don't need pity!" She raised her teary face proudly.
But Ukyo still felt bad. "Kasumi wants you to come. Akane, please. Do it for her. She still loves you. And maybe, if you only told Ran-chan the truth-"
"I'm NOT going to embarrass myself in front of him!" Akane said, folding her arms and turning away.
"But he loves you! Akane, he's still looking for you! And I know you love him. Don't bother to deny it." Ukyo took Akane's hand. "Please, I'll do anything if you do this, Akane. For Kasumi! Please?"
She withdrew her hand from Ukyo's. "I REFUSE to embarrass myself in front of Ranma, but I'm going- for Kasumi."
* * *
Author's note: Okay so how did you like this chapter? As you notice and probably wanna kill me for, I stuck some video game characters in for a cameo. Yep, little Jina sure likes Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario! Hehe. Tell me how you like it anyways.
I'll update soon. Promise ^^
See ya around.
-halliegirl-
Hentai- pervert
