Hi. I've noticed that I've been neglecting a lot of the facts in this fic. For one, I've lately been leaving Nabiki and Ryouga out. Not to mention the fact that Akane still has a broken arm!!! I hate myself!!!! I think this chappie is cool because you have to guess who's POV it's in. I forgot to say this last time:

I WILL NOT POST ANOTHER CHAPTER TILL I GET AT LEAST 30 REVIEWS!!!!

Now, ON with the FIC!!!!

Disclaimer: I own only my lovely aromatherapy bear.

Forgiven ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My throat is killing me. It feels swollen- as if I'd over used it. And my lungs ache. I don't think I can quite breathe right. Where am I? For the first time since I awoke, I take a look around. I don't recognize this place- I suddenly acknowlege the sharp rocks beneath me. They rip through me and tear at my flesh. My arm is burning...I can barely feel the bed of stone under my body...what happened? Water. I remember the water- streaming around me and pushing me. Pulling me down. Then, the rock. I felt it- cutting through me. Into my still hurt arm and piercing my side. The ache is painful. I feel an arm come around my neck. It is holding me. It feels so warm....so good. Like heaven. I hope it is Ranma. Before I die...I....just want to see him....one last time. Just to say..... I love you.

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The sunlight glittered lightly on the glossy surface of the potion. It was a deep rich brown that looked almost as smooth and creamy as melted chocolate- but not quite thick enough. Steam rose gradually from the searing pot as the strong liquid flowed flawlessly into the bowl, blending splendidly into it's light color- almost as if it were water.

The girl stepped into the kitchen and smiled heartily, a healthy blush covering her face- after all, it wasn't every day you got to eat breakfast with your one true love. The crimson eyes flashed silently at the sight of the concoction being mixed into the misao soup. There was no need for it, the girl repeated to herself. Ranma had complimented her. She felt radiant, and so proud of her shining locks of hair. He had told her they looked nice today. It had made her heart soar.

"Take this out to him and make sure he drinks it all." The old woman cackled softly. It seemed old age finally had caught up with her- well, it always did in the mornings.

"Yes great grandmother." The girl bowed low and whisked off- bowl in hand.

The girl gazed longingly at him for a few moments before setting his bowl down in front of him. Those clear blue eyes looked troubled- they seemed to be so much farther away. "Ranma eat misao soup now." The girl said briskly, but with kindness in her voice. Why was he sad? The pigtailed boy seemed to ignore her. His eyes gazing steadily out the window, towards the direction of.....her house.

The girl she loathed. How could he even STAND to think about her! After what she did- telling Ranma that she hated him. And Ranma loved her. No. He didn't. She couldn't believe that he'd ever loved Akane, because if that was true, then how could he love Shampoo?

"Eat, Ranma." Shampoo smiled warmly.

The boy seemed to give up ignoring her and took a bite of rice. His jaw moved slowly. Chewing every grain in a thorough movement. She could watch it all day. His hand reached for the bowl. Shampoo held her breath- was he going to drink it? Would he love her for sure then? The boy lifted the bowl sullenly to his lips as he let the first drop slide into his mouth. Ranma stopped.

"Shampoo, I-"

"Ranma!" Both looked towards the doorway. It was Nabiki, sweating and scared. "Ranma, it's Akane- I think she's dying!" The blue eyes became immediately alert as he jumped up from his seat, and rushed over to Nabiki who had broke down in tears. "Nabiki, where is she!"

The girl sobbed furiously, "R-Ryouga found her on the river bank th-this morning! She was practically cut in half!! I'm so scared.."

The boy raced off.

~*~

A billion thoughts sped through my mind. Was Akane going to be okay? Would she live? She would- I needed her to live. Without her, I am nothing. I live only for her love. And Ryouga- if she dies...I know I can't blame him. But it is so much better than blaming myself.

The walls of the training hall rise closer as I make my way to the front door. I try the door knob- locked. I don't care. I bust down the door with a single kick and find myself rushing to Akane's room. She'll be there- alive and happy. She'll see how I've worried and realize she loves me. That's what'll happen. It's got to. But then as I reach the door, I stop. And I wonder: What if she doesn't love me. What if she really does love Ryouga. My heart clenches. It can't be true. It's impossible- she loves me, because I love her too much for it to be any other way. I'm just standing there when I hear it, I hear her cry out. She needs me.

Then, all my doubts wash away because she needs me. They aren't important now, and I realize that it doesn't matter if she loves me or not. All that matters is that she's alive. I need that to be true. I need her to be alive so she can forgive me- even if she doesn't love me.

I open the door, and I see her lying there, on the bed. Blood is everywhere and her breathing is uneven. And then I see Ryouga sitting next to her, crying softly while trying to clean the cuts and bandage her. I need to punch something, to fight. That will make things better- it always has. I will fight all our enemies and then we'll be happy. But there are no enemies. Only me and Ryouga. He isn't my enemy anymore. I don't care. I'll fight him anyway.

"Get up Ryouga! Fight me!"

Ryouga looks up in disbelief- and disgust. I see all the tears in his eyes. "How can you say something like that when Akane is dying?!"

Dying.

The word hits me hard and I fall to the floor. It is too much- I think I can almost feel the life fading from her....leaving me forever.

~*~

I arrived as the sky shined it's brightest. It was noon and I had rushed over. When Nabiki rushed in crying, I knew something was wrong- Akane was hurt. I couldn't help but be mad at Ranma. What could he have done to hurt Akane so much? Kasumi had come home. She'd come to me first. It was like always, my heart began to flutter and I couldn't really think of anything else. Kasumi had stayed to comfort Nabiki. I saw her- crying. My true love was in so much pain. I never knew it would hurt so. After all, I've never really been in love before.

I found Akane badly bandaged on her bed. It was all so gruesome. I felt like turning away and throwing up. The smell of her blood was so heavy- like a metallic smell. I wanted to leave, but I had to help her. I had to save Akane. Ryouga was crying and Ranma seemed to have collapsed into his own world. The hurt of Kasumi crying came back to me.

I think I realized how much it must have hurt Ranma to have lost Akane. Especially after they finally admitted their feelings. And how hard it must be now to see Akane hurt. Maybe even dying. I'd never had a case so severe. I was scared. I wasn't sure what to do. And as I stood over her wretched body, I thought to myself," Oh Kami, please let her live. Please let her be alive."

~*~

**Normal POV**

The brown-amber eyes fluttered open for a fleeting second, before closing against the heavy sunlight. It was the next morning. The girl awoke groggily and began to look at her surroundings. Akane was home. Kasumi woke abruptly at her bedside. She'd spent the night watching closely over her baby sister.

"AKANE!"

The woman shrieked delightedly, and began to cry. Akane lay confused and very much sore. She could barely breathe. It hurt so much to do anything- it felt like she'd cracked a rib. "Kasumi....where....is...everyone?...Dad?" Akane whispered painfully. Kasumi looked sadly down upon her. How could she not know? How was she- her oldest sister- suppose to tell her that her father was gone. That he had been sent to Tokyo Asylum, that all her friends thought her dead? How was she to do this? How?

The door opened suddenly and closed softly. Ranma entered the room unknowing that Akane was awake. He saw Kasumi's tears. His heart stopped and his mind froze- was it the end? " Akane! She-she's dead?" Kasumi shook her head sullenly. The pigtailed boy relaxed, but he didn't get it. What was wrong?

"Ranma...." a voice whispered hoarsly. It was-

"Akane! Are you- are you alright?"

The dark haired girl nodded painfully and stared up at the blue eyes. They saw the concern, the sadness the confusion. Akane loved those eyes. She'd fallen for those eyes- those soft deep blue eyes. The sapphire light that glowed inside them seemed so beautiful. So beautiful. Kasumi had left- the two didn't even realize it but she had gone to leave them alone.

"Akane. I am so sorry-so, so sorry."

The girl looked sadly back at him, relishing his words- searching for truth in his eyes. She found it. "I'm.. sorry too...Ranma."

"Akane." The boy leaned over gently and bowed his head to kiss her forehead. The kiss was light and sweet. It felt so beautiful. He did love her- she could feel it. But something nagged at the brown- eyed girl. The smell, the scent of...ramen. The scent only to be found at the Cat Café. And Akane realized he had been there. He had been with Shampoo. Suddenly all the memories came flooding back. And they hurt so badly.

~*~

She went stiff. I didn't know why but I felt her body go rigid and her breath turn shallow. She remembered. And I remembered too. All of the sudden, a shame welled up inside of me like a great darkness that plagued my heart. She remembered the truth and she would not forget, All the memory erasing potions in the world could not make her forget the hurt and the pain. I knew that.

I knew what I had to do.

Beg. I needed to beg forgivness. I could not live without it. I put my hand upon hers. She went cold. " Thought I told you never to touch me again, Ranma." I felt scared- what had I done?

"Akane....please- don't be mad. I love you. I mean it- I know." I think I saw a hint of softness in her eyes at that moment, but it was gone in a second. Replaced with a horrible cold sensation that pitted me in the gut. "Forgive me. Akane. Forgive me."

She looked blankly out the window, " I forgive you."

I am crushed. How can she do this? How can she tear my heart apart and make me hurt so! I hate her- I HATE HER! She can die for all I care. But that's not true. I would care, but I feel the anger surging in me and I feel it take over. How can she say those words in such a cold heartless way?

"Akane! If you forgive me than MEAN it. I'd rather live with you having truly forgiven me than have you love me for false reasons. I love you Akane- if you don't mean it...then don't jepordize that love."

Akane looks at me- there is a small smile on her face. I think I've seen traces of that smile before. Before it all happened. But it fades too soon. "I forgive you." She says with a fake smile. She is mocking me. She hates me and I hate her. But I love her too. Why must this be so confusing?

"I forgive you- for real." But that's a lie.

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Ooooooh!!! So what do you think of the chappie???? PLEZE REVIEW!!!!! And if you have any questions, you can email me. ^-^

-Chinagirl223