Legal Note: N/A

Chapter Fourteen: Ranma

That's it? I tell her I love her and she slaps me? That's all? That's not how this is supposed to work. I was supposed to apologize and tell her the truth and she was supposed to swoon and come back home with me. Back home with me. The Tendo home is my home. I never had one before. But, I can't go back there without Akane can I? I don't think Akane will come back with me.

Her dad will go all 'demon head' and I'm sure he could bite my head off once it grew that big. He probably will. Pops will beat me up, but, he really has no attacks so he won't win. My mom though, she may make me commit seppuku. I don't want that no matter what.

I guess I was really a big fool. As much as I hate to admit it. I watched a movie with Akane once. I said I hated it, but I sort of liked it. It was a drama so that's why I said I disliked it. There was a couple who loved each other, but they went their separate ways. I called the guy and ass and a fool. I just insulted myself didn't I?

"Hey Ranma! What's the big idea!" I don't have time for Ryoga. I just want to be alone.

"Go 'way Ryoga."

"What's up with you and Akane?"

"Forget about it. She doesn't matter anymore." He hits me. I so hate him for that.

"You stupid a-hole! I may not love Akane, but I'm not letting her go to waste!" What did he have to do with anything? Ryoga does not govern Akane. Why can't he stop hitting me? I'm too depressed to fight back.

"Ranma!" Ukyo too. "Did you find Akane?" She was wringing her hands. Maybe I should have just loved Ukyo. It's too hard to love Akane. "Oh, I guess, you didn't."

"No, I did."

"Oh." She won't even talk about it.

"Hey Ukyo. Help me get Ranma to go back to Akane."

"Uh, Ryoga."

"Oh, right, sorry." Idiot. Don't tell my ex to help me get the girl I love. "Anyway, you're just going to give up Ranma? I can't believe you! I didn't stop loving Akane fully because of Akari. It was because she loved you. Now if you don't go get her back I'll go and bring her back."

"Go ahead. What does it matter? I told her I loved her and she hit me. I'm gonna go eat something and get some sleep."

"Ranma!"

Ukyo hits me. Ukyo hits me? That's a little bit weird. "Ranma! I won't let you do this to me! You ditched me for Akane right? Well, how do you think it makes me feel now that you and her aren't going to be together?"

She shakes me. Shakes me forever. "Ukyo?" What did I do?

"How can you do this to me?" She cries. She beat me up and now she cries. Great. Just great. I've pissed off two girls. When I get back home there will be three more. Shampoo is still after me. Kodaichi's mad, and Cologne will be soon enough. I used to be beloved by nearly all girls. Now look at me. There's only one, and that's Shampoo. I don't really like her, Akari's gonna be disappointed by me too.

Why? I'm the victim here! I'm the one who's hurt. She is the one who is making people hate me. I wanted nothing more than to be with her. Why does she have to be this way? "Ukyo, help me get her back."

"Ranma?"

"Ryoga too. Just, I had something planned. She ran before that. I have a chance. She hasn't gotten far, and she won't from here on out. Just, help me." I've never begged for real like this I don't think.

"I'm in." Ryoga is ready to do this. He probably can't stop loving Akane until I marry her.

"Ranma, I'll help. Tell me what to do." Ukyo. She really is my best friend after all.

"Right." Now then, what should I do? Go back to what I had planned? The fireworks and flowers; the whole yard. It's time to deploy Operation: GetAkaneBack, version 2.1. Where the '.1' came from is beyond me now. "Ukyo go back to my home with me. Ryoga, you stay here."

"Whatever." Ryoga still feels a bit sore at me I guess.

"Lets hurry Ran-chan." She's right.

The two of us run as fast as possible. She was too slow so I had to run with her in my arms to get faster. I return to the Tendos, "Hey, what are you doing?"

What was Happosai doing with my fireworks? Don't take them old pervert, please. "Hey old man!"

"Now, now Ranma m'boy. What a nice gift for an old man."

"Those aren't for you!"

"For Akane then?"

"Yes." He seems a bit startled. Did he not expect me to say that? I probably would have blushed and stuttered and stuff the day before yesterday of he asked me that. "Now, I have to use these."

"Ranma, I can sense Akane's aura right there." He points to the forest where she was headed. "Go there now." He hands me the flowers. "Leave the fireworks to the expert."

What? I don't know what's going on, but both the old man and Ukyo send me for Akane. I should be more concerned with her anyway. These daffodils better be her favorite. I don't remember how, but I was back to Ryoga without much time. Was I so intent on getting to Akane time was no challenge for me?

"Ranma!" I stop. What does he want? "Don't, mess up this time."

"Right." He grabs me as I go.

"If you do I will punish you a thousandfold. Y'hear me?"

"Yeah Ryoga. Let go." That was a bit weird. Akane. She was close. I could feel it. I just have to run straight. That's where the old man told me to go. What was he going to do though? Actually help me for once without actually causing the problem in the first place?

Akari. She was stalling Akane. But, I found her. What's that? The fireworks. Damn old pervert actually could do something for once. Akane, she just stands there dreading whatever comes. I just have to step just a bit further. Just get closer Ranma. You've told her already so you don't have nothing to be afraid of. Still, this is the worst conflict I've ever been in. That says a lot.

"Akane." Akari backs off. "Look,"

"Ranma?" Why does it look like she's going to laugh? Damn old man! He made the fireworks come out and say I'm a girly-girl! I'm so going to kill him! He couldn't have just made them fire up and say 'Akane' or something. No, he has to send them into the sky and commit temporary slander. I hate him.

Still, Akane. This is it. I have her attention I suppose. Not much of it. She looks ready to run again. I just have to talk faster than she acts. "Akane," Shit. What do I say?