Legal Note: N/A
Chapter Fifteen: Akane
Ranma. He was here now. Just as soon as I heard the fireworks he was here. He even said my name. It was so low too. He's sad or something. Guilt? It's hard not to laugh though. The fireworks say he's a girly-girl. And it's true. He's such a girl. Not a very good man among men now was he?
"Akane," I forgot he was here. I don't want this. Every little thing he says makes it harder to run away. I hate him for that. "Please, don't run now. Not yet."
A please? It's hard, not to run, when Ranma begs to you. He doesn't sound real. Like he isn't Ranma. This is the Ranma I always believed existed. The Ranma I always wanted Ranma to be. Kind to me. It's too late for that though right?
"Look, you don't have to say anything."
"Why do you still follow me Ranma?" That's all I wanted to know.
He laughs. How dare he?! "Akane, I told you, the reason I ran after you. I messed up, I love you."
"Ranma, you're a liar. How can I know if-"
"I do." How can he be so sure? So confident? It's like he's treating this as a fight. One with someone among Cologne's standards. Someone tough and deserving of respect as a martial artist. That's what I want though right? I always wanted him to respect my ability as a fighter. "I can't puss-er," Was he that afraid of cats? "I wanted to love you Akane. I'm sure I did. That's when I found out I love you. I've been thinking about you and me for the longest time it seems. At least, since the beach."
The beach? Was that where things began to change between us? He has been acting so much better since our first day on that trip. Since the time he saved me from the water. He's always there. "Ranma, why did you want to, to, to love me?"
"You're the only girl I know that seems appealing in that way." What sort of response is that! That's like saying 'I can't find anything better than what I've got and from that lot I choose you'! "I don't know, I just did."
"Ranma, I, it's just that you, I don't think, maybe we, what do you," He hugs me. It's cold. The hug. And it's not the temperature. It's not Ranma. No, he's warm. He smells just the way I thought he would. It's me. Why do I feel cold?
"Just, say you love me."
That's all he wants. Recognition. To know that he's loved back. But, do I love him? Still? Still do I want to be held like this by him on any given day? To maybe even marry him? That's a bit too far ahead. "Ranma, I-" What do I say? To someone who truly loves you. He does love me. All that stuff he said, it was true. Can I be true? What's in my heart?