The Author's Note: Please don't kill me for what Ranma does! XD that's all you get…song put in this chapter!
Chapter Five: A Love Refrained (Broken Hearts)
The morning sun burst through the windows and splashed a cross Ranma's face. He woke up with a heavy heart but leaped out of bed and got ready for training anyway. He still couldn't face his feelings for Akane.
Akane had gotten up early with Kasumi and was determined to make an edible breakfast. When she heard the commotion Ranma and his father where making in the dojo she got a burst of excitement about serving Ranma her breakfast.
"Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi called.
A stampede could be heard through the house and in minuets everyone was crowded around the table.
Akane sat by Ranma who was trying hard not to look at her.
"Ranma..?" She said in a sweet voice. "Why don't you try this fish cake? I made the seasoning for it.."
Akane didn't understand why Ranma was acting so distant this morning.
Ranma took the bowl from Akane and tried to smile at her…it didn't work very well. He took a bite out of it and felt his gag reflex over come him.
"Yuck…" he accidently burst out.
Akane didn't say anything but he almost felt her body tense up and her feelings get hurt. He always knew what she was feeling, that's why when she got upset he knew all he had to do was pay her a compliment and she would perk up.
Akane figured that last night must have just been one of the mixed signals he seemed to always be giving her ever since they met. She couldn't believe she actually felt her heart ache. She never should have believed he could actually love her.
He couldn't take all this anymore.
"Well pop once you're done stuffing your face why don't you join me in the Dojo so I can show you who the real man is?" He said with his normal, cocky air.
Then he left the family to go take out his frustration in the Dojo.
Akane made her way in the back yard to get her mind of Ranma. Her family seemed pretty happy this morning; Nabiki was making her usual wise cracks. Her father was crying about something…Kasumi was…oblivious. So if her deed was finally done, why wasn't she happy?
Ranma sat in the Dojo, it seemed like his escape from things. He had a really good time last night, he loved being with Akane…he loved the feeling of pulling her close to him and keeping her warm. But he hated the nagging voice in the back of his head that said she didn't feel the same way, and falling in love made you weak. Either way, he could at least do her the decency of saying sorry for being rude about her cooking…and maybe even add that he has fun with her…
Akane sat by the pond and started to forcefully chuck rocks into it. It didn't help, she needed to break someone's face. She got up to go find some bricks to break and she bumped into Ranma.
"What do you want?" She said coolly.
Ranma nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Everyone was happy this morning, looks like our promise is working."
"Yeah, that's why I was thinking we should just stop now…" She replied. "Kasumi said our parents are really happy…so there's no point in keeping it up. You know they only have to see it once to be forever convinced."
Ranma was taken aback by this, and he felt a pain grow into his chest. So it was true, it was all a lie to make her father happy.
"Sure…" Ranma said weakly. "That was the plan."
They looked into each other's eyes for a brief second and they could feel each other's pain. Then they quickly looked in other directions and walked away from each other.
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
Ranma headed up to his room filled with a blurr of painful emotion. He hated himself for letting his feelings go like that. A true martial artist has no time for fiancées. He slid the bedroom door open only to see Shampoo sitting on his bed.
"Airen! Ranma!" She said, getting over joyed with happiness to see him.
He sat down on the bed next to her, too fed up to try and fight her away. She wrapped her arms around him and cuddled her face into his neck. His brain automatically pretended it was Akane and he let himself go.
"What the hell…" He thought. "At least SOMEONE loves me.."
Shampoo took his chin in her finger tips and leaned in to kiss Ranma. Their lips touched and he kissed her back. They became locked in an embrace of kisses and hugs.
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
Akane sat behind the barn and attempted to break a pile of bricks that sat in front of her. But her arms felt too weak and she didn't have control over them anymore. Instead she felt hot tears grow in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away before they could fall across her face. There was no way she was going to cry over Ranma. The only thing she could do was try and make it better.
"I need to talk to him…" She thought.
If we could take the time
to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
Standing on wobbly legs, Akane got up and proceeded to Ranma's room. When she entered the house Kasumi looked at her with concern.
"Akane, you look so upset, did Ranma do something?" she asked.
"No, of course not Kasumi…I'm just disappointed with my training today." She replied and made her way up the stairs.
She stood at Ranma's door and tried to clear her mind, she had no idea how to approach this conversation, but she was planning on taking it one word at a time. Akane reached for the door handle and slid it open.
Shampoo was on top of Ranma when he heard his door open. He quickly looked over, but it wasn't soon enough, Akane stood at his door way. Shampoo ignored Akane and continued to kiss Ranma and rub on his body. Ranma did everything in his power to shove Shampoo off…but Akane had already shut the door. He heard her bare feet running down the stairs and out of the Dojo.
He threw Shampoo to the side and ran after her as fast as he could, but when he reached the street Akane was already know where to be seen. Ranma looked down and saw the rabbit keychain she always kept on her house keys. He picked it up and put it in his pocket right as the rain began to pour. It was hot rain, and it made Ranma think of the tears he was probably causing Akane.
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you
As Ranma ran through the streets searching, it became clear to him that Akane had always been keeping her love from him, for the same reason he was keeping his love from her.
And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
He knew if they could both put down their differences and stop trying to blame each other for all the things that happen to them…
Ranma reached the park and saw Akane hunched up on a bench. He couldn't tell if she were crying or if the rain had just made a sad illusion of everything.
"Akane!" He called, running over to her.
She began to get up, but he caught her arm before she could get away.
"Akane, I have to tell you something," He started.
"Save it, Ranma, It doesn't matter anymore…" She said.
"I don't love Shampoo…I…she…I wanted to forget about you!"
Akane fell back down on the bench and covered her face with her hands.
"Then forget about me Ranma!" She said through clinched teeth.
"I tried, and it was a mistake…Akane…" He began and sat down next to her.
The rain became less heavy, but the sky was still dark with clouds.
"When you said you wanted to break the promise, I thought it was because you didn't love me…and I just gave up on everything and let Shampoo do what she wanted…I was too heart broken to care," He pleaded.
" I don't love you Ranma." She said, moving her hands away and looking directly in his eyes.
Ranma thought he had already experienced the worst pain the world could offer, but he never knew how bad this would feel. It felt like someone had totally drained him of all life, he gave her a questioning look but it only lasted a second before he collapsed on his knees.
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain
He felt her get up and walk away, but he was still to hurt to move. After the sun reappeared and began to set, he knew it was time to go home. As he walked down the damp side walk he saw a familiar figure walking up to him. It was Doctor Tofu, a guy Akane really had been in love with.
"Ranam?!" Tofu said once he got a clear shot of Ranma's face. "Look at your face! Did Akane hit you again?!"
"Yeah, just not with her fists this time…" he answered.
Tofu soaked up what Ranma had just said, and then looked at him with wise eyes.
"Akane is a tough girl, but she is very sweet and loving."
Ranma looked at him weakly, not sure where he was going with this.
"She's also stubborn, so she's stubborn and tough…but sweet and loving." He continued.
Ranma rolled his eyes...
"Could you get to the point, Doctor?" He asked annoyed.
"My point is Ranma…when she loves someone…she's going to be tough and stubborn about it. If you hurt her, it's going to take more than an apology and a confession to get anything out of her."
Ranma looked up at his hopefully.
"Trust me Ranma, I've seen her glow around you…and I've been around her her whole life."
Ranma snapped his fingers in triumph.
"I'll prove to her that I'm worth loving! I'll make is so she can't refuse anymore…" he said, and started to run off.
"Bye Tofu! Thanks!" He called, and disappeared.
Tofu watched him go and took a deep sigh.
Chapter Five: A Love Refrained (Broken Hearts)
The morning sun burst through the windows and splashed a cross Ranma's face. He woke up with a heavy heart but leaped out of bed and got ready for training anyway. He still couldn't face his feelings for Akane.
Akane had gotten up early with Kasumi and was determined to make an edible breakfast. When she heard the commotion Ranma and his father where making in the dojo she got a burst of excitement about serving Ranma her breakfast.
"Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi called.
A stampede could be heard through the house and in minuets everyone was crowded around the table.
Akane sat by Ranma who was trying hard not to look at her.
"Ranma..?" She said in a sweet voice. "Why don't you try this fish cake? I made the seasoning for it.."
Akane didn't understand why Ranma was acting so distant this morning.
Ranma took the bowl from Akane and tried to smile at her…it didn't work very well. He took a bite out of it and felt his gag reflex over come him.
"Yuck…" he accidently burst out.
Akane didn't say anything but he almost felt her body tense up and her feelings get hurt. He always knew what she was feeling, that's why when she got upset he knew all he had to do was pay her a compliment and she would perk up.
Akane figured that last night must have just been one of the mixed signals he seemed to always be giving her ever since they met. She couldn't believe she actually felt her heart ache. She never should have believed he could actually love her.
He couldn't take all this anymore.
"Well pop once you're done stuffing your face why don't you join me in the Dojo so I can show you who the real man is?" He said with his normal, cocky air.
Then he left the family to go take out his frustration in the Dojo.
Akane made her way in the back yard to get her mind of Ranma. Her family seemed pretty happy this morning; Nabiki was making her usual wise cracks. Her father was crying about something…Kasumi was…oblivious. So if her deed was finally done, why wasn't she happy?
Ranma sat in the Dojo, it seemed like his escape from things. He had a really good time last night, he loved being with Akane…he loved the feeling of pulling her close to him and keeping her warm. But he hated the nagging voice in the back of his head that said she didn't feel the same way, and falling in love made you weak. Either way, he could at least do her the decency of saying sorry for being rude about her cooking…and maybe even add that he has fun with her…
Akane sat by the pond and started to forcefully chuck rocks into it. It didn't help, she needed to break someone's face. She got up to go find some bricks to break and she bumped into Ranma.
"What do you want?" She said coolly.
Ranma nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Everyone was happy this morning, looks like our promise is working."
"Yeah, that's why I was thinking we should just stop now…" She replied. "Kasumi said our parents are really happy…so there's no point in keeping it up. You know they only have to see it once to be forever convinced."
Ranma was taken aback by this, and he felt a pain grow into his chest. So it was true, it was all a lie to make her father happy.
"Sure…" Ranma said weakly. "That was the plan."
They looked into each other's eyes for a brief second and they could feel each other's pain. Then they quickly looked in other directions and walked away from each other.
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
Ranma headed up to his room filled with a blurr of painful emotion. He hated himself for letting his feelings go like that. A true martial artist has no time for fiancées. He slid the bedroom door open only to see Shampoo sitting on his bed.
"Airen! Ranma!" She said, getting over joyed with happiness to see him.
He sat down on the bed next to her, too fed up to try and fight her away. She wrapped her arms around him and cuddled her face into his neck. His brain automatically pretended it was Akane and he let himself go.
"What the hell…" He thought. "At least SOMEONE loves me.."
Shampoo took his chin in her finger tips and leaned in to kiss Ranma. Their lips touched and he kissed her back. They became locked in an embrace of kisses and hugs.
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
Akane sat behind the barn and attempted to break a pile of bricks that sat in front of her. But her arms felt too weak and she didn't have control over them anymore. Instead she felt hot tears grow in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away before they could fall across her face. There was no way she was going to cry over Ranma. The only thing she could do was try and make it better.
"I need to talk to him…" She thought.
If we could take the time
to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
Standing on wobbly legs, Akane got up and proceeded to Ranma's room. When she entered the house Kasumi looked at her with concern.
"Akane, you look so upset, did Ranma do something?" she asked.
"No, of course not Kasumi…I'm just disappointed with my training today." She replied and made her way up the stairs.
She stood at Ranma's door and tried to clear her mind, she had no idea how to approach this conversation, but she was planning on taking it one word at a time. Akane reached for the door handle and slid it open.
Shampoo was on top of Ranma when he heard his door open. He quickly looked over, but it wasn't soon enough, Akane stood at his door way. Shampoo ignored Akane and continued to kiss Ranma and rub on his body. Ranma did everything in his power to shove Shampoo off…but Akane had already shut the door. He heard her bare feet running down the stairs and out of the Dojo.
He threw Shampoo to the side and ran after her as fast as he could, but when he reached the street Akane was already know where to be seen. Ranma looked down and saw the rabbit keychain she always kept on her house keys. He picked it up and put it in his pocket right as the rain began to pour. It was hot rain, and it made Ranma think of the tears he was probably causing Akane.
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you
As Ranma ran through the streets searching, it became clear to him that Akane had always been keeping her love from him, for the same reason he was keeping his love from her.
And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
He knew if they could both put down their differences and stop trying to blame each other for all the things that happen to them…
Ranma reached the park and saw Akane hunched up on a bench. He couldn't tell if she were crying or if the rain had just made a sad illusion of everything.
"Akane!" He called, running over to her.
She began to get up, but he caught her arm before she could get away.
"Akane, I have to tell you something," He started.
"Save it, Ranma, It doesn't matter anymore…" She said.
"I don't love Shampoo…I…she…I wanted to forget about you!"
Akane fell back down on the bench and covered her face with her hands.
"Then forget about me Ranma!" She said through clinched teeth.
"I tried, and it was a mistake…Akane…" He began and sat down next to her.
The rain became less heavy, but the sky was still dark with clouds.
"When you said you wanted to break the promise, I thought it was because you didn't love me…and I just gave up on everything and let Shampoo do what she wanted…I was too heart broken to care," He pleaded.
" I don't love you Ranma." She said, moving her hands away and looking directly in his eyes.
Ranma thought he had already experienced the worst pain the world could offer, but he never knew how bad this would feel. It felt like someone had totally drained him of all life, he gave her a questioning look but it only lasted a second before he collapsed on his knees.
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain
He felt her get up and walk away, but he was still to hurt to move. After the sun reappeared and began to set, he knew it was time to go home. As he walked down the damp side walk he saw a familiar figure walking up to him. It was Doctor Tofu, a guy Akane really had been in love with.
"Ranam?!" Tofu said once he got a clear shot of Ranma's face. "Look at your face! Did Akane hit you again?!"
"Yeah, just not with her fists this time…" he answered.
Tofu soaked up what Ranma had just said, and then looked at him with wise eyes.
"Akane is a tough girl, but she is very sweet and loving."
Ranma looked at him weakly, not sure where he was going with this.
"She's also stubborn, so she's stubborn and tough…but sweet and loving." He continued.
Ranma rolled his eyes...
"Could you get to the point, Doctor?" He asked annoyed.
"My point is Ranma…when she loves someone…she's going to be tough and stubborn about it. If you hurt her, it's going to take more than an apology and a confession to get anything out of her."
Ranma looked up at his hopefully.
"Trust me Ranma, I've seen her glow around you…and I've been around her her whole life."
Ranma snapped his fingers in triumph.
"I'll prove to her that I'm worth loving! I'll make is so she can't refuse anymore…" he said, and started to run off.
"Bye Tofu! Thanks!" He called, and disappeared.
Tofu watched him go and took a deep sigh.