A/N: All right, so I lied about not putting up this chappy up until I got enough reviews. Just figured it'd take me longer to write this :/ So anyways…here's a New Year's 'treat', enjoy :)
The Rain Falls Swiftly
Chapter 2—Valediction
Ranma Saotome crept silently along the side of the road, making sure the various bushes and trees blocked him from sight. Now and then, he would poke his head up to confirm that he was still behind her, and continue on, feeling like more of a fool every second.
Why did he even care? It wasn't any concern to him where Akane went after all. He could be at home training in the dojo, or better yet, sleeping, so why was he here? Akane had silently slipped out of the house early in the morning, unnoticed by anyone but Ranma, who'd chosen to spend the remainder of his restless night on the roof, gazing up at the stars. He'd followed, not knowing why, and now, he told himself, it was too late to back out.
"Feh," he thought bitterly, "Most likely she's going t' see that idiot Shinnosuke. What's she see in 'im anyways?"
Whatever she saw in 'that idiot', he didn't care. Its her life, and was none of his concern if she threw it all away on some fool of a boy.
"I'm just followin' her cause Pop'd want me to, not cause I care," he told himself as he rounded a corner after Akane, "I'll just see where she's going, and then I'll leave, and maybe get myself some free okonomiaki at Ucchan's."
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Suddenly, Akane looked back, directly at the patch of bushes in which he was hiding. Ranma Tucked his arms and legs in, trying to control his breathing, and hoping she hadn't seen him. He'd never live it down if she found him, not after what happened last night. After several long minutes, he'd just begun to relax, when he heard a slightly familiar male voice speak.
"Shinnosuke…" He thought bitterly, "Damn him."
"Akane." Shinnosuke said, grabbing at her and pulling her close. "Good morning."
"Shinnosuke?" She asked, slightly alarmed, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to wait for me at the--"
" I couldn't wait Akane, I had to see you now." He paused, "Plus I've forgotten the way back."
Akane laughed lightly and Shinnosuke brightened. "I…uh…brought you some food," she said after a while, blushing slightly, "It's only leftovers, and it's not much, but…it's better than my cooking."
Shinnosuke took the box she held out to him. "Thank you, Akane."
"You…you're welcome."
"Pity, though, I so loved your cooking."
She blushed, then changed the subject. "Shinnosuke, you never did tell me…why'd you come?"
Shinnosuke's face darkened, his brow furrowing as he tried to remember. "Grandfather…he's missing," he said finally, "and…you're the only one I know...that can help me."
"Grandfather…missing?" she asked, surprise evident in her voice, "How…?"
Shinnosuke sounded perplexed. "I don't remember." He paused, then squared his shoulders and seemed to get a hold of himself. "Akane…I want you to come with me, to find Grandfather. Please."
She hesitated. "But…how long will we be gone?"
"I dunno," he said, looking away, "maybe forever."
"Forever's…a long time, Shinnosuke…"
"I know. Listen Akane…I…this wasn't the main thing I wanted to ask you. I mean, sure, we have to find my grandfather, but from what I remember of him, he's not one to be threatened easily. I'm sure he can take care of himself. What I really want to ask you is…Akane, after we find Grandfather, will you stay?"
"Stay…?"
"Yeah…Grandfather's getting old, and he won't be alive much longer. The forest, well, it doesn't need someone watching over it day and night. We could go exploring, treat life like one big road trip. We'll go to Fuji Mountain, and Yokohama…heck, we don't even have to stay in Japan. We could go to China, and Europe, travel the world. What do you say?"
She stood, stunned by his words, eyes wide. For a long time, neither of them spoke.
"Akane…" Shinnosuke said finally, "Please."
"I…I'll need some time to think over it."
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, Akane. Just…think about it."
"I…I will."
Neither of them noticed the boy who sat crouched in the bushes, hanging on to their every word.
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Akane sat in her room, idly fiddling with the corner of her skirt. Should she go with Shinnosuke? Should she? She didn't know. Normally the answer would have been no, but since the happenings of last night, since she broke her engagement with Ranma, things weren't so black and white. She'd felt as if her life had been at a standstill, waiting for things to change. And now that they finally had, she could move forward.
But…move forward to where? Akane sighed. She just didn't know. She had a year left of school before college, but she could just study abroad. Her family didn't need her to function, and she didn't have any friends that were important enough to her to make her stay. Her engagement was over, she was free of those bonds; there was just nothing left to hold her back anymore. She could go, and be missing much, but the question was, did she want to?
Did she really want to leave her family, her friends, her life, knowing that she might never come back?
She liked Shinnosuke, she really did, but he loved her, and Akane just didn't know if she could bring herself to love him back. What if she decided to go with him, and ended up regretting it? Still, in the back of her mind, Akane realized that she'd wanted something like this to happen all her life. She wasn't one to wait for life to take it's time coming to her, wasn't one to accept it as it was. Maybe it was time to finally leave the nest. She'd thought about it leaving on a journey like this, dreamed about it even, but now that the chance was right there, so close, waiting for her to seize it, she didn't know if she could reach out her hand and take it.
Akane's thoughts were interrupted suddenly by a soft knock on the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's us, sis, open up!" Nabiki's slightly annoyed voice said.
"It's open."
The door opened, creaking slightly, and a slightly worried Kasumi entered, followed by Nabiki, who looked her usual nonchalant self. Akane shook herself, and turned to meet her sisters, a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Hi guys," she said, "what's wrong?"
Kasumi sat down on the bed, brushing her dress down, but Nabiki chose to stand, leaning against the bedpost and crossing her arms coolly. "Hey sis," she said, "Not that I care or anything, but we noticed you were acting kinda funny. Something wrong?"
Akane blushed. "R-really? I was acting funny?" she asked, flustered.
"Yep."
"I…I don't know what you mean."
Kasumi took over, smiling gently and looking Akane in the eye. "You did have a good time at the fair, didn't you?" she asked knowingly.
"I…"
"We noticed you and Ranma didn't come home together."
"I…"
"And this morning you were distant all through breakfast."
"Yep." Nabiki chimed, "Something happened between you two. Care to talk about it?"
Akane blushed a deeper shade of crimson. "Nothing happened. I was just tired and decided to come home early, is all."
"Aw c'mon, sis," Nabiki sniffed, "you can talk to us, we won't tell."
Akane gave in. She needed to talk to someone badly right now.
"You know how Dad and Mr. Saotome agreed that Ranma and I are fiancés?" Both sisters just nodded impatiently and gestured for her to go on. Akane took a deep breath. "Well, I don't want to marry anyone unless I really want to."
She paused again and watched as her sisters nodded sympathetically, then continued. "Dad'll be angry and he'll cry, but he'll get over it. And Ranma…well, it's not as if I'm the only fiancé he has, so, I figured, I'm not going to wait around and see what happens, I've done enough waiting as it is…." She trailed off.
"And?" Kasumi prompted gently.
Akane looked down at her hands, uncomfortable. "And…well, yesterday at the fair, Ranma made it clear that he didn't want to have anything to do with me anymore…so…So…I broke the engagement."
Kasumi gasped, hand to her mouth. "Oh Akane," she breathed, "you didn't."
Akane nodded, turning red again. "I…I just couldn't take it anymore Kasumi. It was driving me crazy."
Nabiki cut in. "So you guys aren't fiancés anymore?"
She shook her head. "And…"
"What, there's more?"
Akane blushed furiously, but continued in a small voice. "Afterwards, I met Shinnosuke again. You know, the guy that I told you about?"
Both nodded. "The guy with the scars on his back, forgets everything? Yep, go on." Nabiki replied.
"Um…yeah, and he asked me to help him find his grandfather, and…and then…"
"Then…?"
"He wanted me to…stay with him and kinda…travel with him."
Nabiki raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "What do you mean…travel?"
"You know, travel. Go visit places and see things. It sounds tempting, but…I dunno, that's a big step for me to take."
"Do ya like 'im, sis?"
Akane grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it. "No!" she cried, her voice coming out muffled.
A long pause ensued.
"I don't…but I could…try to."
Kasumi leaned forward and gently tugged the pillow from her little sister's grasp. "Are you going?" she asked candidly.
"Should I?" Akane asked timidly.
"You're choice, sis," Nabiki said. "You're life, your decision."
"I just don't know, Nabiki. I've lived here all my life, and now…"
"Akane," Kasumi said gently, "sometimes, we all need a change, especially when we haven't had one in a while."
"But…I'm happy here."
"Are you?"
"Yes…"
"Then why would you consider going?"
Kasumi's words struck home. Why would she consider going if she was happy with life as it was? But Akane was scared. She didn't know what she should do. "I might never see you again though." She said quietly.
"We could write to each other. You don't always have to see someone in the person to care about them."
"So…I should go?"
"Do you want to?"
Akane paused, thoughtful. "Would you…talk to Daddy for me? If I do choose to go I mean?"
Nabiki grinned. "You got it Akane, for 1000 yen."
"Nabiki!" Akane shrilled, and the mood in the room lifted considerably.
"All right, all right, I'll do it for 500."
Akane laughed, throwing a stuffed bear at her sister.
"Hey, you know me, I never pass up a chance at making money." Nabiki replied, dodging the teddy.
Kasumi laughed merrily. "That's our Nabiki," she said proudly.
Nabiki grinned, then picked up the bear, stroking it's fur and frowning slightly. "Ya know," she said, suddenly serious, "You really should go talk with Ranma about this."
Akane started. "Ranma? But…why?"
"Nabiki's right, Akane," Kasumi agreed, "Ranma isn't a simple person. He has feelings too."
"But…"
"Yeah, sis," Nabiki said, "He may not show it, but he's really a big softy inside."
"I guess you're right." Akane admitted, "I'll go talk to him."
"I know I'm right." Nabiki paused, "Hey, whaddya know? I just gave some free advice. I must be going crazy."
Akane laughed lightly. "Thanks guys," she said, "I love you."
"We love you too," Kasumi beamed.
"Hey!" Nabiki exclaimed, "Speak fer yourself."
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Ranma was on the roof, face turned up to the starry heavens, thinking heavy thoughts.That idiot Shinnosuke. Who was he to think he could just take away Akane this easily. Why did he want a dumb macho chick like her anyways.
Then a chill went through him. What if Akane did decide to go with him. She was right: forever was a long time. Would it really be forever before he saw her again?
Ranma shook himself. Good. It was good that Akane was leaving. There would be one less fiancé to worry about.
"Ukyou and Shampoo are better than her." He thought sullenly, "Heck, even Kodachi is. Who'd want her anyways. She cant cook, cant sew. All she can do is fight and get angry. What use is that? Let her leave. I don't care."
Suddenly Ranma heard a creak behind him. He sighed inwardly. Not now. He didn't want to have to face this now, of all times.
He didn't want to have to face this now, so of course she had to choose this time to come to him. Ranma sighed inwardly, and spoke without turning around.
"Hello Akane," he said.
Ranma watched as Akane settled beside him, primly brushing down her skirt and folding her legs beside her. He didn't like the expression on her face, nor did he think the tension in her posture was a good sign. She shifted slightly, and Ranma glanced sideways at her, waiting for her to speak. She didn't.
At last he couldn't take the tense silence anymore.
"Hey…" he said hesitantly.
"Hi."
"So…um…is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Akane sat very still, hands in her lap, staring up into the sky.
He was beginning to lose his temper. It was her idea to come to talk to him, and she wasn't saying anything. "Listen," he said, with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "if it's about yesterday--"
"It's not about yesterday."
"It-it's not?" Ranma asked, feeling like an idiot.
"Well…I guess it is…"
His anger returned, and he whipped his head around to look her fully in the eye. "Is it or isn't it? C'mon, Akane, it's not that hard!"
Akane turned to him, hurt evident on her face. "You don't know at all why I'm here? It isn't obvious to you?"
Ranma was feeling more confused by the second, and the more perplexed he was, the angrier he was becoming.
"Cause…I called you an uncute tomboy? Aw, c'mon Akane, I've called you that loads of times. The worse that's happened, you've kicked me in a dumpster. What's the difference now?"
Akane looked him directly in the eye. "Ranma…look around you. Look at our families. All their lives are on hold waiting for us to decide if there's something between us. Is there? Will there ever be? I ended our engagement yesterday, but no one needs to find out, if there is something. Tell me Ranma, I need to know."
He stared at her, noting the way she bit her lower lip and seeing the tears in her eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then choked back his answer. No. He couldn't tell her. There was nothing to tell her.
"I'd rather not talk about this now, Akane. If it's about yesterday, I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean what I said."
"No, Ranma," She said, pleading, "Tell me, please. I need an answer. I…It'll help me…make my decision…"
Decision? Ranma's heart froze. Was she really thinking of leaving? Just like that?
"It's 'cause of what Shinnosuke said, isn't it?" He asked bitterly.
"What Shinnosuke…how'd you know?" Then Akane's eyes widened in realization. "You were…spying on us, weren't you?"
"NO!" Ranma shouted, jumping to his feet, his face red, "Why the hell would I be spying on you?" He waited for the explosion of Akane's temper, but to his surprise, none came.
"You never did care about anything but sleeping and eating did you?" She asked quietly, gazing distantly at the night sky.
Ranma's embarrassment was quickly replaced by anger, and, though he dared not admit it, fear. "You're not thinking of going, are you?"
She stood and bit her lower lip. "I don't know," she said slowly, looking away. "It all depends, I guess."
"On what?"
Akane sighed in frustration, and raised her eyes to look at him. "On your answer, dummy. Is there anything here, between us, that's holding me back? Or am I free to go?"
Ranma looked uncomfortable. "I really don't want to talk about this. Not now."
"Then when? If not today, then when? Shinnosuke's leaving the day after tomorrow, how long are you going to make me wait?"
He looked down, not wanting to meet her eyes.
"Is there even a 'maybe', Ranma? Are we ever going to be more than just fiancés?"
No reply.
"Ranma, come on, answer me."
"Maybe I just don't want to talk about this, okay? If ya wanna go that bad, just do so. Leave. Goodbye."
"I see," she said, and her voice was neutral, dead. "I understand. Now that I have my answer, I won't have to wonder anymore. Thank you for that. Goodbye, Ranma. I guess we don't really have anything to say to each other, do we?" She started walking toward the edge of the roof.
Ranma watched her go, his heart hammering, the blood pumping in his veins. She couldn't be going, just couldn't be. How could she? When they were finally this close to….
This close to what?
Ranma didn't know. Didn't know if he wanted to know. All he knew was that he didn't want her to go. Not now. Not ever.
But…his conscience murmured mercilessly, You had your chance. You let go of it. She asked you if you felt anything for her, you told her no.
"I didn't tell her no," Ranma argued plaintively, "I told her…"
You told her you didn't want to talk about it. That's as good as no. She did her part. You didn't. That makes you the only one to blame.
"Shut up," Ranma muttered, but, as he watched Akane jump down to the ground and disappear from view, he knew that it was over.
And, as much as he hated to admit it, he had to acknowledge the fact that his conscience was right. Akane was leaving, and he was to blame.
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Akane closed the door to her room, locked it, and leaned against the heavy wood, letting the tears that she had held back for so long finally course down her cheeks. Oh well. At least now she had her answer. At least she could go without feeling guilty, without wondering if she should have stayed.
She walked numbly to her bed, and sat down upon it heavily. Nothing was holding her back now. Her life was spread out in front of her, waiting for her to make something of it.
"No," she thought, "I cant stay here. Not if I have to see him everyday. Not if I have to see him every day and wish…" She raised her eyes to the clock on her bedside table. It read 12:15. Midnight.
There was still enough time.
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A/N: Sorry for the sadness of this chapter, but I needed to throw in some plot xD If you enjoyed it, tell me. If you think something should be changed, also tell me. But, no flaming please. Save your fire for toasting marshmallows.
Ideas always appreciated, although I think I've got the next two chapters down. I actually wrote the fourth one before I did anything else.
Feel free to call me weird O.O
Anyways, off to watch the countdown. Happy New Year's everyone :D