Yo guys, as promised here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the reviews! Please continue to read and review!

Jhibdon: thank you for reviewing my fanfic! More hints will surface over the chapters as to why the reasons Ranma come back to the past, till then I'm the only one who knows!...except perhaps my twin…did I tell her? hmmm…

Celestartial Blossoms: thank you for saying my fanfic's original! I was actually aiming for that, if you really do like the idea of Ranma having a pic of Akane under his pillow then you should read my one-shot, Memory. It's about when Akane finds a pic of her under his pillow.

Cherryblossom: Ill be updating probably at the end of every week, that's the plan anyway. Thanks for reviewing!

Hououza: thanks for the compliment and for reviewing! I was actually edgy about my opener, so you made me feel better!

Proud yusuke fan: thank you so much! Btw I also heart yusuke, Tee hee. YYH is truly one of the best shows ever created, at least that's my opinion.

misakichi1: thank you! ((jumping for joy)), I'm so happy you like it!

Lain: thank you! I hope you continue to review!

Materia-Blade: here's the next chapter! i get a feeling i'd like ya dude! nice attitude, reminds me of me! XD

I'm so happy with all the positive review, please continue! No matter if they are positive or negative.

Well enough with my annoying ranting, on with chapter 2!

Scars of the Future

Chapter 2: Hardships

I woke up with a groan, I shielded my eyes from the rays of sunlight pouring in from the window. I hadn't slept well, I could hear Pop loudly snoring and rolled my eyes as I glanced at him, same as always.

It was only when I sat upright when yesterday's memories came flooding back to me.

"Oh shit." I cursed as I got up and changed, getting ready for school. I hate Mondays, and I have to apologize to Akane too, great. Just great.

And what about my future self? How am I gonna deal with that guy? What's my deal anyway? Why would I came back to the past to prevent something? This is all just to confusing. And what the hell did he mean by training?

I finished getting changed and walked outside my room, heading towards the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and walked out, I opened the door and turned sharply down the hall around the corner, slamming into something small, "Oh!" the feminine voice came from the person I had slammed into. In reaction I grabbed the persons' wrist to keep her from being knocked to the ground.

I looked down and saw Akane.

Shit, she was just staring at me unblinking with her chocolate eyes. She didn't even move, our eyes were locked together and I couldn't tear mine away. I didn't want to. I stopped myself from cringing when I saw how red and puffy her eyes were, she'd been crying. All because of me… why do I have to always make her cry?

Without even knowing it, I raised my hand and touched her face softly, "Akane…I… I'm sorry."

She looked down and I dropped my hand from her face, but kept my other one firmly at her wrist, keeping her there.

"Are you really? Or are you just guilty from making me cry? I know you can tell," She said above a whisper.

"I am sorry, I should have never said that! I mean it Akane, it's not just because I feel guilty about it!"

She looked up at me again, "So you admit part of why your saying sorry is because of guilt." She said sadly.

"No Akane that's no it!" she looked away so I grabbed her chin and forced her to look me in the eye, "It's not, believe me Akane."

She stared at me and our eyes were locked tightly once again. I could see her brown eyes were searching mine. Tell her you care about her too! A voice inside my head shouted, I opened my mouth but shut it quickly. I can't say that, I can't. She deserves so much…better.

She noticed I was about to say something and I could tell by her gaze she wanted to know what I was gonna say.

"What's up with you two? Lovers spat or something?" Nabiki's voice came as she passed us, I quickly let go of Akane's wrist and stepped aside, I was so caught up with Akane I hadn't even sensed her coming!

"Bug off Nabiki! It's none of your business anyway!" Akane snapped at her elder sister.

"Whatever," Nabiki said as she disappeared down the hall.

I looked over at Akane again and saw her sigh, "We'd better get to school," she said as she turned and walked in the direction of the kitchen. I nodded and went after her.

School was as boring as ever. A morning fight with Kuno, Shampoo trying to get me to eat something at lunch(it was an off green color and smelled funny) saying it'd make him her groom forever-I obviously avoided that- and to top it off, Ryoga barging in last period to declare a challenge to be held 3 weeks from now. Well, Ryoga really said 3 days, but that really meant 3 weeks due to his severe lack of direction.

I glanced at Akane below me, I was walking on the fence and we were walking back home. She had kept quiet and we were basically half way home, it was starting to make me nervous, "So…" I said in an attempt to make conversation. I hope she's still not upset with me.

"So?" she said, looking upwards at me.

"Uh…nice day huh?" I nearly punched myself. Nice day! Great now she thinks you're a jerk and a moron.

"Yeah, I guess it is," She gave me a small smile that nearly made me lose my balance. A single strand of her layered hair fell in her face, my hand actually itched to touch it as she tucked it back behind her ear. I always liked her hair short, just so it barely touches her shoulders. The sun reflected on her ebony hair and it made me wanna touch it even more. I bet it feels like silk, and smells really good too. Whoa, wait! What am I thinking? I shook myself out of my stupor, what is going on with me lately? I've got to pull myself together.

I yelped as I felt a small, very hard thing impact to the side of my head. I whipped around and saw a small stone fall to the floor. I looked up and saw a shadowed figure on top of one of the houses we were passing. I knew exactly who it was.

"What's wrong?" Akane asked in concern.

I grinned, "Nothing, just remembered something I forgot to do. I'll meet ya at home OK?" I said as I jumped off the fence and ran across the street.

"Ranma, wait!" I heard Akane yell as I sprinted to the side of the house and easily jumped to the roof of it, standing face to face with him.

"I was wondering when I'd see you today," I said as I stared at my future self.

"I did say your training started today," He said, his voice as cold and empty as ever.

"Yeah, about that. I really don't think I need sny training from myself, thanks."

"Oh is that so? Well, don't you think I would know if you needed training at this point?" He glared at me, and for a second I almost felt intimidated.

"Well maybe if you told me why I needed more training I would," I quipped, matching his glare with one of my own.

He scoffed, "Don't even think of trying to challenging me kid."

"What makes you think your so much stronger than me, eh?"

"I remember my strength at this point in my life, believe me. I have the same cockiness as you. But part of the reason as to why I'm here is to train you, to get you stronger."

"So it has to do with a battle in the future? What, do I lose or something?"

My future self seemed to get even angrier, "I've already explained that I cannot tell you anything about the future, so drop it. If you say you're so strong, you're just fooling yourself. I beat you with one punch yesterday and you didn't even know what hit you when I threw that stone at you just now. No matter how much Akane distracts you, you need to be on your guard at all times. Especially now."

I could feel my face start to turn red, "Fine, I'll agree to your training." I said angrily. So if I need to get stronger, then whatever happened in the future must entail a battle of some sort. So if my future self came back to the past, an extreme measure, to make sure I get stronger and train me personally-this must mean I lost, right? I felt my ego clench even though this happened in the future. Is that what happened?

"Good, let's go." Future Ranma said as he turned and started jumping, house to house, in a speed I could barely keep up with.

After jumping many houses, we arrived at a park and he still kept on running as fast as hell through it, I doubt people without any eye training in martial arts could even see him. And even though I wouldn't admit it, I was about a mile behind him and could only barely keep up.

He then headed into a forest and we must have continued running for miles more before he finally stopped at a wide clearing in the dense forest.

When I at last reached the clearing I collapsed, and tried to regain my breath.

"What took you so long? Don't tell me you're already winded, we haven't even started yet." His icy tone mocked as I caught my breath and wiped the sweat on the forehead. I stood up straight.

"Who's winded?" I retorted as I looked around the clearing. I was surrounded by think forest trees but the clearing had to be wide enough to fit an ice rink.

"This is where your training will take place every single day. You are not to miss any, you don't have a choice, understand?"

I snorted, "I won't miss any so keep your shirt on,"

"Hn, I know you won't. I know you have mastered all of Kung Fu in every way, shape, and form. However, your speed, strength, and strategy need to be greatly improved. If you can't even keep up to me while I'm barely jogging than you have a painstakingly long way to go. I will also train in Street Fighting, Aikido, and Jujitsu for starters."

"You know all those martial arts? I learn them all in the future?" I asked in disbelief.

He nodded as if not interested in the subject and indicated towards a black bag I had not noticed on the floor a few feet away from him, "We start now." He walked towards the bag and picked it up, "From now on you will wear these clothes every second of every day, even when you are at school, training with me, eating, or even sleeping you will have these on." He threw the bag towards me and I stretched an arm to grab it.

Immediately as I grasped it, I fell over crashing hard into the ground because of the weight of this bag. My arm was nearly torn from it's socket! "What the hell is in this damn thing!" I yelled as I struggled to lift the bag, how in the world had he so easily picked it up and thrown it?

"Probably a few tons," My future self answered casually.

"What?" I unzipped the bag and found black and red gis in my own style clothing. I tried picking up a black shirt but only made it a few inches off the ground. "Are you kidding me!"

My new teacher snorted, "If you think this is bad, wait until the actual training Ranma," he fixed his cold, dark brown eyes on me, "Another reason I picked this place to train you is because when you scream no one will be able to hear you."

I gulped and shuddered, I was creeping myself out. But this guy doesn't seem like me at all, but that only makes me worry. What in the seven hells happens in the future to make me become like this?

"Now," he said, "Put your new clothes on. I'll find our first exercise." He walked off towards the edges of the forest and seemed to be calculating something. I growled as I stripped my pants and shirt and threw my book bag to the ground. I, with more difficulty then I had imagined, finally was able to get on a red gi shirt, with black pants. Problem was, I could barely stand in them.

"You finally got them on, good. Now get over here," Future Ranma barked. I struggled as I slowly put one foot in front of the other. I could feel the strain and it was killing me. I was already covered in sweat.

Twenty minutes later, I finally reached him. I was about to pass out from the weight on me.

"So you've finally graced me with your presence," he mocked.

I glared at him in hate, I can't believe him!

"Ah, that's good. If you can still glare then you'll have no problem with this," He jerked a thumb towards a particularly large tree covered in small green leaves, "First I'll test your speed, you are to slice every single leaf in half before they touch the ground using nothing but your bare hands. And I have no intention on going easy on you Ranma, even if you are me. You miss one and you'll pay dearly for it." You could hear the threat in his deadly voice.

"Well, that's good cuz I don't want you to go easy on me," I gritted my teeth as I said this. Oh fucking hell, if I'm having trouble standing how the hell am I suppose to do this?

"Good. Prepare yourself." He said as he lightly punched the large tree with his right fist. Immediately all the small green leaves, all at once, came falling down rapidly to the ground. I lunged for them, despite all the weight on me, but only managed to slice nine of them before I fell because of the weight. I got up with all my strength, but most of them had fallen on the ground already. I started swiping at the ones still falling down when I felt a swift, painful kick in my back.

The blow was so forceful, weight and all I was knocked ten feet into the air and landed roughly on the ground. I gasped in pain as I tried to get up off my stomach but then I felt a foot connect with my right side. I screamed as I felt and sickenly heard two of my ribs breaking.

I started seeing black spots, I knew I was in danger of passing out. My eyes rolled upwards and I saw my future self looking down at me emotionlessly, "I warned you not to miss, no get up and you better not disappoint me again."

I placed my arms on either side of me and tried to push myself up, my arms gave out and I collapsed once again. I tried to blink away the black dots and focused on my ever growing hatred of my future self.

"You can't even get up? God, you're embarrassing me. How does that feel Ranma? You're an embarrassment to yourself!" he remarked as I fell down again.

I felt the blood pumping in my ears as he said this, and I finally pushed myself up and swung around and threw a weak punch at him. It missed him by inches and he responded to it by kneeing me so hard in the stomach, I coughed blood. I fell to my knees and my body slammed again in the hard ground, head first.

"That was beyond pathetic, you didn't even hit me, let alone aim in the right direction. I wonder what Akane would say if she found out you were so weak." He taunted.

I felt myself drifting into unconsciousness fast. I bit my bottom lip so hard it bled to keep myself awake.

I'm not going to let this bastard win.

After five more minutes of struggling, I got myself up. The sun was now setting and I clutched my side, glaring at my future self in a mixture of anger, hate, and believe it or not, respect.

I saw something pass quickly in his cold, dead-like eyes as I stared him. It passed as quickly as it came, I don't even know what it was.

He smirked, "Looks like your not a total loss, no we are going to repeat this exercise until you slice every single leaf on the tree."

It took me fifteen more tries. It got even harder as the sun finally set, but I still continued. Thanks to being in a forest we never ran out of trees.

I was nearly dead as I sliced the last leaf still falling on the tree. I don't even know how I'm still standing, if that's what you call it.

I fell down, knowing I would pass out in a matter of seconds. I could feel myself start to drift. My eyelids got heavy and my brain was so foggy. My body felt numb from all the blows but I was fairly certain my future self managed to break or shatter two more ribs.

I then saw my face above me, my future self's face. "If you think this training session was bad just wait until tomorrow arrives. I'm only pushing you because you need to go beyond your limits, and in order to do that you've got to break them." I could barely follow want he was saying, "…and don't think I'm dragging your sorry ass home, you get up and do it yourself."

Then suddenly he vanished what seemed to be into thin air. I couldn't keep my eyelids open anymore and all I knew was darkness.

Future Ranma's POV:

I stretched as I laid down over the Tendo's roof. I can't believe I'm back here…it has so many memories, I closed my eyes as I saw I memory flash of Kasumi, Nabiki, and their father holding each other and crying, I snapped my eyes open as I forced the memory away, down back into the dark depths of my mind, only to plague me once I sleep.

Sleep…haven't done that in three years.

I can't.

I sighed as I looked out into the empty street, in thirty minutes I'll go and collect Ranma or myself, whatever. I wasn't even expecting my younger self to get up again, that second time he collapsed. By my cocky little shit attitude self of three years actually completed the first task I gave him.

I have to go hard on him, or else he won't be ready. I can't let them beat me again…I can't go back to a future like that, a future without…

I was jerked out of my thoughts when I heard the front door open, I saw the figure of a beautiful girl with short black hair walk out into the middle of the front yard.

I felt my heart tear as I stared at her, stopping myself from running over and grabbing her, never letting her go again.

Akane…

I shut my eyes forcibly, knowing I was close to tears. I can't cry…not now…I don't even know how to cry anymore.

I opened my eyes once again and stared and the woman who owned my heart. My Akane…

I could sense that Akane was worried about Ranma, because it was so late and I'm (in a way) not home yet. She stood in the yard, dressed only in a white nightdress and a light matching sweater. She looked ethereal standing there with the full moon shining down on her that I nearly called out her name.

I felt guilt swell within me and vowed as soon as she went back inside I would go collect Ranma. I'm not leaving her alone, standing in the dark even if she is in her front yard.

After a few minutes I heard she sigh and start to head back inside. My eyes followed her the entire way as I forced myself to stay put. I panicked as I saw her freeze as she approached the front porch and look up towards the roof.

I flattened myself against the roof and cursed myself inwardly, Akane always knew when I was around or nearby, no matter how much I made sure my presence went undetected.

She must have stood still there for at least five minutes before I finally heard the front door open and close, I let out a breath of relief.

That's my Akane all right.

I rubbed my forehead as seeing her so close by brought back things I had to force myself not to think about, or at least I tried. But failed miserably. These things would haunt me forever.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the amulet, Cologne was between stress and relief when she gave me this…the answer to all our prayers…

I was in the mountains, punching at a hard stone mountain without stopping, the rocky mountain was sprayed with blood from hands as I continued punching it until it caved in.

I watched as the steep stone mountain I'd been using for a punching bag collapsed into itself.

"RANMA! RANMA!" I heard a familiar voice from the distance yell.

Cologne.

Thy withered old small lady appeared from the forest, out of breath and more haggard than ever.

She spoke in between large gasps of breath, "Ranma! …I finally, found you…you won't believe it…" she gasped.

"Look hag, beat it you got it? I thought I made it clear to everyone still breathing to leave me the fuck alone." I said in a harsh tone.

Cologne regained her breath, "But what if there was a way to change things? To make the future better, different?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"I recently found an ancient powerful amulet from the times where old magic was at its most powerful in my tribe. It was a family heirloom I didn't even know I had Ranma. It could change the past and the future! It is able to bring one person into the past at a specific point in time, and then back to the present again!"

I roughly grabbed the old hag by the arms and saw a shot of fear shoot through her eyes

as she winced. That's how they all were now.

"Are you shitting me, because you'd better not be."

"I'm not! You can go back in time and prevent this all from happening! You could change it! No one would die and my Shampoo wouldn't be in the state she is now! She's not even there anymore, she's practically dead." She old woman said in sorrow. "You could save them all, even-,"

"Shut up and tell me how to activate it." I said, decision already faster than a heartbeat. I was already forming a plan in my head to stop the future from happening in the past.

She handed me a dark red, ruby like amulet and replied, "Say Narir and then the date to activate it and then say mirir and the date you wish to return to."

I took the amulet and let go of her, "Then I'm gone." I grasped the amelut tightly in my bloody hands.

I sighed as I stood and jumped off the roof in search of my younger self.

He'd better at least be halfway here.

And that's chapter 2!

Now how fucked up is future Ranma? Well, he has many reasons to be. I tried giving some more hints as to what happened in the future.

I hope you all liked this chapter, since I've only outlined it before I actually wrote it I'm really nervous as to how it turned out…

REVIEW!

Or…else? Heh…

Ok so basically READ & REVIEW!

That's all I've to say,

Fireashes