Here's the next chapter! Sorry for the delay with it, blame school… the evil…
I hope you all are pleased with it!
Thank you all that reviewed, ya rock!
Replies:
Jenna: thank you for saying that! ((smiles))
Yaya: I love FR too! XD Many things have happened and will happen to him… poor Ranma.
Ikerana: Thank you! Yup, don't count on this story ending fast cuz it won't. There is still a lot to go, and most of it hasn't even happened yet. Ranma, Akane, and co. will face so much more.
Devilman666: Thank you! R/S rocks! I am so happy people think my story is original.
Celestartial Blossoms: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad u liked the last chapter! Will Ranma and Akane be at peace again? Hmm…((laughs evilly))
Would FR be jealous if that happened? Well, you'll see the answer to that in the next chapter. I don't wanna ruin it for you! It's complicated for FR b/c it is him Akane would be with… yet it isn't.
Izzi: Thank u! ((Grins happily))
Onizu-chan: I'm so happy you like how I write it! THANK U! I was nervous about that you see at first…
RayxJade: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
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Luna12: Thanks! I am trying to work on my grammar mistakes! I just have to learn to reread things an' make sure that I didn't screw a sentence up, heh. I'm very glad ur looking forward to my story! But I'm trying to write better on my own, thanks for the offer very much!
Tine: Thank you! Yay!
Hououza: Yeah I do tend to write dark chapters a lot…) hey, it's a style. Yes, FR is punishing his younger self in a physical way…it's a way of dealing with it for him b/c he sees his younger self still so unaffected, but he also wants his younger self to get closer to Akane, and try to see if he can mend everything. Yet he also still yearns for her, with so much regret and depression and anger inside of him. I know I'm being very vague, I just don't wanna ruin it! The next few chapters will reveal a lot, I promise you all that. Please continue to review!
Oceanus: Will Akane see them or not? Hmm…. Tee hee read and find out!
Adamski: Thank you! YAY! So happy…
Wonderbee31: PTSD- I like that , yeah Ranma really does need a good kick sometimes, I agree. FR is drilling hard into Ranma… well at least he isn't dead or anything from it, lol.
Anyway, here ya go-
Scars of the Future
Chapter 4: Honesty
Ranma's POV:
I came back late to the Tendo house, it was night out.
I saw Kasumi in the kitchen, washing dishes. I turned to leave but she had seen me.
"Ranma, do you know what happened to Akane? Maybe she's sick, I don't know but I'm worried. When she came home today she immediately went to her room and hasn't come out yet." She said, concerned.
I just sighed and left, leaving her even more puzzled.
- - --
I'll apologize and make up with her today! I got up and prepared myself to go to school. I went to the dining room to see the family there as usual. Everyone was there except Akane.
"Where's Akane?" I asked Nabiki, sitting across from me.
She shrugged, "I think she left already. Did you two get in another fight?"
I grumbled and got up. I guess I'll have to talk to her at school.
But even at school she did everything she could to ignore me. She wasn't even looking at me!
"Did you and Akane break up?" Ukyo asked happily, noticing Akane's behavior.
"Shut up," I snapped, staring at Akane talking to her friends.
I guess now I have to get her to listen to me on the way home.
But she had left early, going home alone. Even Kuno as stupid as he is noticed.
"Have you done something to hurt the dear heart of Akane!" He yelled, striking his wooden sword at me.
I kicked him in the face, "What's it to you!"
I finally arrived at the Tendo house, beyond annoyed and extremely pissed off.
"Kasumi! Where's Akane?" I yelled to her in the living room.
She blinked, "Um, I think she's in the dojo."
"Good!" I made my way towards the dojo and entered it.
I saw Akane training and practicing her form. She looked tired but anger was clearly shown on her face as she attacked her invisible enemy.
"Akane," I called out, coming up to her.
She stopped and turned to look at me, she quickly looked away, "Go away Ranma!"
"No! You've been ignoring me all day an' it's getting old!"
"I have good reason to!"
"Listen," I said walking up to her so we were standing face to face, "Ukyo and Shampoo followed me to my training spot in the woods! I was not training with them!"
"That's real convenient!"
"It's true!"
"Then what about the stuff you said about your father training you?"
"Well…" I hesitated, "…he's not. Someone else is." I said. I can't lie when I know Pops will let it slip sooner or later anyway. And I can't lie to her again.
"Who?" she questioned, "and why couldn't you tell me in the first place!"
"Because! I promise I'll tell you when I can, all right?"
"What's with all the secrets? Why can't you tell me?"
"I just can't!"
"Your such a jerk! You have no regard for my feelings at all!" She swung her hand back to slap me across the face but I caught it before it made contact.
She reddened with rage and tried to kick me; I shifted myself and tripped her, catching her before she fell. She wriggled and kicked wildly at me, I lost balance and fell- right on top of her.
I blushed as I froze; I was on top of Akane. Oh damn…
"Ranma…" I was still on her: I hadn't immediately jumped off. "What are you doing?" she whispered, her eyes wide and vulnerable. She was so pretty… how could I ever say she was not cute?
"Akane…" I couldn't think. I don't even know what I was doing. I leaned down and kissed her.
I brushed my lips on her pink ones. My heart was pounding and my thoughts were cloudy. I leaned back down again and kissed her, this time with more force. I shifted my weight on her and was able to fully wrap one arm around her, pressing her against me. I was leaning my weight on my elbow with my other arm, I continued kissing her. It became more fevering, passionate.
Her hands clutched my shirt as I trailed kisses down her jaw line and neck. I nibbled her neck, causing red marks to appear. I kissed her mouth again, parting her mouth with force. I heard her moan as I kissed her deeply, pressing her even closer to me.
Out of nowhere I felt a hard shove and was pushed off her.
I sat there, bewildered. Akane got up and stared at me in confusion, she shook her head and ran out of the dojo, slamming the door behind her.
She pushed me off her.
I groaned as I cursed myself and laid my head in my hands, why did I have to go and do that?
Now she'll never forgive me… how could I just go that to her? She didn't even want me to, she was just probably too shocked at first. That's why she didn't push me off sooner.
I felt disgusted with myself. How could I hurt her like that?
I have to apologize…
- - - - -
"Remember- ya have to ask her out! Soon!" Future Ranma demanded as I walked home by himself. Akane had left without me again.
"Listen, it got kinda complicated."
"Didn't you say sorry?" he warned.
"Not really," I mumbled to myself.
"Why?" he snapped in anger.
I glared at him, "Because I kissed her last night OK! I kissed her- a lot- and screwed everything up royally."
"What?.." he remained silent for a while which was a big change. Then finally, "What happened next?" he asked, though it sounded like he forced the words out.
"She pushed me off."
"WHAT!" he yelled.
"She pushed me off. Now I think she's even madder at me. She ran out too…" I muttered.
"Hn… well how did it happen?" he asked, dragging me into an alleyway.
"Well, I sorta fell on top of her- and then- kissed her senseless." I blushed in embarrassment. Why was I telling him this?
"Ah," he said. He was silent for a while before he started again, "Don't leave her too mad for long, she'll only resent it. And for the last time, ask her out!"
"Why are you so bent with me taking Akane out on a date?"
"You'll see," he muttered as he walked away.
I sighed and continued my way to the Tendo house. What am I gonna say to Akane?
I walked in and my jaw dropped.
"No way…"
Shinnosuke was standing there in the hallway, cheerily talking to Akane who was now looking at me.
Shinnosuke turned around and saw me standing next to the door, "Who are you?" he asked.
Grr.. This guy and his non-existent memory! "I'm Akane's fiancée Ranma, remember?" I growled.
"Fiancée?" he asked, startled.
"Yes," I snapped.
"Oh cool it Ranma- he just came to visit me." Akane said, finally speaking to me.
I looked at her and gave her a signal that we needed to talk. She ignored it and turned her attention back on Shinnosuke.
"He was just asking for me to give him a tour of the town Ranma. So if ya don't mind- we'll be leaving!" She grabbed his arm and started towards the door.
"Hey," I said blocking her path, "We need to talk."
"As long as you tell me the truth!"
"Dammit Akane! Stop being stubborn and let me-,"
"I'm stubborn!" she snapped.
"Yeah! I'm glad you see it my way!"
She fumed as Shinnosuke made his presence known, "You are making trouble for Akane, I suggest you stop before I make you, whoever you are."
I glared at him, "Figures ya wouldn't remember me," I looked at Akane, "Well?"
"Ranma… YOU JERK!" She kicked me and I went booted into the wall. Damn that girl is too strong for her own good sometimes! I stepped out of the rubble, not giving it a second thought.
"I challenge you to a duel stranger! For troubling my Akane!" Shinnosuke shouted at me.
I stared at him like he was a joke, yet I could feel the anger rise in my chest at his declaration of love. And what did he mean, his Akane? Akane is mine a tiny voice screamed in my head. I chose to think about that unruly voice later.
"Your on but make sure you have coffin standing by," I sneered.
"Yes I will make sure you fit snugly in it," he quipped back.
"You stupid-,"
"Stop it right now!" Akane yelled and we both turned to her. "Ranma- stop goading Shinnosuke!"
"I'm goading him? He's the one that challenged me!" Why does she never pick my side?
"Oh whatever! Shinnosuke- lets go." She said, heading for the door. As she reached the door she turned back to look at me, "I don't care what you do Ranma,"
"Hn. Oh really?"
"Really," she insisted.
I walked up to them and closed the door. I'd be damned if I actually let them go alone, who knew what that guy would do to her?
I'm only going to make sure she doesn't get into something stupid like usual…
"Then I'm coming," I said, shutting the door behind us with a bang.
"What?" she yelled, she hadn't been expecting this.
"Well, you said you didn't care." I smirked and saw that Shinnosuke was staring at me in confusion.
"Who are you?" He asked me in wonder.
I rolled my eyes, you've got to be kidding me…
- - -
How long is this going to take? I thought in a mixture of anger and annoyance. Every time we visited the beach, the shops, the market- he kept on forgetting we already visited. So we ended up revisiting places again and again. I don't know why Akane is putting up with this. I looked over at her, she and Shinnosuke was looking in a window of one of the many shops, she's doing this just to torture me…
She just kept on smiling and going along with him… I clenched my fists as I saw her laughing at what he just said.
I don't care if he forgot, that bastard still challenged me an' he's not getting away with it.
I felt something hard pelt my head, I turned around and saw my future self in a tree a few feet away.
I walked to it, and making sure no one was looking, jumped up to the branch he was in.
He was glaring angrily at me, "How could you let yourself be a third wheel after I warned you to ask Akane out as soon as possible!"
I raised my eyes at him, "So you knew he was coming, I was wondering why you were suddenly driven about me going out with Akane."
He narrowed his eyes at me, "It's not like you didn't want to go out with her, and I thought you apologized!"
I chose to ignore the first part, "I kinda… didn't. Well, maybe not really…"
"What? Your making no sense,"
"I sorta just made her madder," I finally said.
"How," he spat with venom.
Great, now my future self looks like he wants to throttle me, "I dunno okay? Stupid Akane wouldn't even let me get a word in. Dumb Akane..." I said quietly, not looking at him.
He was silent and remained so till I looked at him, his face was as emotionless as ever, "Say you're sorry about the whole thing and make it up to her before I make you wish you never existed,"
"Great," I mumbled as I jumped down from the tree. Why had I told him what happened? Well, he is me so… does it matter? I shook my head and went over to Akane.
When I reached her she was sitting on a bench while Shinnosuke was off at an ice cream vendor across the street.
"Hey," I said, looking at her. She had put on a pretty blue dress that reached her knees and had thin straps. It was very summery and light. I wish she could wear that stuff for me…
"Hey Ranma," she replied back, staring at the sky.
"Are you-,"
Before I could finish I heard a loud, "NIHAO RANMA!" and was promptly knocked off my feet.
"Shampoo," I said, turning red as the amazon girl clutched me, I panicked and tried pushing her off.
Akane looked livid. She huffed in fury and forcefully pushed Shampoo off of me.
"What you want tomboy girl?" Shampoo snapped at her.
Akane narrowed her eyes at her menacingly, "I'll show you what I-,"
"RANMA SAOTOME!" A yell burst from the crowd that was quickly forming around us.
A path in the crowd of people cleared and Ryoga made his way there to us, "How could you back out from our duel! You coward!"
"Hey, I knew with your retarded sense of direction that you'd never make it, and ya didn't!" I snapped back at him.
"Well I'm here now so its time to finish the challenge I gave you and for once see who's the strongest!"
"Fine with me, P-chan!" I yelled back at him.
"P-chan?" Akane's voice came out of nowhere.
I cursed myself, I had forgotten she was there for a second.
"Akane!" Ryoga gasped, looking at her in shock.
"I'm just calling him a stupid pig Akane, that's all." I said to her.
"Yeah, he's just- Hey! I'll make you eat those words!" he charged me and we exchanged strikes.
We spit apart from each other, both wiping blood off our mouths. He's been training. Good.
"Your faster Ranma," he said as we stared each other down.
"And your more accurate with your blows," I said back to him.
I smirked as I fell into an offensive position, him doing the same. This was going to be fun.
"RANMA!" Shampoo's voice yelled as I turned to look at her, "I am on break! I have limited time! We go on date!" She shouted, looking scathingly at Ryoga.
"Don't interrupt on a man to man fight girl!" he said back to him in annoyance.
She glared at him in rage, "I fight you pig-boy!" she yelled as she leaped to attack. She was sending a right kick to his chest. He was caught off guard, not expecting her to attack him. He managed to block her kick by grabbing her leg. Both losing balance he fell over with her on top of him. I raised my eyebrows as I saw Ryoga's arms wrapped tightly around Shampoo's waist.
Shampoo instantly climbed off of her, her face a mix of shades of red. Ryoga got up, blushing furiously and seemed to look puzzled about something.
He shook his head and turned to look at me when Shinnosuke interrupted him, "Who are you people? And where has my Akane gone?"
I immediately scanned the area for Akane and saw her in the distance walking back to her home. Just fuckin perfect.
"Who says she's your Akane?" Ryoga yelled at him, glaring.
Another fight broke out and it was a while till I got back to the Tendo's.
Akane's POV:
I sighed as the movie ended in a happy ending. I resented that right now and took off my slipper and threw it at the TV. It bounced off the TV and fell to the ground.
I grabbed the remote from the table and clicked the OFF button, turning off the TV.
Shinnosuke was staying in the guest room, I still felt I owed him and he's my friend even though I don't feel the way he does for me. But I can't just ignore him and leave him without a place to stay.
Ranma looked mad when I told him I was giving him a tour… was he jealous? For a while he certainly acted so. Had I used Shinnosuke to make him jealous?
I looked at my hands and sighed. I'll tell Shinnosuke how I feel about him tomorrow. It's not fair leading him on. He deserves better than that.
I got up and heard the front door open. I knew who it was and even though I didn't want to see him I walked up to the hallway.
Kasumi was visiting a friend today and Nabiki was doing the same. Dad and Mr. Saotome were probably out drinking.
I saw him standing in the hallway, and he instantly locked eyes with me. His grey-blue eyes were startled by my presence. I couldn't look away, I just stared at him.
Why had he kissed me?
That thought had been plaguing me for a small eternity since it happened. A light blush spread over my cheeks and I couldn't help it.
I had pushed him off in confusion… why had he done that out of nowhere? Could he really care…?
I saw him walk closer to me until he was mere inches away. It was getting harder to breathe with him so close. Was he going to kiss me again? My heart pounded and I knew I wanted him to.
My head was spinning and I tried to clear it desperately.
"Akane, I'm sorry about what happened." His voice was clear and sincere.
He is sorry? Sorry about lying to me… my heart clenched when I thought about that. That had hurt so much. Why couldn't he just trust me and tell me the truth? Doesn't he care about how I feel when he says that?
Or is he sorry about kissing me? Does he regret kissing me like that? Does he want to take it all back, pretend it never happened? Have I been fooling myself? Does he really not care about me that way at all…?
"Which… are you sorry for?" I asked softly, dreading the answer inside. He could break my heart in a moment.
"What, what do you mean?" he looked like he was confused, but he seemed to know that what he said right now was very important.
"Are you sorry for kissing me?" I said above a whisper.
"Am I…? For that…?" he stammered, "I, I…" he cleared his throat, "Yes, I'm sorry about it Akane. That wasn't right of me to do."
I stood stunned as I felt a cold stab of hurt crash through my heart.
So he does regret it.
He continued again, "I'm also sorry about lying to you Akane… I will tell you…" he trailed off, sensing a change in my demeanor.
I felt my eyes fall to the floor, "We wouldn't have worked anyway…"
"Wha, what?"
I gazed at him in hurt, "If you cannot even be honest with me… then there is no way we could ever be together…" I said in a low voice, knowing he heard me.
So he didn't mean it… it was just… nothing.
Nothing at all.
I felt tears brimming in my eyes and left before he saw them. Leaving him alone in the hallway with a million thoughts of what he just did running through his mind.
And that's the end of chapter 4!
I know this chapter wasn't exactly like my other ones really. I came off a bit displeased with this chapter actually but everything said and done in this chapter needed to be done to fit the course of events that follow it.
There was also a big fluff scene in this chapter! XD
The next chapter will have more action scenes, that's a promise. Yup, more training and more problems. Oh how I torture them so…((sighs))… ah well….
Ranma and Akane's problems have only escalated! I thought I might have done Ranma and Akane's kiss thing too early but as I said before it needed to be done.
Was anyone surprised by Shinnosuke's appearance/
The next chapter will also be interesting for a different reason…hmmm…he hee.
Oh and I hope you all noticed that brief Shampoo/Ryoga scene. Hint: Remember it! ((winks)) I luv that pairing- its my next favorite besides R/A.
PLEASE REVIEW!
Fireashes