Now I know
That one goes on
And one will stay behind
But don't you leave me
'til I've etched you in my mind
Let me memorize you
Every tiny imperfection in that face
I'll always love
Let me memorize you
Knowin it's the last time
That I'll lay these eyes on you
Let me memorize you
For all of my life
Bacon Borthers, Memorize
Shinosuke had always been a man of few words, or at least he liked to think so. He was not obsessed with worldly possessions, his simple tools being most of which he grew up playing with. No, he was not a spoiled man, wanting material things in a material world; he tried not to yearn for anything. When it came to one topic though, he was at a loss. This one thing made him desire it without trying, effortless preoccupation apparent on its dastardly lips; Akane, all this time, remaining oblivious to the power she wielded over him.
He smiled as he watched her walk ahead of him, nervously stalking forward, and slowly fall in line with the forest. He thought it suited her, the harsh terrain, the uneven path; he decided it fit her quite well.
She turned then, angling her angelic neck, "So, what's next Shinosuke?"
He brightened his smile and patted his chest and pockets to find which held the map. He quickly reached into his left pocket and pulled out the small piece of paper. He stretched out the paper and squinted a bit, "Um, where were we just?"
Akane chuckled from far ahead, "We were in Quaint; what's next?"
He spoke in recognition, "Oh yes, what a nice town! Oh well, it seems we are to go to a bridge next."
Akane turned and stopped, waiting a bit until he was near, "You're kidding right, a bridge?"
He just nodded turning to the map in his hands, "It says here, underneath the piture, 'Arg'."
Akane's brow rose, "just that?"
"Yup," Shinosuke nodded while smiling; turning his gaze serious, he grasped her hands, "you're okay with this, right Akane?"
Akane almost got used to his rough hands wrapping around her tinier ones. Immediately, they began to warm up, her hands not acting alone, and she blushed.
See, it was very hard not to be attracted to a handsome man; utterly adorable, and utterly committed to you. If she wanted him to tell her he loved her, he could, at the drop of a hat. Hell, at the drop of an insult he could confess his deep emotions for her. To him they were plain, obvious even, and he found no reason to keep them locked up inside where they would wither and never see the outside world, never see the sunrise; and that was not his style.
And here he was; an eligible, wonderful bachelor. And here she was; not commited to any more than an oath . . . or so she imagined.
There was something amuck though- there lay two silver chains, faint and thin, wrapped around her wrists. These silver columns bound her to his chains, the same inconspicuous cuffs that he grouched over. They could tug at these menial things for as long as they like, it would make no difference. These chains would bind them forever and carry them grudgingly into the gallows of the future. There was no choice, no escape attempt; these diminutive shackles, these worn down binds, were love.
Akane watched herself step on the softly padded dirt, watching her feet slightly sink in. She breathed in heavily and smelt the woodsy aroma she could smell forever. The trees were tall, with branches far lower than Akane had ever seen before, and these branches were thick planks jutting out of the enormous trees. Akane imagined how old they were, but decided, to herself, she probably couldn't count that high. They were slightly close together; not to far, but at the same time, not too close. She smiled at herself, thinking of how nice it had already been to get away.
'This isn't just about Shinosuke's grandfather anymore,' she thought to herself warmly, 'this is about me; this right here, surrounded by forest and freedom is independence, exactly what I needed!'
Yet, something tugged at her. She couldn't quite place it, but knew something had been there for a while now; eating away at her thoughts. She decided to figure out at least some of the things that wre flying through her mind.
'One, I like being on the road, it's fun and I'm actually needed here. Two, Shinosuke's a really good guy, a man among men,' Akane smirked at this as she looked behind her to check Shinosuke was there, 'Well, three would be that Ranma's following me, but he's only doing that so he doesn't get in trouble and doesn't have to face his stupid fear of change. Four, I wonder what that was back there . . . when he gave me the picture, does that count as four? Well, I know it certainly felt like it should count, but what is that? He' just being nice, Shinosuke's ten times nicer and yet the feelings I have for him are nothing compared to . . . I can't believe I had the gall to ask him if he loved me! Wow, that was brave- and you know what he did- I jumped and he let me fall . . . ass. . . we've been walking for a while now, I wonder what he's doing. Oh yeah, back on topic; five, he said he needed me, but I bet our parents scripted the whole thing for him, they would, and he said he's only here for them. Why do I care so much? Fine, y'know what fine, he can go ahead and fall in love with Ukyo and be able to say it to her. See if I care!'
Akane nodded forcefully and banged her head on one of the plank-branches with a loud "thwap!".
"Ow," Akane spat immediately after, "aw crap, that hurt."
She felt her head and rubbed it gently, ignoring the pain this caused.
"Geez Akane, real smart," a sly voice said.
"Ranma?" Akane called, recognizing the astonishingly cocky voice at once.
She scanned the area all around her; but it was all bush and tree, nothing moved at all.
Suddenly, something shuddered by a bush and out of the shadows a figure approached. Akane held up her hands, ready to punch him, and jumped when she noticed the kind face.
"Shinosuke," she breathed, surprised.
He laughed "Yeah, who else would you expect?"
Akane got out of stance and stood limply, worrying minutely about hearing voices, but waving it off.
"Did you just say something Shinosuke?" She asked nervous.
"No," he grinned, "would you like me to?"
She smiled assuredly, "No, no, I'm just going nuts. C'mon, we've got lots of ground to cover and I'm not looking forward to getting there."
He stalled for a second, out of confusion, but continued, "Why Akane, are you okay?"
She smirked at his concern, "You're such a sweetheart."
She stopped. She had meant to say that in her head.
He jumped up next to her, clasping her hands . . . again.
"Thank you Akane, you know how much that means!"
She laughed uncomfortably and he receded to just walking next to her, letting her hands drop to their respective sides.
"So why are you hesitant about the next stop?"
"Well," she blushed, "I have a little swimming problem."
Ranma had asked around for Ukyo and Ryoga, his two wayward captors, now companions. People had said they had only seen Ukyo, running after an adorable black pig. Ranma smirked, but then stopped.
'I guess Ukyo knows about Ryoga and P-Chan now. She might've known that already, she's been hintin' at it a bit. Interestin'. . . '
He strolled through town and ended up in the bar, sitting at it, on one of the most plush bar stools he had ever had the pleasure to meet, when the old woman from before popped up in front of him suddenly.
Ranma jumped back in alarm, ready in fighting stance.
The old lady let out a gruff, deep laugh for quite too long, coughing badly at the end. Ranma stared on in revulsion.
"Uh, old ghoul, ya okay?"
"Laddy, don't call me that, call me Tabitha –no– call me Tabby. Yes, Tabby's all right," The woman told him, still smiling weirdly.
She motioned towards the drinks, "ya wanna have a drink, boy?'
Ranma stayed nonchalant, "I ain't old enough Lady, and even if I was-"
He was cut off abruptly by the old hag's throaty laughs, "Are ye tellin' me you always play by the rules? Well, ya be needin' anything at all, or are ye just here loiterin'?"
He huffed at how abruptly uncouth she was being.
"What the hell's wrong with ya? Ya laugh like a banshee, and ya look like one too!"
She stopped at this, "M'boy, it'd do ya good not to disrespect the spirit world, especially in this here town."
"Why?" Ranma asked, stretching out the word vainly.
She smirked, "Well, that would ruin the surprise, now wouldn't it?"
Ranma studied her face for a second, memorizing the crooks and crannies, "Right."
"Now," she spoke, trying to lighten the mood, "why don't ya come along with me and I'll show you something amazing, something you've never seen before."
Ranma stiffened when she came up to his bar stool and grasped him with one sturdy arm, squishing him against her, "Akane in a good mood?"
He wondered why he brought her up and out loud no less.
The woman throated another laugh, "No m'boy," She unveiled a curtain at the back to reveal a closet, dimly lit, and another, slightly smaller door at the back;
"the future."
"So," Ukyo tried to strum up some conversation after a long pause, "y'know Ryoga, I kind of already knew."
He scoffed, "Did that traitor Ranma tell you?"
"No," Ukyo told him dryly, "you've changed in front of me before."
Ryoga laughed sourly, "I think I'd remember if I changed into a little black pig in front of you Ukyo!"
"No, you were always too busy chasing or running from Akane to notice I was there," Ukyo looked sad for a second, but quickly flashed out of it.
Ryoga kept silent, this was a very apparent possibility, "Oh, sorry."
Ukyo's voice cracked so slightly Ryoga couldn't have heard, "It's fine, really, why should I care?" She blinked and a moment later she stood up and looked around harshly, "Where's Ranma; you idiot, you've got us lost!"
Ryoga was upset now, he really didn't know why, "Don't worry, I'll figure this out, okay? And why'd you even chase after me out here in the first place?"
Ukyo stopped to ponder this for a second, "Well," she spat, "Ranma would want you to have someone with you!"
"It's all for Ranma, isn't it?" He yelled, adding much more feeling than he thought he should.
Ukyo stared him in the eyes for a second, frightened at the majestic hurt in his voice.
She turned away, "Let's find a way to get out of here and back to town."
He didn't answer.