Chapter 8
Akane awoke the next morning to a bright sun. She could still feel Ranma's lips on her own, and she felt her blood heat up. She tried to clear it from her mind, but she couldn't. Her feelings for Ranma were now pretty much obvious between the two, but from what she knew, the others were completely oblivious. She dressed and went down for breakfast.
"Good morning!" She said cheerfully. The others looked at her with a form of awe.
"Good morning Akane. You're awfully cheerful this morning." Soun said with a smile.
"I suppose you slept with Ranma again?" Nabiki asked slyly.
"Shut up Nabiki, I slept on my own." She said. *Though my dreams didn't have me alone* she thought. Ranma came down with a yawn, and sat heavily in his usual spot.
"Morning Ranma!" Akane said, smiling. Ranma looked at her, obviously not having totally woken up yet. He yawned again and looked down at his plate.
"Breakfast will be ready shortly everyone. Please come to the table." Kasumi called from the kitchen. Genma's eyes never left the 'GO' board while Soun made his move.
"Gotcha Saotome!" Soun proclaimed placing his piece.
"Do over!" Genma cried.
"Not this time Saotome, besides, it's time to eat." Soun said, standing and moving over to the table. Genma let out a low growl and joined him. Kasumi brought out the meal and everyone ate. Ranma ate with only half his usual vigor.
"What's wrong son, you're barely eating?" Soun asked. Genma grabbed the pickle off his plate and gulped it down. He then jumped back, prepared for Ranma's attack. But he didn't even blink.
"He must be sick. He didn't even flinch!" Genma said.
"May I be excused?" Ranma asked. Then he stood, and left the table. The others stared after him. Akane stood and walked after him.
"Ranma, wait up." She called. The others didn't move.
"Do you think they had a fight?" Nabiki asked them.
"Goodness I hope not. They seem to be getting along a lot better recently." Kasumi replied. Soun and Genma nodded. Akane finally caught up with Ranma.
"Ranma what's wrong. It's not like you to leave without finishing breakfast." She said. Ranma just kept walking, looking down. Akane moved in front of him and he simply stepped around her. Akane was getting worried. This was much too odd from the Ranma she knew. She saw him walk into the dojo and close the door behind him. It was like he was in a trance. Akane ran up to the dojo and walked in, closing the door behind him.
"Leave me alone Akane." Ranma said coldly.
"Not until you tell me what's wrong!" She said. Ranma sat cross legged on the floor, looking away from her.
"I... can't." he said, choking on the words. She thought she heard a great sorrow in his voice. She started to walk towards him.
"I said leave me alone! Are you too stupid to understand that?" He said, his voice growing angry, but it still held that sadness.
"Ranma, I..." She started.
"Just get out. Why can't you leave me alone?" He asked. Had she seen his face, she'd have seen the tears streaming down.
"Maybe because I care about you and I'm worried? But fine, if none of that matters, then I guess I'll leave. I thought last night was special but I guess i'm just some flat-chested tomboy you'd never care about. Ranma you're such a jerk." She said, running from the dojo. Upon hearing her leave, Ranma couldn't hold it in anymore. He broke down into wracking sobs. He didn't mean to hurt her. It was the last thing he wanted right now. If only she knew what he had dreamed. Though he knew it wasn't a dream. This had been a prophecy. He would do everything it took to keep it from coming true, even if it meant sacrificing his love for Akane. He sensed a form in the doorway, and quickly dried his eyes.
"Ranma my boy, I've seen you do a lot of stupid things, but not even you could hurt Akane that bad and mean it." Happosai said.
"Shut up. You don't know anything." Ranma said.
"There's something wrong isn't there Ranma. Maybe Akane can't see it, but you can't fool your master. Your aura is giving off one of the saddest feelings I've ever felt." He said, moving up to him.
"It's none of your damn business..." Ranma said quietly.
"Now Ranma, I know how you feel after losing to that ninja, but I might be able to help you. Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Happosai asked. Ranma had never heard such concern from the old letch, but it was comforting right now. He turned to face the old master.
"He's coming for me. But not directly. He plans to weaken me first. He's coming for Akane tonite." Ranma said.
"So that's why you chased her off. You hope that if you can kill your feelings for her, the ninja will leave her alone." Happosai lit up his pipe and sat beside Ranma. "You know he'll still go after her. She's just another soul to use against you." Ranma clenched his fist.
"But this can't happen. I know how it's going to happen to, but I don't know how to stop it. What should I do master?" Ranma said. The term 'master' had never been spoken by Ranma when speaking to Happosai.
"The only thing you can do Ranma. Prepare yourself for his arrival and do only what you can. Nothing more, nothing less. You aren't invincible after all." He said before getting to his feet and leaving.
"But what can I do to save her?" Ranma asked himself.
* * *
"Why?" Akane asked herself as she lay crying in bed. "Why is he being so mean? I thought we had something from last night. I thought he loved me!" She was taken by another set of deep, racking sobs. There was a soft knock on the door and her two sisters looked in.
"Akane, are you alright?" Kasumi asked.
"What did he do this time?" Nabiki followed. Akane wiped her eyes and looked up at them.
"Oh Kasumi, Nabiki, I love him." She said.
"Oh my." Kasumi simply said.
"Are you sure?" Nabiki asked, handing her a tissue. Akane nodded.
"So why are you crying?" Kasumi asked her. Akane blew her nose from the offered tissue.
"He hates me. Or at least I think he does. I thought there was something last night between us, but this morning he wouldn't even let me be near him." She replied.
"Last night? What happened last night?" Nabiki asked, raising an eyebrow. Akane blushed furiously.
"Uh n-nothing, really." Akane stuttered. "Besides, it doesn't matter if he hates me." Nabiki started heading for the door.
"I think I'm going to have a chat with our friend Ranma." She said.
"Nabiki no! This is something I have to do. Please?" She pleaded. Nabiki sighed and nodded. Akane stood up, dried her eyes, blew her nose, and proceeded out the door, heading for the dojo.
* * *
At the bottom of the stairs, a demon headed Soun was stalking Ranma.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY AKANE!" He roared.
"Geez, that's the worst one I've seen yet!" Ranma cried. "And I didn't do nothin! We just had a fight that's all." Soun shrank back to normal size.
"Oh that's all. A lover's quarrel is expected on occasion, wouldn't you say Saotome?" Soun asked. Genma was switching pieces around on the 'GO' board when he heard his name.
"Of course Tendo. It's a good sign." Genma replied.
"It wasn't a lovers quarrel! It can't be a lovers quarrel if we aren't lovers!" Ranma cried. He stopped at the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. He prepared to be greeted by a coniving Nabiki. Instead it was Akane who came down the stairs, her eyes red and puffy. She saw Ranma and lowered her gaze.
"Ranma, can we talk?" She asked. Ranma's heart could have shattered upon hearing that tone of voice and seeing her face. He had really done it this time. But what about preparing for tonight?
"Akane, I'm sorry, but I can't talk right now." Ranma said, moving to walk past her. Tears started to well in her eyes once again, and Soun prepared to go full demon again.
"Ranma please!" She begged. Ranma turned and saw her longing for him. Then it hit him.
"Of course! How could I have been so stupid?!" He grabbed Akane's outstretched hand and started dragging her towards the dojo.
"Ah young love." Genma said, watching them leave.