Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video. I have no ownership to these characters, or names.

Ranma 1/2

Changes: Chapter XV. The Heart of Akane's Pain!

It had been about a week since Cologne drug Mousse back to China with her. Mousse went screaming the whole way. Most people in Nerima were sorry to see her go, after all her ramen noodle shop was very popular. Ranma was a little upset than she wouldn't be around to teach him any new techniques. Oh course, she told him that if he'd just marry Shampoo and bring her back to the village she would teach him everything she knew. Shampoo looked hopeful at the idea, but she stood by Ranma's side when he turned Cologne down. Drake was nowhere to be found, and since Ukyo didn't really care all that much for Cologne, she'd run off to find him. Cologne wasn't surprised, she knew if there was anyone in the world that had a right to hate her, it was Drakus.

Shampoo was still trying to ajust to living with Ukyo, she didn't mind it, it was just different. Ukyo was pleased when the cat-cafe's 'regulars' started coming to her restaurant, and those customers were more than happy to see that their 'gorgeous' waitress was still in town. Shampoo liked working with Ukyo, and the two had become the best of friends in one short week. It helped Shampoo that she did get to see Drake everyday, even if he mainly came to see Ukyo. She didn't mind, she was just glad to see him. Ranma would come by everyday after classes were over at the dojo, which made Shampoo's day.

XD

Drake still spent a few hours of each day working with Akane. He was still trying to figure out the root for her anger. When he talked with Kasumi and Nabiki he basically got the same thing, Everyone in their family changed after their mother died. Drake wondered if it could be so simple, just the lack of her mother. But, that would mean that her anger was a way of expressing her feelings for someone. Well, sort of. It would mean that she was just angry because she was afraid of loosing someone else. It would explain why she had such a fasination with the art though. For, if she was stronger, then she could protect the ones she loved. 'Yeah, that's it.' He thought. Being an innocent child, she would've felt that martial arts was a way to protect people, which it is, but more importantly she trained herself to be strong enough to keep people from being hurt only to have her ideals crushed by reality. Martial arts cannot prevent other people from getting sick, or developing illness. And that realization must have hit Akane like a ton of bricks. Then anger at herself, whether she knew it or not, for being foolish enough to believe that it could. Then she meets someone like Ranma, someone who basically embodies the ideals she sought after for so long. It more than likly made her feel insignificant, like she wasn't good enough to do the things that Ranma did. Drake had finally caught up on the stories of the last few years, though he lost a couple of paychecks to Nabiki for it. But now he understood. It made perfect sense why Akane had become more violent towards Ranma after he killed Saffron. Ranma proved that her ideals were correct, but in Akane's eyes, it proved that she wasn't good enough, that she could never help people the way Ranma did. 'Oh boy, this is gonna take forever. Patience is what that girl needs. I believe she'll never catch up to Ranma, but she can be as good as he is now. If I can get her past this anger.'

XD

Ryouga was enjoying life for a change. Akari had proved that while she was upset over what had happened, she would be happy if he would be too. So, Ryouga decided to be happy. He found that he did indeed love Akari, and that Akane must've just been a crush he had because of the affection she had shown him. Ryouga had proposed to Akari just the other night, and she went giddy with glee, and had been bouncing off of the walls ever since. Ryouga had also been trying his hardest to keep up with his training. He was beggining to realized just how much his running around all over the world had helped him. His thought were interupted when Akari came running over to him with a small package.

"Ryouga! This just came for you!" She said

"Huh? I wonder who it's from, I didn't think anyone knew I was out here."

"Well, open it! I wanna see what it is."

"Okay." Once he opened the package, he teased Akari by pretending he wasn't going to, a braclet and a letter fell out of it. "Hmm, I wonder what this is."

"Maybe it says who it's from in the letter?"

Ryouga opened up the letter and decided to read it aloud so Akari could hear. "Dear Ryouga, This is a gift I meant to give to you long ago. It will restore your sense of direction so long as you keep it on. I had planed on having you use this so that I could have you attack Ranma to help keep both of your skill levels up, but you always seemed to find your way back to Nerima without it. I'm giving you this as a going away present.Shampoo decided to leave the tribe so that she could always be close to Ranma so I no longer have any reason to stay, I wish you the best of luck Ryouga. Cologne." Ryouga and Akari looked at each other and blinked a few times. Ryouga's eyes started tearing up and Akari threw herself into his arms.

"Yay!" She cried. "It's a cure! That means I can take this chain off of you a de-activate my electric fence!"

Ryouga face-faulted. But returned his fiancee's hug. "Hey, can we test it? I'd like to go visit everyone in Nerima. I'd like to tell everyone about us."

Akari snuggled closer to Ryouga. "That sounds great." She said

XD

Soun and Nabiki had gone over to the Saotome house. He needed to talk to Ranma and Nodoka. This problem had to be corrected.

"Hey, Mr. Tendo! What's up?" Ranma said when he answered the door.

"I need to speak with you and your mother about something of great importance." He said.

'Uh-oh!' Ranma thought when he saw Nabiki. "Hey, you ain't gonna try an force me and Nabiki to marry are ya?"

"Let's just sit and talk for a while." Soun said.

Once they had all gathered around the table, Genma included, Nodoka spoke. "What's this about Soun?"

"For many years now, I have been blind. My wife's death left a deeper wound than I thought. All that mattered to me anymore was making sure that our Families' honor was upheld. That's when Genma and I made that promise, the one about uniting the schools." he turned to Ranma and bowed. "Ranma I'm sorry. My actions have put a strain upon you that you should not have had to bear. I thought that the only way to preserve the Tendo honor was to join the Satome and Tendo schools, but I was wrong. I herby release you from the foolish promise made years ago."

"What are you saying Tendo? Joining the schools is our only option! If it doesn't happen than the anything goes style will die!" Genma was stopped from saying anything else as the pomel of Nodoka's blade struck him on the back of his neck.

"I see." Nodoka said. She looked over at Nabiki. "Are you alright with this, my dear?"

Nabiki jumped. "Well, um, yeah I am, I think Ranma should be free to choose who he wants to be with."

"Nabiki." Ranma said.

"I never liked what our fathers did to you Ranma. You had just met us all and you were expected to choose one of us as a fiancee. It wasn't right." Nabiki said.

"Well then, son, I suppose you're free from the obligation now. Are you glad to be free to choose?" Nodoka asked.

"Well, yeah I guess." He looked over at Nabiki. 'She seems okay with it.' He thought. Shampoo interupted everyone's thoughts when she came crashing in spouting off something about not letting Ranma get married. Everyone blinked, since it was after all the farthest thing from happening today. "Um, Shampoo, I ain't getting married. Mr. Tendo just released me from the engagement."

Shampoo calmed, then started dancing around. She hugged Soun and Nodoka. When she went to sit next to Ranma, Nabiki grabed her by the arm and pulled her to another room.

"What you doing?" Shampoo asked.

"I just want you to know, I care about Ranma too. I'm willing to step aside and basicly let you have him, but only as long as you keep him happy. If you hurt him, ever hurt him, like Akane did. I will take him from you." Nabiki said.

"Aiya, you love Ranma too?" Nabiki looked away. "Shampoo promise you she never hurt Ranma on purpose. She love Ranma with whole heart!"

"I'm just saying, Shampoo. What were you about to do back there?"

Shampoo lowered her head. "You right, Shampoo sorry. She try to keep from act like Akane."

"Good, that's all I can ask.."

"Nabiki? Why you give up on airen?"

"I can't prove my love for him the way you did. Giving up everything you had just to be around Ranma. I'll admit that he's worth it, but I couldn't ever do that."

Shampoo nodded. "We being friends now, yes?"

Nabiki chuckled. "Sure, but I want details on everything that happens between you two."

Shampoo laughed with Nabiki. "Is deal."

In the other room, Nodoka was handing her son tissues, wondering why he was sneezing so much.

XD

Akane was working through her new katas, it took her awhile, but she'd finnaly gotten the forms down. Drake had been watching her for hours. For awhile she wasn't sure if he was awake or sleeping. 'I wonder what he's thinking about.' She thought.

"Akane, I think I've figured you out." Drake said.

"What? That quick?" Akane said.

"You sound dissapointed that I know what's wrong?"

She walked over and kneeled next to him. "No, I just. Well, okay, what did you find out?"

End Chapter 15

Innortal: Okay, thanks. And thanks for continuing to read and review.

Anaxim:Lol, more votes for the threesome. They sure are rare. Even more so on this site.

ss4-link:Cool, and thank you. Response to random quote: Damn straight! Still sucks though.

Anime Princess: Thank you much, I'm glad you like it. Lol, I'll post as quickly as my fingers let me type.

MazokuRanma: Woohoo! Another essay! Thanks again! I'm more of a fan of Kasumi/Tofu, but I still love reading Kasumi Ranma's. Have you read, A trip to self, by trugeta? It's on my favorites list, a definet must for Kasumi/Ranma fans.

I'll admit, Shampoo's choice may have been a bit much, but I feel that her love for Ranma is strong enough. You are right about amazon laws though.

Yeah, I dunno what exactly compeled me to do that with Ranma's attitude, but I still did.

Something for Nabs is in the works, but it may not show until the sequal, it's going to be a ways off I'm afraid.

nonengel: I thought about going into detail about what all exactly happened between Drake and the amazons (Remember Mousse's fear when he first saw it was Drake.) But I'm afraid that it would overshadow evrything else in this particular story. Cologne didn't toy with Mousse, she whacked him good, splashed him, and drug him home.

Wonderbee31: Thanks as always.