Chapter 4: Reconciliation
Ryoga felt like he was swimming in a pool of blackness. The blackness eventually faded to gray and suddenly Ryoga opened his eyes and squinted at the sudden brightness of the white hospital room.
"Oh, Ryoga, you're awake," came Kasumi's cheerful voice. "How are you feeling?"
Ryoga considered the question and tried to find someplace that didn't hurt. He couldn't find one. "I hurt all over. How long have I been unconscious?" he asked.
"Nearly two years," Kasumi said.
"T- t- two years?!" Ryoga exclaimed, causing the pain in his body to reawaken. Ryoga clenched his teeth and gripped the sides of the bed to keep from screaming.
"You're lucky to be alive," Kasumi said, concern on her face. "The doctors said that anyone else would have been killed many times over by the beating Akane gave you. You really should have told her sooner," she scolded.
Ryoga sighed and looked out the window. "I know," he admitted. "I made a lot of mistakes. I really don't know how I could have been so blind."
"Akane has had time to think while you were unconscious," Kasumi said. "She's felt so guilty about what she did."
"Will she ever want to see me again, Kasumi?" Ryoga asked.
"But of course, Ryoga," Kasumi answered. "In fact, she should be here in a few minutes. She's been coming by every day after school to check on you. She'll be relieved to see that you're awake."
Both turned as the door opened and Akane stepped through. When Ryoga saw her, his heart almost broke. He could see that she'd developed into a fine-looking young woman, but her beauty was marred by the look of depression on her face. Depression then turned to guilt as her eyes turned toward hem and she saw that he was awake.
"Ryoga, I-" she started, sounding like she was about to cry.
"Akane," Ryoga interrupted, "if anyone should be sorry, it's me. I betrayed your trust and deceived you. I told you about it because I don't want to lie to you anymore. I love you..." Ryoga paused, realizing what he just said. "I didn't just say that out loud, did I? I guess I did. Well, it's the truth and I'll understand if you don't ever want to see me again because of what I did."
Tears formed in Akane's eyes as she heard this. "Ryoga," she said, "don't you leave me, too. I've already lost two people in my life that I cared deeply for, and I don't think I could stand to lose another."
Both smiled as they embraced and Kasumi silently slipped out and closed the door, happy for her youngest sister and relieved that Nabiki wasn't here with her camera.
------------
Kiima knelt before her king, trembling with excitement. After two years, they were finally ready to take revenge upon the humans that had killed her king.
"Well, seneschal," the figure on the throne boomed, impatient with the formality, "what have you to report?"
Kiima winced, thinking to herself, "As you know, my Lord, we have been preparing to exact revenge upon the accomplices to your last death. I know you wanted to wait until the boy awoke. The spies finally reported that the boy woke up a few days ago and shows signs that he will reach full potential in one month."
An evil grin spread across the face of the Lord of Phoenix Mountain. "Begin readying my escort."
------------
Ryoga was undergoing some rigorous physical therapy. Though his ki-enhanced healing had reduced his wounds to nothing but a few fading bruises, two years of inactivity had severely atrophied his muscles. At the moment, he was straining the limits of the exercise equipment. In less than two weeks, he'd need to go elsewhere to train if he planned to regain all that he'd lost.
Throughout his training, Ryoga thought only of Akane. She was the only reason for him to train now that Ranma was gone. Even though the threats from all of Ranma's other fiancees were gone, there was still Happosai, should he return, the threat of the inevitable demon or foreign prince coming to kidnap her, and, if he wanted to start a relationship, he'd most certainly have to stave off attacks by Kuno, Gosunkugi, and nearly the entire male population of Furinkan High School.
I wonder how Akane's doing at school right now, anyway? Ryoga thought to himself.
------------
"Miss Tendo?" the teacher asked, pulling Akane back to reality.
"Huh?" Akane answered intelligently, seeing the expectant look on the teacher's face.
"Daydreaming in class?" the teacher asked, a little surprised. "That isn't like you at all, Miss Tendo. Go stand in the hall."
A few moments later, Akane was standing in the hallway with a bucket of water, just finishing trying in vain to find a logical explanation for why it is effective to send a student out of class as punishment for not paying attention in class. It had given her quite a headache.
she thought,
Akane stood there thinking until the bell for class change rang, but she couldn't come any closer to sorting out her feelings than she had over the past two years.
------------
"Well, Nabiki Tendo, what have you for me, today?"
"Well, Kuno-baby," came the reply, "I have a special surprise for you today."
"A surprise, eh? What have you that could surprise me anymore?"
"Well, just take a look," Nabiki said, pulling out several photographs. When she spread them out on the table, Kuno's eyes went wide in genuine surprise. The pictures were all of Akane in her training gi, breaking bricks and doing katas. While the fact that her usual gi was having some difficulty containing her developing frame would have been enough to surprise him, something else caught Kuno's attention.
"Akane Tendo, smiling?" Kuno asked. "I had thought she would never rise from the depths of despair caused, no doubt, as an after- effect of the vile sorceror Saotome's foul enchantment." Kuno's eyes widened even further when the inevitable realization dawned on him. "This must mean at last that she is free of the demon's influence and thus will again be receptive to the manly charms of the Raging Storm of Tokyo College!"
Nabiki just sighed in resignation as she watched him run off. she thought as she pocketed the money Kuno had given her during his proclaimation.
------------
Ryoga tensed as he felt someone watching him. By instinct, he relaxed and continued his kata. Even though he was paying careful attention to his surroundings, he barely managed to avoid the blow that seemingly came from out of nowhere. He rolled out of the way and came up in a ready stance, facing his opponent, and immediately facefaulted.
"Well, well," the small being said, "not all hope is lost for you, after all."
"Co- Cologne?" Ryoga stammered, picking himself up off the ground. "Kasumi told me that you went home to China when you heard that Ranma had died."
"That is true, young apprentice. Shampoo, Mousse, and I did return to China nearly two years ago," the Amazon matriarch replied. "But, five days ago, a small army of figures was seen leaving Phoenix Mountain and heading in the direction of Japan."
"What does that mean?" Ryoga asked, visibly beginning to get nervous.
"As far as I can tell," Cologne started, "Saffron is revived and wishes to take revenge on you and Akane for your part in his last death."
"But we didn't do anything!" Ryoga protested. he thought, old tears resurfacing.
"Unfortunately, I don't believe Saffron will believe you... if he'll even stop to listen, that is," Cologne said. "I'm offering to train you," she continued. "After all, I've become quite fond of you and Akane over the time I spent here trying to win Ranma for Shampoo."
Ryoga blushed a little at the compliment, but quickly recovered. "Thank you, Cologne. I would be honored to train with you," he said, thinking back to when he'd laughed at her the first time she'd made such an offer. he thought.
"Good," Cologne said, then took on a thoughtful look. "Now, where do I begin?"
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Author's Note:
YAY! I actually got something done on this story! Ok, anyway, I know some people may be a little annoyed at the skipping of those two years, but I figured Akane needed a little time to mature a little more before putting her in a high stress situation again. Oh, and I decided that Saffron needed time to grow up, too. As always, I'm begging for e-mails. Tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, where you'd like the story to go, where you'd like to tell me to go.... anything at all. I plan to introduce Saffron again in the next chapter and I have a huge plot twist in store that I don't think any of you will see coming.... heh, heh, heh
Ryoga felt like he was swimming in a pool of blackness. The blackness eventually faded to gray and suddenly Ryoga opened his eyes and squinted at the sudden brightness of the white hospital room.
"Oh, Ryoga, you're awake," came Kasumi's cheerful voice. "How are you feeling?"
Ryoga considered the question and tried to find someplace that didn't hurt. He couldn't find one. "I hurt all over. How long have I been unconscious?" he asked.
"Nearly two years," Kasumi said.
"T- t- two years?!" Ryoga exclaimed, causing the pain in his body to reawaken. Ryoga clenched his teeth and gripped the sides of the bed to keep from screaming.
"You're lucky to be alive," Kasumi said, concern on her face. "The doctors said that anyone else would have been killed many times over by the beating Akane gave you. You really should have told her sooner," she scolded.
Ryoga sighed and looked out the window. "I know," he admitted. "I made a lot of mistakes. I really don't know how I could have been so blind."
"Akane has had time to think while you were unconscious," Kasumi said. "She's felt so guilty about what she did."
"Will she ever want to see me again, Kasumi?" Ryoga asked.
"But of course, Ryoga," Kasumi answered. "In fact, she should be here in a few minutes. She's been coming by every day after school to check on you. She'll be relieved to see that you're awake."
Both turned as the door opened and Akane stepped through. When Ryoga saw her, his heart almost broke. He could see that she'd developed into a fine-looking young woman, but her beauty was marred by the look of depression on her face. Depression then turned to guilt as her eyes turned toward hem and she saw that he was awake.
"Ryoga, I-" she started, sounding like she was about to cry.
"Akane," Ryoga interrupted, "if anyone should be sorry, it's me. I betrayed your trust and deceived you. I told you about it because I don't want to lie to you anymore. I love you..." Ryoga paused, realizing what he just said. "I didn't just say that out loud, did I? I guess I did. Well, it's the truth and I'll understand if you don't ever want to see me again because of what I did."
Tears formed in Akane's eyes as she heard this. "Ryoga," she said, "don't you leave me, too. I've already lost two people in my life that I cared deeply for, and I don't think I could stand to lose another."
Both smiled as they embraced and Kasumi silently slipped out and closed the door, happy for her youngest sister and relieved that Nabiki wasn't here with her camera.
------------
Kiima knelt before her king, trembling with excitement. After two years, they were finally ready to take revenge upon the humans that had killed her king.
"Well, seneschal," the figure on the throne boomed, impatient with the formality, "what have you to report?"
Kiima winced, thinking to herself, "As you know, my Lord, we have been preparing to exact revenge upon the accomplices to your last death. I know you wanted to wait until the boy awoke. The spies finally reported that the boy woke up a few days ago and shows signs that he will reach full potential in one month."
An evil grin spread across the face of the Lord of Phoenix Mountain. "Begin readying my escort."
------------
Ryoga was undergoing some rigorous physical therapy. Though his ki-enhanced healing had reduced his wounds to nothing but a few fading bruises, two years of inactivity had severely atrophied his muscles. At the moment, he was straining the limits of the exercise equipment. In less than two weeks, he'd need to go elsewhere to train if he planned to regain all that he'd lost.
Throughout his training, Ryoga thought only of Akane. She was the only reason for him to train now that Ranma was gone. Even though the threats from all of Ranma's other fiancees were gone, there was still Happosai, should he return, the threat of the inevitable demon or foreign prince coming to kidnap her, and, if he wanted to start a relationship, he'd most certainly have to stave off attacks by Kuno, Gosunkugi, and nearly the entire male population of Furinkan High School.
I wonder how Akane's doing at school right now, anyway? Ryoga thought to himself.
------------
"Miss Tendo?" the teacher asked, pulling Akane back to reality.
"Huh?" Akane answered intelligently, seeing the expectant look on the teacher's face.
"Daydreaming in class?" the teacher asked, a little surprised. "That isn't like you at all, Miss Tendo. Go stand in the hall."
A few moments later, Akane was standing in the hallway with a bucket of water, just finishing trying in vain to find a logical explanation for why it is effective to send a student out of class as punishment for not paying attention in class. It had given her quite a headache.
she thought,
Akane stood there thinking until the bell for class change rang, but she couldn't come any closer to sorting out her feelings than she had over the past two years.
------------
"Well, Nabiki Tendo, what have you for me, today?"
"Well, Kuno-baby," came the reply, "I have a special surprise for you today."
"A surprise, eh? What have you that could surprise me anymore?"
"Well, just take a look," Nabiki said, pulling out several photographs. When she spread them out on the table, Kuno's eyes went wide in genuine surprise. The pictures were all of Akane in her training gi, breaking bricks and doing katas. While the fact that her usual gi was having some difficulty containing her developing frame would have been enough to surprise him, something else caught Kuno's attention.
"Akane Tendo, smiling?" Kuno asked. "I had thought she would never rise from the depths of despair caused, no doubt, as an after- effect of the vile sorceror Saotome's foul enchantment." Kuno's eyes widened even further when the inevitable realization dawned on him. "This must mean at last that she is free of the demon's influence and thus will again be receptive to the manly charms of the Raging Storm of Tokyo College!"
Nabiki just sighed in resignation as she watched him run off. she thought as she pocketed the money Kuno had given her during his proclaimation.
------------
Ryoga tensed as he felt someone watching him. By instinct, he relaxed and continued his kata. Even though he was paying careful attention to his surroundings, he barely managed to avoid the blow that seemingly came from out of nowhere. He rolled out of the way and came up in a ready stance, facing his opponent, and immediately facefaulted.
"Well, well," the small being said, "not all hope is lost for you, after all."
"Co- Cologne?" Ryoga stammered, picking himself up off the ground. "Kasumi told me that you went home to China when you heard that Ranma had died."
"That is true, young apprentice. Shampoo, Mousse, and I did return to China nearly two years ago," the Amazon matriarch replied. "But, five days ago, a small army of figures was seen leaving Phoenix Mountain and heading in the direction of Japan."
"What does that mean?" Ryoga asked, visibly beginning to get nervous.
"As far as I can tell," Cologne started, "Saffron is revived and wishes to take revenge on you and Akane for your part in his last death."
"But we didn't do anything!" Ryoga protested. he thought, old tears resurfacing.
"Unfortunately, I don't believe Saffron will believe you... if he'll even stop to listen, that is," Cologne said. "I'm offering to train you," she continued. "After all, I've become quite fond of you and Akane over the time I spent here trying to win Ranma for Shampoo."
Ryoga blushed a little at the compliment, but quickly recovered. "Thank you, Cologne. I would be honored to train with you," he said, thinking back to when he'd laughed at her the first time she'd made such an offer. he thought.
"Good," Cologne said, then took on a thoughtful look. "Now, where do I begin?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note:
YAY! I actually got something done on this story! Ok, anyway, I know some people may be a little annoyed at the skipping of those two years, but I figured Akane needed a little time to mature a little more before putting her in a high stress situation again. Oh, and I decided that Saffron needed time to grow up, too. As always, I'm begging for e-mails. Tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, where you'd like the story to go, where you'd like to tell me to go.... anything at all. I plan to introduce Saffron again in the next chapter and I have a huge plot twist in store that I don't think any of you will see coming.... heh, heh, heh