Broken
Shadow Knight
Chapter 3: Tainted Love....(NO NOT THE SONG!!)
Disclaimer: There's always space for wishes.but no, I don't own it. Sadly.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! Oh dear.^_^ It just makes me so happy that people are actually reading my stories. Believe me, it is indeed gratifying to know so. ANYWAYS, I hope that you enjoy the next installment. These first few chapters are almost like a prelude to the real plot and stuff, but I'm still getting there. Hope you enjoy it.
~
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
~
Reaching out from its cloak of morning clouds, the sun peeked over and let forth a spectrum of light, starting a new day in the small town of Nermia. Against the blotches of crimsons and rose pinks, the outline of a steadily approaching figure could be seen in the distance, painted darkly against the bright colors. As the figure came closer, the sun's golden rays illuminated the figure's face.
Small beads of sweat clung to a pale brow, causing the owner's blue-black bangs to plaster against her forehead. Raising a delicate but strong hand, she wiped away a drop of sweat running down toward her eye. Still jogging, she let her hand drop to her side as it began to rise and fall with the other in a rhythmic motion. Her breathing came through cracked lips, hard and quick.
Running a tongue across her lips, she started to slow down as she reached the gates of a fairly large house. As she opened the wooden gate before her, she faintly noticed the hinges of the dojo's sign were getting a little rusty. Sliding the door open to the house, she began to slip her shoes of when she heard a voice call her.
"Akane? Is that you?"
The girl responded in kind.
"Yes, I'm home, Kasumi. Do you need anything?"
Walking across the dining room, Akane peeked her head around the corner toward the direction of the kitchen. Seeing her elder sister there, she approached her slowly, watching as she performed another culinary masterpiece.
"Kasumi?"
Hearing her name called, she turned away from her work and turned toward the younger girl with a smile lighting her soft face. Wiping her hands on a towel, she put the breakfast she had started into the oven.
Turning back toward Akane, Kasumi began cleaning up as she spoke to Akane from behind her back, "I'm glad you're hear Akane. I need your help. Can you go out into the dojo and sweep out any dust in there? There's a group of people who need to use the dojo later today, and I want it to be nice in there for them. Could you do that for me?"
Akane smiled at her sister's beaming face. She knew that no matter what it was, she could never refuse any of her requests when she was in such a happy mood. It made her herself feel good. Grabbing an old broom, she gave her consent.
Looking back to her elder sister, she asked, "Is there anything else you need Kasumi? I'll do the dojo, but if there's something else you want me to do, just tell me, okay?"
Kasumi beamed at Akane's consent, showering her with thanks before she answered, "I'll do that. Thank you very much, Akane."
When Kasumi was finished, she quickly whipped back around and began to make another exquisite dish for breakfast. As Akane saw this, she frowned inwardly a bit as jealousy nipped at her. Why couldn't she cook like that?
Where did she go wrong? Even though over time she had come to admit to herself that her cooking was terrible, she still wanted to try. Maybe she would have some kind of success by now if that stupid jerk of fiancée of hers didn't keep running away.
Sighing Akane began to walk out toward the dojo. On her way, she heard the grunts and battle sounds emitting from outside near the koi pond. Halting for a moment, she listened. She could here his voice. Normally, she would ignore these petty battles between Ranma and his father, but today it was different. Just hearing his low voice, she started to remember her dream. Her terrible, terrible dream.
She could still see the horrible nightmare play out before her like a flickering, silver, movie screen on the back of her eyelids. She shivered as it spilled out before her. She could still feel his large, callous hands grasp roughly at her chin.
She saw and cringed as she saw him walk off with his other fiancées, smirking back at her all the while. Yet, what really shattered her heart was when she saw his eyes. Cold eyes, the color of an angry storm clouded in his face. She wanted to flinch from those harsh and bitter eyes.
She could still feel the hot, salty tears stream down her cheeks.
Raising a hand to her face, she was shocked to find tears running down her cheeks. Opening her eyes, she rubbed her tears quickly away on her sleeve and walked silently out into the dojo, dragging the broom slightly along with her.
As she opened the door, she gazed around for a moment. All this,. the house, the dojo.... all would be hers some day. She had always taken great pride in knowing that she would be the heiress to the dojo one day.
Looking down as she brushed the stiff broom across the wooden floorboards, she watched as her reflection smiled back at her. Each individual board.. It brought and would bring memories forever. This was her heritage, her love of life.
Smiling, she closed her eyes and began humming happily to herself. Visions of the future painted themselves on her mind's eye. She always liked dreaming of the future. She could see it now. A student's beaming face would smile at her, concentrating and trying hard to complete a kata. What pride and joy would explode inside her as she saw a student complete a move! Suddenly, a thought struck her like a deft arrow.
What about Ranma?
Where would he be in her future? Would he be married to her? Or would he be married to another fiancée, who was more caring, more beautiful and lovely than her. She was struck numb by this chilling thought. Her, eyes wide open and her mind wandering, she didn't feel the presence approaching behind her.
Suddenly, Akane felt her back bump into something solid and warm. She felt her eyes screw sideways, knowing that there was someone behind her. She turned around to apologize, but before she could utter a word, a crude voice rasped loudly behind her.
"Would you move you idiot?! Geeze you're such a klutz, Akane. Are you going to _move_? Or do I have to get you out of my way?"
As soon as Akane heard the harsh whisper she felt her left eye twitch slightly. Closing her eyes, she sighed, trying to hold down the angry storm that writhed furiously inside her. She turned around to see who it was, but she already knew.
When her eyes fell upon the raven-haired, smirking faced boy, she knew that she would have to withhold her fury. *What a coincidence.. Ranma, of course.* she thought.
Yet, even as she felt this great anger inside, Akane felt something else seed in her heart.. relief. It was odd, but. she felt it inside her heart, a tiny whisper that breathed in a sense of serenity washed over her in a calming wave. It was nice to know. to know that he was still here. That he hadn't left her.
Maybe. maybe there was a chance that he loved her.
Her eyes glazed, and her mind filled with a sea of thoughts, she closed her eyes, trying to rationalize them. Yet, she failed to remember the boy behind her. She failed to notice the dark scowl that grew on his face, etching deeper and deeper into his face.
Finally, as if popping like an angry balloon, Ranma's mouth twisted into an annoyed smirk and he yelled at out loud at her.
"Hey, dumb-as-a-brick girl! I told you to move _over_. So do it, you slow, sexless, tomboy!"
Suddenly, Akane's brown pools darkened and flickered dangerously. Turning around, she narrowed her eyes severely as a dark scowl grew on her face suggestively. Ranma seemed only amused by her fury and simply smirked, a cold, vicious gleam in his eyes shined as he watched her dark amusement. Seeing the cocky grin light his face, Akane felt something explode inside of her, striking a chord of fury she hadn't felt before.
Sure, she might be glad that he was still there, that the dream hadn't somehow come true, but. when it came to times like this, there was no other option except to pummel the perverted jerk.
As she felt her aura grow heatedly around her, she felt a pang inside her heart. There was. something wrong with this. She could feel the seedling of doubt grow outside the furious storm that clouded her mind in a heavy haze.
She knew that it was really herself, a small voice amongst the screaming storm that was trying to rationalize with her... to let her remember exactly what could happen, what the consequences could be for her actions. Yet, when it came to these verbal assaults at her, she could not bite back her tongue. She let her fury reign and take over her.
"What did you call me, Ranma," she asked coolly to Ranma, a look of promised death in her eyes for the wrong answer.
The bitter smirk on Ranma's face only deepened as he watched her eyes flash with different emotions, confusion causing chaos to spread and insecurities to befuddle her until finally, her anger surpassed any other feelings. He smiled as her aura flickered wildly around her, scarlet and wild from the roaring rage she felt.
Then, right before him, he watched her suddenly bring forth a large wooden mallet from her unknown space pocket. She was frowning all the while, her eyes forming tiny slits in her darkened face.
Twisting her fingers tightly around the wooden handle of her mallet, Akane felt a growl of irritation curl in he throat. She raised her hammer and slashed it through the air, as if trying to cut away the problems before her. Akane braced herself, ready to flatten the jerk that smirked cockily at her.
He was going to pay.
"Now." she whispered, a tinge of fury tainting her voice, "Would you like to repeat that Ranma?"
Ranma just grinned even more as she threatened him, a menacing growl rising behind her voice. He then responded in kind with the same dark smile on his face, grinning like a maniac.
Raising a hand, he brushed off his nails, as if taking his time. Then, with a gleam in his eye, he said, "You need help understanding this in your little brain? Alright then," he spoke slowly as if to a child, "Move_out_of_my_way. Got it? Here I'll spell it out for you dimwit. Get out of my wa-!"
#Smack#
Ranma felt his teeth bite into his flesh of his cheek as he was cut off from his verbal assault on Akane. Peering through the slits of his eyelids, he saw Akane standing in front of him, head bowed down under a mass of hair, her hand lowering from his face. Opening his eyes wide, Ranma frowned angrily and grabbed at his cheek, nursing the swollen skin.
"You idiot! What were you thinking! Stupid tomboy," Ranma seethed through his clenched teeth, "look what you've done! What is your probl-"
Ranma's voice faltered again when he saw Akane. A small tear slipped silently down her cheek, running down to her chin. He then noticed that the outline of her body began to shake. Her head bowed down, and her hair covering her face like a black curtain, he could not see her face.
Yet, as he saw the tear drip down her chin, he felt something fierce twist in his heart. With a great hesitation, he reached a large, awkward hand out to her, wanting to comfort her. Yet, as he reached out to her, he felt something hold him back, as if paralyzing his body.
He couldn't move.
He struggled against this unknown force, but found himself still unresponsive. *What the heck is going on?!*
Suddenly, he heard a soft thud on the wooden boards of the floor. Looking, he saw that Akane was still shaking fiercely, but now had sunk down onto the floor, he knees pressed against the ground. Sadly, he noticed that she cradled her face lightly in her hands, her hair forming a black cape around her face.
He tried to get up again. He didn't like seeing her like this.
All of the sudden, he felt a searing bolt of pain rush through his head, burning his mind with burning white hotness. He closed his eyes and wanted to writhe in pain, but he felt his body stand still. Another bolt shook his head, and sent his teeth rattling. He could only hold on for a little longer. He opened his eyes slightly and peered through at Akane. She sat there, still shaking roughly.
*Akane.. help me.* With a sudden strike, Ranma's vision clouded, as darkness waited him with comforting arms into unconsciousness.
Jerking her head up abruptly, Akane's eyes flashed open as she heard something. *What was that?* she wondered through jumbled thoughts. Then she remembered what was happening as reality smacked her in the face.
Oh Ranma.
Even as his name whispered off her tongue, she was silent as she stared at the boy before her. Her brown eyes traveled up from his tai chi slippers, up his Chinese silk clothes, and up to his face.
There, she saw a dark shadow clouding his face, a slight demented gleam in his normally calm, gray-blue eyes. There was something different about him now. He looked like a cold and hungry wolf, ready to fight off predators.and hunt down his prey.
His eyes.they reminded her.. of her dream.
Akane's eyes flickered abruptly as she thought of the dream. It was as if she were struck by a bolt of lightning. She shivered and drew her arms around her shoulders, trying to calm herself and forget the horrid dream. The nightmare with those cold, hateful eyes.
She opened her eyes and knew that she had to do something. This was too much like the dream for her comfort.. There was something wrong.
Pressing her hands against the ground, she pushed herself up shakily and stood on her feet. Looking up, she stared the boy in the eye. She had to ask him. Just so. that she could know. To know if she had any chance..
To know if he loved her.
"Ranma. Do.Do you," Akane stumbled, her tongue feeling clumsy and drunk, "Do you..l.lo..love me?"
When she looked up, Ranma seemed slightly miffed by her question, but remained unfazed. He didn't even blush. He simply let his eyes, cold and emotionless, fall down upon her. His face suddenly twisted and a caustic smirk lit his face in an unholy light.
"Love you? What a stupid question. Do you really think I could love someone as ugly and as dumb as you? You're worthless to me. You're simply a burden, a cumbersome little twit that was given to me. You have only abused me. What did you really expect? That I would drop to my knees, begging for you to marry me? Forget it."
"But." Akane felt herself mumble through her tear choked throat, "I .I thought."
"Whatever you thought about us getting together was wrong, Akane. Let me ask you this: Did you _ever_ thank me for saving you? Even once? Don't even speak," Ranma stated when Akane tried to answer, "save your case for someone who cares. All you ever did was abuse me and insult me. And you have to gull, the indignity to ask me if I _love_ you?!
Stupid, stupid girl. Don't you ever learn? You need to wake up and taste reality Akane! Open your eyes and understand this: I don't love you. I despise you! To think that you would even have a chance now is a wasted dream. Dreams are for fools. And you are the biggest fool of them all. Get a life and get away from me, I don't want anything to do with you."
Akane sat there, silent as her eyes were pulled wide open. What had she done? What pain had she caused to Ranma? It.. it was all true.. She did do those things hadn't she? She reached up and grabbed her head in her hands. She closed her eyes and tried to erase herself of these sins. She was. a monster. She was everything that Ranma had said. Oh if only she could take all of it back! Yet, she knew she could not. But. she wanted to.
After all,. she had just told Ranma that she loved him.
Her, the "boy-hater".. had just handed her heart to this boy. this boy she loved. But. he didn't have room in his heart for her anymore. no. She had hurt him too much, and now she had to pay for it. But it. it hurt too much. Every pound of her heart reminded her. reminded her as her heart bled from the pain.
*It's strange* she thought, *this seems exactly like that dream. Was it some kind of future insight? Just so I could be hurt again? Just so I could see his eyes filled with hatred for me again?*
She looked up into Ranma's face, feeling a need to do so. When she looked, deep into his eyes, she saw the fear that plagued her so from the dream.
The hatred in his eyes burned brightly upon her.
How could those same eyes, the same eyes she fell in love with, belong to the man who despised her so? She felt hot tears build up in her eyes, scratching or scoring her eyelids, threatening to spill over. *But,* she stood to her feet and raised her eyes slowly from the ground, *I have to face him. I don't care anymore. He doesn't love me.*
Plastering a false smile on her face, Akane looked up, even as a tear scored down her cheek. "Please Ranma. I ask that you forgive me. I'm so sorry for all the pain I caused you. I promise I'll never hurt you again. I just hope that we can still be friends some how. I hope that you find happiness with one of your other fiancées. I . I just want you to be happy. Good-bye. Ranma."
With that, she turned and fled through the open door and out the dojo before Ranma could make any response. He watched her go, running fast, until she was out of sight. Ranma could feel his lips curl in a cold smile. Suddenly he froze and reached a hand up to his head, closing his eyes painfully. He shook his head and opened his eyes, as if awaking from a drowsy slumber. "What happened," he mumbled out loud, his words slightly slurred as if from sleeping.
His eyes suddenly widened when he remembered that he had been speaking to Akane. He frowned slightly when he also remembered what he had said to her. *I guess I was kinda harsh about moving and stuff. That was weird. I felt like I hated Akane for some reason.* he thought worriedly, *But from what I said, I can't see how it would bother her that bad. Maybe she just pounded me flat with that damn mallet of hers and ran off.
I can't remember what happened after that. It was almost like I blacked out. Maybe I said something and she took it the wrong way, then hit me and ran out. Ah well, better go find her before Mr. Tendo finds out.*
With that, Ranma ran out the dojo door and outside.
~
A figure moved quickly along the fences of Nermia, yelling out as he speeding along, searching for something.
"Geeze, where'd that girl go now? I can't find any traces of random destruction anywhere. Akane....WHERE ARE Y-!"
He was cut off suddenly when he felt the rubber of a tire shoved into his face. Raising a blundering hand, he shoved the bicycle tire out of his face. Reaching his hands toward his face, he nursed the angry red bruise sporting on his face. He began to mutter something about stupid tomboys and persistent Amazons.
"Aerin......"
Ranma peeked through his fingers and looked toward the source of the voice. Standing in front of him, a girl stood, her purple hair flaring around her like a velvet cape as a slight wind blew. She was wearing one of her short Chinese dresses again, he noticed vaguely.
He also noticed that she had a strange smile on his face that was beginning scare him. There was something unmistakable about that smile. He had seen it before. He knew it met only one thing.
Trouble.
"Um....Hey Shampoo," Ranma stuttered, trying to ignore the feeling of dread that was beginning to churn in his stomach. He _really_ wanted to get away.
Shampoo smiled. He was so cute when he was like this. So unsure of what was going on. She was going to have fun with this. *Oh yes,* she thought pleasantly, her eyes trained on him, *she would have lots of fun.*
Now to use the bait. "Aerin want to keep searching for Akane? Or do Ranma want to go with Shampoo?"
Ranma felt a tingle run down his back as he saw the predatory gleam she had in her eyes. Something was strange about the look on her face. He didn't know what it meant, but he was sure he didn't want to find out.
He had to get away somehow. "Shampoo, I have to go and look for Akane. I uh. have to get her for. um. a. uh. A message from her father! Yeah! So.I gotta go. Bye Shampoo!"
Ranma turned and started to look for Akane again when he felt a sharp tug on his arm. Turning around, he stared warily behind him as a sweat drop ran down the back of his head. He could see Shampoo's purple eyes glaring at him.
With a sultry grin on her face, she ran her hand down his arm, feeling each muscle in detail. As her fingers ran down his hand, she clasped one of his fingers and looked into his eyes.
"Are you sure Ranma," she asked slyly, "Shampoo would love for you to come with her. Shampoo think you need to think over."
Ranma stared at Shampoo as if she had just grown a second head. There was something about her eyes and the way that she spoke. There was something odd about her. This was just all too weird. *I gotta go find that tomboy. For once, finding her will give me a good excuse for running away.*
"Uh... like I said, I gotta go find Akane, Shampoo. Maybe late-"
He was suddenly cut off when felt something pierce him in the back of his neck. His vision began to cloud darkly. He looked at Shampoo and saw her grinning evilly before everything faded into darkness once again.
Shampoo watched Ranma with a knowing smile lighting her face. She glanced as Ranma was about to fall, struck by unconsciousness before he suddenly stood up, his eyes blank and black. He was hers now.
She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "Your Shampoo's now. Listen to Shampoo. You do what she tell you. Now come with Shampoo and we'll see what you can do."
Ranma's black, unfocused eyes only stared at her blankly. He stood up straight and took her arm under the crook of his. Leading her toward her bike, he took her up in his arms and hopped on the bike and began to ride away. Shampoo, already in his arms, was in bliss as she was cradled ever so gently in his strong arms. This just how she had dreamed it would be.
But there was a small voice in the back of her head, nagging on her thoughts. She could hear it, quiet but firm, telling her that this was all just a lie. A lie to her, knowing that he didn't really want to do this. It was just the drug making him do this. He wasn't doing this on his own.
She sighed. She knew the voice was right, but she just didn't want to loose this...this feeling of comfort. Feeling that....knowing that she was loved by the man she loved most. She had given him her heart. Now, she was finally feeling his. *I don't care anymore. I just want to feel this forever...*
Nuzzling closer to his chest, she let the musk smell of him fill her nostrils. She even loved the smell of him. She sighed again and let her arms drape around his sides. Ranma continued to peddle steadily down the street.
*This must be what love feels like.*
~
OH MY GOODNESS! 0_o..That was SOOOO LONG! I may have typed this already before to start the story, but I still had to revise it all. WHEW! I'm glad I'm done with this chapter..Um.#Coughs# ANYWAYS.. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^_^ I worked really hard to make this good and I hope you like it.
And for R/A fans.DON"T WORRY IT'S STILL A RANMA/AKANE FIC!!! It just.has a twist in the plot to lead to it! ^_^*
In the next chapter: Shampoo has Ranma. will Akane come back to rescue him? And who is this that helps Akane out? Is that a bow I detect? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!! It helps the story keep going.and me too. Ciao. ^_~
Shadow Knight
Chapter 3: Tainted Love....(NO NOT THE SONG!!)
Disclaimer: There's always space for wishes.but no, I don't own it. Sadly.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! Oh dear.^_^ It just makes me so happy that people are actually reading my stories. Believe me, it is indeed gratifying to know so. ANYWAYS, I hope that you enjoy the next installment. These first few chapters are almost like a prelude to the real plot and stuff, but I'm still getting there. Hope you enjoy it.
~
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
~
Reaching out from its cloak of morning clouds, the sun peeked over and let forth a spectrum of light, starting a new day in the small town of Nermia. Against the blotches of crimsons and rose pinks, the outline of a steadily approaching figure could be seen in the distance, painted darkly against the bright colors. As the figure came closer, the sun's golden rays illuminated the figure's face.
Small beads of sweat clung to a pale brow, causing the owner's blue-black bangs to plaster against her forehead. Raising a delicate but strong hand, she wiped away a drop of sweat running down toward her eye. Still jogging, she let her hand drop to her side as it began to rise and fall with the other in a rhythmic motion. Her breathing came through cracked lips, hard and quick.
Running a tongue across her lips, she started to slow down as she reached the gates of a fairly large house. As she opened the wooden gate before her, she faintly noticed the hinges of the dojo's sign were getting a little rusty. Sliding the door open to the house, she began to slip her shoes of when she heard a voice call her.
"Akane? Is that you?"
The girl responded in kind.
"Yes, I'm home, Kasumi. Do you need anything?"
Walking across the dining room, Akane peeked her head around the corner toward the direction of the kitchen. Seeing her elder sister there, she approached her slowly, watching as she performed another culinary masterpiece.
"Kasumi?"
Hearing her name called, she turned away from her work and turned toward the younger girl with a smile lighting her soft face. Wiping her hands on a towel, she put the breakfast she had started into the oven.
Turning back toward Akane, Kasumi began cleaning up as she spoke to Akane from behind her back, "I'm glad you're hear Akane. I need your help. Can you go out into the dojo and sweep out any dust in there? There's a group of people who need to use the dojo later today, and I want it to be nice in there for them. Could you do that for me?"
Akane smiled at her sister's beaming face. She knew that no matter what it was, she could never refuse any of her requests when she was in such a happy mood. It made her herself feel good. Grabbing an old broom, she gave her consent.
Looking back to her elder sister, she asked, "Is there anything else you need Kasumi? I'll do the dojo, but if there's something else you want me to do, just tell me, okay?"
Kasumi beamed at Akane's consent, showering her with thanks before she answered, "I'll do that. Thank you very much, Akane."
When Kasumi was finished, she quickly whipped back around and began to make another exquisite dish for breakfast. As Akane saw this, she frowned inwardly a bit as jealousy nipped at her. Why couldn't she cook like that?
Where did she go wrong? Even though over time she had come to admit to herself that her cooking was terrible, she still wanted to try. Maybe she would have some kind of success by now if that stupid jerk of fiancée of hers didn't keep running away.
Sighing Akane began to walk out toward the dojo. On her way, she heard the grunts and battle sounds emitting from outside near the koi pond. Halting for a moment, she listened. She could here his voice. Normally, she would ignore these petty battles between Ranma and his father, but today it was different. Just hearing his low voice, she started to remember her dream. Her terrible, terrible dream.
She could still see the horrible nightmare play out before her like a flickering, silver, movie screen on the back of her eyelids. She shivered as it spilled out before her. She could still feel his large, callous hands grasp roughly at her chin.
She saw and cringed as she saw him walk off with his other fiancées, smirking back at her all the while. Yet, what really shattered her heart was when she saw his eyes. Cold eyes, the color of an angry storm clouded in his face. She wanted to flinch from those harsh and bitter eyes.
She could still feel the hot, salty tears stream down her cheeks.
Raising a hand to her face, she was shocked to find tears running down her cheeks. Opening her eyes, she rubbed her tears quickly away on her sleeve and walked silently out into the dojo, dragging the broom slightly along with her.
As she opened the door, she gazed around for a moment. All this,. the house, the dojo.... all would be hers some day. She had always taken great pride in knowing that she would be the heiress to the dojo one day.
Looking down as she brushed the stiff broom across the wooden floorboards, she watched as her reflection smiled back at her. Each individual board.. It brought and would bring memories forever. This was her heritage, her love of life.
Smiling, she closed her eyes and began humming happily to herself. Visions of the future painted themselves on her mind's eye. She always liked dreaming of the future. She could see it now. A student's beaming face would smile at her, concentrating and trying hard to complete a kata. What pride and joy would explode inside her as she saw a student complete a move! Suddenly, a thought struck her like a deft arrow.
What about Ranma?
Where would he be in her future? Would he be married to her? Or would he be married to another fiancée, who was more caring, more beautiful and lovely than her. She was struck numb by this chilling thought. Her, eyes wide open and her mind wandering, she didn't feel the presence approaching behind her.
Suddenly, Akane felt her back bump into something solid and warm. She felt her eyes screw sideways, knowing that there was someone behind her. She turned around to apologize, but before she could utter a word, a crude voice rasped loudly behind her.
"Would you move you idiot?! Geeze you're such a klutz, Akane. Are you going to _move_? Or do I have to get you out of my way?"
As soon as Akane heard the harsh whisper she felt her left eye twitch slightly. Closing her eyes, she sighed, trying to hold down the angry storm that writhed furiously inside her. She turned around to see who it was, but she already knew.
When her eyes fell upon the raven-haired, smirking faced boy, she knew that she would have to withhold her fury. *What a coincidence.. Ranma, of course.* she thought.
Yet, even as she felt this great anger inside, Akane felt something else seed in her heart.. relief. It was odd, but. she felt it inside her heart, a tiny whisper that breathed in a sense of serenity washed over her in a calming wave. It was nice to know. to know that he was still here. That he hadn't left her.
Maybe. maybe there was a chance that he loved her.
Her eyes glazed, and her mind filled with a sea of thoughts, she closed her eyes, trying to rationalize them. Yet, she failed to remember the boy behind her. She failed to notice the dark scowl that grew on his face, etching deeper and deeper into his face.
Finally, as if popping like an angry balloon, Ranma's mouth twisted into an annoyed smirk and he yelled at out loud at her.
"Hey, dumb-as-a-brick girl! I told you to move _over_. So do it, you slow, sexless, tomboy!"
Suddenly, Akane's brown pools darkened and flickered dangerously. Turning around, she narrowed her eyes severely as a dark scowl grew on her face suggestively. Ranma seemed only amused by her fury and simply smirked, a cold, vicious gleam in his eyes shined as he watched her dark amusement. Seeing the cocky grin light his face, Akane felt something explode inside of her, striking a chord of fury she hadn't felt before.
Sure, she might be glad that he was still there, that the dream hadn't somehow come true, but. when it came to times like this, there was no other option except to pummel the perverted jerk.
As she felt her aura grow heatedly around her, she felt a pang inside her heart. There was. something wrong with this. She could feel the seedling of doubt grow outside the furious storm that clouded her mind in a heavy haze.
She knew that it was really herself, a small voice amongst the screaming storm that was trying to rationalize with her... to let her remember exactly what could happen, what the consequences could be for her actions. Yet, when it came to these verbal assaults at her, she could not bite back her tongue. She let her fury reign and take over her.
"What did you call me, Ranma," she asked coolly to Ranma, a look of promised death in her eyes for the wrong answer.
The bitter smirk on Ranma's face only deepened as he watched her eyes flash with different emotions, confusion causing chaos to spread and insecurities to befuddle her until finally, her anger surpassed any other feelings. He smiled as her aura flickered wildly around her, scarlet and wild from the roaring rage she felt.
Then, right before him, he watched her suddenly bring forth a large wooden mallet from her unknown space pocket. She was frowning all the while, her eyes forming tiny slits in her darkened face.
Twisting her fingers tightly around the wooden handle of her mallet, Akane felt a growl of irritation curl in he throat. She raised her hammer and slashed it through the air, as if trying to cut away the problems before her. Akane braced herself, ready to flatten the jerk that smirked cockily at her.
He was going to pay.
"Now." she whispered, a tinge of fury tainting her voice, "Would you like to repeat that Ranma?"
Ranma just grinned even more as she threatened him, a menacing growl rising behind her voice. He then responded in kind with the same dark smile on his face, grinning like a maniac.
Raising a hand, he brushed off his nails, as if taking his time. Then, with a gleam in his eye, he said, "You need help understanding this in your little brain? Alright then," he spoke slowly as if to a child, "Move_out_of_my_way. Got it? Here I'll spell it out for you dimwit. Get out of my wa-!"
#Smack#
Ranma felt his teeth bite into his flesh of his cheek as he was cut off from his verbal assault on Akane. Peering through the slits of his eyelids, he saw Akane standing in front of him, head bowed down under a mass of hair, her hand lowering from his face. Opening his eyes wide, Ranma frowned angrily and grabbed at his cheek, nursing the swollen skin.
"You idiot! What were you thinking! Stupid tomboy," Ranma seethed through his clenched teeth, "look what you've done! What is your probl-"
Ranma's voice faltered again when he saw Akane. A small tear slipped silently down her cheek, running down to her chin. He then noticed that the outline of her body began to shake. Her head bowed down, and her hair covering her face like a black curtain, he could not see her face.
Yet, as he saw the tear drip down her chin, he felt something fierce twist in his heart. With a great hesitation, he reached a large, awkward hand out to her, wanting to comfort her. Yet, as he reached out to her, he felt something hold him back, as if paralyzing his body.
He couldn't move.
He struggled against this unknown force, but found himself still unresponsive. *What the heck is going on?!*
Suddenly, he heard a soft thud on the wooden boards of the floor. Looking, he saw that Akane was still shaking fiercely, but now had sunk down onto the floor, he knees pressed against the ground. Sadly, he noticed that she cradled her face lightly in her hands, her hair forming a black cape around her face.
He tried to get up again. He didn't like seeing her like this.
All of the sudden, he felt a searing bolt of pain rush through his head, burning his mind with burning white hotness. He closed his eyes and wanted to writhe in pain, but he felt his body stand still. Another bolt shook his head, and sent his teeth rattling. He could only hold on for a little longer. He opened his eyes slightly and peered through at Akane. She sat there, still shaking roughly.
*Akane.. help me.* With a sudden strike, Ranma's vision clouded, as darkness waited him with comforting arms into unconsciousness.
Jerking her head up abruptly, Akane's eyes flashed open as she heard something. *What was that?* she wondered through jumbled thoughts. Then she remembered what was happening as reality smacked her in the face.
Oh Ranma.
Even as his name whispered off her tongue, she was silent as she stared at the boy before her. Her brown eyes traveled up from his tai chi slippers, up his Chinese silk clothes, and up to his face.
There, she saw a dark shadow clouding his face, a slight demented gleam in his normally calm, gray-blue eyes. There was something different about him now. He looked like a cold and hungry wolf, ready to fight off predators.and hunt down his prey.
His eyes.they reminded her.. of her dream.
Akane's eyes flickered abruptly as she thought of the dream. It was as if she were struck by a bolt of lightning. She shivered and drew her arms around her shoulders, trying to calm herself and forget the horrid dream. The nightmare with those cold, hateful eyes.
She opened her eyes and knew that she had to do something. This was too much like the dream for her comfort.. There was something wrong.
Pressing her hands against the ground, she pushed herself up shakily and stood on her feet. Looking up, she stared the boy in the eye. She had to ask him. Just so. that she could know. To know if she had any chance..
To know if he loved her.
"Ranma. Do.Do you," Akane stumbled, her tongue feeling clumsy and drunk, "Do you..l.lo..love me?"
When she looked up, Ranma seemed slightly miffed by her question, but remained unfazed. He didn't even blush. He simply let his eyes, cold and emotionless, fall down upon her. His face suddenly twisted and a caustic smirk lit his face in an unholy light.
"Love you? What a stupid question. Do you really think I could love someone as ugly and as dumb as you? You're worthless to me. You're simply a burden, a cumbersome little twit that was given to me. You have only abused me. What did you really expect? That I would drop to my knees, begging for you to marry me? Forget it."
"But." Akane felt herself mumble through her tear choked throat, "I .I thought."
"Whatever you thought about us getting together was wrong, Akane. Let me ask you this: Did you _ever_ thank me for saving you? Even once? Don't even speak," Ranma stated when Akane tried to answer, "save your case for someone who cares. All you ever did was abuse me and insult me. And you have to gull, the indignity to ask me if I _love_ you?!
Stupid, stupid girl. Don't you ever learn? You need to wake up and taste reality Akane! Open your eyes and understand this: I don't love you. I despise you! To think that you would even have a chance now is a wasted dream. Dreams are for fools. And you are the biggest fool of them all. Get a life and get away from me, I don't want anything to do with you."
Akane sat there, silent as her eyes were pulled wide open. What had she done? What pain had she caused to Ranma? It.. it was all true.. She did do those things hadn't she? She reached up and grabbed her head in her hands. She closed her eyes and tried to erase herself of these sins. She was. a monster. She was everything that Ranma had said. Oh if only she could take all of it back! Yet, she knew she could not. But. she wanted to.
After all,. she had just told Ranma that she loved him.
Her, the "boy-hater".. had just handed her heart to this boy. this boy she loved. But. he didn't have room in his heart for her anymore. no. She had hurt him too much, and now she had to pay for it. But it. it hurt too much. Every pound of her heart reminded her. reminded her as her heart bled from the pain.
*It's strange* she thought, *this seems exactly like that dream. Was it some kind of future insight? Just so I could be hurt again? Just so I could see his eyes filled with hatred for me again?*
She looked up into Ranma's face, feeling a need to do so. When she looked, deep into his eyes, she saw the fear that plagued her so from the dream.
The hatred in his eyes burned brightly upon her.
How could those same eyes, the same eyes she fell in love with, belong to the man who despised her so? She felt hot tears build up in her eyes, scratching or scoring her eyelids, threatening to spill over. *But,* she stood to her feet and raised her eyes slowly from the ground, *I have to face him. I don't care anymore. He doesn't love me.*
Plastering a false smile on her face, Akane looked up, even as a tear scored down her cheek. "Please Ranma. I ask that you forgive me. I'm so sorry for all the pain I caused you. I promise I'll never hurt you again. I just hope that we can still be friends some how. I hope that you find happiness with one of your other fiancées. I . I just want you to be happy. Good-bye. Ranma."
With that, she turned and fled through the open door and out the dojo before Ranma could make any response. He watched her go, running fast, until she was out of sight. Ranma could feel his lips curl in a cold smile. Suddenly he froze and reached a hand up to his head, closing his eyes painfully. He shook his head and opened his eyes, as if awaking from a drowsy slumber. "What happened," he mumbled out loud, his words slightly slurred as if from sleeping.
His eyes suddenly widened when he remembered that he had been speaking to Akane. He frowned slightly when he also remembered what he had said to her. *I guess I was kinda harsh about moving and stuff. That was weird. I felt like I hated Akane for some reason.* he thought worriedly, *But from what I said, I can't see how it would bother her that bad. Maybe she just pounded me flat with that damn mallet of hers and ran off.
I can't remember what happened after that. It was almost like I blacked out. Maybe I said something and she took it the wrong way, then hit me and ran out. Ah well, better go find her before Mr. Tendo finds out.*
With that, Ranma ran out the dojo door and outside.
~
A figure moved quickly along the fences of Nermia, yelling out as he speeding along, searching for something.
"Geeze, where'd that girl go now? I can't find any traces of random destruction anywhere. Akane....WHERE ARE Y-!"
He was cut off suddenly when he felt the rubber of a tire shoved into his face. Raising a blundering hand, he shoved the bicycle tire out of his face. Reaching his hands toward his face, he nursed the angry red bruise sporting on his face. He began to mutter something about stupid tomboys and persistent Amazons.
"Aerin......"
Ranma peeked through his fingers and looked toward the source of the voice. Standing in front of him, a girl stood, her purple hair flaring around her like a velvet cape as a slight wind blew. She was wearing one of her short Chinese dresses again, he noticed vaguely.
He also noticed that she had a strange smile on his face that was beginning scare him. There was something unmistakable about that smile. He had seen it before. He knew it met only one thing.
Trouble.
"Um....Hey Shampoo," Ranma stuttered, trying to ignore the feeling of dread that was beginning to churn in his stomach. He _really_ wanted to get away.
Shampoo smiled. He was so cute when he was like this. So unsure of what was going on. She was going to have fun with this. *Oh yes,* she thought pleasantly, her eyes trained on him, *she would have lots of fun.*
Now to use the bait. "Aerin want to keep searching for Akane? Or do Ranma want to go with Shampoo?"
Ranma felt a tingle run down his back as he saw the predatory gleam she had in her eyes. Something was strange about the look on her face. He didn't know what it meant, but he was sure he didn't want to find out.
He had to get away somehow. "Shampoo, I have to go and look for Akane. I uh. have to get her for. um. a. uh. A message from her father! Yeah! So.I gotta go. Bye Shampoo!"
Ranma turned and started to look for Akane again when he felt a sharp tug on his arm. Turning around, he stared warily behind him as a sweat drop ran down the back of his head. He could see Shampoo's purple eyes glaring at him.
With a sultry grin on her face, she ran her hand down his arm, feeling each muscle in detail. As her fingers ran down his hand, she clasped one of his fingers and looked into his eyes.
"Are you sure Ranma," she asked slyly, "Shampoo would love for you to come with her. Shampoo think you need to think over."
Ranma stared at Shampoo as if she had just grown a second head. There was something about her eyes and the way that she spoke. There was something odd about her. This was just all too weird. *I gotta go find that tomboy. For once, finding her will give me a good excuse for running away.*
"Uh... like I said, I gotta go find Akane, Shampoo. Maybe late-"
He was suddenly cut off when felt something pierce him in the back of his neck. His vision began to cloud darkly. He looked at Shampoo and saw her grinning evilly before everything faded into darkness once again.
Shampoo watched Ranma with a knowing smile lighting her face. She glanced as Ranma was about to fall, struck by unconsciousness before he suddenly stood up, his eyes blank and black. He was hers now.
She leaned over and whispered into his ear, "Your Shampoo's now. Listen to Shampoo. You do what she tell you. Now come with Shampoo and we'll see what you can do."
Ranma's black, unfocused eyes only stared at her blankly. He stood up straight and took her arm under the crook of his. Leading her toward her bike, he took her up in his arms and hopped on the bike and began to ride away. Shampoo, already in his arms, was in bliss as she was cradled ever so gently in his strong arms. This just how she had dreamed it would be.
But there was a small voice in the back of her head, nagging on her thoughts. She could hear it, quiet but firm, telling her that this was all just a lie. A lie to her, knowing that he didn't really want to do this. It was just the drug making him do this. He wasn't doing this on his own.
She sighed. She knew the voice was right, but she just didn't want to loose this...this feeling of comfort. Feeling that....knowing that she was loved by the man she loved most. She had given him her heart. Now, she was finally feeling his. *I don't care anymore. I just want to feel this forever...*
Nuzzling closer to his chest, she let the musk smell of him fill her nostrils. She even loved the smell of him. She sighed again and let her arms drape around his sides. Ranma continued to peddle steadily down the street.
*This must be what love feels like.*
~
OH MY GOODNESS! 0_o..That was SOOOO LONG! I may have typed this already before to start the story, but I still had to revise it all. WHEW! I'm glad I'm done with this chapter..Um.#Coughs# ANYWAYS.. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^_^ I worked really hard to make this good and I hope you like it.
And for R/A fans.DON"T WORRY IT'S STILL A RANMA/AKANE FIC!!! It just.has a twist in the plot to lead to it! ^_^*
In the next chapter: Shampoo has Ranma. will Akane come back to rescue him? And who is this that helps Akane out? Is that a bow I detect? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!! It helps the story keep going.and me too. Ciao. ^_~