Broken
Shadow Knight
Chapter 5: Bliss
Disclaimer: I do not own them. . .darn. . ._
~
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
~
A bell jingled cheerfully as the door was pushed open from the outside. Inside stepped a young man with raven hair wrapped tightly down his back in a pigtail. As the boy opened the door wider the boy's arms could be seen, wrapped carefully around the slim body of a girl. With her violet silky hair spilled over his arm, the girl sighed happily and wrapped her arms tighter around the boy's torso.
A smile, similar to the cat who ate the canary, stretched over her feminine face. She snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him. This was bliss. Bliss and love. Distractedly, she heard the door close behind them, jingling once again before shutting.
She felt the boy stop and quietly, she peered up at his face. In the boy's appearance, she saw nothing. No smiling, no anger, no embarrassment, no expressions. . . just. . nothing.
She frowned a bit at that. Suddenly a wicked idea grew in her mind. With a grin, she laid her hand on his chest and raised herself slightly on his still arms, reaching up to whisper in his ear.
"Ranma. . . listen to Shampoo," she whispered hastily, "Put Shampoo down in chair and sit with her. Shampoo have something to tell you.
Ranma's eyes focused and unfocused suddenly. A shallow black glare stared at her for a moment. With a sudden twitch, Ranma moved forward quickly and set Shampoo gently onto a seat close by. Pulling a chair from beneath a table near by, Ranma sat in the chair and stared blankly at her face.
Shampoo grinned and scooted her chair closer Ranma's. Leaning closely, she let her fingers glide softly along his exposed arm. While wearing a short sleeved red Chinese shirt, she could see Ranma's strong muscles.
She traced them with a soft finger, enjoying the feel of each individual ripple. Sighing, she forced herself to stop and stared carefully at the boy. Reaching her small hands up, she grasped his face lightly and gazed deeply into the black eyes.
"Ranma. . . . ," she whispered huskily, her eyes flicking back and forth across his face, "I love you. . . Show to Shampoo that you love her too. Prove your love to Shampoo. Do something. . . .human."
She watched his face intently, searching for any new signs of emotions or feelings. Shampoo's enthusiasm quickly depleted as she continued to stare at the black face before her. A frown marring her pretty face, she sighed, frustrated and got up to look for her book on the drug she brewed to see if she had made any mistakes.
But before she could leave, a large hand grasped her wrist and jerked back slightly. The sudden jerk left her feet to tumble beneath her and cause her to fall when abruptly, she felt a pair of strong arms intertwine around her waist and pull her back into a broad lap. She screwed her purple eyes upward to gaze at her helper and gasped.
Grinning downward playfully, was Ranma's smiling face.
Gawking at the boy, Shampoo felt Ranma shift his arms from under her and let them slither around her shoulders, grasping her body tightly to his chest.
Even though this was a frequent occurrence in her dreams, she never expected to feel it physically. Shampoo never even began to fathom that she would find herself blushing and flustering like a lovesick idiot. When she felt his hot breath against her ear, she turned scarlet, her emotions enticed.
Shampoo suddenly turned to Ranma, twisting in his warm embrace to look at his smiling face. Raising a hand cautiously to Ranma's face, she let it rest on his cheek, gazing in his eyes deeply. She could see the inky blackness of the powder still swirling among his eyes, but she had to ask him something to see if she had done her job right. Sighing, she stroked a finger lightly down his cheek.
"Ranma? Do you. . . love me?"
With that, she closed her eyes tightly, praying that he would utter the few simple words that would set her heart a flutter and finally make her feel truly wanted in life. The words that would set her free from her aching heart.
Words to make her feel loved. . .
"Shampoo. . you know that you are the only one for me. I will always love you."
Shampoo's eyes snapped open widely, her lips parted in shock. She really was loved. . . With a blissful sigh, she let her head rest against his chest, enjoying his presence. Snuggling closer to him, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her face planted in his chest, she felt tears run down her face.
She could never let him go.
She loved him too much to be away from him. In the night when no one could her whimper into her pillow, she cried from the pain she felt for him. The feeling that she would never have her love.
Just thinking about returning to China. . .without Ranma. . .it made her pine and suffer. No. . . she wouldn't let Ranma be take from her. She wouldn't let any obstacles get in her way anymore. This was her honor and duty to marry him. But not only were these things at stake, but also her heart. No, she was going to have Ranma. And she was going to love and take care of him.
Sniffing slightly from her tears, she wrapped her arms around him, never wanting to lose this feeling. Ranma's arm slipped carefully around her legs, positioning her so that she could rest comfortably against his chest. His other hand stroked Shampoo's lavender head of hair gently, trying to ease her crying.
Continuing to stare down blankly at Shampoo, there was a plastered smile on his face that was so gentle and caring that it would convince anyone that he truly was worried about the girl and was under no influence. That he was doing all this off his free will.
That there was a true love in his eyes. Not a dull glare.
Continuing to stroke the girl' hair, he suddenly leaned down and brushed his lips softly against her pale forehead, giving her a light butterfly kiss. Although his actions would be deemed as loving and caring, it was not so.
To one who looked closer, they could see a dark and confused appearance infused in his eyes, a look like that of a frightened child awaking in a place they've never been before. Yet, his face betrayed him, smiling down lovingly at the girl. And he continued his actions, helpless to stop himself.
~
In shadow, cast by the curtains hanging around in the kitchen, a pair of narrowed eyes watched the two figures keenly. With quiet chuckle of satisfaction, the figure owning the pair of eyes turned and began to walk up a small staircase heading upstairs. Making sure not to make a sound, the small figure silently tip toed up the stairs quickly. Once at the top, the person opened a door to a room located by the back of the hall.
Darkness greeted the individual as it stepped in. Lighting a single candle with a flickering flame, the figure appeared and could be seen as an elderly female. In the gleaming light, the old woman walked over to a small wooden trunk and placed the candle beside her as she sat in front of the trunk.
Tracing her fingers lightly along the edge, she found her finger softly sink into a small crevice on the side. Finding this spot, she pressed lightly as she watched the trunk lid snap open slightly. Pushing the lid up, she reached deep inside the chest and withdrew a small, dark jar.
Resting the jar lightly against the ground, the woman wrapped her hands firmly on the lid and twisted with some effort. Finally, the sealed jar made a slight popping noise and she unscrewed the top off the rest of the way. Flicking the lid lightly aside, she dipped her hands lightly in the jar and when she removed them, a blood red flower was clutched carefully at the roots. Setting the flower delicately on a small scarf, she closed the jar and returned it to the chest.
She took the scarf and set it on a small desk in the corner of the room. She sighed lightly and slowly made her way to her futon. Sitting lightly onto her cushion she still felt a heavy weight on her shoulders, making her feel the years of her life being to pull her down.
Curving her gray eyes upward from her withered hands, she looked up at the desk where the flower continued to lay, darkly gleaming in the candlelight. To another, it would seem a beautiful blossom, an exotic treasure of extravagant beauty.
Yet she knew what the flower really was. What dark curse it held deeply between its blood red petals.
The wicked power hidden from unknowing eyes.
It indeed was a horrific power, only bringing misfortune on those who thought to take it. She had seen the awful power used, hurting those who chose to partake its evil. They thought they could control this deadly treasure, wielding the power easily enough as batting an eye.
Yet, they learned what irony there was in the flower. Giving them all their desires while eventually taking all that was precious to them out of their life. Yes, she knew the effects of the flower and it's consequences for using it. . . but she had no choice. She couldn't bare to see Shampoo's feelings hurt, not like... . . .hers.
Shaking her head, the elderly woman, known as Cologne sighed and looked at the flower once again. Standing up, she knew what she had to do. She couldn't be sentimental this time and let history repeat itself once again.
No, she wouldn't let it at all. She wouldn't let anyone suffer like she did. Her mind decided, she gathered the flower delicately in her hands and opened the doors. She had some food to prepare for Ranma. . . .
A quiet click sounded behind her as the shivering light flickered out, expelling the room in darkness once again.
~
In the other parts of the town, the sun shined brightly upon the backs of two girls who were steadily heading down the street, chatting with one another. Suddenly one stopped and giggled with mirth, shaking a head of blue-black hair back and forth.
"No way! You actually were kicked out of a girl's bathroom because you looked like a boy?! That's harsh, Ukyo. So what happened then?"
The other girl, slightly taller and wearing a white bow in her chestnut hair smiled at the girl and responded with waving her hands around in violent gestures, exaggerating every sentence in detail.
"What happened then? I nearly went psycho on them! Calling me a boy! Geeze, they nearly arrested me when I tried to go in again. I finally proved to them I was a girl and they got all huffy and let me by.
But before I went in, I could have sworn I heard them saying something about how girls were so weird and how tomboyish I was. Akane, if I didn't need to pee that badly then, I would have gone right back out and gave them a good beating for that!"
Akane laughed once again. Ever since Ukyo had gone out to look for her, they had been talking about their past, chatting like age old friends. It was different, but. . . . it was nice to have a friend in the okonomiyaki chef who had always fought with her for Ranma. Now they had a chance to be friends. Even if it meant that they had to eventually compete for him. . .
She shook her head. No, now they had to enjoy the time of their friendship. She looked up and saw that they were approaching her family's dojo. Stepping forward, she opened the gate and held it for Ukyo.
"Come on Ukyo," she said with a smile, "Let's go in and see if Kasumi has any of those tea cakes she makes. They're awesome. You have to try one."
"All right then, let's go. Just from your description of them, they sound yummy! Shut the gate and let's go!"
Akane let the gate shut behind her quietly. She smiled and walked quickly up to the door and slipped inside with Ukyo behind her. Standing near the door, both slipped off their shoes and walked down the hall. With Ukyo beside her, Akane called out to check if anyone was home.
"I'm home! Kasumi? Dad? Nabiki? Is anyone here?"
As soon as she finished calling, a lady suddenly appeared around the corner with a broom in hand. Straightening out her white apron, she looked up at the pair and smiled sweetly.
"Oh, hello Ukyo. I didn't know you were bringing any friends home today, Akane."
"Well," Akane explained, "I wasn't expecting to, but me and Ukyo ran into one another today and we've been talking. Any ways, do you have any of those tea cakes you made last week Kasumi?"
Bringing a finger to her lips in thought, Kasumi shook her head slowly, as if she was unsure. Looking back to her sister, she counted off her fingers one by one while mumbling a few words.
"I don't think so. . . ," Kasumi thought out loud, "I made a dozen, but I think most of them were eaten. I had two, you had two, Nabiki had one, Father had one, and I believe the rest were eaten by Ranma and his father in their fight the other day. Yes, I do believe we're out. I'm sorry Akane. I'll see if I can make a new batch sometime soon."
Akane shook her head quickly.
"That's all right. I just wanted to see if we had any. By the way, um. . . is Ranma around?"
"Actually," Kasumi started, "I think he went out some time earlier. I haven't seen him for quiet a while. I don't think he has gone on any new training trips since his pack is still here. He's probably somewhere downtown."
Akane and Ukyo both inwardly sighed. They really didn't feel like facing him now. Especially with them both together. That would create enough tension between them that it would be almost tangible.
Kasumi could see the relieved expression spread across their faces the instant she mentioned that Ranma wasn't there. That was odd. Turning to her sister, she could see something was bothering her.
"Is something bothering you Akane?"
Akane's head snapped up and she looked at her sister with a forced smile.
"No, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Kasumi saw straight through the fake smile, but she knew that if she tried to push her little sister into telling her what was wrong, she would get no where. She knew how stubborn that girl could be. Turning quickly toward the counter, she grabbed a small piece of paper with finely written words on it and faced Akane.
"Nothing. But while your here, could you go to the market for me and pick up a few things for me? I would go myself, but I have to attend to the guest who are using the dojo today. They should be gone in a couple of hours so you can practice later, but I need these things soon so I can start dinner for tonight. I would be very thankful for it."
Akane took the sheet. "Uh, sure Kasumi. No problem. I'll go down town right now. Is there anything else?"
Kasumi smiled brightly. "No, nothing more. Thanks a lot. I have to go back to the dojo now. I'll see you in a little while."
With that, Kasumi turned and walked down the hall and out the front door. As Akane heard the door slide shut, she turned to Ukyo and smiled.
"Do you wanna go," she asked, "I know it isn't the most interesting thing in the world, but at least it something we can do."
The brunette grabbed the list lightly out of Akane's hand and scanned down through the articles. Without lifting her eyes from the list, she mumbled a response.
"Sure. Why not? I certainly don't have anything better to do. I closed the restaurant today. Plus, I know where you can get some really good deals on this stuff."
Akane grinned. "Cool. Let me grab some money and we'll go."
Ukyo watched silently as the girl walked up the stairs and entered one of the rooms on the upper level. She sighed and looked down at the wooden floorboards, frowning in thought.
It was strange. . . .She felt alienated here. She shouldn't be here. She was making friends with a competitor for Ranma. For Ranma's love.
She shook her head fiercely. No, she made friends with a girl who she could get along with. Not an enemy. But. . . .she still felt odd about it. It seemed almost dirty. Was she just trying to use Akane to get to Ranma? She felt a deep pain well up inside her as the thought began to take root.
No. . . she didn't want to ever see Ranma's face like that again. After that day when she wrecked Ranma's almost wedding she had only remembered the expressions that had streaked across Ranma's face. The sadness. The anger. The hurt of betrayal. . . .
She knew that he didn't probably mean to be so angry, but she couldn't forget it. It had plagued her mind for days on end, driving her near the brink of insanity. In her trapped mind, she could only see Ranma's face, angry with her. Each time she saw the face, it grew more distorted and furious. Each night, when she was alone in the darkness of her small room, she could feel the hot sting of her tears course down her cheeks, thinking of how Ranma must hate her.
There was even one time when she had begun to cut herself. She had thought it was a way to punish herself. The only reason why she had stopped was when she heard that Ranma wasn't angry with her anymore. He had forgiven her. Since then, she had gradually begun to pull herself back together and pursue Ranma's affections once more. Yet, she still felt nervous around him. * Maybe that's why I chose Akane over giving Ranma my okonomiyaki so easily * she mused.
She stood there, contemplating over the matter, not noticing two eyes staring at her. As the owner of the eyes looked on with greater intensity, Ukyo felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck raise. Whipping her head up, she looked for the source. Looking around, she rested on the two eyes. She flinched as she saw the owner of the eyes.
Blue-black hair reached downward, licking lightly at the edge of a chin. But the thing that struck her most about the shrouded figure were the eyes. Deep pools of gold stared at her, sucking her in, almost drowning her. Shivering, she dropped her eyes from the intense stare. She slowly began to regain her composure when she felt something lightly touch her shoulder.
Ukyo felt a dread run through her as she flicked her head up, her lips pale.
"Are you okay, Ukyo?"
Ukyo's lips parted slightly as she stared at the concerned face in front of her, eyes full of concern. She flinched slightly and raised a quivering hand to her chest. Ukyo sighed deeply, stepping out of the grip and looking at the figure in front of her. She felt her face stretch into a surprised grin as her hands clasped the space over her heart.
"Oh my goodness Akane! You scared the crap out of me!"
The dark haired girl grinned slyly as she fanned a hand lightly in front in her face. Her lips curving, she turned toward the girl in front of her.
"Sorry, I scared you Ukyo. I just saw you there, just staring at the floor and I was worried. Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"
"Uh. . . no," Ukyo stuttered, "I was just. . . .distracted. Sorry I worried you. Now, are we ready to go?"
Akane looked at Ukyo unsurely. "Yeah. . . I grabbed some money. Let's go."
With that, the two girls went to the door and exited after silently slipping their shoes on. Out on the street, they walked without speaking or making eye contact. Both were silently thinking, a storm brewing in their minds, twisting and turning.
As each girl fought her way through the storm of emotions, one single figure stood out like a flare. A raven-haired youth who's face was lighted with a crooked smile. Dressed in his usual Chinese clothes, there was a bright spark in the boy's eyes.
It was the boy they knew as Ranma.
~
YEAH! I'm done again! Oh dear do these chapters take a while to re-write. ANYWAYS, thank you all for those who have reviewed! I appreciate it greatly! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! I really appreciate it.
Oh. . . Sorry this chapter didn't have that much action. This is kinda like the connecting chapter to the next which will have A LOT more action in it. So don't worry. ^_^ I didn't want to make it super long and bore the readers to tears, so I broke it into two parts. I hope you liked it.
Please Review! Ciao. ^_~
Shadow Knight
Chapter 5: Bliss
Disclaimer: I do not own them. . .darn. . ._
~
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
~
A bell jingled cheerfully as the door was pushed open from the outside. Inside stepped a young man with raven hair wrapped tightly down his back in a pigtail. As the boy opened the door wider the boy's arms could be seen, wrapped carefully around the slim body of a girl. With her violet silky hair spilled over his arm, the girl sighed happily and wrapped her arms tighter around the boy's torso.
A smile, similar to the cat who ate the canary, stretched over her feminine face. She snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him. This was bliss. Bliss and love. Distractedly, she heard the door close behind them, jingling once again before shutting.
She felt the boy stop and quietly, she peered up at his face. In the boy's appearance, she saw nothing. No smiling, no anger, no embarrassment, no expressions. . . just. . nothing.
She frowned a bit at that. Suddenly a wicked idea grew in her mind. With a grin, she laid her hand on his chest and raised herself slightly on his still arms, reaching up to whisper in his ear.
"Ranma. . . listen to Shampoo," she whispered hastily, "Put Shampoo down in chair and sit with her. Shampoo have something to tell you.
Ranma's eyes focused and unfocused suddenly. A shallow black glare stared at her for a moment. With a sudden twitch, Ranma moved forward quickly and set Shampoo gently onto a seat close by. Pulling a chair from beneath a table near by, Ranma sat in the chair and stared blankly at her face.
Shampoo grinned and scooted her chair closer Ranma's. Leaning closely, she let her fingers glide softly along his exposed arm. While wearing a short sleeved red Chinese shirt, she could see Ranma's strong muscles.
She traced them with a soft finger, enjoying the feel of each individual ripple. Sighing, she forced herself to stop and stared carefully at the boy. Reaching her small hands up, she grasped his face lightly and gazed deeply into the black eyes.
"Ranma. . . . ," she whispered huskily, her eyes flicking back and forth across his face, "I love you. . . Show to Shampoo that you love her too. Prove your love to Shampoo. Do something. . . .human."
She watched his face intently, searching for any new signs of emotions or feelings. Shampoo's enthusiasm quickly depleted as she continued to stare at the black face before her. A frown marring her pretty face, she sighed, frustrated and got up to look for her book on the drug she brewed to see if she had made any mistakes.
But before she could leave, a large hand grasped her wrist and jerked back slightly. The sudden jerk left her feet to tumble beneath her and cause her to fall when abruptly, she felt a pair of strong arms intertwine around her waist and pull her back into a broad lap. She screwed her purple eyes upward to gaze at her helper and gasped.
Grinning downward playfully, was Ranma's smiling face.
Gawking at the boy, Shampoo felt Ranma shift his arms from under her and let them slither around her shoulders, grasping her body tightly to his chest.
Even though this was a frequent occurrence in her dreams, she never expected to feel it physically. Shampoo never even began to fathom that she would find herself blushing and flustering like a lovesick idiot. When she felt his hot breath against her ear, she turned scarlet, her emotions enticed.
Shampoo suddenly turned to Ranma, twisting in his warm embrace to look at his smiling face. Raising a hand cautiously to Ranma's face, she let it rest on his cheek, gazing in his eyes deeply. She could see the inky blackness of the powder still swirling among his eyes, but she had to ask him something to see if she had done her job right. Sighing, she stroked a finger lightly down his cheek.
"Ranma? Do you. . . love me?"
With that, she closed her eyes tightly, praying that he would utter the few simple words that would set her heart a flutter and finally make her feel truly wanted in life. The words that would set her free from her aching heart.
Words to make her feel loved. . .
"Shampoo. . you know that you are the only one for me. I will always love you."
Shampoo's eyes snapped open widely, her lips parted in shock. She really was loved. . . With a blissful sigh, she let her head rest against his chest, enjoying his presence. Snuggling closer to him, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her face planted in his chest, she felt tears run down her face.
She could never let him go.
She loved him too much to be away from him. In the night when no one could her whimper into her pillow, she cried from the pain she felt for him. The feeling that she would never have her love.
Just thinking about returning to China. . .without Ranma. . .it made her pine and suffer. No. . . she wouldn't let Ranma be take from her. She wouldn't let any obstacles get in her way anymore. This was her honor and duty to marry him. But not only were these things at stake, but also her heart. No, she was going to have Ranma. And she was going to love and take care of him.
Sniffing slightly from her tears, she wrapped her arms around him, never wanting to lose this feeling. Ranma's arm slipped carefully around her legs, positioning her so that she could rest comfortably against his chest. His other hand stroked Shampoo's lavender head of hair gently, trying to ease her crying.
Continuing to stare down blankly at Shampoo, there was a plastered smile on his face that was so gentle and caring that it would convince anyone that he truly was worried about the girl and was under no influence. That he was doing all this off his free will.
That there was a true love in his eyes. Not a dull glare.
Continuing to stroke the girl' hair, he suddenly leaned down and brushed his lips softly against her pale forehead, giving her a light butterfly kiss. Although his actions would be deemed as loving and caring, it was not so.
To one who looked closer, they could see a dark and confused appearance infused in his eyes, a look like that of a frightened child awaking in a place they've never been before. Yet, his face betrayed him, smiling down lovingly at the girl. And he continued his actions, helpless to stop himself.
~
In shadow, cast by the curtains hanging around in the kitchen, a pair of narrowed eyes watched the two figures keenly. With quiet chuckle of satisfaction, the figure owning the pair of eyes turned and began to walk up a small staircase heading upstairs. Making sure not to make a sound, the small figure silently tip toed up the stairs quickly. Once at the top, the person opened a door to a room located by the back of the hall.
Darkness greeted the individual as it stepped in. Lighting a single candle with a flickering flame, the figure appeared and could be seen as an elderly female. In the gleaming light, the old woman walked over to a small wooden trunk and placed the candle beside her as she sat in front of the trunk.
Tracing her fingers lightly along the edge, she found her finger softly sink into a small crevice on the side. Finding this spot, she pressed lightly as she watched the trunk lid snap open slightly. Pushing the lid up, she reached deep inside the chest and withdrew a small, dark jar.
Resting the jar lightly against the ground, the woman wrapped her hands firmly on the lid and twisted with some effort. Finally, the sealed jar made a slight popping noise and she unscrewed the top off the rest of the way. Flicking the lid lightly aside, she dipped her hands lightly in the jar and when she removed them, a blood red flower was clutched carefully at the roots. Setting the flower delicately on a small scarf, she closed the jar and returned it to the chest.
She took the scarf and set it on a small desk in the corner of the room. She sighed lightly and slowly made her way to her futon. Sitting lightly onto her cushion she still felt a heavy weight on her shoulders, making her feel the years of her life being to pull her down.
Curving her gray eyes upward from her withered hands, she looked up at the desk where the flower continued to lay, darkly gleaming in the candlelight. To another, it would seem a beautiful blossom, an exotic treasure of extravagant beauty.
Yet she knew what the flower really was. What dark curse it held deeply between its blood red petals.
The wicked power hidden from unknowing eyes.
It indeed was a horrific power, only bringing misfortune on those who thought to take it. She had seen the awful power used, hurting those who chose to partake its evil. They thought they could control this deadly treasure, wielding the power easily enough as batting an eye.
Yet, they learned what irony there was in the flower. Giving them all their desires while eventually taking all that was precious to them out of their life. Yes, she knew the effects of the flower and it's consequences for using it. . . but she had no choice. She couldn't bare to see Shampoo's feelings hurt, not like... . . .hers.
Shaking her head, the elderly woman, known as Cologne sighed and looked at the flower once again. Standing up, she knew what she had to do. She couldn't be sentimental this time and let history repeat itself once again.
No, she wouldn't let it at all. She wouldn't let anyone suffer like she did. Her mind decided, she gathered the flower delicately in her hands and opened the doors. She had some food to prepare for Ranma. . . .
A quiet click sounded behind her as the shivering light flickered out, expelling the room in darkness once again.
~
In the other parts of the town, the sun shined brightly upon the backs of two girls who were steadily heading down the street, chatting with one another. Suddenly one stopped and giggled with mirth, shaking a head of blue-black hair back and forth.
"No way! You actually were kicked out of a girl's bathroom because you looked like a boy?! That's harsh, Ukyo. So what happened then?"
The other girl, slightly taller and wearing a white bow in her chestnut hair smiled at the girl and responded with waving her hands around in violent gestures, exaggerating every sentence in detail.
"What happened then? I nearly went psycho on them! Calling me a boy! Geeze, they nearly arrested me when I tried to go in again. I finally proved to them I was a girl and they got all huffy and let me by.
But before I went in, I could have sworn I heard them saying something about how girls were so weird and how tomboyish I was. Akane, if I didn't need to pee that badly then, I would have gone right back out and gave them a good beating for that!"
Akane laughed once again. Ever since Ukyo had gone out to look for her, they had been talking about their past, chatting like age old friends. It was different, but. . . . it was nice to have a friend in the okonomiyaki chef who had always fought with her for Ranma. Now they had a chance to be friends. Even if it meant that they had to eventually compete for him. . .
She shook her head. No, now they had to enjoy the time of their friendship. She looked up and saw that they were approaching her family's dojo. Stepping forward, she opened the gate and held it for Ukyo.
"Come on Ukyo," she said with a smile, "Let's go in and see if Kasumi has any of those tea cakes she makes. They're awesome. You have to try one."
"All right then, let's go. Just from your description of them, they sound yummy! Shut the gate and let's go!"
Akane let the gate shut behind her quietly. She smiled and walked quickly up to the door and slipped inside with Ukyo behind her. Standing near the door, both slipped off their shoes and walked down the hall. With Ukyo beside her, Akane called out to check if anyone was home.
"I'm home! Kasumi? Dad? Nabiki? Is anyone here?"
As soon as she finished calling, a lady suddenly appeared around the corner with a broom in hand. Straightening out her white apron, she looked up at the pair and smiled sweetly.
"Oh, hello Ukyo. I didn't know you were bringing any friends home today, Akane."
"Well," Akane explained, "I wasn't expecting to, but me and Ukyo ran into one another today and we've been talking. Any ways, do you have any of those tea cakes you made last week Kasumi?"
Bringing a finger to her lips in thought, Kasumi shook her head slowly, as if she was unsure. Looking back to her sister, she counted off her fingers one by one while mumbling a few words.
"I don't think so. . . ," Kasumi thought out loud, "I made a dozen, but I think most of them were eaten. I had two, you had two, Nabiki had one, Father had one, and I believe the rest were eaten by Ranma and his father in their fight the other day. Yes, I do believe we're out. I'm sorry Akane. I'll see if I can make a new batch sometime soon."
Akane shook her head quickly.
"That's all right. I just wanted to see if we had any. By the way, um. . . is Ranma around?"
"Actually," Kasumi started, "I think he went out some time earlier. I haven't seen him for quiet a while. I don't think he has gone on any new training trips since his pack is still here. He's probably somewhere downtown."
Akane and Ukyo both inwardly sighed. They really didn't feel like facing him now. Especially with them both together. That would create enough tension between them that it would be almost tangible.
Kasumi could see the relieved expression spread across their faces the instant she mentioned that Ranma wasn't there. That was odd. Turning to her sister, she could see something was bothering her.
"Is something bothering you Akane?"
Akane's head snapped up and she looked at her sister with a forced smile.
"No, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Kasumi saw straight through the fake smile, but she knew that if she tried to push her little sister into telling her what was wrong, she would get no where. She knew how stubborn that girl could be. Turning quickly toward the counter, she grabbed a small piece of paper with finely written words on it and faced Akane.
"Nothing. But while your here, could you go to the market for me and pick up a few things for me? I would go myself, but I have to attend to the guest who are using the dojo today. They should be gone in a couple of hours so you can practice later, but I need these things soon so I can start dinner for tonight. I would be very thankful for it."
Akane took the sheet. "Uh, sure Kasumi. No problem. I'll go down town right now. Is there anything else?"
Kasumi smiled brightly. "No, nothing more. Thanks a lot. I have to go back to the dojo now. I'll see you in a little while."
With that, Kasumi turned and walked down the hall and out the front door. As Akane heard the door slide shut, she turned to Ukyo and smiled.
"Do you wanna go," she asked, "I know it isn't the most interesting thing in the world, but at least it something we can do."
The brunette grabbed the list lightly out of Akane's hand and scanned down through the articles. Without lifting her eyes from the list, she mumbled a response.
"Sure. Why not? I certainly don't have anything better to do. I closed the restaurant today. Plus, I know where you can get some really good deals on this stuff."
Akane grinned. "Cool. Let me grab some money and we'll go."
Ukyo watched silently as the girl walked up the stairs and entered one of the rooms on the upper level. She sighed and looked down at the wooden floorboards, frowning in thought.
It was strange. . . .She felt alienated here. She shouldn't be here. She was making friends with a competitor for Ranma. For Ranma's love.
She shook her head fiercely. No, she made friends with a girl who she could get along with. Not an enemy. But. . . .she still felt odd about it. It seemed almost dirty. Was she just trying to use Akane to get to Ranma? She felt a deep pain well up inside her as the thought began to take root.
No. . . she didn't want to ever see Ranma's face like that again. After that day when she wrecked Ranma's almost wedding she had only remembered the expressions that had streaked across Ranma's face. The sadness. The anger. The hurt of betrayal. . . .
She knew that he didn't probably mean to be so angry, but she couldn't forget it. It had plagued her mind for days on end, driving her near the brink of insanity. In her trapped mind, she could only see Ranma's face, angry with her. Each time she saw the face, it grew more distorted and furious. Each night, when she was alone in the darkness of her small room, she could feel the hot sting of her tears course down her cheeks, thinking of how Ranma must hate her.
There was even one time when she had begun to cut herself. She had thought it was a way to punish herself. The only reason why she had stopped was when she heard that Ranma wasn't angry with her anymore. He had forgiven her. Since then, she had gradually begun to pull herself back together and pursue Ranma's affections once more. Yet, she still felt nervous around him. * Maybe that's why I chose Akane over giving Ranma my okonomiyaki so easily * she mused.
She stood there, contemplating over the matter, not noticing two eyes staring at her. As the owner of the eyes looked on with greater intensity, Ukyo felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck raise. Whipping her head up, she looked for the source. Looking around, she rested on the two eyes. She flinched as she saw the owner of the eyes.
Blue-black hair reached downward, licking lightly at the edge of a chin. But the thing that struck her most about the shrouded figure were the eyes. Deep pools of gold stared at her, sucking her in, almost drowning her. Shivering, she dropped her eyes from the intense stare. She slowly began to regain her composure when she felt something lightly touch her shoulder.
Ukyo felt a dread run through her as she flicked her head up, her lips pale.
"Are you okay, Ukyo?"
Ukyo's lips parted slightly as she stared at the concerned face in front of her, eyes full of concern. She flinched slightly and raised a quivering hand to her chest. Ukyo sighed deeply, stepping out of the grip and looking at the figure in front of her. She felt her face stretch into a surprised grin as her hands clasped the space over her heart.
"Oh my goodness Akane! You scared the crap out of me!"
The dark haired girl grinned slyly as she fanned a hand lightly in front in her face. Her lips curving, she turned toward the girl in front of her.
"Sorry, I scared you Ukyo. I just saw you there, just staring at the floor and I was worried. Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"
"Uh. . . no," Ukyo stuttered, "I was just. . . .distracted. Sorry I worried you. Now, are we ready to go?"
Akane looked at Ukyo unsurely. "Yeah. . . I grabbed some money. Let's go."
With that, the two girls went to the door and exited after silently slipping their shoes on. Out on the street, they walked without speaking or making eye contact. Both were silently thinking, a storm brewing in their minds, twisting and turning.
As each girl fought her way through the storm of emotions, one single figure stood out like a flare. A raven-haired youth who's face was lighted with a crooked smile. Dressed in his usual Chinese clothes, there was a bright spark in the boy's eyes.
It was the boy they knew as Ranma.
~
YEAH! I'm done again! Oh dear do these chapters take a while to re-write. ANYWAYS, thank you all for those who have reviewed! I appreciate it greatly! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! I really appreciate it.
Oh. . . Sorry this chapter didn't have that much action. This is kinda like the connecting chapter to the next which will have A LOT more action in it. So don't worry. ^_^ I didn't want to make it super long and bore the readers to tears, so I broke it into two parts. I hope you liked it.
Please Review! Ciao. ^_~