Broken
Shadow Knight
Chapter 10: Silent Tears
Disclaimer: HA! I DON'T OWN IT!
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
I am strong,
I stand tall
Nothing will break me
I will not fall
My heart will not break
Standing still through all my fears
Time will pass and things will heal
As the world goes by with my silent tears
. . . . . . . . . . .It was a poem that she had memorized since early age. She had practically engraved it on her heart, using it as her fortified wall against all pain. Sometimes it worked. . . .sometimes it didn't. Yet, she kept it close to her heart and repeated it silently in her head whenever she was about to cry. . . whenever the pain was too much.
It stopped her from falling apart.
Looking to her left, she watched as Akane trudged slowly forward, keeping a slow but determined pace. She couldn't see the girl's face behind the curtain of her dark hair. A frown decorated her features. Knowing how the girl was feeling, she could guess that Akane was probably struggling not to cry. . . . . or maybe she gave up already.
*. . . . Akane. . . . *
Suddenly, the aforementioned girl stumbled over an uneven edge in the sidewalk. She tilted for a moment before straightening. Grabbing onto the wall, she steadied herself. But she stopped altogether for a moment. Brushing back the dark curtain with a pale hand, Akane turned toward her friend. A thin frown brushed her features as she studied the brunette's face.
"Ukyo," she mumbled, her voice dead and numb, "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine. You'll be fine. . . .Everything will."
With that, she adjusted the pack on her shoulders and began walking a bit faster down the sidewalk. Ukyo stared at her retreating back for a moment simply wondering. Would she ever know the Akane she had once known?
Looking up slowly with saddened eyes, Ukyo stared after her. No, she couldn't . . . she would never be the same. Suddenly, Akane curtly turned around the corner. With a poignant sigh, Ukyo ran to catch up with her.
"Akane," she cried out a bit as she turned the corner, "Wait up. . . You walk too. . . . fast. . . ."
After cutting around the corner, Ukyo saw Akane's form suddenly stop and stiffen noticeably. About to complain to Akane about her speed, Ukyo was cut off when she soon too stopped and grew numb as a chilling coldness swept through her as if Death itself had touched her.
In her head she slowly began mumbling the poem.
. . . . I am strong. . . .
Ukyo heard his steps coming closer as he approached them, his black, tai slipper slithering into the flickering, harsh glow of the streetlight.
. . . . .I stand tall. . . . .
The light cast a florescent glare on his black pants. . .then on his red, Chinese, silk shirt. . . .
. . . . . . Nothing will break me. . . . . .
"Hello, Ukyo," he whispered from his upturned lips.
She was going to snap soon. This was going to slow drive her insane.
"Hi, Ranma," she fearfully breathed back in short breaths.
Ukyo watched as the stormy blue eyes she had loved so much flicked from her and jerkily turned to Akane. Those same beautiful eyes were suddenly swathed in a boiling hatred. She saw his hands suddenly tighten into fists. A cold flame of bitter disgust ran rampant through his stiff form.
"So that bitch is here too," he snarled, his thin lips turning into a smirk as he watched her wince slightly.
Akane shook for a moment, nearly falling, but she stood, her face dull and stoic. Her lips straightened into a thin line. Clutching the straps of her pack tightly, she stared at him blankly.
Her face didn't shift the slightest bit as he took a step closer, a barely contained violence igniting his body. The same malevolent grin tugging at his lips. Akane stood still as he stepped another step closer. . . .
. . . . . I will not fall. . . .
"You damn slut," he sneered, his eyes vivid with amusement at her pain, "You just wont go away will you? This world doesn't need shit like you. There isn't a damn thing you're good for."
Akane's stared straight at him, her eyes hard and cold.
Ranma seemed to enjoy this new Akane, one who didn't cry, didn't react. With an excited smile, he threw more threats at her.
"Stupid, stupid girl," he whispered in her ear, grabbing her shoulders from behind her, "Don't you know that no one loves you? That you just need to. . . die?"
Akane didn't blink.
Ukyo felt she had to stop him.
. . . . . .My heart will not break. . . . . .
Ukyo had seen Akane's spirit slowly die, taking everything away from her and leaving her as a dead shell of the person she once was. As hard as Ranma tried, his comments wouldn't work on her deadened form.
Seeing her resist him and succeed, Ranma's face twisted in rage. With an angry frown on his face, he shoved her forward from behind, throwing her several feet before she fell to the ground. Her pack was knocked off as she stood slowly, brushing off her knees lightly. Looking up, Akane's face was still numb, devoid of any emotions. There was no anger, . . . . no sadness. . . .
Ranma was not happy.
. . . .Standing still through all my fears. . . .
His face warped with a burning and unquenchable rancor, he snarled and with a slight blur, disappeared for a moment. Suddenly, he was there, standing before Akane. He grabbed her by her arms and lifted her so she was eye-to- eye with him. "Cry you little bitch," he declared as spittle flew from his cursing lips onto her pale face, "Cry!"
Ukyo stifled a cry of surprise and ran toward the two, determined that this time she wouldn't just stand by and watch. She wouldn't let Akane be broken again.
Akane remained dead. She simply lifted her eyes to him slowly. Her lips suddenly twitched. With a sad voice she whispered to him, "I wont cry. . . . I wont cry for your sake. Ranma, I pity you."
Ranma's darkly painted face suddenly froze, his mask suddenly cracking a bit to reveal a shocked pause in his anger. With a painful smile, Akane slowly leaned forward, closer to the boy's shocked form and. . . . . kissed him softly.
Ukyo froze in her tracks, only feet away from the two.
His eyes already wide, Ranma's eyelids blew black in surprise as he felt Akane's warm lips on his own. For just a moment, as he stood there, reveling in the tenderness of the kiss, the drugs running through his system seemed to slow down, letting him enjoy this one moment of freedom. He closed his eyes and let himself melt into the kiss, struck by how gentle her lips were.
Akane didn't want this to end, but she knew it had to as Ranma's hands loosened around her arms and dropped her to her feet. Clenching her eyes shut, she kissed him roughly on the lips and dug into her pocket, withdrawing a metal needle. A clear fluid bubbled lightly in the clear tube behind it. A tear slipped down her cheek as she pulled back on the needle.
. . . . . Time will pass and things will heal. . . . .
Then, rushing her arm toward the skin beneath Ranma's shoulder, she stabbed the needle into his arm, pressing down on the pump and filling his body with the clear liquid. Ranma's mouth jerked away from hers as he screamed in pain. His arm swung wildly and he batted her away roughly.
Looking at his arm, Ranma angrily swatted at the needle sticking out of his shoulder and turned his fierce gaze to Akane. He slowly stalked toward her, his face angrier than ever. Reaching out for her, he grabbed for her shoulder when he suddenly, he stopped. His face suddenly twisted in pain. Grabbing his head, a terrible wail retched from his throat.
Ukyo stared Ranma's writhing form twist and spin around on the ground, screaming like a wounded animal. His eyes were wide and stretched, bloodied nerves running rampant through his eyes, as his howls grew wilder and more pained. Ranma's body jerked and twisted as spasms wrenched through his body. Seeing his kicking feet and flailing limbs smack the ground, Ukyo felt her nerves on edge and stepped closer to his form. . .
"Ukyo, don't touch him!"
Jerking away from him, Ukyo looked up to see Akane staring at Ranma, her hand out and warding Ukyo back. Slowly, she stepped toward Ranma's still wildly flailing form. His howls grew worse as Akane approached him slowly. He clawed at the ground but seemed unable to reach her as his body jerked around. Ukyo watched as she stepped closer, the darkly haired girl saying something slowly under her breath. Ukyo strained her ear to listen.
"Four. . .Three. . . Two. . ."
Ukyo frowned in confusion. . . What was she doing?. . . . .
"One."
Suddenly, Ranma grew still. Very still. With a sad sigh, Akane bent down and picked up the syringe that had been cast aside. Placing it carefully in her pocket, she walked toward Ranma, bending to her knees.
"It was a medicine for him," she explained to Ukyo, her eyes cast down as she brushed some of his raven bangs out of his face, "He was drugged."
"How. . .How did you know?" Ukyo stared unbelievingly at Akane.
Turning her eyes toward Ukyo, she whispered "I didn't."
"Then. . then how-"
Akane looked down at the ground, "I had to take my chances. This is a basic counter-drug that acts as a sedative while reducing or eliminating the effects of any other drugs present in the body. My mother needed it. . . .before she died."
She looked back at Ranma, "I was just lucky it worked. I had to take my chances."
Ukyo breathed out a breath of relief and squatted down beside Akane. "So. . .," she mumbled slowly, "Who did it to him?"
Akane's eyes turned hard and her lips thinned. "I don't know, but it was _some_ drug."
"I would say Shampoo," Ukyo started, "But she's never done anything _this_ bad. . . ."
Remaining silent, Akane suddenly stood up. Ukyo looked at her with question in her eyes. "What should we-"
"Grab his legs," Akane cut her off, reaching down for Ranma's arms, "I'll take his arms. We'll take him to your place until he wakes up. I don't know what we'll do if we go back to the dojo. . ."
"Right."
~
Slowly they made their way to Ukyo's restaurant. Unlocking her door, Ukyo helped Akane drag Ranma's slumped body up the stairs and onto a futon. As they laid him out, the Tendo girl looked sharply at the chef. "Don't start getting any ideas. . . . ."
Ukyo looked hurt as she stared at Akane. "Now, Akane, why, I would never even dream of doing a thing like that."
"Uh-huh."
When they finally laid him down, they went downstairs. Ukyo locked the door shut behind her and leaned against the front door, the cold steel biting into her back. Ignoring the pain, she looked at Akane. "So what are you going to do? Now that he's fine you can stay, but-"
"I'm not staying."
Ukyo's eyes widened in surprise. "But," she stuttered, "but. . . but. . .why?"
Akane raised a hand to her face, rubbing her cheek. "I. . . . I have to. I. . . I can't go on like this. . . ."
Eyes softening, Ukyo spoke softly. "But Akane, Ranma's fine now. Everything wi-"
"Dammit Ukyo! Everything wont be fine," she whirled on Ukyo, a furious expression on her face, "I can't go on living each day where I feel as if I have no control over my life! Can't you understand this?! No. . . of course you can't. . . You don't know. . . ."
Akane took a breath and stared at Ukyo. "It doesn't matter if Ranma's back to normal. This experience has shown me that I can't keep a reign on my feelings. That I'm not strong enough to control my own life. That. . . . I'm still a child."
"Everyone of you; You, Shampoo, Mousse, Ryoga, Ranma. . . . . .You have all gone through a point in your life where you grew up, lost that childish and fearful side you once had. . . . But. . . . .I haven't. I'm still a child Ukyo. Do you know how it feels to look in the mirror and see a scared kid? I need. . . to get away. . . to grow. . . If I stay here. . . . I don't think I could take it. . . . . "
Ukyo watched as Akane spilled this new wave of explanation upon her. She had. . . had never thought of it that way. Thinking about it now, she saw that what Akane said was true. She herself had experienced the betrayal of losing a friend. That had made her realize her weaknesses and grow. But she had gone through so much to get there. . . . It was hard, realizing that she was all alone, that Ranma had truly chosen okonomiyaki over her. But it made her stronger. . . .
Looking up at Akane, she was startled as she realized she was seeing a side of Akane she hadn't seen before. . . . a child. Of course she had seen Akane's pain and suffering, but that was only part of the bigger problem. Now. . . she saw a child, wanting to latch onto someone to cry and gather comfort from but. . . . there was no one.
*But does she truly have to go through this?*
"Ukyo," Akane mumbled, "I'm sorry I've caused you so much grief. I should have never gotten you involved in this mess."
"Don't worry about it," Ukyo forced herself to smile, clutching Akane's shoulder "I'm glad that I was able to get a friend out of you."
Reaching up to the hand on her shoulder, Akane squeezed Ukyo's hand and mouthed a small "Thank you."
Then, adjusting her pact, she stepped back and let Ukyo's hand hover a few moments before falling back to the chef's side. With a small and sad smile on her face, she ran into the restaurant and up the stairs. Ukyo stood silently outside, staring at the ground. She wasn't worried what Akane was going to do in her shop. She knew perfectly well what the girl was going to do. So she would interrupt her.
After all, saying good-bye to Ranma was going to be hardest on her.
~
Upstairs, Akane opened the door and sat down by Ranma's sleeping form. She watched as his chest fell slowly and rose up in a rhythmic pattern. Reaching deftly, she brushed his hair softly away from his forehead. Then, letting her backpack slide to the floor, she bent over him and looked deeply at Ranma.
"I love you Ranma," she whispered to him, "I love you and I always will. Please don't feel bad for what you did. I know it wasn't you. Just always remember that I love you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you, I love you now, and I always will hold you in my heart. There will never be a person that I cherish more than you."
A tear slid down her cheek and burned her flesh. No. . . she had to do this. She had to say good-bye. Casting a blurry glance at Ranma, she leaned over and kissed him fully on the lips, crying silently as she did so. Inside her, she felt herself crumbling, but it couldn't be helped.
Breaking away from him, she blinked the tears out of her eyes and grabbed her pack. Standing up, she rushed downstairs and out the door. Wiping her eyes roughly on her sleeve, she gave Ukyo one last glance and whispered, "I'll see you later."
With that, she ran off down the street and out of Ukyo's sight. . . .
The chef felt something warm in her eyes. Tears that had needed to spill for so long took that time to fall. This time, she wasn't confused about why she felt sad. It wasn't because she lost a good friend. Not because of what Akane or herself and suffered. . . . .
She cried because she knew that for once, she completely understood the emotions shredding her heart apart. Ukyo cried because she had lost the last shred of her childhood and the darkness blinding her eyes had been lifted and revealed a whole new world to her.
Clutching her arms in the coolness of the beginning day, she looked at the rising sun and whispered out loud to herself the last part of the poem.
". . . . As the world goes by with my silent tears. . . . ."
~
OWWW! My back! It hurts. -_-. Ah well. I'm just glad I got another chapter out! Woo-hoo! First I got Dancing in the Dark out and now this one! WOAH! Look out Fanfiction.Net, I'm on a roll!
Ahem. . .
ANYWAYS, I want to continue to thank those of you who've read this story and are nice enough to review. I appreciate it. It truly has been quite encouraging. And THANK YOU for those who helped me with the yen problem. I truly am grateful. I guess that the price I put wasn't too bad, no?
Sorry, I haven't updated in so long. Been busy. . . and lazy. ^_^ Plus, my story keeps changing. One moment I'm typing up a chapter, and it changes so I have to re-write it. Crazy I know. ^_^
Well, until the next time,
Ciao. ^_~
P.S. Please be nice and review.
P.P.S. _Next Chapter_: What does poor Ranma do when he wakes up from his sleep?
Shadow Knight
Chapter 10: Silent Tears
Disclaimer: HA! I DON'T OWN IT!
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
*Thoughts*
#Sounds#
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
I am strong,
I stand tall
Nothing will break me
I will not fall
My heart will not break
Standing still through all my fears
Time will pass and things will heal
As the world goes by with my silent tears
. . . . . . . . . . .It was a poem that she had memorized since early age. She had practically engraved it on her heart, using it as her fortified wall against all pain. Sometimes it worked. . . .sometimes it didn't. Yet, she kept it close to her heart and repeated it silently in her head whenever she was about to cry. . . whenever the pain was too much.
It stopped her from falling apart.
Looking to her left, she watched as Akane trudged slowly forward, keeping a slow but determined pace. She couldn't see the girl's face behind the curtain of her dark hair. A frown decorated her features. Knowing how the girl was feeling, she could guess that Akane was probably struggling not to cry. . . . . or maybe she gave up already.
*. . . . Akane. . . . *
Suddenly, the aforementioned girl stumbled over an uneven edge in the sidewalk. She tilted for a moment before straightening. Grabbing onto the wall, she steadied herself. But she stopped altogether for a moment. Brushing back the dark curtain with a pale hand, Akane turned toward her friend. A thin frown brushed her features as she studied the brunette's face.
"Ukyo," she mumbled, her voice dead and numb, "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine. You'll be fine. . . .Everything will."
With that, she adjusted the pack on her shoulders and began walking a bit faster down the sidewalk. Ukyo stared at her retreating back for a moment simply wondering. Would she ever know the Akane she had once known?
Looking up slowly with saddened eyes, Ukyo stared after her. No, she couldn't . . . she would never be the same. Suddenly, Akane curtly turned around the corner. With a poignant sigh, Ukyo ran to catch up with her.
"Akane," she cried out a bit as she turned the corner, "Wait up. . . You walk too. . . . fast. . . ."
After cutting around the corner, Ukyo saw Akane's form suddenly stop and stiffen noticeably. About to complain to Akane about her speed, Ukyo was cut off when she soon too stopped and grew numb as a chilling coldness swept through her as if Death itself had touched her.
In her head she slowly began mumbling the poem.
. . . . I am strong. . . .
Ukyo heard his steps coming closer as he approached them, his black, tai slipper slithering into the flickering, harsh glow of the streetlight.
. . . . .I stand tall. . . . .
The light cast a florescent glare on his black pants. . .then on his red, Chinese, silk shirt. . . .
. . . . . . Nothing will break me. . . . . .
"Hello, Ukyo," he whispered from his upturned lips.
She was going to snap soon. This was going to slow drive her insane.
"Hi, Ranma," she fearfully breathed back in short breaths.
Ukyo watched as the stormy blue eyes she had loved so much flicked from her and jerkily turned to Akane. Those same beautiful eyes were suddenly swathed in a boiling hatred. She saw his hands suddenly tighten into fists. A cold flame of bitter disgust ran rampant through his stiff form.
"So that bitch is here too," he snarled, his thin lips turning into a smirk as he watched her wince slightly.
Akane shook for a moment, nearly falling, but she stood, her face dull and stoic. Her lips straightened into a thin line. Clutching the straps of her pack tightly, she stared at him blankly.
Her face didn't shift the slightest bit as he took a step closer, a barely contained violence igniting his body. The same malevolent grin tugging at his lips. Akane stood still as he stepped another step closer. . . .
. . . . . I will not fall. . . .
"You damn slut," he sneered, his eyes vivid with amusement at her pain, "You just wont go away will you? This world doesn't need shit like you. There isn't a damn thing you're good for."
Akane's stared straight at him, her eyes hard and cold.
Ranma seemed to enjoy this new Akane, one who didn't cry, didn't react. With an excited smile, he threw more threats at her.
"Stupid, stupid girl," he whispered in her ear, grabbing her shoulders from behind her, "Don't you know that no one loves you? That you just need to. . . die?"
Akane didn't blink.
Ukyo felt she had to stop him.
. . . . . .My heart will not break. . . . . .
Ukyo had seen Akane's spirit slowly die, taking everything away from her and leaving her as a dead shell of the person she once was. As hard as Ranma tried, his comments wouldn't work on her deadened form.
Seeing her resist him and succeed, Ranma's face twisted in rage. With an angry frown on his face, he shoved her forward from behind, throwing her several feet before she fell to the ground. Her pack was knocked off as she stood slowly, brushing off her knees lightly. Looking up, Akane's face was still numb, devoid of any emotions. There was no anger, . . . . no sadness. . . .
Ranma was not happy.
. . . .Standing still through all my fears. . . .
His face warped with a burning and unquenchable rancor, he snarled and with a slight blur, disappeared for a moment. Suddenly, he was there, standing before Akane. He grabbed her by her arms and lifted her so she was eye-to- eye with him. "Cry you little bitch," he declared as spittle flew from his cursing lips onto her pale face, "Cry!"
Ukyo stifled a cry of surprise and ran toward the two, determined that this time she wouldn't just stand by and watch. She wouldn't let Akane be broken again.
Akane remained dead. She simply lifted her eyes to him slowly. Her lips suddenly twitched. With a sad voice she whispered to him, "I wont cry. . . . I wont cry for your sake. Ranma, I pity you."
Ranma's darkly painted face suddenly froze, his mask suddenly cracking a bit to reveal a shocked pause in his anger. With a painful smile, Akane slowly leaned forward, closer to the boy's shocked form and. . . . . kissed him softly.
Ukyo froze in her tracks, only feet away from the two.
His eyes already wide, Ranma's eyelids blew black in surprise as he felt Akane's warm lips on his own. For just a moment, as he stood there, reveling in the tenderness of the kiss, the drugs running through his system seemed to slow down, letting him enjoy this one moment of freedom. He closed his eyes and let himself melt into the kiss, struck by how gentle her lips were.
Akane didn't want this to end, but she knew it had to as Ranma's hands loosened around her arms and dropped her to her feet. Clenching her eyes shut, she kissed him roughly on the lips and dug into her pocket, withdrawing a metal needle. A clear fluid bubbled lightly in the clear tube behind it. A tear slipped down her cheek as she pulled back on the needle.
. . . . . Time will pass and things will heal. . . . .
Then, rushing her arm toward the skin beneath Ranma's shoulder, she stabbed the needle into his arm, pressing down on the pump and filling his body with the clear liquid. Ranma's mouth jerked away from hers as he screamed in pain. His arm swung wildly and he batted her away roughly.
Looking at his arm, Ranma angrily swatted at the needle sticking out of his shoulder and turned his fierce gaze to Akane. He slowly stalked toward her, his face angrier than ever. Reaching out for her, he grabbed for her shoulder when he suddenly, he stopped. His face suddenly twisted in pain. Grabbing his head, a terrible wail retched from his throat.
Ukyo stared Ranma's writhing form twist and spin around on the ground, screaming like a wounded animal. His eyes were wide and stretched, bloodied nerves running rampant through his eyes, as his howls grew wilder and more pained. Ranma's body jerked and twisted as spasms wrenched through his body. Seeing his kicking feet and flailing limbs smack the ground, Ukyo felt her nerves on edge and stepped closer to his form. . .
"Ukyo, don't touch him!"
Jerking away from him, Ukyo looked up to see Akane staring at Ranma, her hand out and warding Ukyo back. Slowly, she stepped toward Ranma's still wildly flailing form. His howls grew worse as Akane approached him slowly. He clawed at the ground but seemed unable to reach her as his body jerked around. Ukyo watched as she stepped closer, the darkly haired girl saying something slowly under her breath. Ukyo strained her ear to listen.
"Four. . .Three. . . Two. . ."
Ukyo frowned in confusion. . . What was she doing?. . . . .
"One."
Suddenly, Ranma grew still. Very still. With a sad sigh, Akane bent down and picked up the syringe that had been cast aside. Placing it carefully in her pocket, she walked toward Ranma, bending to her knees.
"It was a medicine for him," she explained to Ukyo, her eyes cast down as she brushed some of his raven bangs out of his face, "He was drugged."
"How. . .How did you know?" Ukyo stared unbelievingly at Akane.
Turning her eyes toward Ukyo, she whispered "I didn't."
"Then. . then how-"
Akane looked down at the ground, "I had to take my chances. This is a basic counter-drug that acts as a sedative while reducing or eliminating the effects of any other drugs present in the body. My mother needed it. . . .before she died."
She looked back at Ranma, "I was just lucky it worked. I had to take my chances."
Ukyo breathed out a breath of relief and squatted down beside Akane. "So. . .," she mumbled slowly, "Who did it to him?"
Akane's eyes turned hard and her lips thinned. "I don't know, but it was _some_ drug."
"I would say Shampoo," Ukyo started, "But she's never done anything _this_ bad. . . ."
Remaining silent, Akane suddenly stood up. Ukyo looked at her with question in her eyes. "What should we-"
"Grab his legs," Akane cut her off, reaching down for Ranma's arms, "I'll take his arms. We'll take him to your place until he wakes up. I don't know what we'll do if we go back to the dojo. . ."
"Right."
~
Slowly they made their way to Ukyo's restaurant. Unlocking her door, Ukyo helped Akane drag Ranma's slumped body up the stairs and onto a futon. As they laid him out, the Tendo girl looked sharply at the chef. "Don't start getting any ideas. . . . ."
Ukyo looked hurt as she stared at Akane. "Now, Akane, why, I would never even dream of doing a thing like that."
"Uh-huh."
When they finally laid him down, they went downstairs. Ukyo locked the door shut behind her and leaned against the front door, the cold steel biting into her back. Ignoring the pain, she looked at Akane. "So what are you going to do? Now that he's fine you can stay, but-"
"I'm not staying."
Ukyo's eyes widened in surprise. "But," she stuttered, "but. . . but. . .why?"
Akane raised a hand to her face, rubbing her cheek. "I. . . . I have to. I. . . I can't go on like this. . . ."
Eyes softening, Ukyo spoke softly. "But Akane, Ranma's fine now. Everything wi-"
"Dammit Ukyo! Everything wont be fine," she whirled on Ukyo, a furious expression on her face, "I can't go on living each day where I feel as if I have no control over my life! Can't you understand this?! No. . . of course you can't. . . You don't know. . . ."
Akane took a breath and stared at Ukyo. "It doesn't matter if Ranma's back to normal. This experience has shown me that I can't keep a reign on my feelings. That I'm not strong enough to control my own life. That. . . . I'm still a child."
"Everyone of you; You, Shampoo, Mousse, Ryoga, Ranma. . . . . .You have all gone through a point in your life where you grew up, lost that childish and fearful side you once had. . . . But. . . . .I haven't. I'm still a child Ukyo. Do you know how it feels to look in the mirror and see a scared kid? I need. . . to get away. . . to grow. . . If I stay here. . . . I don't think I could take it. . . . . "
Ukyo watched as Akane spilled this new wave of explanation upon her. She had. . . had never thought of it that way. Thinking about it now, she saw that what Akane said was true. She herself had experienced the betrayal of losing a friend. That had made her realize her weaknesses and grow. But she had gone through so much to get there. . . . It was hard, realizing that she was all alone, that Ranma had truly chosen okonomiyaki over her. But it made her stronger. . . .
Looking up at Akane, she was startled as she realized she was seeing a side of Akane she hadn't seen before. . . . a child. Of course she had seen Akane's pain and suffering, but that was only part of the bigger problem. Now. . . she saw a child, wanting to latch onto someone to cry and gather comfort from but. . . . there was no one.
*But does she truly have to go through this?*
"Ukyo," Akane mumbled, "I'm sorry I've caused you so much grief. I should have never gotten you involved in this mess."
"Don't worry about it," Ukyo forced herself to smile, clutching Akane's shoulder "I'm glad that I was able to get a friend out of you."
Reaching up to the hand on her shoulder, Akane squeezed Ukyo's hand and mouthed a small "Thank you."
Then, adjusting her pact, she stepped back and let Ukyo's hand hover a few moments before falling back to the chef's side. With a small and sad smile on her face, she ran into the restaurant and up the stairs. Ukyo stood silently outside, staring at the ground. She wasn't worried what Akane was going to do in her shop. She knew perfectly well what the girl was going to do. So she would interrupt her.
After all, saying good-bye to Ranma was going to be hardest on her.
~
Upstairs, Akane opened the door and sat down by Ranma's sleeping form. She watched as his chest fell slowly and rose up in a rhythmic pattern. Reaching deftly, she brushed his hair softly away from his forehead. Then, letting her backpack slide to the floor, she bent over him and looked deeply at Ranma.
"I love you Ranma," she whispered to him, "I love you and I always will. Please don't feel bad for what you did. I know it wasn't you. Just always remember that I love you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you, I love you now, and I always will hold you in my heart. There will never be a person that I cherish more than you."
A tear slid down her cheek and burned her flesh. No. . . she had to do this. She had to say good-bye. Casting a blurry glance at Ranma, she leaned over and kissed him fully on the lips, crying silently as she did so. Inside her, she felt herself crumbling, but it couldn't be helped.
Breaking away from him, she blinked the tears out of her eyes and grabbed her pack. Standing up, she rushed downstairs and out the door. Wiping her eyes roughly on her sleeve, she gave Ukyo one last glance and whispered, "I'll see you later."
With that, she ran off down the street and out of Ukyo's sight. . . .
The chef felt something warm in her eyes. Tears that had needed to spill for so long took that time to fall. This time, she wasn't confused about why she felt sad. It wasn't because she lost a good friend. Not because of what Akane or herself and suffered. . . . .
She cried because she knew that for once, she completely understood the emotions shredding her heart apart. Ukyo cried because she had lost the last shred of her childhood and the darkness blinding her eyes had been lifted and revealed a whole new world to her.
Clutching her arms in the coolness of the beginning day, she looked at the rising sun and whispered out loud to herself the last part of the poem.
". . . . As the world goes by with my silent tears. . . . ."
~
OWWW! My back! It hurts. -_-. Ah well. I'm just glad I got another chapter out! Woo-hoo! First I got Dancing in the Dark out and now this one! WOAH! Look out Fanfiction.Net, I'm on a roll!
Ahem. . .
ANYWAYS, I want to continue to thank those of you who've read this story and are nice enough to review. I appreciate it. It truly has been quite encouraging. And THANK YOU for those who helped me with the yen problem. I truly am grateful. I guess that the price I put wasn't too bad, no?
Sorry, I haven't updated in so long. Been busy. . . and lazy. ^_^ Plus, my story keeps changing. One moment I'm typing up a chapter, and it changes so I have to re-write it. Crazy I know. ^_^
Well, until the next time,
Ciao. ^_~
P.S. Please be nice and review.
P.P.S. _Next Chapter_: What does poor Ranma do when he wakes up from his sleep?