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Confusion Prologue – One Step Closer

A young man was walking down the road. He was wearing his trademark red Chinese shirt and black kung-fu pants. His hair was black and done up in a ponytail. He had his hands in his pockets and looked as if he was deep in thought.

This young man's name is Saotome Ranma, age 17. Having just been malleted for the 3rd time that day he had every right to be deep in thought.

I wonder what I did this time…? He thought. As he continued walking he started reviewing what had happened earlier that day.

I woke up when Akane splashed me with water. Ran downstairs after quickly washing up. Ate breakfast. Forgot my lunch when Akane dragged me out the door. Argued with her all the way to school. Beat up Kuno on our way into the building. Walked into class late, which ended up with both of us holding buckets and me getting blamed for it…again.

So far the day hadn't turned out too well. Going through the rest of the day didn't help his mood any either.

When they had returned to class he had fallen asleep. And when lunch arrived he had promptly leapt out the window. During lunch Ryoga had appeared and challenged him. After beating Ryoga in the fight he was malleted into the ground by Akane for "picking on Ryoga".

He slept through the rest of his classes and had his energy drained by Ms. Hinako. After the last bell had rung he walked out of the classroom and attempted to walk home without fighting with Akane. But it was just that, an attempt. Shampoo had crashed into him with her bike not 5 minutes after he left the school gates.

He was glomped by Shampoo and then malleted again by Akane. Shampoo left to finish her deliveries after he was malleted and had promised to visit after she was done. Akane had left in a huff after hitting him, and he had to run after her to catch up.

I cannot take this anymore
I'm saying everything I've said before

After catching up they argued a bit more. And after her famous cry of "Ranma no Baka!!" He was lifted off into the sky and landed somewhere on the other side of the Nerimian district.

"(Sigh) Why'd I say those things to her? Why'd I make her even more mad?"

All these words they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance

"It doesn't matter now though does it? Can't change what's already happened…" Ranma said to himself.

He didn't know when he started talking to himself, but he always found that it helped solve certain problems. But then again, having few people to trust and talk to can do that to a guy.

"Maybe…maybe I should just disappear…go on a training trip. And not return for a long time…."

Yeah, he can speak good Japanese. He'd always been able too. But his stupid father didn't find properly speaking Japanese manly. Though his father's views on things were always a bit twisted.

Less I hear the less you say
But you'll find that out anyway

When Ranma looked up he found himself standing on the bridge he'd found himself under so many times before. Walking off the bridge he headed underneath it where he could think without being interrupted.

Just like before…

We've exchanged so many words, Akane and me. But how many of those words have ever been kind? Where did it all begin? The violence, the name calling…how'd it all start?

A vision of Akane walking in on Ranma in the furo flashes before his eyes.

Ah, now I remember. It all started when she found out I was a guy. She was all buddy-buddy when she saw my girl side. But the first glimpse of a guy and she tries to drown me with a stupid lawn statue…

Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break

Then there was that time… As Ranma began going over all the times that he and Akane had had arguments and fights, he realized something. Everything they've ever fought about, it was all over petty little things and misunderstandings. All because Akane had an overactive imagination.

I need a little room to breathe
'
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break

But….wasn't he at fault sometimes too? He did open his mouth at the wrong moment at times. And he did insult Akane at the wrong times too. So is he at fault and not Akane? Or were they both at fault?

I find the answers aren't so clear

Ranma put his head in his hands, "Argh! This is why I hate thinking about things…! Why does life have to be so damn confusing!?"

Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance

Ranma leaned back against the concrete wall that held up half the bridge, "I'm not gonna get anything done over here. I need to talk it out with someone….someone who can help answer my questions. And just might have a solution to them as well."

Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again

Ranma was walking slowly as he ran through his list of possible listeners.

Nabiki would charge me. Akane would hit me. Pops would call me unmanly. Mr. Tendo would cry. Cologne would listen in exchange for my marrying Shampoo…

And his list continued that way until he came to Dr. Tofu and Kasumi as possibilities. Eventually he decided on talking to Dr. Tofu, he had less of a chance of being eavesdropped on.

With this in mind he turned down a road and headed towards Tofu's clinic.

Just like before…
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge

He entered the clinic and called out to Dr. Tofu as he removed his shoes at the door.

"Hey, Doc! You in there?"

"Yes, Ranma. Come in, I'm making some tea now. Will you join me?" Dr. Tofu asked from inside the office.

Ranma walked into the office and spotted Tofu over by the counter next to a kettle, "Sure. I needed to talk with you anyway…"

Tofu raised an eyebrow at Ranma's statement but said nothing. He moved to sit down on a chair and motioned for Ranma to take the seat across from him.

"So what did you want to talk to me about, Ranma?"

Ranma took a deep breath and spoke, "Well, I need your advice. On my life…"

Tofu nodded in understanding, "Okay, Ranma. How about you start at the beginning?"

Ranma nodded and began his tale.

And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breath
'
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge

And I'm about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break

When Ranma finished, Tofu was sipping his tea quietly, deep in thought.

"And that's why I need your help Doc. I don't know what to do anymore," Ranma stared at his tea with his bangs covering his eyes.

Tofu sat quietly for few more minutes before speaking.

"Well, I may have a solution for your problem, Ranma," Ranma looked up from his tea to stare at Tofu, hope evident in his crystal blue eyes, "You need to discover who you are."

The hope held in his eyes quickly turned to confusion, "Who I am? I know who I am. I'm Saotome Ranma, heir to the Anything Goes school of Martial Arts," He said confidently.

"Are you sure about that, Ranma? Look inside your heart. Did you decide that you wanted to be a Martial Artist? Or did you have that decision made for you?" Tofu asked.

"I…" Ranma started but stopped as he thought about it.

I find the answers aren't so clear

It was then, going over his life, trying to find that crucial point, that Ranma found the truth.

He had never, in the entirety of his 17-year life span, chosen his own path.

His life of Martial Arts was chosen by Genma. His choice to be a "man among men" was chosen by his mother. Amazon law decided the engagement to Shampoo. His engagement to Akane, by Genma and Suon.

All of his choices…had been made for him…without his own consent.

"Well, Ranma?" Tofu urged.

Ranma looked up at Tofu, the horror of his realization still on his face, and answered Tofu, "No. I didn't make that decision. I…I've never made my own decisions. I don't know who I am or what I want to be…"

Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense

"How can I find out?" Ranma asked Tofu.

"I don't know, Ranma. But one thing is certain, you can't find that out here in Nerima. There would be too many distractions. You wouldn't get much done here," Tofu pointed out.

"Then that's what I'll do. I'll leave Nerima."

"So you've decided?"

"Yes. I'm going to go on a journey of self discovery," Ranma put his teacup down and turned to leave. But he stopped at the door.

Turning to Tofu Ranma spoke, "Dr. Tofu? Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, Ranma, what is it?" Tofu asked.

"If anyone comes asking about where I went, can you make up an excuse for me?"

"Sure, I'll do the best I can."

"Thank you for listening to my problems and helping me find the best solution," With that Ranma turned and put his shoes on.

Leaving the clinic Ranma jumped onto the nearest rooftop and roof hopped to the Tendo Dojo.

(-(-(-)-)-)

When Ranma reached the Tendo property he jumped over the gate and then jumped through his bedroom window. He packed silently, putting only what he needed inside the backpack. After placing the money he stashed to hide from both his father and Nabiki, he stole whatever yen his father had hidden.

Finishing his packing he grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote a note to the family. Letting them know he was leaving and wouldn't return until he found out what he wanted to know.

Signing his name, he silently crept into Akane's room and placed the note on her desk, where he was sure she would find it in the morning.

(-(-(-)-)-)

Standing on a hill on the edge of Nerima, Ranma watched the sun begin to rise over the place he had called home for the past year.

The reason he was still even near Nerima was because he was hesitant to leave. Even through all the shit he was forced to go through, Saffron, Herb, it had still served as a home for him. He had considered Kasumi the mother he never had. And…well everyone else, minus Tofu, had treated him like shit.

I find these answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense

Ranma took a deep breath and slowly released it, I'm going to leave this place and my past behind. I'll try to keep in touch with Kasumi and Tofu and let them know how I'm doing every once in a while. But I'm not going to return to this hellhole until I know, without a doubt, I know who I am.

With Ranma's mindset on his goal, he turned his back on Nerima and began walking away. Taking his first steps on the journey of self-discovery.

(-(-(-)-)-)

Akane woke up the next morning earlier than usual. She sat up in her bed and tried to remember what day it was. Figuring out it was Friday she got up to get changed.

She finished changing and sat down at her desk. Laying her head down on her desk she thought about what happen last night. Ranma never came home that night, or rather, she went to bed before he came home.

Shut up when I'm talking to you

She was worried because he never came home. He could have had a fight with someone and then passed out on the side of the road somewhere.

But then again he could be sleeping over one of his fiancées' house! Or even with all of them! Said Akane's ever present optimistic imagination.

"That perverted, cheating, bastard!" Akane growled.

Shut up when I'm talking to you

Akane picked her head when she resolved that she was going to see if Ranma had come home at all that night. And if so, she was going to give him a rude awakening.

The paper that stuck to her forehead when she lifted her head up stopped her from doing anything more than grabbing the paper and reading it.

Akane,

I'm leaving you this note because I have decided to leave Nerima. I've left on a journey. Why? Well let me start from the beginning.

After you malleted me last afternoon I had found myself thinking about my life. I went over everything I had done while I walked around town aimlessly. Eventually I found myself at my favorite thinking spot. You know, that place under the bridge a few blocks east of Dr. Tofu's clinic. I sat under that bridge and thought some more. Eventually I decided that I needed someone to talk to, and I headed to Dr. Tofu's place. After talking with him for a few hours, he helped me realize something. I didn't know who I was. I wasn't who I wanted to be. The engagements. My study in the martial arts. They were all chosen for me. I never chose my own path.

After I realized this I had decided I was going to find just who I was and what I wanted to be. For that I had to leave Nerima, you, and everyone else behind. I don't know where my journey will take me. Or how long I'll be away. But I may return one day. Just to see what has changed while I was away.

Tell the family about my departure, hell, let them read this letter. Just let them know I'm going to be gone for a while.

Tell Nabiki I'm going to pay off my debts when I get the money. Tell Pops he was a bastard and that when he better hope I never master the neko-ken, for his sake. Tell Kasumi that I'm really thankful for all the times she's helped bandage me up and when she's had that kettle ready for when I came home a girl. And tell Mr. Tendo that he's gotta get his emotions in control or he'll end up in the hospital because of a bad case of dehydration. Akane…what can I say, really? You've known me for 2 years and you still don't trust me enough to go hanging around my other fiancées, even though I know I wouldn't do so. For 2 years I've stayed faithful to you, I've even killed for you, and you still don't trust me enough to even leave the house without you suspecting me of some crime.

My opinion of you has degraded over the years, and I've come to find that I don't like how you treat me. Your temper…man, you can blow up over the most stupid things. Why am I saying this now? Because you can't hit me, and because I know, even though my words might infuriate you, you won't stop reading. While I'm gone, I ask you, try to work on controlling your temper. You might find yourself with better friends and people will trust you more with their secrets. When you are sure you have your temper in control, ask Ryoga about his secret. I'm tied by honor not to say anything. But being a ronin has its advantages.

I've been writing this for too long. So I better make this quick and hurry before Pops wakes up and finds me.

Akane, I might have once loved you. After Saffron happened I think I did. I had hoped things would get better for us. But after the failed-wedding things just headed down hill. You became more violent and jealous of the other girls and hit me every time I did some thing "perverted". And then I realized that I did love you. But not as a wife. I loved you like the little sister I never had.

You and everyone else, Nabiki, Kasumi, Mr. Tendo, Dr. Tofu, you all acted like the family I had never had the chance to have. And for that I thank you.

Good-bye everyone, I hope we may cross paths one day.

Sincerely,
---Ranma

Akane slowly put the letter down when she finished reading it. Tears had slowly started forming in her eyes when she read he had left. Now that she was finished reading the letter her tears freely slid down her cheeks as she silently cried.

She was still crying when Kasumi came up to check on her. Kasumi saw Akane crying and went to her side.

Akane turned to Kasumi and handed her the letter. She sat silently while Kasumi read the letter.

"Oh my," Kasumi turned to Akane and engulfed her in a hug.

"Oh, Kasumi…" At this point Akane finally broke down sobbing.

Kasumi whispered calming and motherly words to her sister. Some how Kasumi knew this would happen. Akane was stubborn, but so was Ranma.

The fact that neither of them had ever admitted their feelings, without taking it back, and the fact that Akane's temper had gotten to the point where Ranma instinctively flinched whenever he came in contact with the opposite sex (that means girls, people) was solid proof that things were not going to work out very well between the two.

Now that Ranma was gone and Akane has no one to blame all her problems on, assuming she doesn't turn out like Ryoga, maybe she'll change and act more…kind to people. And try to control her temper.

Kasumi didn't know what was going to happen. Only time would tell. And hopefully whatever happens will be good.

To Be Continued….

-Lov3the3vil