Chapter 3: Goodbyes under the rain
She couldn't believe it, after everything that had happened, it had all been in vain? Maybe? Whatever the case, with all the Jusenkyo pools flooded, it was impossible to turn back, to get a cure, but really? Ranma really didn't care at this point, she had become used to her female form, to the point she… probably didn't mind this form? But this had just become something to take her mind away from the other problem.
Turning around and leaving the rest of the group that had accompanied Ranma, or tried to hinder her quest, she went in search of the one woman that was missing from their group, and she found exactly where Ranma thought she would be, and she couldn't blame her, after all, even after getting the story straight from Mousse, Shampoo and Akane, the cursed boy still couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Sitting down, with a melancholic look that didn't fit her face, Akane kept vigil on what was left of… Ranma couldn't finish the sentence, still not wanting to make it true by thinking or saying it. She still could hear Mousse's explanation of this when she woke up after turning Akane back to human.
"It is called 'The touch of life', it was created as a way to keep troops alive in open battlefield, but only as a last resort, usually something used to save important people, but almost always ended up with the death of the one that administered it; I have no idea where Ryoga learned the technique, but he ended up using it without hesitation."
Those had been the words of Mousse, and even at this point Ranma couldn't yet believe that he was gone; that was something weird, the fact that Ryoga's body ended up being petrified like this, neither Shampoo nor Mousse knew exactly what was going on, but here it was, the proof of Ryoga's sacrifice.
Kneeling on the floor, a hand raised, giving his life willingly for somebody else just like the stupid bleeding heart that he was; a testament to his courage, probably something that will remain here for centuries, a memento, so he would never be forgotten.
Looking at it, Ranma still wanted to believe that at any moment Ryoga would get up and attack her on sight, or scream at her and say that something or other was her fault, she was even willing to go ahead and agree with him just so she would have a chance to fight him… at least one last time. It wasn't fair, that they all had survived this adventure, had finally defeated their enemies, fought against such insurmountable odds, just to lose him right at the end, but she knew that life sometimes wasn't fair.
"Akane?" The redhead didn't know exactly what to say, but the other girl, not caring about the rain falling over her finally moved, placing her forehead on Ryoga's head as if she was trying to check the lost boy's temperature, or hear his breathing, anything, but it was in vain, they both knew very well that he was gone.
"I'm sorry Ryoga, I'm so sorry, but I can assure you I won't forget your words, I… I will not waste the life that you gave me, I will do it in your name and in your memory," then, she lowered her voice, making it impossible for anyone to hear her words, specially with the rain, these were words only for the sweet boy that had gift her one more chance to live "you were cruel Ryoga, you left without letting me give you my answer to your confession… but the truth is, that I don't know, I still don't know how I feel, I don't yet understand what is in my heart. I don't love you in the same way that I love Ranma, but that does not mean that what I feel for you is less so for that… it will take me a long time to understand these feelings, but one day I will be able to give you my answer, so until then, wait for me, please?" at that point, she didn't know what were tears and what was the rain, but she could feel her heart breaking at the idea of leaving behind her friend, of leaving him alone forever one more time, so without thinking about it she kissed him, right where his lips would be if he was still of flesh and blood "see you later, Hibiki Ryoga."
The redheaded girl just looked at the last farewell to her eternal rival, and not for the first time, she felt jealousy, the only difference is that she finally admitted to herself that she felt like that. It was just that, she also felt empty, she felt a huge void that she didn't know where it came from, but she knew that it had something to do with her rival… no, with her friend, her best friend, who she didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye to, so she watched and wondered, who she really felt jealous of?
Was it because Ryoga had finally gotten a true kiss from Ranma's fianceé and obviously was loved by Akane? Or was it because the other girl had the opportunity to say goodbye, the chance to watch the last moments of his closest friend and get closure? She didn't know and in some way, she was scared of getting an answer.
Still, Akane got up and together, they began their arduous journey back home, without noticing something important; right at the tip of Ryoga's index finger, on the hand that was raised on his statue-like body, a small crack had appeared.