DISCLAIMER: Ranma & Co. are not mine. Please don't sue me.
NOTE: I was asked about Akane and Ranma's age, they are 28. ------------------------------ I believe that japanese school system is similar to italian, 5 years of elementary school, 3 of junior high and 5 of high school. Keep that in mind to follow the story. This could be the last chapter before I leave for the beaches, although I've the inspiration to continue. In any case happy holydays, we'll see in September! ------------------------------ Thanks for the reviews, I love when people like what I write! ^_^ TO READ AN ANSWER TO YOUR REVIEW COPY AND PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER: www.akane.it/ath_forum/FORUM.asp?FORUM_ID=4 If someone wants to nit-pick my fics please email me at info@akane.it Visit my site! www.akane.it
AKANE - Chapter 04
"I like your sister and Tofu." Ranma said sitting beside Akane on the porch, offering a cup of tea.
"Thanks." she took the cup "I love them...I even had a crush on him when I was in High School."
"Really? How did you took their relationship, then?"
Akane looked down, obviously searching for the right words: "I told you earlier that I'd tell you about my reaction when I read the postcard. It's difficult, though. I've never told anyone beside Kasumi about this story. When I dated someone, I pushed him away before arriving to the point of explaining this."
"Akane, if you don't want to tell me, please don't. I'll understand." he said trying to calm her a little.
"But I want to. You're the closest thing to a best friend in this moment, what with you taking care of the dojo, Yoshi and all. I'd really use a heart to heart talk right now. If you don't mind, that's it."
"I don't mind at all."
"Ok. So I had this big crush on Tofu when I was in High School but during my last year I met a boy, he was an year older than me and he was beautiful, to me at least." she blushed "He came to my school to make a speech to make people do martial arts and join the school club. I fell for him, I forgot Tofu the istant I saw him. And it seemed that he fell for me, too. We started dating and we hit it off, literally. He was attending college and we can see each other a few times, but our love seemed strong and we kept things going between us. In the meantime he partecipated in some martial arts championship and he had a success after the other, he came home less and less. I graduated and I wanted to go to the same college he went to but my father was ill and I had to take care of the dojo business. In the two years that followed we became...uhm...sexually active..." she looked at him shyly.
"Don't worry, I had my first experiences around that age, too." he said reassuringly.
"He kept telling me how much he loved me and that one day we will marry. I believed in his words. And I was wrong. He came home less and less, saying that he had this championship here, that trophy there and so on. I waited for him to came home even because I knew I was pregnant with his child and when he did...he said it was over. He had found the 'girl of his dreams', a girl attending his own university."
"God, was he selfish!" Ranma exclaimed. "Did you tell him you were pregnant? Does he know he has a son?"
"I told him after his wedding."
"Why didn't you tell him before the wedding?"
"I didn't really tell him, it just became...evident as time passed by. I didn't want to ruin my sister's happiness."
"Your sister!?! Wait! Wait a minute! Do you mean?"
"Yes. I have another sister. Her name is Nabiki and she is married with Yoshi's father."
Ranma opened his mouth several time, mute like a fish. In the end he stuttered: "Does Yoshi know?"
"No. He is 'uncle Tatewaki' to him. We thought it'd be a little confusing telling him the thruth. Maybe I'll tell him the thruth when he is old enough to understand."
Ranma looked thoughtfully at the pond in front of him trying to figure out how she could have lived the situation and feeling incredibly angry with 'uncle Tatewaki'.
"I never told this story. I am ashamed of myself." she looked down "I should have waited..."
"You loved him. And you thought he loved you. He must feel ashamed of himself." Ranma looked at her "And your sister? How did she take the news?"
"Let's just say that she wanted the divorce, she was furious at him. Then they talked a lot about the situation and decided to stay together. Now they act so well the 'uncle and aunt' part that they have fooled themself into it." she made a face.
"What about the money for Yoshi?"
"Oh they give us a check every month. Tatewaki is quite rich, you know?"
"Rich and stupid." Ranma commented.
"Right." Akane started giggling "A big jerk."
"The biggest jerk in the world." Ranma started giggling, too.
"Ahh, I feel better now that's not a secret anymore." she looked at him "Thanks."
"You're welcome." he then remembered something "Oh, I forgot. I need a favor."
"What?"
"My mother and my sister are arriving in Nerima the day after tomorrow to visit an old friend. Can they stay here? I'll share my room with them."
"Nonsense. They are staying in my room and I'll stay with Yoshi."
"I can't ask you that."
"I decided. That's it." Akane said getting up with a smile.
"Ok. I'm not going to be able to thank you enough." he stood.
"There is no reason to. Goodnight Ranma." she esitated a moment before giving him a hug and a quick peck on his cheek. "I forgot how much man's beard stings." she turned to leave.
"Akane." he called, she stopped and looked at him, curiosity in her eyes.
"I don't know your sister, but I'm sure this Tatewaki is an idiot to break up with you."
She smiled a sad smile: "Thanks, Ranma." and she left.
The next day Ranma spent the morning in the dojo training Yoshi, Akane was out with Kasumi and they could work together. His heart, though, wasn't there. He kept thinking about the situation around Yoshi, he watched the child and tried to imagine what he'd say or do when he found out the truth about his father.
"Ranma!" the child called "You're supposed to train me, not only dodge."
"You are right, I'm sorry. I don't feel like training today, though." he sat on the dojo's outer stairs.
"Ok. What do you wanna do, then?"
"Why don't we go to the pool together? We can go and be back for lunch!" it seemed a good idea to him.
Yoshi looked down, no trace of a smile on his face: "I can't swim." he admitted.
"Good, I'll teach you! This will be today's training." Ranma said getting up and taking Yoshi with him towards the house.
The pool was crowded to say the least but they managed to conquer a spot, and Ranma started teaching Yoshi the art of swimming. The kid was learning really fast and after an hour or so he was swimming by himself. Ranma kept an eye on him in case he needed his help relaxing in the cool water with his arms on the pool edge for support, so he failed to notice the young woman who was approaching him from the side of the pool.
"Is that you, Ranma?" she asked surprised, sitting on the edge of the pool.
He turned to see a very beautiful young woman with long brown hair, he had forgotten how much she affected him in so many ways: "Ukyou! What are you doing here?" he managed to say.
"I can ask you the same question." she answered with a smile "When did you come back? And where are you staying?"
"I'm at the Tendo Dojo. I've been there for a while. I'm teaching and living there." he looked somewhat embarassed expecting her next question.
"So you're living under the same roof as Akane Tendo. Lucky girl." she said somewhat disappointed "Then I don't think it's a good thing if I ask you if you want to drink something with me one evening of these? To talk about old times, you know?" she asked with some hope in her eyes.
"I don't think you have understood my situation..." he started but then a voice cut anything he was going to say.
"Ranma!" he turned to see Akane waving at him. When she was near enough she continued: "I read your message in the kitchen and I decided to join you. I brought the necessary for a picnic, it's my way to say thanks for last night." then she noticed Ukyou who was blushing furiously: "Ukyou! How are things doing at the restaurant? Why don't you join us for the picnic?"
"Everything's fine. Uhm...gotta go!" she stood and ran away as fast as she could.
Akane looked at Ranma questiongly. He looked at her, then burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"I don't know if you are aware of what you said. You prepared a picnic for me to say thanks for something I did last night?"
"So?" she looked even more confused.
"Ok, let's think that you don't know that we just talked last night..." he said this like she was Yoshi.
"What could have we done if we weren't talking..." she started, then realization struck her "Oh. That." she blushed and started giggling "Poor Ukyo! She thought that me and you, we...oh!"
"Well, is that so unbelievable?" he teased.
"Come on, I don't almost rememb...oh, shut up!" she was blushing even more "Where is Yoshi?" she changed the subject.
"He's over there." he answered, defeated.
She spotted her son on the other side of the pool were the water reached his waist, playing with a bunch of other children.
"It's better if we keep a close eye on him, he can't swim." she said putting the necessary for the picnic under the shade of a tree nearby.
Ranma sat next to her, all the while watching Yoshi play: "Oh, yes he can."
Akane looked at him with her mouth open: "You...?"
"Yes. He is a quick learner."
"Or you a good teacher. You taught him how to swim in less than, what? An hour? You teach him the Art regularly..." she turned to see his reaction.
"You know?" he looked taken aback "Are you mad at me?"
"No." she said "I've always know that one day Yoshi will have learned the Art. It's in his blood." she looked in the child's direction with love in her eyes.
END CHAPTER 04
NOTE: I was asked about Akane and Ranma's age, they are 28. ------------------------------ I believe that japanese school system is similar to italian, 5 years of elementary school, 3 of junior high and 5 of high school. Keep that in mind to follow the story. This could be the last chapter before I leave for the beaches, although I've the inspiration to continue. In any case happy holydays, we'll see in September! ------------------------------ Thanks for the reviews, I love when people like what I write! ^_^ TO READ AN ANSWER TO YOUR REVIEW COPY AND PASTE THIS ADDRESS IN YOUR BROWSER: www.akane.it/ath_forum/FORUM.asp?FORUM_ID=4 If someone wants to nit-pick my fics please email me at info@akane.it Visit my site! www.akane.it
AKANE - Chapter 04
"I like your sister and Tofu." Ranma said sitting beside Akane on the porch, offering a cup of tea.
"Thanks." she took the cup "I love them...I even had a crush on him when I was in High School."
"Really? How did you took their relationship, then?"
Akane looked down, obviously searching for the right words: "I told you earlier that I'd tell you about my reaction when I read the postcard. It's difficult, though. I've never told anyone beside Kasumi about this story. When I dated someone, I pushed him away before arriving to the point of explaining this."
"Akane, if you don't want to tell me, please don't. I'll understand." he said trying to calm her a little.
"But I want to. You're the closest thing to a best friend in this moment, what with you taking care of the dojo, Yoshi and all. I'd really use a heart to heart talk right now. If you don't mind, that's it."
"I don't mind at all."
"Ok. So I had this big crush on Tofu when I was in High School but during my last year I met a boy, he was an year older than me and he was beautiful, to me at least." she blushed "He came to my school to make a speech to make people do martial arts and join the school club. I fell for him, I forgot Tofu the istant I saw him. And it seemed that he fell for me, too. We started dating and we hit it off, literally. He was attending college and we can see each other a few times, but our love seemed strong and we kept things going between us. In the meantime he partecipated in some martial arts championship and he had a success after the other, he came home less and less. I graduated and I wanted to go to the same college he went to but my father was ill and I had to take care of the dojo business. In the two years that followed we became...uhm...sexually active..." she looked at him shyly.
"Don't worry, I had my first experiences around that age, too." he said reassuringly.
"He kept telling me how much he loved me and that one day we will marry. I believed in his words. And I was wrong. He came home less and less, saying that he had this championship here, that trophy there and so on. I waited for him to came home even because I knew I was pregnant with his child and when he did...he said it was over. He had found the 'girl of his dreams', a girl attending his own university."
"God, was he selfish!" Ranma exclaimed. "Did you tell him you were pregnant? Does he know he has a son?"
"I told him after his wedding."
"Why didn't you tell him before the wedding?"
"I didn't really tell him, it just became...evident as time passed by. I didn't want to ruin my sister's happiness."
"Your sister!?! Wait! Wait a minute! Do you mean?"
"Yes. I have another sister. Her name is Nabiki and she is married with Yoshi's father."
Ranma opened his mouth several time, mute like a fish. In the end he stuttered: "Does Yoshi know?"
"No. He is 'uncle Tatewaki' to him. We thought it'd be a little confusing telling him the thruth. Maybe I'll tell him the thruth when he is old enough to understand."
Ranma looked thoughtfully at the pond in front of him trying to figure out how she could have lived the situation and feeling incredibly angry with 'uncle Tatewaki'.
"I never told this story. I am ashamed of myself." she looked down "I should have waited..."
"You loved him. And you thought he loved you. He must feel ashamed of himself." Ranma looked at her "And your sister? How did she take the news?"
"Let's just say that she wanted the divorce, she was furious at him. Then they talked a lot about the situation and decided to stay together. Now they act so well the 'uncle and aunt' part that they have fooled themself into it." she made a face.
"What about the money for Yoshi?"
"Oh they give us a check every month. Tatewaki is quite rich, you know?"
"Rich and stupid." Ranma commented.
"Right." Akane started giggling "A big jerk."
"The biggest jerk in the world." Ranma started giggling, too.
"Ahh, I feel better now that's not a secret anymore." she looked at him "Thanks."
"You're welcome." he then remembered something "Oh, I forgot. I need a favor."
"What?"
"My mother and my sister are arriving in Nerima the day after tomorrow to visit an old friend. Can they stay here? I'll share my room with them."
"Nonsense. They are staying in my room and I'll stay with Yoshi."
"I can't ask you that."
"I decided. That's it." Akane said getting up with a smile.
"Ok. I'm not going to be able to thank you enough." he stood.
"There is no reason to. Goodnight Ranma." she esitated a moment before giving him a hug and a quick peck on his cheek. "I forgot how much man's beard stings." she turned to leave.
"Akane." he called, she stopped and looked at him, curiosity in her eyes.
"I don't know your sister, but I'm sure this Tatewaki is an idiot to break up with you."
She smiled a sad smile: "Thanks, Ranma." and she left.
The next day Ranma spent the morning in the dojo training Yoshi, Akane was out with Kasumi and they could work together. His heart, though, wasn't there. He kept thinking about the situation around Yoshi, he watched the child and tried to imagine what he'd say or do when he found out the truth about his father.
"Ranma!" the child called "You're supposed to train me, not only dodge."
"You are right, I'm sorry. I don't feel like training today, though." he sat on the dojo's outer stairs.
"Ok. What do you wanna do, then?"
"Why don't we go to the pool together? We can go and be back for lunch!" it seemed a good idea to him.
Yoshi looked down, no trace of a smile on his face: "I can't swim." he admitted.
"Good, I'll teach you! This will be today's training." Ranma said getting up and taking Yoshi with him towards the house.
The pool was crowded to say the least but they managed to conquer a spot, and Ranma started teaching Yoshi the art of swimming. The kid was learning really fast and after an hour or so he was swimming by himself. Ranma kept an eye on him in case he needed his help relaxing in the cool water with his arms on the pool edge for support, so he failed to notice the young woman who was approaching him from the side of the pool.
"Is that you, Ranma?" she asked surprised, sitting on the edge of the pool.
He turned to see a very beautiful young woman with long brown hair, he had forgotten how much she affected him in so many ways: "Ukyou! What are you doing here?" he managed to say.
"I can ask you the same question." she answered with a smile "When did you come back? And where are you staying?"
"I'm at the Tendo Dojo. I've been there for a while. I'm teaching and living there." he looked somewhat embarassed expecting her next question.
"So you're living under the same roof as Akane Tendo. Lucky girl." she said somewhat disappointed "Then I don't think it's a good thing if I ask you if you want to drink something with me one evening of these? To talk about old times, you know?" she asked with some hope in her eyes.
"I don't think you have understood my situation..." he started but then a voice cut anything he was going to say.
"Ranma!" he turned to see Akane waving at him. When she was near enough she continued: "I read your message in the kitchen and I decided to join you. I brought the necessary for a picnic, it's my way to say thanks for last night." then she noticed Ukyou who was blushing furiously: "Ukyou! How are things doing at the restaurant? Why don't you join us for the picnic?"
"Everything's fine. Uhm...gotta go!" she stood and ran away as fast as she could.
Akane looked at Ranma questiongly. He looked at her, then burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"I don't know if you are aware of what you said. You prepared a picnic for me to say thanks for something I did last night?"
"So?" she looked even more confused.
"Ok, let's think that you don't know that we just talked last night..." he said this like she was Yoshi.
"What could have we done if we weren't talking..." she started, then realization struck her "Oh. That." she blushed and started giggling "Poor Ukyo! She thought that me and you, we...oh!"
"Well, is that so unbelievable?" he teased.
"Come on, I don't almost rememb...oh, shut up!" she was blushing even more "Where is Yoshi?" she changed the subject.
"He's over there." he answered, defeated.
She spotted her son on the other side of the pool were the water reached his waist, playing with a bunch of other children.
"It's better if we keep a close eye on him, he can't swim." she said putting the necessary for the picnic under the shade of a tree nearby.
Ranma sat next to her, all the while watching Yoshi play: "Oh, yes he can."
Akane looked at him with her mouth open: "You...?"
"Yes. He is a quick learner."
"Or you a good teacher. You taught him how to swim in less than, what? An hour? You teach him the Art regularly..." she turned to see his reaction.
"You know?" he looked taken aback "Are you mad at me?"
"No." she said "I've always know that one day Yoshi will have learned the Art. It's in his blood." she looked in the child's direction with love in her eyes.
END CHAPTER 04