FROM THE HEART

V

Solitude

There's actually nothing wrong with being alone. The times when I'm all by myself are usually the only ones when I can find something resembling peace. Those times, when I lock myself out of the world and stay quiet with my thoughts are really not bad at all.

You see, the problem is lately…

Every time I try to stay away from people, every time I withdraw to think, every time I'm alone…

I've being feeling lonely.

And THAT really does suck.

It was a long time since he had gone up there last.

It had been a Friday night, he knew. Eight days before the date his wedding -the one that never happened- was settled. And he had been up there with her.

Looking back now, he knew that was when everything started changing. But he still didn't know when he had started to feel so weary and he still didn't know where the void inside him had come from. Yes, time had changed it all. No -he corrected- she had changed it all. And maybe he'd helped a little. He couldn't go back now, couldn't he? He wasn't about to try either. Not anymore.

He snorted. Yeah, right. As if he could stop trying just because he wanted to. All the things he ever wanted never came easily before, he was sure his luck wasn't about to change now.

Ranma sighed.

It's hard when your brains and heart won't agree with each other. When one of them wants something the other doesn't want anymore. When what you think, what you know, doesn't quite agree with what you feel. It wears you out. You end up split in two, fighting a constant battle with yourself.

This was by far, the hardest battle Ranma had ever fought. Because he knew no matter what happened at the end, he will wind up losing.

He felt angry at himself for being so petty, so weak. And then he felt angry at her for making it all the way it was, for changing, for leaving…

He would leave too….

He had to.

He realized there was really nothing else he could do.

VI

Empathy

I always thought true love had to be easy.

That it just happened, without you noticing.

That it was inconspicuous, and soft, and loud…

That you not only fell in love, but you stayed there,

because it felt safe and dangerous at the same time.

That it had to be sky blue and smell like roses.

That it was brave, and silly, and poised, and wonderful.

That living it was simplicity itself 'cause it was real.

And the real thing always works out by itself.

And I always thought true love didn't hurt.

…

I guess you only learn from experience.

Akane felt a bit of surprise when she finally found her. Not because the girl was sitting by herself with no signs of Ranma near her, but simply because she was in fact, there. Flesh and bones… the girl Ranma picked. "Hi…" She started tentatively "Are you Ranma's date?"

Ray looked up startled. She thought no one would bother her anymore, after all she had took herself out of the party, just as she had been asked to.

"My name is Ray." She said frowning. "That's how people is supposed to call me, you know? Not Ranma's this or that"

Akane looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry," and then she smiled ruefully. "I know how it feels to be labeled as Ranma's something--"

Ray looked up at that. "Oh, god… Not another fianceé"

"Oh, I'm not a fianceé"

"Yeah right. I still haven't met some cute cook… you look like you could be it."

The short haired girl flinched. "You wouldn't say that if you knew me…" she said honestly. "But really, I'm just a friend. His friend."

Ray shook her head, still not believing it. "He doesn't have any friends that are girls because it always gets messy." I'm the breathing proof of that theory. She thought warily.

Akane looked hurt for a moment. He said that? She wondered. She took a deep breath. "Then he's my friend."

Ray looked at her dubiously. "Still don't buy it."

"Why would I lie about that?"

"How should I know. You're all crazy."

Akane smirked "I see you've meet most of the party."

"Sadly."

"Well… My condolences."

"What?"

"Look, I know we are all weird… but Ranma is too… and you don't seem to mind."

Ray frowned. "That's different."

"No it's not. It all comes in the Ranma package. If you want him you have to take all the craziness that comes with him."

Ray sighed. "I know."

"So you do want him?"

Ray nodded. "He's a special one." She said thoughtfully

Akane looked at her sadly. "He wants you too…" she whispered while sitting next to girl.

Wish it were truth. Thought Ray and then kept quiet while looking at the night sky.

"He really does." Akane always thought love would be easy. Silly girl, never stopped believing in fairy tales. Actually thought she was living one for a while; with all the princes, and spells, and enemies and adventures… and her prince. She should have known better, though. Prince charming was never rude, or arrogant, or juvenile in fairy tales. And the princess was never a violent tomboy like herself either…. And then of course, there was always a happy ending.

A rueful smile plastered on Akane's face. She was not living a fairy tale, she remembered. She was living her life… and she was no princess and he was not her prince. He was somebody else's. The girl sighed. "Would you please love him?" She asked quietly, it was the only thing she could ask for.

"What?"

"With all your heart?" Akane looked at Ray in the eye. "He deserves it…"

"I…"

Akane started with vehemence. "He deserves love, the real thing, you know? The thing they write about in books and you hear stories about. He deserves all the happiness that comes with it. He should have it- both ways… to love and be loved completely. He should have it. The whole package."

Ray frowned with confusion. "Didn't you say you were only a friend?"

"Oh, I am," She sighed. " I am."

Ray looked at her critically. "Not by choice, I guess."

At that Akane gave a small chuckle and then smiled with irony. "Actually it was by choice. My choice… " She looked up at the moon for a second. "My well thought choice." She ended in a bittersweet tone.

"You choose to be his friend? How naïve do you think I am? You obviously have feelings for the guy" The girl asked, not believing her yet.

"You know Ranma…" explained Akane, looking at her. "Sometimes you have to choose for him."

Ray looked at the girl sitting by her side. The pretty girl who was the only nice person she had encountered that night. The nice girl who was there with her, telling her little snippets of, what it seemed was, a sad love story. Her sad one-way-love story. And she understood… she actually knew what the blue haired girl was talking about.

"I get it." She said with a sad smile. "Or wait forever, right?"

Akane didn't answer immediately. A small frown slowly marring her face. "You're lucky. He already choose with you."

"What do you mean?"

"You know you're not tying him up. He came to you, no one forced him. He choose you"

Ray tilted her head thoughtfully. "I guess you're right."

"Yeah, well… there's a first for everything." She joked with a smile on her face.

Ray thought it was weird the way her smile was brilliant and sad at the same time. Coulda fooled anyone. She thought.

"Just take care of him, okay."

Ray nodded. "I will."

"Thank you"

They sat there in silence, both thinking while gazing at the moon.

"Well I should go… not nice to miss your own party." said Akane after a while. "It was nice meeting you Ray." She finished as she stood up.

"Oh, you--" Ray stopped herself, her eyes wide at the realization. "Wait... what did—"

"And I'm sorry about everyone been rude out there. Especially my sister." Akane apologized, "If I had known they would act like that I wouldn't have asked Ranma to bring you." Ray gawked at her. "It's not his fault. Please don't get mad at him."

Ray got up. "This is your party." She stated flabbergasted.

Akane nodded still wearing that same rueful smile. "Yes… you know… leaving tomorrow. They're celebrating." The blue haired girl shrugged.

Ray just stared at her. "You're Akane" She said quietly.

"Yes… Oh, I'm sorry. I never did introduce myself, did I?"

The girl nodded.

"Well, sorry… how rude."

"You love him…" She said in wonder.

Akane bit her lip at hearing those words. "Don't we all?" She answered shaking her head with resignation. And then she turned away. "Goodbye Ray…"

The drowned sounds of the party from the other side of the house reached her. Ray stared grimly ahead. She slowly shook her head. "Idiots." She said with a sigh while feeling a sudden dread overcoming her.

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Please review, and I'm sorry for the long wait… if anyone was waiting, which I pretty much doubt.

But anyway thank you for reading this… guess what… only two more chapters to go and it's done! Yes… believe it or not it's gonna be a happy ending…

Well bye!