Bettering one-self.
By Minako-chan.
A Ranma ½ fanfiction continuación series.
Ranma ½ characters originally created by Rumiko Takashi.
Ah minna-san thank you for the reviews :D it makes me so happy that you all like it, your reviews encourage me to write more ^^ lol so here I am at 11:41pm writing some more ^^. Ok so here it is, the next chapter of my Ranma fic ^^, it'll definitely be longer than the last one because I've got lots of ideas to put in, and I just can't make it shorter. So you're all warned ; ). Enjoy it. k? ^^
"" For dialogue.
** For thoughts.
'' Author's notes.
Chapter 2. "Polishing up & missing someone"
Akane was miles away from home, she'd managed to move fast because she had tried to carry just the necessary stuff she might need: some clothes, her tent, her sleeping bag, an umbrella, some money, a flashlight, first aid kit, lighter, soaps, a pair of towels, the unmentionables, drinkable water, some food (e.g. instant soups; and some other stuff like canned food), among other things. *Ok so perhaps I could have packed lighter ^^u. *
Akane knew she wasn't the best cook * Why risk it. Besides I can practice cooking with my mom's cookbook. * She looked at the book in her hands and smiled. She had learned with this book how to boil water, she wasn't about to give up.
It was kinda late at night but after a while, Akane had managed to put up her tent and start a fire, it had started to get cold and she was getting tiered.
Akane looked at the stars. "This is beautiful. no wonder Ranma liked the outdoors." Akane's trail of thought lead through a path that she didn't want to take, so she stopped dead on her tracks. She reprimanded herself mentally for even thinking of Ranma. If she was going to get on with her training she had to think only of one thing, Anything Goes School of Martial Arts.
*I'm gonna prove that I'm as good of an heir for the school as Ranma. * Just as soon as she had finished her instant noodles soup, Akane decided to turn in for the night. Sounds in the dark crawled into her mind, Akane hadn't used her instincts in quite a while and she had to get used to it again.
That night Akane didn't sleep soo well, because she was conscious of anything that got near to her tent, more specifically wondering if a certain pigtailed boy was thinking of her and had noticed she was gone.
The next day, light crept through the windows in Ranma's room. He stirred in his sleep, he hadn't been able to have a good night's sleep, something kept bothering him over night, a feeling that something wasn't quite right. But after a night of profound thought, Ranma had ended up exhausted and had decided to go to bed.
Finally he woke up, a snoring man lay by his side. *Funny, I usually find him in panda form when I wake up in the mornings. Oh well. *
Ranma put on a gi (which was kinda rare for him to do, but that morning he felt like using it to do some training), Ranma went out his room, and just in front him was Akane's room. *. I wonder if she's still mad at me. *
Ranma paused in front of Akane's room to knock, but stopped just a few inches from it. It was very possible that Akane was either sleeping or jogging or doing some katas, and Ranma didn't want to start the day with a discussion. The only thing he did was turn around and walk down the stairs to the dojo.
Of course when he got there, there was no sign of Akane * Well I guess she is still asleep or jogging. I'll talk with her later.*
An hour passed and Ranma was all sweaty. Kempo had always helped him relax and focus. He'd been up basically all night trying to figure out what had made Akane mad at him. and the only thing he'd come up with was that she had been mad when he'd denied that she was his date for the prom. he hadn't really meant to say what he had. but. he wasn't sure what to think.
*Why do I always blurt out those things.? * He knew he still had lots of things to figure out in his mind, about his life, his curse, him and Akane. but he still had time, he was pretty young, only just 18. And things didn't need to get fixed up that quick either.
Soon enough Ranma's stomach caught the scent of the food that Kasumi was making. He smiled widely *Why think about things with an empty stomach, when I can think things over with my stomach full. *
Ranma got to the kitchen and saw Kasumi cooking, she turned around and saw him, "Oh Ranma-kun you're done exercising. Well breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, why don't you go fix yourself up?"
With that Ranma left the room, Kasumi stared after him and turned around to continue with her cooking. *I wonder how he'll take it that Akane's gone? I had expected to see Akane early today and say goodbye to her. well if she had stayed they might have stopped her before she got to leave. Father will be awfully upset. I guess I'll have to deal with it one step at a time. *
After a while Soun, Genma and Ranma had sat down ready to eat their breakfast. Kasumi had started to bring in the food when Soun looked at Akane's seat and turned to Ranma. "Ranma please go for Akane, she's probably in her room."
Just as Ranma was starting to get up Kasumi spoke. "She wont be there father."
Everyone turned to look at Kasumi, their faces showed confusion. "Kasumi dear what do you mean by that? Did she go out?"
Ranma was staring intently at Kasumi. Kasumi felt slightly uncomfortable, she didn't know exactly how to break the news, and the only way she could think of was to say it bluntly, so that was what she did. "No father. Akane left. She had applied to a university and left yesterday night for an introductory course that they were gonna give."
Silence filled the room right after Kasumi had finished speaking, but the silence was soon cut off by Soun's wails. "Waahhh. My little girl left without saying goodbye to her father. How could she?! "
If anyone had turned to look at Ranma they would have seen his astonished face that had drained out of any color it had. * . How?. I-I don't understand. * And all Ranma could do is leave the room and go into his own room.
He sat down in his futon and opened a cabinet. In it was a small chest with a lock. Ranma took a key that was in a chain around his neck and opened the chest. Inside were all the Christmas presents Akane had ever given him, including her own present.
Ranma could still hear Soun crying downstairs. And one thought was lingering in his mind torturing him over and over. *Why didn't she tell me? *
Ranma didn't want to think much, his mind kept telling him not to care, and yet his heart was falling to pieces. Just like all those times he'd been close to loosing Akane. But this time it wasn't because some guy had kidnapped her. this time it was different. it was because Akane had chosen to leave without telling anyone.
* But she did tell someone, Kasumi. She just didn't tell me.* Ranma refused to think about it any longer, it has tearing his heart apart, though if anyone had asked him if he cared, he would have answered that he couldn't care less.
"Ah whatever! It was her choice!" And that was the last thought Ranma had in his mind before he decided that he needed to get his mind off the thought. So he called up Hiroshi and Daisuke to see if they wanted to go out to a game arcade or watch a movie.
After a while Ranma walked out of the Tendo household and went to meet with his friends.
In the meantime in the forest Akane was doing some katas, she used a tree trunk as her sparing partner afterwards. She could tell there were a few gaps in her defenses, but without someone to help her correct them she wasn't able to identify all of them.
It was nearing 12 in the afternoon and Akane was starting to feel the tolls of exercising under the hot sun without some rest. She looked up to the sky and smiled "Ah, soo blue, it's such a nice day."
Akane turned towards of the lake she had found, it was of real luck that she had found it earlier in the morning when she had gone to look for some firewood, she had taken her compass with her so that under any circumstance, she sort of knew in what direction her camp was.
Akane smiled inwardly, "Well might as well go take a bath." So Akane took some of her clean clothes, her soap, a bucket and her towel. When she got there she undressed and felt the wonderful sun on her skin. She took a bucket full of water and poured it over herself. She cleaned herself and also cleaned her dirty gi.
Finally she went in a shallow end of the lake and stayed there for a while. The coolness of the water was refreshing on her skin. Suddenly her instincts took over when she heard some rustle behind her. She quickly turned and jumped out of the water, whoever or whatever it was she was intent of pounding it.
And then a figure came out of the trees and she stared at the figure surprised. "Ryo-Ryoga?"
At the sound of a familiar voice Ryoga turned his head up and saw a very naked Akane in front of him. *There is no way this is real. Demo. * Ryoga pinched his arm to see if he was awake, and he truly was, he was thrown back into reality with a high pitched scream from Akane. He quickly turned around.
"Aa-a- Akane, I'm so-sorry. I was in girls, ah I mean in woods lost." Ryoga's face was bright red. * How? Why? Why the heck is Akane here. ah umm I think I saw her towel next to me in the floor. But as Ryoga reached for Akane's towel he felt something soft in his hands, he quickly jerked his hand away.
Akane was fuming, he'd seen her naked and had touched. he'd touched. he'd touched her thigh! * How dare he?! * In just a second an unconscious Ryoga was lying on the floor with a small pool of blood near his head (let's just say that the blood hadn't come out of any injury Akane could have caused him.)
After some hours Ryoga woke up, he looked into the sky while his vision cleared. * Ah thank goodness it was all a dream. Just a dream. * But when he turned his head to a side, and saw Akane's back towards him while she was warming up some water for some instant soups that were next to her.
Ryoga's body bolted up and he put his head to the floor and started begging for forgiveness. Akane's head turned around.
She had had enough time to think about what had happened, Ryoga had been unconscious for around 3 hours. And Akane had come to the conclusion that it had been all just an accident. *Perhaps that's what happened the first day with Ranma? * she'd realized.
Ryoga had been lost as always and as luck would have it he'd found her. But her mind was more concerned in that moment, on how she would explain the fact that she was out in the wilderness alone.
Finally her mind came back to the real world and she saw Ryoga on the floor, trying to explain himself. "Ah. Ryoga it's ok. I-I know you didn't do it on purpose. It's ok really."
" Akane I'm soooooo sorry, please forgive me I-I. what?" Ryoga's head came up and he stared at Akane.
"I said it's ok. It was all just an accident right?" *I'd be sure to kill him if it were otherwise! * Was the thought harbored at the back of Akane's head (that had one vein popping in and out, out of anger), she waited for Ryoga's reply (which only took a few seconds to come out of his mouth.)
"Of course Akane. I'm sorry I really am. I would never do something like that."
' Author's note: All you thinking what I'm thinking ¬¬? Sure Ryoga. Somewhere Ranma's instincts were telling him to kill someone, but he didn't know why or who. ^^ '
Akane broke the awkward silence that had crept up between the both of them. " So Ryoga you got lost?"
Ryoga couldn't look at Akane in the eye, he was soo embarrassed that he barely managed to mutter some words out of his mouth. " Umm. hai."
Akane turned to her kettle, the water was boiling and she took it and poured some water in the soups. She handed one to Ryoga, who took it thankfully.
*What now? What do I say to her? * Ryoga looked around to see if he could think of something. In that moment his mind started working again. *Hey wait a sec. What's Akane doing out here? And apparently alone. * His head turned back to Akane again and he gathered up all his courage to speak out his thoughts. "Umm. A-Akane, what are you doing here, well if you don't mind my asking."
Akane's eyes locked into his, there was a small tinge of hurt in them and fury. Ryoga's blood started to boil, if anyone had dared hurt his dear Akane, he'd kill him/ her. *It was probably that baka. Ranma I'll kill you. I'll beat you to pulp and feed your remains to the dogs. I'll. I'll. *
Akane could feel Ryoga's aura start to grow in anger. "Ryoga? Ryoga?!" And with those words, Akane saw his aura disappear and his face turn back to his normal peaceful stare.
He was surely waiting for her to say something, because he wasn't saying anything. So Akane decided to tell him the truth * He's my friend, I'm sure he'll support me on this. *
"Well you see Ryoga, umm it's a long story really."
"Hey I've got all the time in the world." Ryoga's caring smile reassured Akane that she could tell her friend anything. So she proceeded in telling him all that had happened the day before.
Back to Ranma. He was soo distracted with his own thoughts that he had barely paid any attention to the movie he and his friends were watching. Hiroshi's and Daisuke's laughs were just light sounds that fluttered into Ranma's ears. * Why didn't she tell me that she was going to leave for a course? She didn't even tell me that she wanted to go to a university outside Nerima.*
Hiroshi and Daisuke turned once again to look at Ranma, Ranma had been quiet all afternoon, the only moment he'd done anything was when they had gone to the arcade and he had played Street Fighter and had played as if his life depended on it. "What do you suppose is going on with him?" Daisuke whispered the sentence to Hiroshi's ear, the latter just stared at Ranma.
" I have no idea. It can't possibly be a fight with Akane, because if it had been that he would be complaining about her all the time. I don't know. perhaps he forgot to eat?"
Both friends looked at each other and shrugged the idea off. They'd have to ask Ranma about it when the movie finished. In the mean time they were intent on enjoying "The Tuxedo"
'By the way I didn't get a chance to see this movie ^^ but I heard it was lots of fun. I still haven't rented it. ^^u. But anyways back to the story.'
Finally when the movie finished, Hiroshi and Daisuke decided to begin the questioning session. Hiroshi stood in front his friend to stop him from walking away. " Ranma what's going on?"
Ranma finally turned his attention to his friends "Huh? What the heck are you talking about?"
Daisuke and Hiroshi rolled their eyes. It was soo like Ranma to act as if nothing was going on. Daisuke put his hand on Ranma's shoulder and insisted " Come on Ranma, we know there's something going on. You've been distracted the whole afternoon and you didn't even watch the movie."
Ranma sighted and stared at his friends. "It's nothing really."
"Yeah right. Did you have a fight with Akane again?" Hiroshi tried to make Ranma look at him in the eye, but Ranma kept staring somewhere else. "You know even if you don't tell us we'll find out sooner or later."
Ranma thought about what he'd just been told; they were right and who knew maybe if he spoke to them, he would feel a whole lot better. "Well. see, Akane left yesterday. And before that we had a fight."
Hiroshi and Daisuke stared at each other *Akane, gone? * They both had the same thought and had the same reaction. "What did you do to her now?"
"Nandayo?!"
"Well you must have done something for her to leave like that, right?" Daisuke knew his friend, he often got in fights with Akane, but for her to leave, he had to have done something real bad.
Hiroshi could see Ranma's eyes, and he was sure there was a battle within him. "So?"
"Damn it I didn't do anything this time. Why does everyone assume that I've done something to her when she does something rash? You both wanna know what's bothering me? The fact that she had planned to leave to the university and didn't tell me anything." Hiroshi and Daisuke were flabbergasted, Ranma didn't usually act that way, then again Akane had never left.
Ranma realized he'd just spoken out loud what had been nagging him all day, and his mind had been refusing that he even cared. but now he'd said it out loud and he knew that it was real, it was the truth. He was pissed off with Akane for leaving like that, he hadn't even had a chance to patch things up with her. and he hadn't given her her present. *Together forever. Yeah right. *
Ranma didn't even feel like talking with his friends anymore he really really needed to think. "Umm. I think I should go now. Talk to you guys later. Cya." And with that Ranma took off to the rooftops in direction to the Tendo home.
Daisuke looked at Hiroshi and he sighted "Man he's got it bad."
Hiroshi chuckled "You know he's had it bad since he meet her. It's not surprising that he's upset that she left." And then Hiroshi's mind went back to what Ranma had told him. "What I don't get is why would Akane leave so soon. I thought she had applied to the same school as you, me, Sayuri, Yuka and Ranma."
Daisuke thought about it and didn't know the answer either. "It is odd. But what amazes me the most is that Ranma didn't see it either. Do you think it's possible that he doesn't know we're all going to the same university?"
Hiroshi grinned, "It's very possible. I'd just love to see his face when he sees her there." Daisuke and him laughed at the fact. "Do you think we should tell him?"
"Nah, let him find out on his own. Hey wanna go eat something?"
"Sure, I'd really like some ramen right now." And so Hiroshi and Daisuke left the cinema to eat, to no other place than the Nekohanten.
When Ranma arrived home he didn't even bother telling everyone he was back. He didn't feel like it and wanted to be left alone; and the only place where he'd be alone was the roof.
Ranma gazed at the stars and thought of the endless times he'd been there looking at the stars and letting them be his confidents. This was one of those nights, tonight he was going to pour out his thoughts to the stars. But he wasn't sure where to start.
"Why did she leave like that? Without saying goodbye to me. I just don't get it. Was she soo mad with me that she didn't even want to see me?" But even though the stars could listen, they never answered back; the only voice he heard was his own, his heart would speak to him and usually he wouldn't listen. But he was sure that right now, it was his heart that was making him hurt soo much. So for once he listened to his heart. It told him of soo many things, but what mattered the most to him, was that it told him that if he didn't do something he'd surely loose her.
Ranma yawned, he had been on the roof for hours and he wanted to sleep, it had been a tiring day, but before he went to his own room he climbed down the roof into Akane's room.
He hadn't been there since she had left, scared that he would think of her and it'd take apart his heart. But it was one of those nights he needed to feel like Akane was close by. He went in and saw the room was arranged as always, but it felt somewhat cold, empty; without Akane not even the house was the same.
Happosai hadn't found out yet, but Ranma was sure he'd find out sooner or later. he wasn't sure what the old man would have to say, probably nothing, he cared of his panty collection and nothing more. *Perhaps pounding that old perv will help me release some stress. *
Ranma turned to leave but stopped he saw some strings in a bag on her desk. Upon closer inspection he noticed that it was a small part of the dragon's whiskers he'd once used to hold his hair.
His heart ached and he smiled a smile full of longing, she'd kept whatever was left after Happosai, his father and those Chinese bread people had made them into soup. She'd been there to help him, and he had appreciated. but he hadn't told her.
He untied his braid and took the whiskers to tie his hair with, then he left her room. He didn't think of looking for a scarf or something like that, so he didn't see the box for him (with the shirt inside and a note) that was inside a drawer.
Ryoga was near the fire, he kept glancing at the tent where he knew Akane laid. She had told him the whole story, and he had seen the hurt, the unshed tears, the pain, behind her emotionless face. Deep inside he knew Akane loved Ranma, neither accepted the fact, but he knew, and every time Akane and Ranma fought his spirits went up, because he saw a chance to get close to Akane.
On his path lay another chance, and this time there was no interference. He loved Akane, and he'd always care for her, but he also knew Ranma was always in her mind and heart. Then another face materialized in his mind Akari, but although Akari liked him, he didn't feel the same way about her. *I could give it another try. Ah. Who am I kidding? Akari is not my type and Akane will never love me the way she loves Ranma. Perhaps there's someone out there for me. *
Ryoga continued to stare at the flames. He'd promised Akane that if he saw Ranma he wouldn't tell him about her trip. He understood that Akane wanted to train, but perhaps if Ranma had seen her wish to better herself in the arts he would have ended up helping her. It wasn't right for her to be alone, so Ryoga decided he would help her out.
The fire started to grow weak and the cold snapped Ryoga out of his thoughts. "Better go get some fire wood." Ryoga stood up without noticing the pile of firewood next to Akane's tent, he took his things and went to look for some firewood. Once again he got lost before he was a few miles away from the camp.
Meanwhile Akane stirred in her sleep, she was dreaming of a certain boy, well more like a man now, smiling at her. She uttered some words in her sleep "Ranma. aishiteru."
A figure loomed in Ranma's window, it slowly opened the window without making a sound. The figure had been cautious to catch Ranma alone in his room. Now was the time. It got near Ranma and knelt next to him. Ranma stirred a bit in his sleep, the figure stopped, but when he rested peacefully again, it got near again.
Ranma's instincts were yelling WARNING! DANGER! As he opened his eyes he jumped back and stood in a fighting position. Quickly he dropped his stand.
"Nihau Ranma. Shampoo wanted to wake up airen with a good morning kiss." Shampoo's smirk ran from one end of her face to the other. She walked in a seductive manner towards Ranma. "Airen and Shampoo finally alone, now Ranma can make Shampoo his."
Ranma had been paralyzed once Shampoo had started to insinuate herself to him. He had been waiting for a mallet to come crashing through his door so it would send him far away from the Amazon. But it didn't come, and soon Ranma remembered, Akane wasn't in Nerima any longer.
"Now that violent girl is out of way. Ranma can finally be with Shampoo, we can go back to China now, ne?" Shampoo had already reached Ranma and had her arms around his neck, she was leaning in for a kiss.
*Whoa! Wait a sec, how does she know Akane's not here? * Ranma stopped Shampoo with his arms and pushed her away gently. "Shampoo how do you know Akane's not here?"
"It no matter. Stupid girl out of way, and is best, now Shampoo no have to kill her. She no good wife for Ranma." Shampoo's wicked smile had come back to adorn her face, but she hadn't noticed that Ranma's mood had changed. He was angry, he wouldn't let anyone insult Akane while she wasn't there to defend herself.
"Shampoo I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk that way about Akane." Ranma turned to leave the room when Shampoo's words stopped him in his tracks.
"Why not? It truth. She no make good wife. She not know how to cook, too violent; Shampoo much prettier, and she better in martial arts. Shampoo best choice for Ranma. Besides Shampoo love Ranma." Shampoo's tone of voice had gone from venomous to loving and sweet when she finished her sentence.
But Ranma was angry. Shampoo was his best choice? How the hell did she know what he wanted. He was about to retort back when Mouse came through the window.
"Ranma get your hands of my darling Shampoo! I'll make you pay if you've touched her!" Mouse attacked Ranma, and as to avoid any more damage to the house, Ranma jumped outside and ran to the nearest empty lot he could find.
But inside the house Shampoo was left with an angry glare. "If it's not Akane it's Mouse that interrupts me. Doesn't matter, now that Akane's out of the way, Ranma will see that I'm the best for him. I'll make him love me." Shampoo's façade had dropped and she left to the Nekohanten, to plot a better plan to get Ranma.
After a few minutes Mouse was out, he was a pile of weapons on the ground. Ranma had taken out his anger on him. He hadn't realized that Akane solved most of his problems with Shampoo or some other fiancée when she'd pound him into oblivion. * Ahh. I think I'm a bit masochistic, that or my mouth ran out on me too many times.*
Ranma went back home to get dressed and eat his breakfast. He took the rooftops, because it wasn't that decent to walk around in his trousers and a shirt.
When he got there he saw that Shampoo had left. He changed quickly and went down stairs. When he got to the kitchen, Kasumi had started making breakfast.
"Ah, good morning Ranma-kun. Were Shampoo and Mouse here for a visit?" Kasumi's bright smile shone on Ranma, Ranma face faulted; even though Kasumi had a sweet smile it didn't make much of a difference, the only smile he wanted was Akane's.
"Iie Kasumi. They dropped in to be a bother, as always. Hey ummm.can I help you prepare the breakfast?" Ranma's cheeks were a bit flushed but he was still looking at Kasumi.
"Sure Ranma. Could you please take out the flour? I'm making pancakes." Kasumi smiled, she had a plan and she was hoping it would work. It would only take a little time.
Ranma took the flour and looked at the recipe, he smiled a bit. And this Kasumi saw "What's on your mind Ranma-kun?"
Ranma turned to Kasumi and blushed. "Ah. I just remembered that they're Akane's favorite."
Kasumi smiled, she knew Ranma too well. Poor Ranma but a few weeks without Akane could probably help him mature a bit, at least enough for him to take a step concerning his relationship with Akane.
Ranma sat down and helped Kasumi whenever she asked him to do something. He arranged the table and helped her flip the pancakes. After a while he sat down and watched as Kasumi finished with the pancakes. "Kasumi."
"Hai?" As Kasumi walked outside the kitchen Ranma followed.
" Did Akane tell you where she was going? Did she leave any phone number or address?"
Kasumi put down the pancakes on the table and turned to Ranma. "Why do you ask Ranma-kun?"
Ranma's face flushed once more and he turned his gaze towards his plate, he fidgeted with his napkin and found it hard to come up with an excuse so he just replied " Just curious."
" Well Ranma-kun, truth be told I forgot to ask her." *Poor Ranma, perhaps being without her might be harder for him than I thought it would. * She noticed how Ranma's face fell for a sec before he got up and went to wake his father and call for Soun. Then he came back and sat down.
" You know Ranma-kun, I was thinking that perhaps you could find something, like a job or you could take some lessons on something, so you could entertain yourself while you wait for the start of the university."
Ranma turned to Kasumi and remembered that none of them knew about his job. He hadn't thought much about it after he had gotten the money to buy Akane her present. but perhaps it was just the thing to keep his mind off his fiancée. Ranma just nodded and started eating. * Tomorrow's Monday, I'll talk with my boss and ask him to give me some more classes to teach. *
As always Genma and Ranma fought for their food, but this time no one told them to stop. Once Nabiki had left, Akane had taken full charge of reprimanding them for ruining breakfast.
Ranma had gotten used to start an argument with her, that would lead to a whole day of small quarrels between both; that and sparing with his father, going over some katas, watching TV and watching Akane while she did some katas herself, were the things that comprised Ranma's weekends. Well that and going out with his friends if he was in the mood.
But that day and the day before, there was no Akane to quarrel with, to go out for groceries with, to observe while training. So the first half of Ranma's day had gone uneventful. Finally around noon he decided he was bored and needed to talk with someone, well and eating some okonomiyaki. So Ranma left for U-chan's
Upon arrival Ukyo greeted him with a big smile. "Ran-chan so nice to see you. Please come in, what will it be this time?"
"Ah, just the usual U-chan." As soon as Ukyo gave him his okonomiyaki, he started eating it, but not with the incredible speed he usually had. Ukyo was surprised.
"Ran-chan are you feeling ok? You're not eating as usual."
Ranma turned to his friend and smiled. "U-chan I'm fine, really."
"Don't lie to me Ran-chan. I know you to well. Come on tell me."
Ranma stared at Ukyo doubtfully, he wasn't sure if he should tell Ukyo that Akane was gone. He didn't know what to expect from her, but she wouldn't stop bothering him until he did. "Well. see the day before yesterday Akane left."
"Well, will she be coming back? I mean where did she go?" Ukyo was almost leaping in joy, her worst nightmare was out of the way, she didn't know for how long, but every small second counted.
"I don't know. she didn't even leave a note for me. She just got her things after prom night and left, supposedly to study in a university, and I don't even know which one it is or where. Kasumi knew so that means that Akane had been planning it for a while. I just don't know what to think or do." Ranma's mood had tumbled down as he recalled his thoughts and feelings. But he snapped his head back to look at Ukyo when he heard her chuckle.
"Oh Ran-chan you shouldn't worry at all. Besides why should you worry if she didn't even bother to leave a note? What she did was inconsiderate." *Yes! Ran-chan will finally be mine! *
Ranma frowned, once again he got annoyed when he heard someone talk badly of Akane. Ok so she could have left a note, but neither Ukyo nor Shampoo knew that they'd had a fight and she had been crying, that she'd been angry with him. And now that he thought about it, it was sort of their fault to.
His heart or conscience laughed at him. Sure Ranma, don't try and blame it on others, it's your fault and you could have fixed it from the beginning. But Ranma shut up that voice before he heard more that only pained him more. He sighted and tried to explain to his friend that her leaving like that was justified.
"U-chan we had a fight before she left. She must have been angry with me and that's why she left."
"Ran-chan that's no excuse, if she cared she should have tried to talk to you and fix things up. You know Akane CAN be soo childish and soo selfish in that respect. Forget her Ran-chan you have to get on with your life." But what Ukyo failed to notice was Ranma's retreating form until it was too late, he had left without even finishing his okonomiyaki.
Ranma was very upset, he'd thought that of all the people he knew Ukyo would be the one to understand best, that she'd be willing to hear him out. But she had answered with only insults directed towards Akane. *How can they? They don't even know her. What am I supposed to do now? *
Ranma came to a stop when he saw a park, actually the park that held so many memories, like when he gave Akane her Christmas presents, or when he was kicked out of the Tendo house and Akane had come with food for him. It was one of those spots where he could see her smiling at him.
So he sat on a bench to wait for the sunset, and after a couple of hours it came, the sun shone it's warm light on his face and for an instant Ranma felt relaxed. He stayed there until the last couple of purples and reds disappeared from the sky. Then he went back home. It was going to be another long night without her voice and presence filling the house.
At the same time, Akane was nearing this town she had ran into, it was almost 11pm when she went in the town. The streets were light and she could se various stores and restaurants opened. Akane started asking for a decent hotel where she could stay, she could afford one night of comfortable sleep.
When Akane went by an ally, she saw a flash of a metal blade, she stopped and turned around, she could se some thugs surrounding a young girl around her age. She had her back turned to her, but it seemed like she was paralyzed, she was doing nothing. As Akane saw one of the thugs approach the girl from behind she dropped her bag and kicked him out of the way.
She got back to back with the girl. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." And as soon as she finished the sentence she lunged at the 2 more criminals that were in front of her. She never noticed that the girl had taken a stick into her hands and was handling the thieves with quite ease. She also never noticed the head of the band head for her with a knife at hand, so she had no time to react when the guy opened a wound by stabbing her on her side.
The only thing Akane felt was the pain. And right after, a hit with a pipe on the head. Akane fell to the floor unconscious and bleeding.
Ranma bolted up from his nightmare, he was sweating and was gasping for air. He'd gone to bed early to rest, but he didn't know that he wouldn't be able to because of a dream where Akane was attacked and hurt by some guys.
He inhaled and exhaled to calm himself down, and he had to repeat himself that Akane was safe wherever she was because she wasn't alone, he had to be with some people from the university, safe and sound.
While Ranma tried to go back to sleep, somewhere, in a dark alley, Akane laid still on the cold floor, the only warmth came from her open wound and the blood that was spilling from it.
Author's note. Don't kill me k? ^^ I promise things will look better for both Ranma and Akane. All reviews will be taken into account ^^ in hopes that I'll become a better writer ;). I'm not gonna give hints about what happens next ^^ I wanna see if I'm good creating tension and suspense. ^^ Well I'm also working on my humor, I've never considered myself that good when it comes to humor. So bear with me. Cya next chapter.
By Minako-chan.
A Ranma ½ fanfiction continuación series.
Ranma ½ characters originally created by Rumiko Takashi.
Ah minna-san thank you for the reviews :D it makes me so happy that you all like it, your reviews encourage me to write more ^^ lol so here I am at 11:41pm writing some more ^^. Ok so here it is, the next chapter of my Ranma fic ^^, it'll definitely be longer than the last one because I've got lots of ideas to put in, and I just can't make it shorter. So you're all warned ; ). Enjoy it. k? ^^
"" For dialogue.
** For thoughts.
'' Author's notes.
Chapter 2. "Polishing up & missing someone"
Akane was miles away from home, she'd managed to move fast because she had tried to carry just the necessary stuff she might need: some clothes, her tent, her sleeping bag, an umbrella, some money, a flashlight, first aid kit, lighter, soaps, a pair of towels, the unmentionables, drinkable water, some food (e.g. instant soups; and some other stuff like canned food), among other things. *Ok so perhaps I could have packed lighter ^^u. *
Akane knew she wasn't the best cook * Why risk it. Besides I can practice cooking with my mom's cookbook. * She looked at the book in her hands and smiled. She had learned with this book how to boil water, she wasn't about to give up.
It was kinda late at night but after a while, Akane had managed to put up her tent and start a fire, it had started to get cold and she was getting tiered.
Akane looked at the stars. "This is beautiful. no wonder Ranma liked the outdoors." Akane's trail of thought lead through a path that she didn't want to take, so she stopped dead on her tracks. She reprimanded herself mentally for even thinking of Ranma. If she was going to get on with her training she had to think only of one thing, Anything Goes School of Martial Arts.
*I'm gonna prove that I'm as good of an heir for the school as Ranma. * Just as soon as she had finished her instant noodles soup, Akane decided to turn in for the night. Sounds in the dark crawled into her mind, Akane hadn't used her instincts in quite a while and she had to get used to it again.
That night Akane didn't sleep soo well, because she was conscious of anything that got near to her tent, more specifically wondering if a certain pigtailed boy was thinking of her and had noticed she was gone.
The next day, light crept through the windows in Ranma's room. He stirred in his sleep, he hadn't been able to have a good night's sleep, something kept bothering him over night, a feeling that something wasn't quite right. But after a night of profound thought, Ranma had ended up exhausted and had decided to go to bed.
Finally he woke up, a snoring man lay by his side. *Funny, I usually find him in panda form when I wake up in the mornings. Oh well. *
Ranma put on a gi (which was kinda rare for him to do, but that morning he felt like using it to do some training), Ranma went out his room, and just in front him was Akane's room. *. I wonder if she's still mad at me. *
Ranma paused in front of Akane's room to knock, but stopped just a few inches from it. It was very possible that Akane was either sleeping or jogging or doing some katas, and Ranma didn't want to start the day with a discussion. The only thing he did was turn around and walk down the stairs to the dojo.
Of course when he got there, there was no sign of Akane * Well I guess she is still asleep or jogging. I'll talk with her later.*
An hour passed and Ranma was all sweaty. Kempo had always helped him relax and focus. He'd been up basically all night trying to figure out what had made Akane mad at him. and the only thing he'd come up with was that she had been mad when he'd denied that she was his date for the prom. he hadn't really meant to say what he had. but. he wasn't sure what to think.
*Why do I always blurt out those things.? * He knew he still had lots of things to figure out in his mind, about his life, his curse, him and Akane. but he still had time, he was pretty young, only just 18. And things didn't need to get fixed up that quick either.
Soon enough Ranma's stomach caught the scent of the food that Kasumi was making. He smiled widely *Why think about things with an empty stomach, when I can think things over with my stomach full. *
Ranma got to the kitchen and saw Kasumi cooking, she turned around and saw him, "Oh Ranma-kun you're done exercising. Well breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, why don't you go fix yourself up?"
With that Ranma left the room, Kasumi stared after him and turned around to continue with her cooking. *I wonder how he'll take it that Akane's gone? I had expected to see Akane early today and say goodbye to her. well if she had stayed they might have stopped her before she got to leave. Father will be awfully upset. I guess I'll have to deal with it one step at a time. *
After a while Soun, Genma and Ranma had sat down ready to eat their breakfast. Kasumi had started to bring in the food when Soun looked at Akane's seat and turned to Ranma. "Ranma please go for Akane, she's probably in her room."
Just as Ranma was starting to get up Kasumi spoke. "She wont be there father."
Everyone turned to look at Kasumi, their faces showed confusion. "Kasumi dear what do you mean by that? Did she go out?"
Ranma was staring intently at Kasumi. Kasumi felt slightly uncomfortable, she didn't know exactly how to break the news, and the only way she could think of was to say it bluntly, so that was what she did. "No father. Akane left. She had applied to a university and left yesterday night for an introductory course that they were gonna give."
Silence filled the room right after Kasumi had finished speaking, but the silence was soon cut off by Soun's wails. "Waahhh. My little girl left without saying goodbye to her father. How could she?! "
If anyone had turned to look at Ranma they would have seen his astonished face that had drained out of any color it had. * . How?. I-I don't understand. * And all Ranma could do is leave the room and go into his own room.
He sat down in his futon and opened a cabinet. In it was a small chest with a lock. Ranma took a key that was in a chain around his neck and opened the chest. Inside were all the Christmas presents Akane had ever given him, including her own present.
Ranma could still hear Soun crying downstairs. And one thought was lingering in his mind torturing him over and over. *Why didn't she tell me? *
Ranma didn't want to think much, his mind kept telling him not to care, and yet his heart was falling to pieces. Just like all those times he'd been close to loosing Akane. But this time it wasn't because some guy had kidnapped her. this time it was different. it was because Akane had chosen to leave without telling anyone.
* But she did tell someone, Kasumi. She just didn't tell me.* Ranma refused to think about it any longer, it has tearing his heart apart, though if anyone had asked him if he cared, he would have answered that he couldn't care less.
"Ah whatever! It was her choice!" And that was the last thought Ranma had in his mind before he decided that he needed to get his mind off the thought. So he called up Hiroshi and Daisuke to see if they wanted to go out to a game arcade or watch a movie.
After a while Ranma walked out of the Tendo household and went to meet with his friends.
In the meantime in the forest Akane was doing some katas, she used a tree trunk as her sparing partner afterwards. She could tell there were a few gaps in her defenses, but without someone to help her correct them she wasn't able to identify all of them.
It was nearing 12 in the afternoon and Akane was starting to feel the tolls of exercising under the hot sun without some rest. She looked up to the sky and smiled "Ah, soo blue, it's such a nice day."
Akane turned towards of the lake she had found, it was of real luck that she had found it earlier in the morning when she had gone to look for some firewood, she had taken her compass with her so that under any circumstance, she sort of knew in what direction her camp was.
Akane smiled inwardly, "Well might as well go take a bath." So Akane took some of her clean clothes, her soap, a bucket and her towel. When she got there she undressed and felt the wonderful sun on her skin. She took a bucket full of water and poured it over herself. She cleaned herself and also cleaned her dirty gi.
Finally she went in a shallow end of the lake and stayed there for a while. The coolness of the water was refreshing on her skin. Suddenly her instincts took over when she heard some rustle behind her. She quickly turned and jumped out of the water, whoever or whatever it was she was intent of pounding it.
And then a figure came out of the trees and she stared at the figure surprised. "Ryo-Ryoga?"
At the sound of a familiar voice Ryoga turned his head up and saw a very naked Akane in front of him. *There is no way this is real. Demo. * Ryoga pinched his arm to see if he was awake, and he truly was, he was thrown back into reality with a high pitched scream from Akane. He quickly turned around.
"Aa-a- Akane, I'm so-sorry. I was in girls, ah I mean in woods lost." Ryoga's face was bright red. * How? Why? Why the heck is Akane here. ah umm I think I saw her towel next to me in the floor. But as Ryoga reached for Akane's towel he felt something soft in his hands, he quickly jerked his hand away.
Akane was fuming, he'd seen her naked and had touched. he'd touched. he'd touched her thigh! * How dare he?! * In just a second an unconscious Ryoga was lying on the floor with a small pool of blood near his head (let's just say that the blood hadn't come out of any injury Akane could have caused him.)
After some hours Ryoga woke up, he looked into the sky while his vision cleared. * Ah thank goodness it was all a dream. Just a dream. * But when he turned his head to a side, and saw Akane's back towards him while she was warming up some water for some instant soups that were next to her.
Ryoga's body bolted up and he put his head to the floor and started begging for forgiveness. Akane's head turned around.
She had had enough time to think about what had happened, Ryoga had been unconscious for around 3 hours. And Akane had come to the conclusion that it had been all just an accident. *Perhaps that's what happened the first day with Ranma? * she'd realized.
Ryoga had been lost as always and as luck would have it he'd found her. But her mind was more concerned in that moment, on how she would explain the fact that she was out in the wilderness alone.
Finally her mind came back to the real world and she saw Ryoga on the floor, trying to explain himself. "Ah. Ryoga it's ok. I-I know you didn't do it on purpose. It's ok really."
" Akane I'm soooooo sorry, please forgive me I-I. what?" Ryoga's head came up and he stared at Akane.
"I said it's ok. It was all just an accident right?" *I'd be sure to kill him if it were otherwise! * Was the thought harbored at the back of Akane's head (that had one vein popping in and out, out of anger), she waited for Ryoga's reply (which only took a few seconds to come out of his mouth.)
"Of course Akane. I'm sorry I really am. I would never do something like that."
' Author's note: All you thinking what I'm thinking ¬¬? Sure Ryoga. Somewhere Ranma's instincts were telling him to kill someone, but he didn't know why or who. ^^ '
Akane broke the awkward silence that had crept up between the both of them. " So Ryoga you got lost?"
Ryoga couldn't look at Akane in the eye, he was soo embarrassed that he barely managed to mutter some words out of his mouth. " Umm. hai."
Akane turned to her kettle, the water was boiling and she took it and poured some water in the soups. She handed one to Ryoga, who took it thankfully.
*What now? What do I say to her? * Ryoga looked around to see if he could think of something. In that moment his mind started working again. *Hey wait a sec. What's Akane doing out here? And apparently alone. * His head turned back to Akane again and he gathered up all his courage to speak out his thoughts. "Umm. A-Akane, what are you doing here, well if you don't mind my asking."
Akane's eyes locked into his, there was a small tinge of hurt in them and fury. Ryoga's blood started to boil, if anyone had dared hurt his dear Akane, he'd kill him/ her. *It was probably that baka. Ranma I'll kill you. I'll beat you to pulp and feed your remains to the dogs. I'll. I'll. *
Akane could feel Ryoga's aura start to grow in anger. "Ryoga? Ryoga?!" And with those words, Akane saw his aura disappear and his face turn back to his normal peaceful stare.
He was surely waiting for her to say something, because he wasn't saying anything. So Akane decided to tell him the truth * He's my friend, I'm sure he'll support me on this. *
"Well you see Ryoga, umm it's a long story really."
"Hey I've got all the time in the world." Ryoga's caring smile reassured Akane that she could tell her friend anything. So she proceeded in telling him all that had happened the day before.
Back to Ranma. He was soo distracted with his own thoughts that he had barely paid any attention to the movie he and his friends were watching. Hiroshi's and Daisuke's laughs were just light sounds that fluttered into Ranma's ears. * Why didn't she tell me that she was going to leave for a course? She didn't even tell me that she wanted to go to a university outside Nerima.*
Hiroshi and Daisuke turned once again to look at Ranma, Ranma had been quiet all afternoon, the only moment he'd done anything was when they had gone to the arcade and he had played Street Fighter and had played as if his life depended on it. "What do you suppose is going on with him?" Daisuke whispered the sentence to Hiroshi's ear, the latter just stared at Ranma.
" I have no idea. It can't possibly be a fight with Akane, because if it had been that he would be complaining about her all the time. I don't know. perhaps he forgot to eat?"
Both friends looked at each other and shrugged the idea off. They'd have to ask Ranma about it when the movie finished. In the mean time they were intent on enjoying "The Tuxedo"
'By the way I didn't get a chance to see this movie ^^ but I heard it was lots of fun. I still haven't rented it. ^^u. But anyways back to the story.'
Finally when the movie finished, Hiroshi and Daisuke decided to begin the questioning session. Hiroshi stood in front his friend to stop him from walking away. " Ranma what's going on?"
Ranma finally turned his attention to his friends "Huh? What the heck are you talking about?"
Daisuke and Hiroshi rolled their eyes. It was soo like Ranma to act as if nothing was going on. Daisuke put his hand on Ranma's shoulder and insisted " Come on Ranma, we know there's something going on. You've been distracted the whole afternoon and you didn't even watch the movie."
Ranma sighted and stared at his friends. "It's nothing really."
"Yeah right. Did you have a fight with Akane again?" Hiroshi tried to make Ranma look at him in the eye, but Ranma kept staring somewhere else. "You know even if you don't tell us we'll find out sooner or later."
Ranma thought about what he'd just been told; they were right and who knew maybe if he spoke to them, he would feel a whole lot better. "Well. see, Akane left yesterday. And before that we had a fight."
Hiroshi and Daisuke stared at each other *Akane, gone? * They both had the same thought and had the same reaction. "What did you do to her now?"
"Nandayo?!"
"Well you must have done something for her to leave like that, right?" Daisuke knew his friend, he often got in fights with Akane, but for her to leave, he had to have done something real bad.
Hiroshi could see Ranma's eyes, and he was sure there was a battle within him. "So?"
"Damn it I didn't do anything this time. Why does everyone assume that I've done something to her when she does something rash? You both wanna know what's bothering me? The fact that she had planned to leave to the university and didn't tell me anything." Hiroshi and Daisuke were flabbergasted, Ranma didn't usually act that way, then again Akane had never left.
Ranma realized he'd just spoken out loud what had been nagging him all day, and his mind had been refusing that he even cared. but now he'd said it out loud and he knew that it was real, it was the truth. He was pissed off with Akane for leaving like that, he hadn't even had a chance to patch things up with her. and he hadn't given her her present. *Together forever. Yeah right. *
Ranma didn't even feel like talking with his friends anymore he really really needed to think. "Umm. I think I should go now. Talk to you guys later. Cya." And with that Ranma took off to the rooftops in direction to the Tendo home.
Daisuke looked at Hiroshi and he sighted "Man he's got it bad."
Hiroshi chuckled "You know he's had it bad since he meet her. It's not surprising that he's upset that she left." And then Hiroshi's mind went back to what Ranma had told him. "What I don't get is why would Akane leave so soon. I thought she had applied to the same school as you, me, Sayuri, Yuka and Ranma."
Daisuke thought about it and didn't know the answer either. "It is odd. But what amazes me the most is that Ranma didn't see it either. Do you think it's possible that he doesn't know we're all going to the same university?"
Hiroshi grinned, "It's very possible. I'd just love to see his face when he sees her there." Daisuke and him laughed at the fact. "Do you think we should tell him?"
"Nah, let him find out on his own. Hey wanna go eat something?"
"Sure, I'd really like some ramen right now." And so Hiroshi and Daisuke left the cinema to eat, to no other place than the Nekohanten.
When Ranma arrived home he didn't even bother telling everyone he was back. He didn't feel like it and wanted to be left alone; and the only place where he'd be alone was the roof.
Ranma gazed at the stars and thought of the endless times he'd been there looking at the stars and letting them be his confidents. This was one of those nights, tonight he was going to pour out his thoughts to the stars. But he wasn't sure where to start.
"Why did she leave like that? Without saying goodbye to me. I just don't get it. Was she soo mad with me that she didn't even want to see me?" But even though the stars could listen, they never answered back; the only voice he heard was his own, his heart would speak to him and usually he wouldn't listen. But he was sure that right now, it was his heart that was making him hurt soo much. So for once he listened to his heart. It told him of soo many things, but what mattered the most to him, was that it told him that if he didn't do something he'd surely loose her.
Ranma yawned, he had been on the roof for hours and he wanted to sleep, it had been a tiring day, but before he went to his own room he climbed down the roof into Akane's room.
He hadn't been there since she had left, scared that he would think of her and it'd take apart his heart. But it was one of those nights he needed to feel like Akane was close by. He went in and saw the room was arranged as always, but it felt somewhat cold, empty; without Akane not even the house was the same.
Happosai hadn't found out yet, but Ranma was sure he'd find out sooner or later. he wasn't sure what the old man would have to say, probably nothing, he cared of his panty collection and nothing more. *Perhaps pounding that old perv will help me release some stress. *
Ranma turned to leave but stopped he saw some strings in a bag on her desk. Upon closer inspection he noticed that it was a small part of the dragon's whiskers he'd once used to hold his hair.
His heart ached and he smiled a smile full of longing, she'd kept whatever was left after Happosai, his father and those Chinese bread people had made them into soup. She'd been there to help him, and he had appreciated. but he hadn't told her.
He untied his braid and took the whiskers to tie his hair with, then he left her room. He didn't think of looking for a scarf or something like that, so he didn't see the box for him (with the shirt inside and a note) that was inside a drawer.
Ryoga was near the fire, he kept glancing at the tent where he knew Akane laid. She had told him the whole story, and he had seen the hurt, the unshed tears, the pain, behind her emotionless face. Deep inside he knew Akane loved Ranma, neither accepted the fact, but he knew, and every time Akane and Ranma fought his spirits went up, because he saw a chance to get close to Akane.
On his path lay another chance, and this time there was no interference. He loved Akane, and he'd always care for her, but he also knew Ranma was always in her mind and heart. Then another face materialized in his mind Akari, but although Akari liked him, he didn't feel the same way about her. *I could give it another try. Ah. Who am I kidding? Akari is not my type and Akane will never love me the way she loves Ranma. Perhaps there's someone out there for me. *
Ryoga continued to stare at the flames. He'd promised Akane that if he saw Ranma he wouldn't tell him about her trip. He understood that Akane wanted to train, but perhaps if Ranma had seen her wish to better herself in the arts he would have ended up helping her. It wasn't right for her to be alone, so Ryoga decided he would help her out.
The fire started to grow weak and the cold snapped Ryoga out of his thoughts. "Better go get some fire wood." Ryoga stood up without noticing the pile of firewood next to Akane's tent, he took his things and went to look for some firewood. Once again he got lost before he was a few miles away from the camp.
Meanwhile Akane stirred in her sleep, she was dreaming of a certain boy, well more like a man now, smiling at her. She uttered some words in her sleep "Ranma. aishiteru."
A figure loomed in Ranma's window, it slowly opened the window without making a sound. The figure had been cautious to catch Ranma alone in his room. Now was the time. It got near Ranma and knelt next to him. Ranma stirred a bit in his sleep, the figure stopped, but when he rested peacefully again, it got near again.
Ranma's instincts were yelling WARNING! DANGER! As he opened his eyes he jumped back and stood in a fighting position. Quickly he dropped his stand.
"Nihau Ranma. Shampoo wanted to wake up airen with a good morning kiss." Shampoo's smirk ran from one end of her face to the other. She walked in a seductive manner towards Ranma. "Airen and Shampoo finally alone, now Ranma can make Shampoo his."
Ranma had been paralyzed once Shampoo had started to insinuate herself to him. He had been waiting for a mallet to come crashing through his door so it would send him far away from the Amazon. But it didn't come, and soon Ranma remembered, Akane wasn't in Nerima any longer.
"Now that violent girl is out of way. Ranma can finally be with Shampoo, we can go back to China now, ne?" Shampoo had already reached Ranma and had her arms around his neck, she was leaning in for a kiss.
*Whoa! Wait a sec, how does she know Akane's not here? * Ranma stopped Shampoo with his arms and pushed her away gently. "Shampoo how do you know Akane's not here?"
"It no matter. Stupid girl out of way, and is best, now Shampoo no have to kill her. She no good wife for Ranma." Shampoo's wicked smile had come back to adorn her face, but she hadn't noticed that Ranma's mood had changed. He was angry, he wouldn't let anyone insult Akane while she wasn't there to defend herself.
"Shampoo I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk that way about Akane." Ranma turned to leave the room when Shampoo's words stopped him in his tracks.
"Why not? It truth. She no make good wife. She not know how to cook, too violent; Shampoo much prettier, and she better in martial arts. Shampoo best choice for Ranma. Besides Shampoo love Ranma." Shampoo's tone of voice had gone from venomous to loving and sweet when she finished her sentence.
But Ranma was angry. Shampoo was his best choice? How the hell did she know what he wanted. He was about to retort back when Mouse came through the window.
"Ranma get your hands of my darling Shampoo! I'll make you pay if you've touched her!" Mouse attacked Ranma, and as to avoid any more damage to the house, Ranma jumped outside and ran to the nearest empty lot he could find.
But inside the house Shampoo was left with an angry glare. "If it's not Akane it's Mouse that interrupts me. Doesn't matter, now that Akane's out of the way, Ranma will see that I'm the best for him. I'll make him love me." Shampoo's façade had dropped and she left to the Nekohanten, to plot a better plan to get Ranma.
After a few minutes Mouse was out, he was a pile of weapons on the ground. Ranma had taken out his anger on him. He hadn't realized that Akane solved most of his problems with Shampoo or some other fiancée when she'd pound him into oblivion. * Ahh. I think I'm a bit masochistic, that or my mouth ran out on me too many times.*
Ranma went back home to get dressed and eat his breakfast. He took the rooftops, because it wasn't that decent to walk around in his trousers and a shirt.
When he got there he saw that Shampoo had left. He changed quickly and went down stairs. When he got to the kitchen, Kasumi had started making breakfast.
"Ah, good morning Ranma-kun. Were Shampoo and Mouse here for a visit?" Kasumi's bright smile shone on Ranma, Ranma face faulted; even though Kasumi had a sweet smile it didn't make much of a difference, the only smile he wanted was Akane's.
"Iie Kasumi. They dropped in to be a bother, as always. Hey ummm.can I help you prepare the breakfast?" Ranma's cheeks were a bit flushed but he was still looking at Kasumi.
"Sure Ranma. Could you please take out the flour? I'm making pancakes." Kasumi smiled, she had a plan and she was hoping it would work. It would only take a little time.
Ranma took the flour and looked at the recipe, he smiled a bit. And this Kasumi saw "What's on your mind Ranma-kun?"
Ranma turned to Kasumi and blushed. "Ah. I just remembered that they're Akane's favorite."
Kasumi smiled, she knew Ranma too well. Poor Ranma but a few weeks without Akane could probably help him mature a bit, at least enough for him to take a step concerning his relationship with Akane.
Ranma sat down and helped Kasumi whenever she asked him to do something. He arranged the table and helped her flip the pancakes. After a while he sat down and watched as Kasumi finished with the pancakes. "Kasumi."
"Hai?" As Kasumi walked outside the kitchen Ranma followed.
" Did Akane tell you where she was going? Did she leave any phone number or address?"
Kasumi put down the pancakes on the table and turned to Ranma. "Why do you ask Ranma-kun?"
Ranma's face flushed once more and he turned his gaze towards his plate, he fidgeted with his napkin and found it hard to come up with an excuse so he just replied " Just curious."
" Well Ranma-kun, truth be told I forgot to ask her." *Poor Ranma, perhaps being without her might be harder for him than I thought it would. * She noticed how Ranma's face fell for a sec before he got up and went to wake his father and call for Soun. Then he came back and sat down.
" You know Ranma-kun, I was thinking that perhaps you could find something, like a job or you could take some lessons on something, so you could entertain yourself while you wait for the start of the university."
Ranma turned to Kasumi and remembered that none of them knew about his job. He hadn't thought much about it after he had gotten the money to buy Akane her present. but perhaps it was just the thing to keep his mind off his fiancée. Ranma just nodded and started eating. * Tomorrow's Monday, I'll talk with my boss and ask him to give me some more classes to teach. *
As always Genma and Ranma fought for their food, but this time no one told them to stop. Once Nabiki had left, Akane had taken full charge of reprimanding them for ruining breakfast.
Ranma had gotten used to start an argument with her, that would lead to a whole day of small quarrels between both; that and sparing with his father, going over some katas, watching TV and watching Akane while she did some katas herself, were the things that comprised Ranma's weekends. Well that and going out with his friends if he was in the mood.
But that day and the day before, there was no Akane to quarrel with, to go out for groceries with, to observe while training. So the first half of Ranma's day had gone uneventful. Finally around noon he decided he was bored and needed to talk with someone, well and eating some okonomiyaki. So Ranma left for U-chan's
Upon arrival Ukyo greeted him with a big smile. "Ran-chan so nice to see you. Please come in, what will it be this time?"
"Ah, just the usual U-chan." As soon as Ukyo gave him his okonomiyaki, he started eating it, but not with the incredible speed he usually had. Ukyo was surprised.
"Ran-chan are you feeling ok? You're not eating as usual."
Ranma turned to his friend and smiled. "U-chan I'm fine, really."
"Don't lie to me Ran-chan. I know you to well. Come on tell me."
Ranma stared at Ukyo doubtfully, he wasn't sure if he should tell Ukyo that Akane was gone. He didn't know what to expect from her, but she wouldn't stop bothering him until he did. "Well. see the day before yesterday Akane left."
"Well, will she be coming back? I mean where did she go?" Ukyo was almost leaping in joy, her worst nightmare was out of the way, she didn't know for how long, but every small second counted.
"I don't know. she didn't even leave a note for me. She just got her things after prom night and left, supposedly to study in a university, and I don't even know which one it is or where. Kasumi knew so that means that Akane had been planning it for a while. I just don't know what to think or do." Ranma's mood had tumbled down as he recalled his thoughts and feelings. But he snapped his head back to look at Ukyo when he heard her chuckle.
"Oh Ran-chan you shouldn't worry at all. Besides why should you worry if she didn't even bother to leave a note? What she did was inconsiderate." *Yes! Ran-chan will finally be mine! *
Ranma frowned, once again he got annoyed when he heard someone talk badly of Akane. Ok so she could have left a note, but neither Ukyo nor Shampoo knew that they'd had a fight and she had been crying, that she'd been angry with him. And now that he thought about it, it was sort of their fault to.
His heart or conscience laughed at him. Sure Ranma, don't try and blame it on others, it's your fault and you could have fixed it from the beginning. But Ranma shut up that voice before he heard more that only pained him more. He sighted and tried to explain to his friend that her leaving like that was justified.
"U-chan we had a fight before she left. She must have been angry with me and that's why she left."
"Ran-chan that's no excuse, if she cared she should have tried to talk to you and fix things up. You know Akane CAN be soo childish and soo selfish in that respect. Forget her Ran-chan you have to get on with your life." But what Ukyo failed to notice was Ranma's retreating form until it was too late, he had left without even finishing his okonomiyaki.
Ranma was very upset, he'd thought that of all the people he knew Ukyo would be the one to understand best, that she'd be willing to hear him out. But she had answered with only insults directed towards Akane. *How can they? They don't even know her. What am I supposed to do now? *
Ranma came to a stop when he saw a park, actually the park that held so many memories, like when he gave Akane her Christmas presents, or when he was kicked out of the Tendo house and Akane had come with food for him. It was one of those spots where he could see her smiling at him.
So he sat on a bench to wait for the sunset, and after a couple of hours it came, the sun shone it's warm light on his face and for an instant Ranma felt relaxed. He stayed there until the last couple of purples and reds disappeared from the sky. Then he went back home. It was going to be another long night without her voice and presence filling the house.
At the same time, Akane was nearing this town she had ran into, it was almost 11pm when she went in the town. The streets were light and she could se various stores and restaurants opened. Akane started asking for a decent hotel where she could stay, she could afford one night of comfortable sleep.
When Akane went by an ally, she saw a flash of a metal blade, she stopped and turned around, she could se some thugs surrounding a young girl around her age. She had her back turned to her, but it seemed like she was paralyzed, she was doing nothing. As Akane saw one of the thugs approach the girl from behind she dropped her bag and kicked him out of the way.
She got back to back with the girl. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." And as soon as she finished the sentence she lunged at the 2 more criminals that were in front of her. She never noticed that the girl had taken a stick into her hands and was handling the thieves with quite ease. She also never noticed the head of the band head for her with a knife at hand, so she had no time to react when the guy opened a wound by stabbing her on her side.
The only thing Akane felt was the pain. And right after, a hit with a pipe on the head. Akane fell to the floor unconscious and bleeding.
Ranma bolted up from his nightmare, he was sweating and was gasping for air. He'd gone to bed early to rest, but he didn't know that he wouldn't be able to because of a dream where Akane was attacked and hurt by some guys.
He inhaled and exhaled to calm himself down, and he had to repeat himself that Akane was safe wherever she was because she wasn't alone, he had to be with some people from the university, safe and sound.
While Ranma tried to go back to sleep, somewhere, in a dark alley, Akane laid still on the cold floor, the only warmth came from her open wound and the blood that was spilling from it.
Author's note. Don't kill me k? ^^ I promise things will look better for both Ranma and Akane. All reviews will be taken into account ^^ in hopes that I'll become a better writer ;). I'm not gonna give hints about what happens next ^^ I wanna see if I'm good creating tension and suspense. ^^ Well I'm also working on my humor, I've never considered myself that good when it comes to humor. So bear with me. Cya next chapter.
