Bettering one-self.
By Minako-chan.
A Ranma ½ fanfiction continuación series.
Ranma ½ characters originally created by Rumiko Takashi.
Author's notes are at the end.
Chapter 3. "Time flies, but not enough."
When Akane awoke, she was pretty sore and her side hurt. She looked at it and saw bandages around it. She started thinking about the events from the previous night, and it all came back to her. She'd let her guard down.
She wasn't sure what had happened after she got hit on the head, but she had to find out. The girl she had tried to help out might be hurt because of her.
Once Akane looked around the room, she noticed that she was in a nice clean room and lying on a futon. She pondered on the facts *Perhaps someone came to help us. * Akane tried to stand up and winced, the slash that she had on her side had been somewhat deep, but she could still move.
She stood and saw her things in a corner. But she couldn't just take them and leave; she had to thank whoever had helped her the one who had brought her in, to cure her wounds. She came to a halt when she heard chatter coming from what appeared to be the dinning room, and she decided to go in.
As she entered she stood in front of the same girl she'd tried to help and an older man, probably her guardian or father.
"Oh hey you're awake. Please come in, perhaps you'd like something to eat, let me get you something." The girl stood up quickly before Akane had any chance to respond. She turned when the man spoke to her.
"Please do sit down. My daughter will be back in a second." He smiled; the girl in front of him seemed a bit confused and tiered.
"My daughter told me that you tried to help her out yesterday night. Let me introduce myself, my name is Kimura Tojiro."
Akane heard a voice from behind her. "And I am Kimura Mia." Mia put down the dish in front of Akane.
All Akane could do was to marvel at the incredible smell that came from the food. *It's so nice eating home cooked food for once. *
Her mind stopped her before she took the chopsticks that were in front of her. *Where are my manners? I was just about to act like Ranma: eat first, think later. *
"My name is Tendo Akane dozo yoroshiku." Just then her stomach decided to grumble and it made her very embarrassed.
Tojiro smiled at the girl and Mia chuckled. "Please do eat, it seems that you are somewhat hungry." Once Akane had finished her dinner they all stayed in the dinning room to have a chat.
"So Tendo-san what brings you here?" Tojiro asked her. Mia remained silent while she watched Akane fidget a bit in her seat.
"Well you see, I'm on a training trip so I can better myself in martial arts. I was passing by and saw Kimura-san fighting."
"Well that explains why you showed skills when you were fighting. And I'm sure if you hadn't been distracted you could have taken out more creeps."
Mia had smiled at Akane, a true smile, not one where she was mocking her by the lack of skill she had. She still wondered though who had helped them out after Akane had fallen. "Umm. Kimura-san can I ask what happen after I fell?"
"Well I just took out the last, they weren't hard to deal with, besides it's always a bit easier when you have a weapon at hand to fight off the ones that are out of reach and you can also fight one on one."
"So Tendo-san" Akane turned her attention to Tojiro. "How long are you going to stay in town? Perhaps you could stay here and make Mia some company, she's been training lately in our school and well, she doesn't have someone to spar with."
* Well at least I'd have a place to stay. and perhaps I could learn something from them. * "I'd like to, I'll try my best." Akane smiled at both, then Mia stood up and took her hand.
"Hey Tendo-san."
"Please call me Akane, it feels weird being called Tendo-san"
Mia helped Akane up. "Fine then. Akane-san how about if my father and I teach you our school and you let us see how your school fights huh?"
"Oh I'd love to!"
"Perfect. Then while I ask our maid to prepare a room for you, what if Mia gave you a tour of the town. I'm sure you'll like to get used to your surroundings." Tojiro stood up next to both girls.
"Akane-san would you like to take a bath or change before we go out?"
"Yes please. I haven't had a decent bath in quite a while Mia-san." Akane looked at herself and noticed for the first time that she was wearing pants and a sweatshirt. * I bet Mia lent me this. *
" Well then follow me. Excuse us father."
"Sure Mia."
Whilst Mia walked calmly through the corridors and up the stairs, Akane couldn't help but notice that the house was very nice and was surely bigger than her own. They went into a room and Mia started to rummage through her closet. She took out some tight jeans, a white blouse and some high heal sandals.
"Akane if you'd like you can wear this. I think it might fit you. I'm sure you don't have casual clothes in your backpack do you?" Mia stood in front of Akane.
Akane smiled sheepishly. "Yeah I kinda didn't think about doing anything much besides training, so I basically just brought my gi and some sweats. It makes the load easier you know?"
* She seems like a nice girl, I think we can become good friends. * Mia smiled. "Oh sure. Well let me show you the bath room." Mia saw how Akane entered the bathroom and then went to her room. She waited there until Akane came out, she called for her father and he accompanied them to the entrance.
Tojiro bid the girls farewell. Akane took one glance at the house and saw that from the outside it was easily double the size of her own, and a large garden surrounded the house. * Wow this is a nice place. * Akane chuckled. *This place might be smaller than the Kuno state, but it sure is classier. Well this should be interesting. Perhaps I'll be able to learn lots here. * With that both girls left for the shopping malls and downtown.
Mia was going to have her new friend enjoy herself.
A figure rolled and turned in his futon. He had woken up since the crack of dawn, well sort of, he'd woken up at 5am; and he had tried to go back to sleep but to no avail. Four days had gone by and he still couldn't get used to the idea that Akane was not there.
* Stupid tomboy. Why should I care anyways, it's not as if it was my fault. well maybe it was. but anyways she decided to go to university all by herself, with or without my opinion. It would have made no difference what so ever if I had talked with her. Right?. *
Ranma felt as if he had a small hole forming in his chest. Of course it being Ranma he didn't want to think about it either because deep down he knew what it was: he was missing Akane.
Ranma stared at the ceiling for the thousandth time and sighted. * Might as well get out and do some exercise. What's the use of just lying here? *
But even though he tried to concentrate during the whole 2 hours he was "warming up" he couldn't focus. So all the katas he did had mistakes, silly mistakes due to lack of concentration.
"Kuso! Why can't I get any of them right!?" It was then that Ranma's sensitive sense of smell caught the scent of breakfast. "Yeah! Probably that's what's wrong. My stomach is empty." So happily Ranma pranced to the kitchen, where he found Kasumi cooking cheerfully, with breakfast almost done.
Kasumi turned and saw Ranma at the doorframe. "Oh Ranma, good morning. You're up early today."
"Oh yeah couldn't sleep well. Kasumi, can I help with something?"
There was a short moment where Kasumi's eyes showed some confusion, but she soon recovered from the blow. *This is really weird. * "Well. How about you set the table?"
Ranma smiled and started taking out the dishes, the chopsticks, the glasses, the salt and pepper, etc. He was quickly done with this task and just sat on the small kitchen table.
He sat there quietly, this disturbed Kasumi a bit as anyone could comprehend. I mean we all know the energetic, jumpy, also reckless and mostly not considerate Ranma. But a thought entered Kasumi's mind, usually Ranma would oversleep and then he'd fight with Akane or his father. And one of whom had left the house.
Once Kasumi finished pondering the thought that Ranma's change of attitude was due to Akane's absence, and once she finished breakfast she asked Ranma to call everyone down. Soon the whole family (except one of course) were at the table eating.
To Kasumi it was a bit relaxing to see Ranma fight over food with Genma, it meant that although he was basically the same Ranma, there were some changes taking place. Kasumi hoped that it wouldn't take long for Ranma to mature due to the changes in his life, mainly the absence of Akane.
When everyone had finished Ranma helped Kasumi take the dishes back to the kitchen, and Kasumi got the impression, that were it not for Genma's presence, Ranma would have helped her wash the dishes.
Ranma announced that he'd be out basically all day, but never said where to and he never said when he'd be back. He was in need of some distraction. *Perhaps if I'm lucky enough I'll find Ryoga or Mouse to spar with. I guess Kuno would be good enough, at least I'll be able to pound him. *
He found himself walking on the fence in way towards school. He didn't quite mind ending up in school, everyone was on vacations and he had graduated. A quick look, for old times sake, wouldn't hurt anyone.
And before Ranma knew it he had company, the only problem was, that it was not the company that he would have liked. A sister and then a brother approached him, the girl in a black leotard and the boy, well you know him, in his usual wear.
"Ranma-sama! My love! I have come so you can take me out on a date!"
"Ranma you cur! How could you drive my goddess away from me?!"
Bingo! Kodachi and Tatewaki Kuno. Ranma flinched, these two were the last he had expected to run into, well he'd hoped to run into Kuno but not Kodachi. Ranma dodged the gymnastic ribbon that flew at him by jumping off the fence.
"Ranma sweetie wont you come have lunch with me?! Hohohohohoho." Kodachi threw what seemed to Ranma like small balls. Most of them he threw back at Kodachi, but one got through. Before contact the ball exploded and released some kind of powder.
Luckily for Ranma it wasn't the usual sleep powder Kodachi uses, but more like a paralyzing powder. Then again if it hadn't been that he didn't inhale much, he would be lying on the ground paralyzed like Kodachi. Still one Kuno and the powder he did inhale were enough to give him problems.
"Kuno wanna fight? I'd better warn you, I'm not in the mood to go easy on you." He blocked one of Kuno's blows to his chest with his arm.
"You devil Saotome! How dare you imply that I, the great Kuno Tatewaki would be defeated by you?!"
Ranma dodged a fling of Kuno's bokken to his head. It was a bit harder to react with the powder Kodachi had thrown. So Ranma knew he had to finish Kuno off fast before the powder took more effect. If he hadn't been a bit stunned by the powder he might have continued teasing Kuno for fun.
"Where have you hidden my fair Tendo Akane?! Answer you sorcerer!"
Ranma dodged another hit, and leapt to get away. "Damn it Kuno, I didn't hide her anywhere! You're just delusional as always!"
"You lie! Where have you hidden Akane!?"
"I told you I didn't hide her anywhere!" Ranma's patience was running out and he charged Kuno, grabbing his bokken and throwing it to the ground.
"WHERE IS SHE!? You MUST know where she is. Tell me!" Kuno had stopped and was really pissed off. He needed an answer, he wanted to see Akane desperately since he hadn't seen her that much since he'd graduated, and the thought of not seeing her at all because she'd graduated scared the hell out of him.
Ranma was taken a back by Kuno's attitude, never had he dropped his poetic ramblings, and here he was standing in front of Ranma. The powder hadn't worn off completely yet, but it was basically gone.
"Look why don't you come out of your little crazy world and finally see that I do not control Akane!"
Kuno without thinking went for Ranma without his bokken shouting things like: " You have no honor!" "Of course you must have tricked Akane to leave me!" "She'd never like you over me!" And it was that, that made Ranma's blood boil. So he did what he'd thought earlier: pound Kuno Tatewaki.
After a few minutes Kuno lay on the ground unconscious. And although Ranma felt a bit dizzy because of the paralysis powder Kodachi had thrown. He was still well enough to continue his walk. So that's exactly what he did, but not before he searched for Sazuke so he would take the Kuno siblings.
Four o'clock in the afternoon and two girls entered a house. "Mia I'm telling you I can't accept these!" Akane was following Mia with about six bags of clothing in her hands.
"Nonsense Akane! You can't be going around town in your training suits all the time. Besides I don't mind, friends give gifts to each other."
Akane stopped and stared after Mia, while she kept on walking. *Friends? * Akane hadn't had many friends, maybe some girls from school and well if she could perhaps consider Shampoo and Ukyo friends, she could still count the number of friends she had with one hand.
But now she was making a new friend and without much effort. So she smiled, having a new friend would be nice. "Ok fine. But then I owe you one!"
Mia turned towards Akane and smiled. Just then Tojiro entered the lounge of the house where the girls were. "Well you two are back. I thought you'd never be back."
Mia smirked and chuckled. "Ah come on daddy do you think I would miss my lesson?"
"Well you have done it before daughter." Tojiro turned to Akane. "Tendo-san would you like to join my daughter and me?"
"Sure I'd love to."
"Alright then. Well you probably should go change into something more fitting." Akane turned to Mia and the latter tugged on Akane's arm.
"Come on Akane let's go change."
After a few minutes Mia and Akane were in the dojo, both in gi's. Tojiro stood at the middle of the room doing a complicated kata of which Akane had only seen the likes of in times when she had watched Ranma practice.
Tojiro finished and turned towards Akane. "Well Tendo-san I hope you don't mind sparing with me a bit before Mia does."
"Oh not at all sir." Akane stepped forward and as soon as Mia gave the signal she lunged towards Tojiro. It was somewhat surprising for Akane to see the ability and speed of this man, he sure wasn't as fast or strong as Ranma, but behind every punch Akane could see perfection, control and experience, things that Ranma and she still had to learn.
By the time they had finished the fight, Akane was exhausted and most of her muscles were sore. She had gotten in some punches, but had also received lots. When she turned to Tojiro he too seemed a bit tiered, she didn't know how long they had fought, but she was sure it had been for at least an hour. Mia handed both a towel and some water.
When Akane finished drinking her water, Tojiro turned to her. "You are very skilled Tendo-san, I'm impressed with your potential. But having said that, I should also say that there is room for improvement. I was wondering if you'd mind me giving you some aid in your kempo before I teach you our school."
Akane smiled, Kimura-san had let her known in a very polite way how she lacked in some aspects. *Not like that baka Ranma, he would have just called me a clumsy or a stupid tomboy, or something of the sort. *
"Tendo-san?"
Akane was brought back from her stupor and looked at he who would be her new teacher. "I'd love to Kimura sensei." Akane bowed a bit and Mia couldn't help but smile.
From that day on Akane would train with Tojiro every day in the morning and then in the afternoon. He'd make her practice some katas and he would correct her mistakes. He'd have her perform some balancing exercises, then she'd meditate (mostly because Tojiro said would help her gain control) and then Mia would spar with Akane, while Tojiro stood correcting both girls whenever they did something wrong.
And that way weeks passed by, and to Tojiro's and Mia's surprise Akane started to better herself really fast. Where as in the beginning Akane would loose to Mia easily, she started to gain skill. And soon by the end of the third week she could beat Mia easily.
After that happened Tojiro decided to spar with Akane to try and give her more of a challenge. But by the end of the fourth week, Tojiro was no more of a challenge than Mia was.
One day the three of them sat on the floor of the dojo panting. Tojiro had wanted Akane to fight against him and Mia, and even though it had been difficult for Akane, after 1 hour she had finally beat them.
"Well Tendo-san I believe that I have taught you all I know about kempo. But as of tomorrow I'll teach you our school." Tojiro stood up and looked at both girls. "Why don't you two go out to relax a bit? That might do you some good."
As soon as Tojiro left, Mia stood up and asked Akane if she would like to join her in the bathroom. "Hai Mia. I'll be there in a while."
As soon as Mia left the room Akane stood up thinking, she looked outside at the gardens. The wonderful trees, the beautiful flowers, the rock garden, and then stared at the sky. *I'm not fast enough though. I could barely keep up with both of them. *
Akane left the dojo a bit disappointed, because she still wasn't good enough. And she really wanted to become better martial artist, but there was no point in torturing herself about it too much. So she left to the bathroom to wash and relax in the furo with Mia.
After an hour Akane and Mia were strolling through the streets of Utsunomiya. They went through some stores and Mia bought some earrings, then they both went into a bookstore and looked through the books.
Akane went into the literature section and took various books; she put them under her arm and went to pay them. Mia had gotten lots of books too and both left the store with a bag full of books each. As they passed by a market Akane caught sight of some chestnuts and stopped, Mia stopped as well and looked at Akane intrigued.
Both girls left to the house, having a bag full of chestnuts with of all the other stuff they had bought that day.
"Akane do you like eating chestnuts?"
"Huh?" Akane looked at Mia. She hadn't been paying much attention, because she had been thinking of the new technique she was going to learn. She'd also started to think of a way on how to improve and modify the technique, so she would not only be faster with her hands, but also her body.
"Oh! Well. you'll see when we're inside the house. They were going in the house when Akane asked Mia where could she start a fire.
"Well over here in the garden. Akane may I ask what are you using those chestnuts for?"
Akane had the fire in front of her. "Oh I forgot. Could you bring me a bucket full of water?"
*Huh?! Why would she want any of these things? * But Mia complied and went for the bucket. By the time she got back she saw Akane staring at the fire, and enveloped by it were the chestnuts.
Once Akane saw Mia had put the bucket down next to her, she pulled back her sleeves and started to push her hands in the fire trying to pull out the chestnuts.
"Akane! What the hell are you doing?!" She could see that Akane's hands were slightly burned every time she pulled them out of the fire and out of the bucket of water. After various times of trying this again and again, Mia screamed at her friend once more, this time reprimanding her for her actions.
"Akane will you stop that?! You'll hurt yourself! What are you doing?!"
Akane turned to Mia, and she could see how Mia showed concern for her. But she was determined to learn the technique. *I'm sure I can! I have to! * Akane winced from the pain in her hands, and put them in the cold water. "Ah that feels nice."
"Well, I'm waiting for an explanation. Why would you do something that hurts you soo?!"
"What is going on here daughter? Why are you screaming at Tendo-san?" Tojiro looked at his daughter and then at Akane. Akane was next to a fire and was putting her hands in the fire and pulling them out when she could not reach the chestnuts.
Still Tojiro could see that the girl was withstanding incredible amounts of pain every time she tried to reach further for the chestnuts. "Tendo-san what are you doing?"
"Yeah! That's what I'd like to know too!!"
Akane looked at Tojiro and Mia. "Sumimasen, don't worry Mia. It's an Amazon technique, it's called the Kashu tenshin amaguriken."
Both figures that were now standing next to Akane were surprised; Mia more than Tojiro. "Tendo-san you know an Amazon technique? How come?"
"Oh well I don't really know it, it's more along the lines that I've seen it. My fiancée, I mean Ranma, Ranma has learnt it." *Crap! Of all times for my tongue to slip, it just had to be in this moment and about Ranma being my fiancée. *
"Well I don't think that because he did it you should do something so dangerous too Akane! I mean look at your hands!"
Akane did as she was told, and she could see that her hands sustained burns, that were easily second-degree burns. She smiled shyly and looked at Mia. " Mia I'm doing it because I want to. I want to be faster and it's the only way I know how to. Please don't be upset."
Mia sighted and just as she was going to reprimand Akane again, her father cut in. "Very well Tendo-san, go on ahead with your training. Just remember that tomorrow we'll start your training, so put that ointment on so tomorrow you'll be able to use your hands."
"But DAD!"
Tojiro looked at his daughter and cut off her scream. "Mia do not interfere with Tendo-san's training, if she wants to do this then let her. She knows what she's doing."
Mia looked down at Akane and then her father. "Oh all right."
Akane continued training, trying to take out the chestnuts from the fire, and after a while she was able to get two out without getting too burned. Mia just looked at her friend and would bring her fresh water or more ice so she could put in her hands.
After a while Akane was really tiered and her hands hurt tones. "Well I guess this is as much as I can go."
"Finally! Well then let's go inside and get your hands in some soap water, so you can wash them a bit." With that, both girls went inside the house and once Akane had cleaned her hands, she put the ointment on and bandaged them. Akane invited Mia in her room.
"Akane can I ask you something?" Mia sat in front of her friend on the floor.
"Sure go ahead Mia."
"I've figured that you don't like talking much about your life in Nerima. I'm guessing it wasn't too pleasant. But. a while ago you were about to say 'fiancée' and then you corrected yourself and said Ranma. Was Ranma more than a friend to you?"
Akane stared at the floor, it was true she was uncomfortable at first when talking to Mia about her life, and she hadn't told Mia that Ranma was her fiancée or that he was engaged to more than one girl. But perhaps she owed the patient girl an explanation.
"Would you like to know the whole story?"
Mia smiled sweetly at Akane, she was finally going to know what had made her friend leave her family and friends behind in Nerima. "I would like to, if you don't mind."
Akane took a deep breath and started narrating her story to Mia. She told her of Ranma's arrival, his curse, the other fiancées, the fights and all that they had been through. And when she got to the trip to China and Saffron, her mood changed for an instant. She told her how their relationship had started to get a bit better after Saffron, how they had tried not to insult each other as much.
And eventually she got to the part that had made her take her decision. "So you see I had worked soo hard in my present. And what happens? They ruin it, and Ranma didn't even notice!" Akane fell quiet, all the memories she had told had stirred something within her. *Could it be I miss him? *
Mia stared at Akane and then her watch it was now 10pm, they had been talking since 6 or so; she looked at her friend again and sighted. "Akane from what you tell me, I think you both care about each other enough to risk your lives, and I think that means a lot. In my opinion, if I may be soo bold, well perhaps you should try and patch things up with him."
Akane had turned her head towards Mia. Turmoil stirred within her, her heart yelled 'do it!', her mind said 'she's right you know', but her pride screamed 'he hurt you and he's hurt you tones of times, why should you forgive him that easily!?' Akane looked down, and silence fell in the room.
"Akane you don't have to decide right now you know? Just think about it. I'm sure you'll figure out what the next best course of action is." Mia smiled and walked towards the door. "Oyasumi Akane."
Akane stared after Mia's retreating form and gave a slight but sad smile. "Oyasumi Mia." She lay on her bed staring at the roof, until finally sleep claimed her.
It was kind of late, Ranma looked at his watch 10:30pm. *And I thought I'd be finished by 10. Oh well I guess I'll just have something quick to eat and then I'll go to sleep. * Ranma entered the Tendo household and was greeted by his mother's voice.
Nodoka peeked out of the kitchen and smiled. "Ranma, you're home. Welcome, why don't you go to the dinning room? Your father and Mr. Tendo are watching a movie. I'll bring you something to eat."
"All right mom" Ranma left his shoes at the entrance and went quickly to leave his bag in his room. He went back to the dinning room where he found two men staring at a horror movie. Soun Tendo turned and welcomed him home, his father only acknowledged his presence with a wave.
After a while Nodoka came back with a plate of sushi and tempura, and sat down next to Ranma. He noted that it was the place where Akane would have usually sat in.
Nodoka smiled at her son. For once he wasn't vacuuming down his food, he was eating slowly like a civilized man. "Do you like your dinner Ranma?"
Ranma turned and swallowed first. "Yes mom, it's delicious. Did you make it?"
"Yes I did. I'm glad you liked it."
"So mom, what are you doing here? Visiting?"
"Well actually Ranma I came here to tell everyone that I've decided to move in Nerima permanently. Your father has agreed with me that it'd be best if you two came to live with me in my house."
Ranma's chopsticks dropped to the floor. "Huh?" Was his intelligent reply.
"Well wouldn't it be nice if we could be a family at last? I miss you dearly and well now that Akane's gone off to college, there really isn't any point in you staying here is there?"
*But what if Akane came back?! What if she came and I'm not here?*
Nodoka whispered into his ear. "Do you care about her that much? That you won't go to live with your mother?"
Ranma looked at her, it was as if she'd read his mind. "Huh?"
Nodoka smiled, obviously he hadn't noticed he'd whispered the words that he'd thought. "Ranma why don't we go for a walk so we'll be able to talk?" Nodoka took Ranma's arm and dragged Ranma out. The night was chilly so Nodoka took her coat.
After a while of nothing but silence, in which Nodoka kept giving Ranma some glances. She decided to break the silence. "Ranma what's wrong? Kasumi says you haven't been yourself since Akane left. And I for one can see that she might be right."
Ranma's defense mode took partially over his mind. "Why would I care about that tomboy of a girl? It's not like I care or something." And when he turned to see Nodoka (who was a bit shorter than him by the way), he saw the frown on her face.
"Ranma don't talk that way about Akane. Just because she likes martial arts doesn't mean she's less of a woman."
Ranma sighted, he wondered how much of a woman Akane was turning out to be while she was away from him. "Sorry mom. It's just that, well, I'm not sure what to think anymore."
Nodoka smiled and turned to look at the street; she had seen that face in so many men that were in love. And she had always heard and sometimes even seen how protective her son was of his fiancée. She had even heard of the incident in China. So it was understandable for her that Ranma was sulking over the departure of his fiancée.
"Ranma have you thought about calling her? I mean if it bother's you soo much, why not give her a call?"
Ranma sighted once again and looked at the stars. "That's just the thing I can't. She didn't leave a phone number, I mean she didn't even tell me she was leaving, she didn't tell anyone except Kasumi."
They were both in front of a park when Ranma stopped. He led his mother to a bench and sat. "All that I know is that one moment she's here and the next she's gone. I'm not even sure of why she left."
Nodoka felt pity for her son, his heart was aching for the girl, but he didn't dare do anything to fix it. "Son, do you miss her?"
Ranma turned to her, surprise reflected in his eyes at first, then he turned to look at the floor and smirked. "Yeah, guess I do, even her stupid mallet and her toxic food." Ranma stopped talking and his face fell.
"But?"
"But what if she doesn't want to talk to me? I mean she left without telling me, obviously she didn't want me to follow or she wanted to get away from me."
Nodoka saw the pain in his eyes and for a split second she was angry at Akane for hurting his son this much. But as I said it was only for a split second, because Nodoka also knew enough about Akane to know that she must have had a good reason to leave.
"Ranma why do you suppose she left?"
"Well, I guess, she might have gotten tiered of it all. I've thought about leaving too. I'm just sick of all the fiancées and the idiots screaming 'Die Ranma'"
"Ranma you do realize that you could do something about that if you wanted."
Ranma's face showed nothing but sadness and disgust and, what was it? Oh yes! Sympathy. "I'd end up hurting people I don't want to hurt if I do that mom."
And Nodoka felt sympathy for Ranma and his situation. "Well I suppose there's no other way out of that one. But the longer this goes on, the more hurt people will get. And Ranma, time does heal all wounds. I guess the question is, whom are you going to allow to get hurt? I'd say that if Akane left and didn't say anything, she's already been hurt. Do you want her to get hurt?"
Ranma turned to look at his mother, he looked as he had been insulted or worst, and it was very hard for him not to shout when he replied. "I'd NEVER let Akane get hurt. I've never wanted her to get hurt, I'd kill anyone that hurt her."
"Well then son, there's your answer." Nodoka stood up from the bench, and Ranma stood up after her.
"Mom do I really have to leave the Tendo home?"
She looked at her son and saw his discomfort towards the idea. "Well not if you don't want to. But perhaps it'd be a good idea if I take your father away?"
Ranma smiled widely "Yes oh please. At least that way Mr. Tendo and dad will stop bugging me about getting married."
Nodoka smiled and took Ranma's offered arm. As they were approaching the Tendo home, Ranma saw a figure waiting outside for him. He stopped to look at the shadow.
"Kuno? What are you doing here?"
Kuno came out of the light, he looked in shambles, as if he hadn't slept or eaten in weeks. He took out his bokken and got nearer.
"Where is Akane? Tell me where she is you liar!"
Ranma was puzzled. Had Kuno gone looking for Akane? "Look Kuno I told you she left and didn't leave her exact address. All I know is that she went to the university."
Ranma pulled his mother behind him, Kuno was not in the most perfect of states, but then again, he never had been. And once Ranma uttered the last word Kuno started screaming again.
"You liar! She wasn't in the university not even in all Nagoya! School doesn't start there just yet! Where have you hid her?!"
"Wait a sec how would you know where she went? How can you come her and tell me that you can't find her when you don't even know where she went."
Kuno smirked and chuckled. That ticked Ranma a bit, but he wanted to stop and wait to hear his story. *He's probably just delirious. He's always been nuts. *
"Saotome you idiot. You think I'd go around like a moron just searching for her like that!" Kuno closed his eyes and smiled with satisfaction. "It's sometimes useful to have a father that runs the high school where your true love studied. I just looked into her transcripts."
*What? No! He must be kidding; Akane said she'd go to the university. * Ranma reacted when Kuno threw more tantrums and then lunged himself to Ranma. A few seconds layer Sazuke was carrying off Kuno's unconscious form.
Ranma had gone in the Tendo home, and was sitting in his room. Could it possibly be true? Ranma hadn't thought about it much; he'd just taken for granted that what Kasumi had said was true.
But now that he pondered on the subject he saw how logical it was that Akane couldn't possibly be in an introductory course specially seeing as how there were almost 6 months till universities started their courses. They'd all taken it for granted.
But if it was a lie, then where the HELL was Akane? Had she lied to Kasumi too? Or did Kasumi know the truth? Could she possibly be hurt? Could she have been kidnapped? No, she hadn't left a note so the only way for Kasumi to know, was if Akane had spoken to her. Or had she indeed left a note that Kasumi hadn't told them about?
*Damn! Why did that stupid tomboy have to do this!?! So what do I do now? * Ranma's heart and mind were confused, he felt betrayed all over again. He felt disappointed, but most importantly, he was worried.
End of chapter 3.
Author's notes: Tatatata! ^^ Lol so what do you guys think? I bet you're wondering what Ranma will do? ^^ Well you'll have to wait till next chapter. It took me a while to post up this chapter because I've been very busy, I'm basically attending to school from 9am till 1pm and then I've got some courses from 2pm till 6pm, by the time I get back home I'm soo tiered from the traffic and the work. And then I gotta to homework T T. Man I wish I had more time to write.
Oh I should probably give some meanings to Japanese words, just in case you don't know them. But right now I can only think of these two, ^^u so sorry, if you don't understand something else just tell me, k?
Sumimasen - is kinda like "I'm sorry."
Oyasumi- it's a way of saying good night.
Ok so now I wanna thank everyone for their reviews ^^ thanks they've really been useful, actually some of you guys have given me some ideas ^^ ;) and I'll think I'll use them. I specially want to thank Kat, cause she's from now on proofreading my chapters.
Weeping Willow: ( Don't worry Akane will have Ryoga around later on. I'm glad you like the story :D
M*Angel: lol yes poor Ranma but I think he needs something like this to make him realize how much he cares about her.
Rachel: Sorry about my grammatical mistakes and stuff, ^^ but now Kat is helping me out so hopefully I'll get better at it too.
Neko & butterfly: ^^ I'm soo happy you liked my fic, well here's the update, hope you enjoy it too.
Kura-kun: I'm afraid Ranma won't crush the necklace ^^ sorry if I've disappointed you there. But don't worry I totally agree with you Akane deserves guilt, so perhaps you guys can take that as a hint for what might come up in next chapters ;)
Dear reader: I would like to explain why I didn't make Akane go all crazy on Ryoga for seeing her naked. Well fist I'd expect her to grow up a bit in 2 years, second well she had time to think about things without being teased or bothered by it. Ryoga was unconscious, so take it as Akane was really really pissed at him, it's just that she had time to fume while he was unconscious, I just didn't write it down. And I did make Akane realize that perhaps that's what had happened with Ranma.
Ranma+Akane4Ever: ^^ don't worry it never crossed my mind to kill Akane, and it wont be happening any time soon either ;) I'm glad I was able to create some suspense by the end :D just what I intended. Now the questions "will Akane get the necklace'" "Will Ranma get the shirt?" Well you'll just have to wait and see ;) And yes! Happosai will find out ^^ just wait and see what I do with that old pervert lol.
Sweet Chaos: I hope in this chapter I did correct the soo thing ^^u sorry it's a bad habit of mine, I use it when I chat with my friends and I do it unconsciously. Hope the grammar is better this time around. ^^ And thanks for saying my fic is good.
Well people see you in the next episode ;) take care, and please review ^^ so I'll get to know your opinion.
By Minako-chan.
A Ranma ½ fanfiction continuación series.
Ranma ½ characters originally created by Rumiko Takashi.
Author's notes are at the end.
Chapter 3. "Time flies, but not enough."
When Akane awoke, she was pretty sore and her side hurt. She looked at it and saw bandages around it. She started thinking about the events from the previous night, and it all came back to her. She'd let her guard down.
She wasn't sure what had happened after she got hit on the head, but she had to find out. The girl she had tried to help out might be hurt because of her.
Once Akane looked around the room, she noticed that she was in a nice clean room and lying on a futon. She pondered on the facts *Perhaps someone came to help us. * Akane tried to stand up and winced, the slash that she had on her side had been somewhat deep, but she could still move.
She stood and saw her things in a corner. But she couldn't just take them and leave; she had to thank whoever had helped her the one who had brought her in, to cure her wounds. She came to a halt when she heard chatter coming from what appeared to be the dinning room, and she decided to go in.
As she entered she stood in front of the same girl she'd tried to help and an older man, probably her guardian or father.
"Oh hey you're awake. Please come in, perhaps you'd like something to eat, let me get you something." The girl stood up quickly before Akane had any chance to respond. She turned when the man spoke to her.
"Please do sit down. My daughter will be back in a second." He smiled; the girl in front of him seemed a bit confused and tiered.
"My daughter told me that you tried to help her out yesterday night. Let me introduce myself, my name is Kimura Tojiro."
Akane heard a voice from behind her. "And I am Kimura Mia." Mia put down the dish in front of Akane.
All Akane could do was to marvel at the incredible smell that came from the food. *It's so nice eating home cooked food for once. *
Her mind stopped her before she took the chopsticks that were in front of her. *Where are my manners? I was just about to act like Ranma: eat first, think later. *
"My name is Tendo Akane dozo yoroshiku." Just then her stomach decided to grumble and it made her very embarrassed.
Tojiro smiled at the girl and Mia chuckled. "Please do eat, it seems that you are somewhat hungry." Once Akane had finished her dinner they all stayed in the dinning room to have a chat.
"So Tendo-san what brings you here?" Tojiro asked her. Mia remained silent while she watched Akane fidget a bit in her seat.
"Well you see, I'm on a training trip so I can better myself in martial arts. I was passing by and saw Kimura-san fighting."
"Well that explains why you showed skills when you were fighting. And I'm sure if you hadn't been distracted you could have taken out more creeps."
Mia had smiled at Akane, a true smile, not one where she was mocking her by the lack of skill she had. She still wondered though who had helped them out after Akane had fallen. "Umm. Kimura-san can I ask what happen after I fell?"
"Well I just took out the last, they weren't hard to deal with, besides it's always a bit easier when you have a weapon at hand to fight off the ones that are out of reach and you can also fight one on one."
"So Tendo-san" Akane turned her attention to Tojiro. "How long are you going to stay in town? Perhaps you could stay here and make Mia some company, she's been training lately in our school and well, she doesn't have someone to spar with."
* Well at least I'd have a place to stay. and perhaps I could learn something from them. * "I'd like to, I'll try my best." Akane smiled at both, then Mia stood up and took her hand.
"Hey Tendo-san."
"Please call me Akane, it feels weird being called Tendo-san"
Mia helped Akane up. "Fine then. Akane-san how about if my father and I teach you our school and you let us see how your school fights huh?"
"Oh I'd love to!"
"Perfect. Then while I ask our maid to prepare a room for you, what if Mia gave you a tour of the town. I'm sure you'll like to get used to your surroundings." Tojiro stood up next to both girls.
"Akane-san would you like to take a bath or change before we go out?"
"Yes please. I haven't had a decent bath in quite a while Mia-san." Akane looked at herself and noticed for the first time that she was wearing pants and a sweatshirt. * I bet Mia lent me this. *
" Well then follow me. Excuse us father."
"Sure Mia."
Whilst Mia walked calmly through the corridors and up the stairs, Akane couldn't help but notice that the house was very nice and was surely bigger than her own. They went into a room and Mia started to rummage through her closet. She took out some tight jeans, a white blouse and some high heal sandals.
"Akane if you'd like you can wear this. I think it might fit you. I'm sure you don't have casual clothes in your backpack do you?" Mia stood in front of Akane.
Akane smiled sheepishly. "Yeah I kinda didn't think about doing anything much besides training, so I basically just brought my gi and some sweats. It makes the load easier you know?"
* She seems like a nice girl, I think we can become good friends. * Mia smiled. "Oh sure. Well let me show you the bath room." Mia saw how Akane entered the bathroom and then went to her room. She waited there until Akane came out, she called for her father and he accompanied them to the entrance.
Tojiro bid the girls farewell. Akane took one glance at the house and saw that from the outside it was easily double the size of her own, and a large garden surrounded the house. * Wow this is a nice place. * Akane chuckled. *This place might be smaller than the Kuno state, but it sure is classier. Well this should be interesting. Perhaps I'll be able to learn lots here. * With that both girls left for the shopping malls and downtown.
Mia was going to have her new friend enjoy herself.
A figure rolled and turned in his futon. He had woken up since the crack of dawn, well sort of, he'd woken up at 5am; and he had tried to go back to sleep but to no avail. Four days had gone by and he still couldn't get used to the idea that Akane was not there.
* Stupid tomboy. Why should I care anyways, it's not as if it was my fault. well maybe it was. but anyways she decided to go to university all by herself, with or without my opinion. It would have made no difference what so ever if I had talked with her. Right?. *
Ranma felt as if he had a small hole forming in his chest. Of course it being Ranma he didn't want to think about it either because deep down he knew what it was: he was missing Akane.
Ranma stared at the ceiling for the thousandth time and sighted. * Might as well get out and do some exercise. What's the use of just lying here? *
But even though he tried to concentrate during the whole 2 hours he was "warming up" he couldn't focus. So all the katas he did had mistakes, silly mistakes due to lack of concentration.
"Kuso! Why can't I get any of them right!?" It was then that Ranma's sensitive sense of smell caught the scent of breakfast. "Yeah! Probably that's what's wrong. My stomach is empty." So happily Ranma pranced to the kitchen, where he found Kasumi cooking cheerfully, with breakfast almost done.
Kasumi turned and saw Ranma at the doorframe. "Oh Ranma, good morning. You're up early today."
"Oh yeah couldn't sleep well. Kasumi, can I help with something?"
There was a short moment where Kasumi's eyes showed some confusion, but she soon recovered from the blow. *This is really weird. * "Well. How about you set the table?"
Ranma smiled and started taking out the dishes, the chopsticks, the glasses, the salt and pepper, etc. He was quickly done with this task and just sat on the small kitchen table.
He sat there quietly, this disturbed Kasumi a bit as anyone could comprehend. I mean we all know the energetic, jumpy, also reckless and mostly not considerate Ranma. But a thought entered Kasumi's mind, usually Ranma would oversleep and then he'd fight with Akane or his father. And one of whom had left the house.
Once Kasumi finished pondering the thought that Ranma's change of attitude was due to Akane's absence, and once she finished breakfast she asked Ranma to call everyone down. Soon the whole family (except one of course) were at the table eating.
To Kasumi it was a bit relaxing to see Ranma fight over food with Genma, it meant that although he was basically the same Ranma, there were some changes taking place. Kasumi hoped that it wouldn't take long for Ranma to mature due to the changes in his life, mainly the absence of Akane.
When everyone had finished Ranma helped Kasumi take the dishes back to the kitchen, and Kasumi got the impression, that were it not for Genma's presence, Ranma would have helped her wash the dishes.
Ranma announced that he'd be out basically all day, but never said where to and he never said when he'd be back. He was in need of some distraction. *Perhaps if I'm lucky enough I'll find Ryoga or Mouse to spar with. I guess Kuno would be good enough, at least I'll be able to pound him. *
He found himself walking on the fence in way towards school. He didn't quite mind ending up in school, everyone was on vacations and he had graduated. A quick look, for old times sake, wouldn't hurt anyone.
And before Ranma knew it he had company, the only problem was, that it was not the company that he would have liked. A sister and then a brother approached him, the girl in a black leotard and the boy, well you know him, in his usual wear.
"Ranma-sama! My love! I have come so you can take me out on a date!"
"Ranma you cur! How could you drive my goddess away from me?!"
Bingo! Kodachi and Tatewaki Kuno. Ranma flinched, these two were the last he had expected to run into, well he'd hoped to run into Kuno but not Kodachi. Ranma dodged the gymnastic ribbon that flew at him by jumping off the fence.
"Ranma sweetie wont you come have lunch with me?! Hohohohohoho." Kodachi threw what seemed to Ranma like small balls. Most of them he threw back at Kodachi, but one got through. Before contact the ball exploded and released some kind of powder.
Luckily for Ranma it wasn't the usual sleep powder Kodachi uses, but more like a paralyzing powder. Then again if it hadn't been that he didn't inhale much, he would be lying on the ground paralyzed like Kodachi. Still one Kuno and the powder he did inhale were enough to give him problems.
"Kuno wanna fight? I'd better warn you, I'm not in the mood to go easy on you." He blocked one of Kuno's blows to his chest with his arm.
"You devil Saotome! How dare you imply that I, the great Kuno Tatewaki would be defeated by you?!"
Ranma dodged a fling of Kuno's bokken to his head. It was a bit harder to react with the powder Kodachi had thrown. So Ranma knew he had to finish Kuno off fast before the powder took more effect. If he hadn't been a bit stunned by the powder he might have continued teasing Kuno for fun.
"Where have you hidden my fair Tendo Akane?! Answer you sorcerer!"
Ranma dodged another hit, and leapt to get away. "Damn it Kuno, I didn't hide her anywhere! You're just delusional as always!"
"You lie! Where have you hidden Akane!?"
"I told you I didn't hide her anywhere!" Ranma's patience was running out and he charged Kuno, grabbing his bokken and throwing it to the ground.
"WHERE IS SHE!? You MUST know where she is. Tell me!" Kuno had stopped and was really pissed off. He needed an answer, he wanted to see Akane desperately since he hadn't seen her that much since he'd graduated, and the thought of not seeing her at all because she'd graduated scared the hell out of him.
Ranma was taken a back by Kuno's attitude, never had he dropped his poetic ramblings, and here he was standing in front of Ranma. The powder hadn't worn off completely yet, but it was basically gone.
"Look why don't you come out of your little crazy world and finally see that I do not control Akane!"
Kuno without thinking went for Ranma without his bokken shouting things like: " You have no honor!" "Of course you must have tricked Akane to leave me!" "She'd never like you over me!" And it was that, that made Ranma's blood boil. So he did what he'd thought earlier: pound Kuno Tatewaki.
After a few minutes Kuno lay on the ground unconscious. And although Ranma felt a bit dizzy because of the paralysis powder Kodachi had thrown. He was still well enough to continue his walk. So that's exactly what he did, but not before he searched for Sazuke so he would take the Kuno siblings.
Four o'clock in the afternoon and two girls entered a house. "Mia I'm telling you I can't accept these!" Akane was following Mia with about six bags of clothing in her hands.
"Nonsense Akane! You can't be going around town in your training suits all the time. Besides I don't mind, friends give gifts to each other."
Akane stopped and stared after Mia, while she kept on walking. *Friends? * Akane hadn't had many friends, maybe some girls from school and well if she could perhaps consider Shampoo and Ukyo friends, she could still count the number of friends she had with one hand.
But now she was making a new friend and without much effort. So she smiled, having a new friend would be nice. "Ok fine. But then I owe you one!"
Mia turned towards Akane and smiled. Just then Tojiro entered the lounge of the house where the girls were. "Well you two are back. I thought you'd never be back."
Mia smirked and chuckled. "Ah come on daddy do you think I would miss my lesson?"
"Well you have done it before daughter." Tojiro turned to Akane. "Tendo-san would you like to join my daughter and me?"
"Sure I'd love to."
"Alright then. Well you probably should go change into something more fitting." Akane turned to Mia and the latter tugged on Akane's arm.
"Come on Akane let's go change."
After a few minutes Mia and Akane were in the dojo, both in gi's. Tojiro stood at the middle of the room doing a complicated kata of which Akane had only seen the likes of in times when she had watched Ranma practice.
Tojiro finished and turned towards Akane. "Well Tendo-san I hope you don't mind sparing with me a bit before Mia does."
"Oh not at all sir." Akane stepped forward and as soon as Mia gave the signal she lunged towards Tojiro. It was somewhat surprising for Akane to see the ability and speed of this man, he sure wasn't as fast or strong as Ranma, but behind every punch Akane could see perfection, control and experience, things that Ranma and she still had to learn.
By the time they had finished the fight, Akane was exhausted and most of her muscles were sore. She had gotten in some punches, but had also received lots. When she turned to Tojiro he too seemed a bit tiered, she didn't know how long they had fought, but she was sure it had been for at least an hour. Mia handed both a towel and some water.
When Akane finished drinking her water, Tojiro turned to her. "You are very skilled Tendo-san, I'm impressed with your potential. But having said that, I should also say that there is room for improvement. I was wondering if you'd mind me giving you some aid in your kempo before I teach you our school."
Akane smiled, Kimura-san had let her known in a very polite way how she lacked in some aspects. *Not like that baka Ranma, he would have just called me a clumsy or a stupid tomboy, or something of the sort. *
"Tendo-san?"
Akane was brought back from her stupor and looked at he who would be her new teacher. "I'd love to Kimura sensei." Akane bowed a bit and Mia couldn't help but smile.
From that day on Akane would train with Tojiro every day in the morning and then in the afternoon. He'd make her practice some katas and he would correct her mistakes. He'd have her perform some balancing exercises, then she'd meditate (mostly because Tojiro said would help her gain control) and then Mia would spar with Akane, while Tojiro stood correcting both girls whenever they did something wrong.
And that way weeks passed by, and to Tojiro's and Mia's surprise Akane started to better herself really fast. Where as in the beginning Akane would loose to Mia easily, she started to gain skill. And soon by the end of the third week she could beat Mia easily.
After that happened Tojiro decided to spar with Akane to try and give her more of a challenge. But by the end of the fourth week, Tojiro was no more of a challenge than Mia was.
One day the three of them sat on the floor of the dojo panting. Tojiro had wanted Akane to fight against him and Mia, and even though it had been difficult for Akane, after 1 hour she had finally beat them.
"Well Tendo-san I believe that I have taught you all I know about kempo. But as of tomorrow I'll teach you our school." Tojiro stood up and looked at both girls. "Why don't you two go out to relax a bit? That might do you some good."
As soon as Tojiro left, Mia stood up and asked Akane if she would like to join her in the bathroom. "Hai Mia. I'll be there in a while."
As soon as Mia left the room Akane stood up thinking, she looked outside at the gardens. The wonderful trees, the beautiful flowers, the rock garden, and then stared at the sky. *I'm not fast enough though. I could barely keep up with both of them. *
Akane left the dojo a bit disappointed, because she still wasn't good enough. And she really wanted to become better martial artist, but there was no point in torturing herself about it too much. So she left to the bathroom to wash and relax in the furo with Mia.
After an hour Akane and Mia were strolling through the streets of Utsunomiya. They went through some stores and Mia bought some earrings, then they both went into a bookstore and looked through the books.
Akane went into the literature section and took various books; she put them under her arm and went to pay them. Mia had gotten lots of books too and both left the store with a bag full of books each. As they passed by a market Akane caught sight of some chestnuts and stopped, Mia stopped as well and looked at Akane intrigued.
Both girls left to the house, having a bag full of chestnuts with of all the other stuff they had bought that day.
"Akane do you like eating chestnuts?"
"Huh?" Akane looked at Mia. She hadn't been paying much attention, because she had been thinking of the new technique she was going to learn. She'd also started to think of a way on how to improve and modify the technique, so she would not only be faster with her hands, but also her body.
"Oh! Well. you'll see when we're inside the house. They were going in the house when Akane asked Mia where could she start a fire.
"Well over here in the garden. Akane may I ask what are you using those chestnuts for?"
Akane had the fire in front of her. "Oh I forgot. Could you bring me a bucket full of water?"
*Huh?! Why would she want any of these things? * But Mia complied and went for the bucket. By the time she got back she saw Akane staring at the fire, and enveloped by it were the chestnuts.
Once Akane saw Mia had put the bucket down next to her, she pulled back her sleeves and started to push her hands in the fire trying to pull out the chestnuts.
"Akane! What the hell are you doing?!" She could see that Akane's hands were slightly burned every time she pulled them out of the fire and out of the bucket of water. After various times of trying this again and again, Mia screamed at her friend once more, this time reprimanding her for her actions.
"Akane will you stop that?! You'll hurt yourself! What are you doing?!"
Akane turned to Mia, and she could see how Mia showed concern for her. But she was determined to learn the technique. *I'm sure I can! I have to! * Akane winced from the pain in her hands, and put them in the cold water. "Ah that feels nice."
"Well, I'm waiting for an explanation. Why would you do something that hurts you soo?!"
"What is going on here daughter? Why are you screaming at Tendo-san?" Tojiro looked at his daughter and then at Akane. Akane was next to a fire and was putting her hands in the fire and pulling them out when she could not reach the chestnuts.
Still Tojiro could see that the girl was withstanding incredible amounts of pain every time she tried to reach further for the chestnuts. "Tendo-san what are you doing?"
"Yeah! That's what I'd like to know too!!"
Akane looked at Tojiro and Mia. "Sumimasen, don't worry Mia. It's an Amazon technique, it's called the Kashu tenshin amaguriken."
Both figures that were now standing next to Akane were surprised; Mia more than Tojiro. "Tendo-san you know an Amazon technique? How come?"
"Oh well I don't really know it, it's more along the lines that I've seen it. My fiancée, I mean Ranma, Ranma has learnt it." *Crap! Of all times for my tongue to slip, it just had to be in this moment and about Ranma being my fiancée. *
"Well I don't think that because he did it you should do something so dangerous too Akane! I mean look at your hands!"
Akane did as she was told, and she could see that her hands sustained burns, that were easily second-degree burns. She smiled shyly and looked at Mia. " Mia I'm doing it because I want to. I want to be faster and it's the only way I know how to. Please don't be upset."
Mia sighted and just as she was going to reprimand Akane again, her father cut in. "Very well Tendo-san, go on ahead with your training. Just remember that tomorrow we'll start your training, so put that ointment on so tomorrow you'll be able to use your hands."
"But DAD!"
Tojiro looked at his daughter and cut off her scream. "Mia do not interfere with Tendo-san's training, if she wants to do this then let her. She knows what she's doing."
Mia looked down at Akane and then her father. "Oh all right."
Akane continued training, trying to take out the chestnuts from the fire, and after a while she was able to get two out without getting too burned. Mia just looked at her friend and would bring her fresh water or more ice so she could put in her hands.
After a while Akane was really tiered and her hands hurt tones. "Well I guess this is as much as I can go."
"Finally! Well then let's go inside and get your hands in some soap water, so you can wash them a bit." With that, both girls went inside the house and once Akane had cleaned her hands, she put the ointment on and bandaged them. Akane invited Mia in her room.
"Akane can I ask you something?" Mia sat in front of her friend on the floor.
"Sure go ahead Mia."
"I've figured that you don't like talking much about your life in Nerima. I'm guessing it wasn't too pleasant. But. a while ago you were about to say 'fiancée' and then you corrected yourself and said Ranma. Was Ranma more than a friend to you?"
Akane stared at the floor, it was true she was uncomfortable at first when talking to Mia about her life, and she hadn't told Mia that Ranma was her fiancée or that he was engaged to more than one girl. But perhaps she owed the patient girl an explanation.
"Would you like to know the whole story?"
Mia smiled sweetly at Akane, she was finally going to know what had made her friend leave her family and friends behind in Nerima. "I would like to, if you don't mind."
Akane took a deep breath and started narrating her story to Mia. She told her of Ranma's arrival, his curse, the other fiancées, the fights and all that they had been through. And when she got to the trip to China and Saffron, her mood changed for an instant. She told her how their relationship had started to get a bit better after Saffron, how they had tried not to insult each other as much.
And eventually she got to the part that had made her take her decision. "So you see I had worked soo hard in my present. And what happens? They ruin it, and Ranma didn't even notice!" Akane fell quiet, all the memories she had told had stirred something within her. *Could it be I miss him? *
Mia stared at Akane and then her watch it was now 10pm, they had been talking since 6 or so; she looked at her friend again and sighted. "Akane from what you tell me, I think you both care about each other enough to risk your lives, and I think that means a lot. In my opinion, if I may be soo bold, well perhaps you should try and patch things up with him."
Akane had turned her head towards Mia. Turmoil stirred within her, her heart yelled 'do it!', her mind said 'she's right you know', but her pride screamed 'he hurt you and he's hurt you tones of times, why should you forgive him that easily!?' Akane looked down, and silence fell in the room.
"Akane you don't have to decide right now you know? Just think about it. I'm sure you'll figure out what the next best course of action is." Mia smiled and walked towards the door. "Oyasumi Akane."
Akane stared after Mia's retreating form and gave a slight but sad smile. "Oyasumi Mia." She lay on her bed staring at the roof, until finally sleep claimed her.
It was kind of late, Ranma looked at his watch 10:30pm. *And I thought I'd be finished by 10. Oh well I guess I'll just have something quick to eat and then I'll go to sleep. * Ranma entered the Tendo household and was greeted by his mother's voice.
Nodoka peeked out of the kitchen and smiled. "Ranma, you're home. Welcome, why don't you go to the dinning room? Your father and Mr. Tendo are watching a movie. I'll bring you something to eat."
"All right mom" Ranma left his shoes at the entrance and went quickly to leave his bag in his room. He went back to the dinning room where he found two men staring at a horror movie. Soun Tendo turned and welcomed him home, his father only acknowledged his presence with a wave.
After a while Nodoka came back with a plate of sushi and tempura, and sat down next to Ranma. He noted that it was the place where Akane would have usually sat in.
Nodoka smiled at her son. For once he wasn't vacuuming down his food, he was eating slowly like a civilized man. "Do you like your dinner Ranma?"
Ranma turned and swallowed first. "Yes mom, it's delicious. Did you make it?"
"Yes I did. I'm glad you liked it."
"So mom, what are you doing here? Visiting?"
"Well actually Ranma I came here to tell everyone that I've decided to move in Nerima permanently. Your father has agreed with me that it'd be best if you two came to live with me in my house."
Ranma's chopsticks dropped to the floor. "Huh?" Was his intelligent reply.
"Well wouldn't it be nice if we could be a family at last? I miss you dearly and well now that Akane's gone off to college, there really isn't any point in you staying here is there?"
*But what if Akane came back?! What if she came and I'm not here?*
Nodoka whispered into his ear. "Do you care about her that much? That you won't go to live with your mother?"
Ranma looked at her, it was as if she'd read his mind. "Huh?"
Nodoka smiled, obviously he hadn't noticed he'd whispered the words that he'd thought. "Ranma why don't we go for a walk so we'll be able to talk?" Nodoka took Ranma's arm and dragged Ranma out. The night was chilly so Nodoka took her coat.
After a while of nothing but silence, in which Nodoka kept giving Ranma some glances. She decided to break the silence. "Ranma what's wrong? Kasumi says you haven't been yourself since Akane left. And I for one can see that she might be right."
Ranma's defense mode took partially over his mind. "Why would I care about that tomboy of a girl? It's not like I care or something." And when he turned to see Nodoka (who was a bit shorter than him by the way), he saw the frown on her face.
"Ranma don't talk that way about Akane. Just because she likes martial arts doesn't mean she's less of a woman."
Ranma sighted, he wondered how much of a woman Akane was turning out to be while she was away from him. "Sorry mom. It's just that, well, I'm not sure what to think anymore."
Nodoka smiled and turned to look at the street; she had seen that face in so many men that were in love. And she had always heard and sometimes even seen how protective her son was of his fiancée. She had even heard of the incident in China. So it was understandable for her that Ranma was sulking over the departure of his fiancée.
"Ranma have you thought about calling her? I mean if it bother's you soo much, why not give her a call?"
Ranma sighted once again and looked at the stars. "That's just the thing I can't. She didn't leave a phone number, I mean she didn't even tell me she was leaving, she didn't tell anyone except Kasumi."
They were both in front of a park when Ranma stopped. He led his mother to a bench and sat. "All that I know is that one moment she's here and the next she's gone. I'm not even sure of why she left."
Nodoka felt pity for her son, his heart was aching for the girl, but he didn't dare do anything to fix it. "Son, do you miss her?"
Ranma turned to her, surprise reflected in his eyes at first, then he turned to look at the floor and smirked. "Yeah, guess I do, even her stupid mallet and her toxic food." Ranma stopped talking and his face fell.
"But?"
"But what if she doesn't want to talk to me? I mean she left without telling me, obviously she didn't want me to follow or she wanted to get away from me."
Nodoka saw the pain in his eyes and for a split second she was angry at Akane for hurting his son this much. But as I said it was only for a split second, because Nodoka also knew enough about Akane to know that she must have had a good reason to leave.
"Ranma why do you suppose she left?"
"Well, I guess, she might have gotten tiered of it all. I've thought about leaving too. I'm just sick of all the fiancées and the idiots screaming 'Die Ranma'"
"Ranma you do realize that you could do something about that if you wanted."
Ranma's face showed nothing but sadness and disgust and, what was it? Oh yes! Sympathy. "I'd end up hurting people I don't want to hurt if I do that mom."
And Nodoka felt sympathy for Ranma and his situation. "Well I suppose there's no other way out of that one. But the longer this goes on, the more hurt people will get. And Ranma, time does heal all wounds. I guess the question is, whom are you going to allow to get hurt? I'd say that if Akane left and didn't say anything, she's already been hurt. Do you want her to get hurt?"
Ranma turned to look at his mother, he looked as he had been insulted or worst, and it was very hard for him not to shout when he replied. "I'd NEVER let Akane get hurt. I've never wanted her to get hurt, I'd kill anyone that hurt her."
"Well then son, there's your answer." Nodoka stood up from the bench, and Ranma stood up after her.
"Mom do I really have to leave the Tendo home?"
She looked at her son and saw his discomfort towards the idea. "Well not if you don't want to. But perhaps it'd be a good idea if I take your father away?"
Ranma smiled widely "Yes oh please. At least that way Mr. Tendo and dad will stop bugging me about getting married."
Nodoka smiled and took Ranma's offered arm. As they were approaching the Tendo home, Ranma saw a figure waiting outside for him. He stopped to look at the shadow.
"Kuno? What are you doing here?"
Kuno came out of the light, he looked in shambles, as if he hadn't slept or eaten in weeks. He took out his bokken and got nearer.
"Where is Akane? Tell me where she is you liar!"
Ranma was puzzled. Had Kuno gone looking for Akane? "Look Kuno I told you she left and didn't leave her exact address. All I know is that she went to the university."
Ranma pulled his mother behind him, Kuno was not in the most perfect of states, but then again, he never had been. And once Ranma uttered the last word Kuno started screaming again.
"You liar! She wasn't in the university not even in all Nagoya! School doesn't start there just yet! Where have you hid her?!"
"Wait a sec how would you know where she went? How can you come her and tell me that you can't find her when you don't even know where she went."
Kuno smirked and chuckled. That ticked Ranma a bit, but he wanted to stop and wait to hear his story. *He's probably just delirious. He's always been nuts. *
"Saotome you idiot. You think I'd go around like a moron just searching for her like that!" Kuno closed his eyes and smiled with satisfaction. "It's sometimes useful to have a father that runs the high school where your true love studied. I just looked into her transcripts."
*What? No! He must be kidding; Akane said she'd go to the university. * Ranma reacted when Kuno threw more tantrums and then lunged himself to Ranma. A few seconds layer Sazuke was carrying off Kuno's unconscious form.
Ranma had gone in the Tendo home, and was sitting in his room. Could it possibly be true? Ranma hadn't thought about it much; he'd just taken for granted that what Kasumi had said was true.
But now that he pondered on the subject he saw how logical it was that Akane couldn't possibly be in an introductory course specially seeing as how there were almost 6 months till universities started their courses. They'd all taken it for granted.
But if it was a lie, then where the HELL was Akane? Had she lied to Kasumi too? Or did Kasumi know the truth? Could she possibly be hurt? Could she have been kidnapped? No, she hadn't left a note so the only way for Kasumi to know, was if Akane had spoken to her. Or had she indeed left a note that Kasumi hadn't told them about?
*Damn! Why did that stupid tomboy have to do this!?! So what do I do now? * Ranma's heart and mind were confused, he felt betrayed all over again. He felt disappointed, but most importantly, he was worried.
End of chapter 3.
Author's notes: Tatatata! ^^ Lol so what do you guys think? I bet you're wondering what Ranma will do? ^^ Well you'll have to wait till next chapter. It took me a while to post up this chapter because I've been very busy, I'm basically attending to school from 9am till 1pm and then I've got some courses from 2pm till 6pm, by the time I get back home I'm soo tiered from the traffic and the work. And then I gotta to homework T T. Man I wish I had more time to write.
Oh I should probably give some meanings to Japanese words, just in case you don't know them. But right now I can only think of these two, ^^u so sorry, if you don't understand something else just tell me, k?
Sumimasen - is kinda like "I'm sorry."
Oyasumi- it's a way of saying good night.
Ok so now I wanna thank everyone for their reviews ^^ thanks they've really been useful, actually some of you guys have given me some ideas ^^ ;) and I'll think I'll use them. I specially want to thank Kat, cause she's from now on proofreading my chapters.
Weeping Willow: ( Don't worry Akane will have Ryoga around later on. I'm glad you like the story :D
M*Angel: lol yes poor Ranma but I think he needs something like this to make him realize how much he cares about her.
Rachel: Sorry about my grammatical mistakes and stuff, ^^ but now Kat is helping me out so hopefully I'll get better at it too.
Neko & butterfly: ^^ I'm soo happy you liked my fic, well here's the update, hope you enjoy it too.
Kura-kun: I'm afraid Ranma won't crush the necklace ^^ sorry if I've disappointed you there. But don't worry I totally agree with you Akane deserves guilt, so perhaps you guys can take that as a hint for what might come up in next chapters ;)
Dear reader: I would like to explain why I didn't make Akane go all crazy on Ryoga for seeing her naked. Well fist I'd expect her to grow up a bit in 2 years, second well she had time to think about things without being teased or bothered by it. Ryoga was unconscious, so take it as Akane was really really pissed at him, it's just that she had time to fume while he was unconscious, I just didn't write it down. And I did make Akane realize that perhaps that's what had happened with Ranma.
Ranma+Akane4Ever: ^^ don't worry it never crossed my mind to kill Akane, and it wont be happening any time soon either ;) I'm glad I was able to create some suspense by the end :D just what I intended. Now the questions "will Akane get the necklace'" "Will Ranma get the shirt?" Well you'll just have to wait and see ;) And yes! Happosai will find out ^^ just wait and see what I do with that old pervert lol.
Sweet Chaos: I hope in this chapter I did correct the soo thing ^^u sorry it's a bad habit of mine, I use it when I chat with my friends and I do it unconsciously. Hope the grammar is better this time around. ^^ And thanks for saying my fic is good.
Well people see you in the next episode ;) take care, and please review ^^ so I'll get to know your opinion.
