CLOSED DOORS
A Ranma 1/2 Alternate Universe
Story by:
Kristin-a-dette
Characters, trademark and inspiration by:
Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8: Messed Up
---------------------------------------
"Are you sure you're OK, Father?"
Kasumi asked as she, Akane and Nabiki prepared to leave for school.
Soun Tendou nodded as he lay on his bed, reading a book. "Don't worry about me, Kasumi dear. I'm going to do fine."
Kasumi, however, was not convinced as she frowned at him. "Maybe I should stay home..."
"No, absolutely not, Kasumi. I forbid you." Soun gave her a disapproving look. "You need to go to school and finish your studies so that you can go to a good college and have a better life. I will not stand in the way of you not succeeding in the future."
"But Father, you're ill."
"Just because I'm ill, dear, doesn't mean I'm incompetent. I could perfectly take care of myself. Heck, I'm not even fifty yet."
Kasumi sighed wearily as she gave in to her father. "OK, Father. But, honestly? I think you need someone here with you."
"What for?" Soun demanded.
"Because..." Kasumi shook her head. "Never mind. You're too stubborn. Anyways, we're going to school now. Are you sure, really sure, everything is fine?"
"Yes, dear. Please go now. I'm OK."
Akane appeared behind Kasumi and she chuckled. "Geez, Father. It looks like you're trying real hard to make us leave."
He grinned at her. "No... why would I do that?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Anyways, bye Father. I'm going."
"Bye, honey."
The two sisters left Soun's room, and joined Nabiki downstairs.
"Is the old man OK now?" Nabiki asked as she put on her shoes.
"Yes. And don't call Father that, Nabiki." Kasumi replied as she turned the knob on the front door and stepped outside. Akane stepped into her shoes and rushed outside to the cool, breezy wind. Nabiki followed and stepped in between of her two sisters. She ignored Akane on her left and proceeded to link her arms with her other sister. Akane stared at her with bitterness and thought, OK, like I care.
"Let's go."
They began to walk away from the house in silence. They haven't been walking a few feet as of yet when suddenly a black car stopped beside them. The driver's door window rolled down, and out popped Tofou Saotome's head.
"Hello, ladies."
"Tofou!" Kasumi exclaimed. "You're back!"
He grinned. "Since yesterday."
"How was the conference?"
He sighed wearily. "Very boring."
Kasumi laughed, as Nabiki tilted her head in curiousity as she watched the two flirting unconsciously. Akane shuffled her feet as she tried not to look at Tofou. Then she noticed someone behind him, and quickly glanced away.
Tofou smiled at them, and then said, "Why don't you guys get in? It's getting far too cold for you guys to walk to school. I'll give you all a ride."
The sisters looked at each other, and Kasumi replied, "Oh, it's OK, Tofou. We'll do fine. Thank you for offering though."
He shook his head, smiling. "Nope. No can do. You guys have to get in. I'm not leaving this spot till I see all of you inside my car right now."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Geez, Tofou. You're practically forcing us to get in."
He blushed. "Ha-ha. I'm not." He turned towards the other occupant in his car. "Do you think it's too much trouble for them to get inside the car, Ranma?"
His little brother shrugged as he took his eyes away from Akane, whom he was observing for a while. "It doesn't matter."
Tofou turned back to the girls. "See...?"
"Oh for crying out loud, fine." Nabiki exclaimed as she opened his car door. "We'll get in. If we keep on doing this, we'll never get to school on time. Come on, you guys." Akane and Kasumi shook their heads at her and followed her in.
"As long as it's fine with you..."
"Yeah, it is." Tofou grinned as he stirred his steering wheel. "How are you, Akane?"
She looked up and replied, "I'm good."
He glanced at Ranma as he continued, "My brother didn't give you too much trouble when he came to the hospital with you, did he?"
She shook her head.
"OK, that's good."
Akane sat between her two sisters as she tightly clasped her hands together. She tried hard not to look at Ranma as she still didn't like him, and also at Tofou who was now smiling and talking with Kasumi and making her guts twist in pain.
Ranma looked at his side mirror and watched her. He felt kind of sorry for her, as he saw her grimacing with a hurt expression everytime she looked at his brother. He grinned. Wow, I've never noticed this before, but this Akane girl wears her heart out on her sleeve. She's too obvious when she expresses her feelings. So she likes Tofou, huh? Too bad the idiot is in love with someone else. And look how obvious he is at showing it too.
Tofou was merrily conversing with Kasumi about his recent exploits at the Future Doctors' Conference. As he entered their school's parking lot, Akane fidgeted uncomfortably and caused Nabiki to snap at her.
"Stop it, Akane." Nabiki glared at her. She glared back.
"Whoa. I hear hostility in the air." Tofou commented as he looked for an available parking spot.
"No kidding, Sherlock." Nabiki replied dryly.
"Are you and Akane in a fight or something?" He asked as he finally found a spot and parked the car.
They got out from the car as Nabiki replied, "Maybe. None of your business now is it?"
"Nabiki!" Kasumi said. Her sister shrugged with indifference and walked away from them as she spotted one of her friends.
Kasumi sighed and she turned to face Tofou. "Sorry about that. I think she's in a bad mood today."
"Isn't she always?" They both laughed as they waved to their younger siblings and walked off.
"Gee," Ranma drawled to Akane as they too, began to walk. "Now I see where you get your temper from."
She glared at him. "Shut up."
"Oh, hey, hey." Ranma put up his hands in defence. "Come on, I'm trying to be friendly here." He gave her a smile.
She ignored it; instead she replied coldly, "For once?"
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"
"Whatever. I don't care." She said and stepped away from him.
"How's your dad?" Ranma asked as he followed her.
Akane paused, controlling her temper, and then answered: "Doing better."
"You and your sisters doing OK, now?"
"What does it look like?"
"I don't know. You and your other sister, Nabiki isn't it, I guess you guys are still fighting or something."
She turned around. "Look, mister. Stop being friendly with me. You're just doing this because you felt sorry for me after my father's heart attack. I don't need your pity. Nor do I want to be your friend. I don't like you now, and I'll never will, OK?"
Ranma's face blazed; then it was his turn to become cold and resentful. "Hey, if you can't take that as my way of apologizing, then lady, you're messed up. Geez, and I was trying to be nice for once." He brushed past her, and then turned around, "Just so you know, I wasn't feeling sorry for you. I was just trying to pull your attention away from thinking too much about my brother." Satisfied with his last words, Ranma stalked away.
He left Akane staring at him with shock and horror. He knows... this is bad...
When she entered her first period class, her classmates were clustered into different groups and she plopped down on her chair. She placed her arms on the desk and put her head down. She mentally tortured herself. How did he know? I never told anyone. Not even Ukyou? He can't be psychic. How? How?
"Akane, are you alright?"
She hesitantly pulled her head away and looked up at Ukyou. "Yeah..."
"Is it about your dad? I'm sorry about what happenend this weekend." Ukyou took off her bag and lightweight jacket and sat down beside her. Akane shook her head. "No, I'm not worried about that."
Her best friend looked at her with curiousity. "Then what is it?"
"It's nothing." Akane wearily answered. She pulled out her notebook when Miss Hinako began to talk and then glanced up as Ranma came inside the room. Once again, he gave his customary just-for-girls smile to every female occupant in the room, but Akane noticed that he wasn't even giving half of his energy into it. She watched as he paused to look at her, and then hastily turned away. The look he gave her was shocking, as she noticed some anger and hurt in his eyes. I wonder what burst his bubble. I hope it's not me.
Ranma sat down on his chair behind Ukyou and gave a half-hearted prop with his seat buddy and then leaned his head on a hand. He glanced swiftly at the girl sitting slightly in front of him, and then fumed inside. Why the he-ll am I letting her words get to me? I don't care. I was just being nice. And she didn't want it. Geez, that girl needs some anger management. Can't she forget about the whole Ukyou thing already?
Speaking of Ukyou... Ranma smiled as she turned around to face him.
"Hi, Ranma."
"Hey, you." His eyes slid over to Akane, who was stealthly looking through her notes. He glanced at Ukyou again, and then felt a slight guilt as he remembered his words to his friends about her. Then he shook himself. Who cares?
Then he had an idea.
What better way to release that small guilt? He grinned at himself as he ignored his other voice warning him of a certain brown-haired, brown-eyed girl who will definitely hate him after this.
"Listen, Ukyou. I have to talk to you after school. Meet me up at my locker."
She blinked at him. "What is it about?"
He gave her a charming smile, making her blush. "You'll see."
"Oh." She giggled softly as she turned around. "OK. See you there."
Akane gripped her notebook hard as she listened to the whole exchange. What is he up to now? She glanced worriedly at her friend, who was currently lost in her own dream world. Ignoring the urge to turn around and give Ranma the satisfaction of seeing her wary of it, she remained true to her pride and decided to talk to Ukyou after class. If Ranma is up to no good, she wants to make sure Ukyou won't get hurt. She has to make Ukyou aware of the fact that the two of them just don't like each other.
After class, Akane grabbed Ukyou and dragged her towards the washroom.
"Hey, Akane... what's wrong?" Ukyou asked worriedly as she stopped to rub her arm.
Akane placed her hands against her hips and then replied, "You know that Ranma guy and I hate each other's guts, right."
"Yeah, I know." Ukyou's eyes widened. "Oh I see what this is all about. Come on, Akane. Please don't make me choose between you guys. Please don't. The two of you are very special to me, and I just can't do something mean as in choosing between my best friend and the friend who I liked for years."
Akane shook her head. "I wasn't talking about that."
"Then what are you talking about? Honestly, you're confusing me."
Akane sighed as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "It's just that... you'll tell me what he's going to tell you after school right? No matter what?"
Ukyou tilted her head. "You know I always tell you everything." You're the one who doesn't do that... she thought inside.
"OK, good." Akane sighed and opened the door. "It's just that he might do something bad to you because you're my best friend."
"Oh, come on. Ranma? My martial arts buddy from way back? No way. Don't be such a worrywart, Akane. It doesn't suit you."
She grinned at her. "OK. Call me. See ya."
"Bye, Akane."
-------------------------------------
Ranma turned towards the corner as the school's bell rang for the last time for the day and found Ukyou waiting in front his locker. He grinned at the sight of her, and then slowly drowned out his conscience as it was trying to tell him what he was going to do was wrong.
That Akane girl is going to kill you...
I don't care.
You should. You're just doing this because she actually hurt you enough with her words.
That girl doesn't know when to shut her mouth. I'm doing this and you can't stop me.
Why are you forever trying to make her hate you even more?
Why are you forever trying to make me look like the bad guy?
BECAUSE YOU ARE!
Argh. Just shut up, you.
Ranma shook his head and then rubbed his face to rearrange his composure. He then approached Ukyou behind her back and then startled her as he grabbed her shoulders.
"Ah!"
He laughed. "Relax, it's me."
Ukyou turned around and laughed as well. "Ha-ha. You scared me."
"I sure did."
"So what is it that you want to talk to me about?"
Ranma looked around, making sure no one saw them, and then turned towards her. "I guess it's better if we take this outside."
"OK."
------------------------------------
Akane was doing her homework when the phone rang. She didn't bother to get the phone from downstairs as she heard Kasumi answer it. She was doodling stick figures on the margin side of her notebook, when her sister yelled for her to get the phone. Akane stood up and rushed downstairs.
"I got it, Kasumi. Hello?"
"Akane!" It was Ukyou. She sounded far away and there were some unidentifiable noise coming from her surroundings.
"Ukyou! What happened?"
"Well..."
"What is it?" Akane demanded.
Ukyou remained silent for awhile. Akane grew impatient and then said, "If you don't tell me right now I will kill you tomorrow."
"Akane..."
"What is it?"
"Ranma... he... he..."
"He what?" Akane spat out. "I swear if he did something to you I will..."
"No, no. Thing is... he..."
Silence from Akane's side.
Ukyou sighed and it seemed to Akane that she was trying hard not to express too much emotion.
"He asked me out, Akane."
"HE WHAT?" Akane yelled in horror.
"And here's what I told him."
"I'm not going to like it, am I?"
"Well... no."
Akane remained silent.
"I said yes, Akane. I'm so sorry!" Ukyou was sobbing. "I wasn't thinking! I just..."
Akane hanged up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
