Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma and Co.
Ranma ½: The College Years
By: Chrissy H.
Chapter 7
"What a great opening night!" the director yelled after the final curtain fell. The entire cast screamed and laughed but was still barely audible over the monstrous applause coming from the audience.
"Congratulations, Akane! You were truly a star tonight!" Kai said as he came up behind her. I did it. Akane thought to herself. I did it and Ranma saw it all.
"Okay everyone. Places for your bows!" the director yelled as everyone started lining up behind the curtain.
The curtains opened and everyone took their bow. People came up the middle of the stage in order of how big their part was. Akane and Kai took each other's hands and walked up to the front of the stage and took their bow. Akane looked over to where Ranma was sitting and noticed he was no longer there. She could feel tears come to her eyes but she held them back. He didn't even want to see me after the show.
Akane walked slowly back to her dressing room. "I'm sorry, Akane. But he was there for the whole show. I don't know why he would leave at the end." Kai said as he walked up to her. "I'm still so sorry for everything."
Akane nodded as she opened the door to her dressing room. On her bureau was a large vase of red roses. She gasped as she walked in. Kai smiled as he left and closed the door behind him. She saw a note attached the vase and opened it slowly. "Congratulations. You were great. Ranma." It was written in Ranma's sloppy handwriting and she stared at it as she sat down in her chair. So he left early so he could leave me flowers but didn't stay to talk to me. She put the note on the bureau next to the vase and sighed.
"I finally get you flowers and all you can do is sigh? Geez, even in a dress you're a tomboy." Came a voice from behind her.
"Ranma!" Akane jumped up from her chair and spun around. She was face to face with the boy who left her 3 weeks ago. "How did you get in here?"
"I have my ways." He replied with a cocky grin on his face. "Hey, don't I even get a thank you or something?"
Akane shook her head which caused a look of confusion on the pig tailed boy. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. "I am so sorry for everything, Ranma. It wasn't the way it looked."
Ranma nodded as she let go of him. "I know. Kai found me yesterday and made me listen to the whole story. Besides, like someone would want to kiss a tomboy like you?" Ranma smiled. "I'm sorry, too."
"So, now what?" Akane asked hesitantly.
"Well, how 'bout you change out of your costume and then I'll take you out for ice cream? And I'll even stay a boy." Ranma suggested while heading for the door. "I'll wait out here."
Ranma closed the door behind him and saw Michi standing there. "What! You're going back to her? To someone you don't even love? To someone who cheated on you? What is wrong with you!" Michi practically screamed. She then took a deep breath and calmed herself down. "As your friend, I think I need to tell you that this is a bad idea."
Ranma glared at her. "Friend? Friend! You call setting my fiancée up being my friend? You call trying to break us up being my friend! " Ranma could feel his temper rising but kept his voice steady.
Michi immediately went into a sweet disposition. "Why Ranma, what are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean, but if you're trying to say that I had any part…"
"He knows, Michi, so give it up already." Kai's voice cut through her sentence. "I told him everything yesterday. It just wasn't right."
"Whatever he told you is a lie!" Michi screamed pointing at Kai. "Don't believe anything he says. He was just trying to get Akane!"
"He knows that, too." Kai whispered.
"What in the world is going on here?" Akane said as she walked out of her dressing room.
Michi glared at Akane. "You don't deserve him. Not the way you treat him. And one day, he'll realize that. And that has nothing to do with me, or Kai, or anyone else. That's your problem." With that, she spun on her heels and walked away.
Akane watched her go and then looked at the two boys standing in front of her. "Will someone tell me what's going on!" Akane said with her voice rising.
"You know, she's right. But, only half. Neither of you deserve to be treated the way you two treat each other. Maybe if you two were actually happy with each other and treated each other that way, people wouldn't try to get between you two so much. We all know you care about each other. We all can see it from the way you get so mad, come to each others defense, and protect each other. But anyway, I won't keep you any longer. Congratulations, Akane." Kai looked at the two of them and shook his head. He then walked past them towards the exit.
Akane just looked at Ranma trying to figure out what just happened. Ranma finally looked at her and gave her a half smile. "Well, still want that ice cream?"
She nodded and the two walked out of the auditorium. "What was that all about, Ranma?" Akane finally asked.
"You know, I'm not really sure. But, maybe they're right about something." He smiled at Akane and she smiled back.
"Maybe."
A/N: I think this may be the end of this story. I am debating making a sequel where the rest of the NWC shows up. Not sure yet. I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. Hope you enjoyed my first completed story.
