Wake Me Up Inside

By CH33T4H GRL

Co written and edited by Senshi of Valis

Setsuna rubbed her eyes, she was exhausted after spending the last two days trying to figure out why the time gates were acting crazy. The future seemed to be completely static, changing so fast constantly that it was hard to even see anything. She saw some very powerful youma showing up soon but if the gates didn't straighten out then she wouldn't be able to get any information on them.

Sighing, Setsuna started to turn to leave after deciding that a break might help when the gates started to clarify a little. The possible futures still kept changing at an incredible pace with most of them not having Crystal Tokyo in them which scared her. Looking closer though she noticed how happy the people seemed were she could see them. Then she found Usagi and gasped, the blonde was so different than what she would have been in Crystal Tokyo. So much happier and carefree while being strong and proud and responsible all at the same time. Trying to find why it took her about an hour but she was sure that she found the reason why, in every one of those futures it looked like Usagi had to best friends, one of them seeming really close to Usagi, and they both seemed to be a big reason for the changes.

Setsuna was worried, she wasn't too sure what to do but she had a lot of thinking to do.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

It was a little hard for Ranma to believe that someone would think so little of themselves like Bunny did. She knew that something had to have hurt Bunny deeply but for the life of Ranma she didn't know what it was though she suspected it had something to do with the blonde's family. Bunny had said something about not having any family but while she was crying she said something about being a disgrace to her family. Ranma couldn't see why Bunny would be a disgrace, what little Ranma knew of her Bunny seemed like a smart, sweet and kind girl.

A chill went down Ranma's spine as she entered the Tendo's and kicked her shoes off before moving to the dinning room where the Tendos, Genma and Nodoka were all gathered around the table. Kasumi and Nabiki were the only two who didn't have a cold look on their face.

"Ranma, sit down." Nodoka said in a cold voice, fingering her katana.

"What's going on?" Ranma asked as she lowered herself to be sitting across from her parents and next to Akane who looked like she was about to explode.

"Ranma, I grow weary of these games that you are playing." Nodoka said, glaring at Ranma.

"What games?" Ranma asked.

"Silence until I am finished speaking." Nodoka demanded, "While it is manly to have mistresses it is not manly to be messing around on your fiancé who you should have married a long time ago to uphold this family's honor."

"But." Ranma said, trying to cut in but Nodoka's glare cut her off.

"The wedding was enough to call you on your contract and have you commit seppuku. You should have been man enough to stop everything before it happened. You should have been married to Akane by now and having grandbabies."

"That's right." Genma said nodding in approval.

"The schools must be joined." Soun agreed.

"Shut up." Nodoka glared.

"I am not marrying that pervert." Akane growled but Nodoka's cold glare cut her off.

"You have no choice in this matter Akane, this is family honor that must and will be carried out by both families or there will be consequences. Ranma, you will apologize to Akane and get married tomorrow or you will be committing seppuku tomorrow evening. Those are your only two options." Nodoka said, griping her katana.

"That's bull, you already said the contract was fulfilled!" Ranma snapped, slamming his hands down on the table.

"I was wrong to do so it seems and you will do what you are told." Nodoka demanded. "Apologize to Akane now for cheating on her with that girl at Tofu's."

"I didn't do nothing and I ain't apologizing or marrying that uncute tomboy." Ranma growled.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear." Nodoka said, starting to get up but was stopped with Soun's hand on her shoulder.

"Let me deal with the boy." Soun said. Nodoka watched him for a minute before nodding. "Ranma, you are no longer welcome here until you apologize to my little girl."

"I ain't apologizing." Ranma snapped.

"Then leave now and don't come back until you are ready to take care of your responsibilities." Soun said.

"You have three days, Ranma. Either apologize and marry Akane or you will be committing Seppuku when the sun sets the fourth day." Nodoka said.

"Fine, I'll get my stuff." Ranma said.

"No you will not." Genma said, "You will be taking nothing out of here but what you are wearing."

"FINE!" Ranma snapped then noticed the tears threatening to spill from both Nabiki and Kasumi's eyes. She could understand Kasumi but Nabiki? Why would the mercenary girl even care? Sighing Ranma turned and left, stopping long enough to put her shoes on before disappearing out the door.

As she walked away from the place she had called home and the people she had thought of as family it was hard not letting any of the tears wanting to escape from spilling over. How could her own mother do this to her? Ranma had done everything and beyond in an attempt to keep her honor and Nodoka, as well as the other just show how unhonorable they were.

As thunder rumbled in the skies Ranma sighed, it was going to storm again and was supposed to for the next few days so what was she supposed to do with out a tent or supplies? Maybe she could sleep under a bridge or something? Then again, with all of the storms the canal might raise which would be a bad thing.

"I guess I'll see if I can stay at the Doc's tonight." Ranma sighed, "No way in hell am I going to Ukyo or Shampoo's."