June 16, 2001
Akane woke up feeling somewhat groggy but overall had slept well.
Well enough.
Blinking a few times, she looked up at her window and noticed that it hadn't been disturbed. Wondering for a moment why that would matter, the events from the previous night dawned back on her. She sat up and ran her hand through her hair, she hadn't even bothered changing or washing her face before bed, feeling particularly grimy after the night before. She wondered if Genma would be up for any training this morning and put that thought away considering how he had acted with her father last night. Quickly grabbing some running clothes, she went into the bathroom to change and wash her face. Trying to will it but able to start the day.
It was still early enough for a run so she decided to leave the house feeling it was suddenly just a little too crowded.
XxXXXxXxx
Ranma surprisingly had been up earlier than most of the household, after several years on the road he'd gotten used to being up only a little bit before dawn. While he had loved to be able to sleep in, life on the road was tricky and when you had only so much equipment, being up when the sun rose was just one of those things. As he roamed around the dojo, he figured a training session in a familiar environment may be a good time. As beams of orange sunlight lit up the room around him, he felt some solace and calm in it. Going through katas and positions was second nature now, he found the serenity he was looking for. He could rely on how the movements of his own body would provide a sense of calm he couldn't find otherwise. But as he hit a particularly hard strike, he got to thinking about her.
She must hate me.
Pushing aside feelings he didn't want to explore, he went into another movement.
XxxXXXXXxx
Upon her arrival home, Akane was greeted by Nodoka, bright eyed and happier than she had seen her in a long time. She pushed her bangs back as she strode up to her.
"Ah, Auntie! Good morning!"
"Akane, good morning my dear. Did you have a good run?"
"Yup, same ol', same ol'." Upon the question, she thought if she should've attempted reaching out to Ukyou while she had been out. Later would have to do.
"If you'd like some breakfast-"
"I'd love some! I have a full morning ahead of me at Tofu's and that run was a little more intense than normal."
Nodoka smiled a bit wider and nodded.
"Ranma was up a bit early and started some breakfast if you don't mind having something other than my own."
Akane politely smiled back. Of course, he'd be up before her to work out and make breakfast. Of course.
"No problem at all."
The two women walked into the kitchen to find the young man over the stovetop working their cast iron pan while eggs and sausage were sizzling away. Caught up in making sure nothing burned, he didn't notice as his mother admired his abilities while the other woman walked to get a glass of water from the sink. Pulling plates down for himself and his mother is when he caught her. Hesitating for a moment, he pulled down another plate for her as well.
"It's nothin' fancy just some eggs and meat that was in the fridge. It's what I usually cooked at the camp sites."
"I'm sure it'll be delicious, son. Thank you." His mother offered up earnestly.
"No complaints here." Akane kept things as close to the chest as possible, of course he'd gotten faster, stronger and even better at cooking than her in his time away. It was a cruel joke after all, all of it was.
She moved into the family room with her water while Nodoka helped with plates to bring out to the rest of them. Sitting at the table Akane took a second to get a hold of herself. She'd felt on edge since she'd woken up, strumming between painful anger and maybe, remorse? Relief? Pinching the bridge of her nose she sighed and couldn't wait to get out of here and into Tofu's office. At least than she could focus on something else for a little bit. Her thoughts stopped when Ranma and Nodoka entered the room to place food in front of her. Perfect sausage and eggs. Perfect.
She still hadn't gotten eggs down, they'd always brown too much on the sides and bottom and meat tended to come out more charred. She swallowed that grievance with a mouthful of food.
"Ranma! This is delicious, you really learned to cook well while you were gone." His mother announced proudly, softly dabbing the sides of her mouth as she watched her son try to slow his eating to a normal speed, vastly different than the shoveling he was used to while on the road.
"Thanks ma." Was all his reply. Enjoying another couple bites, Nodoka stood up to announce she was getting some tea for everyone, as well as to start some food for their fathers. Akane mildly panicked, it looked like he did as well. Quiet ran over the room as they heard the hungover stirrings of their fathers.
"So. Kasumi moved out?" He started with an obvious question. She shifted her gaze to him and nodded lightly.
"She moved in with Tofu when they got engaged last winter."
He stared down at his food. I have to see Tofu, today. Figure out what the hell happened.
"And they're gettin' married soon?"
"The end of August. She wanted the beginning but thought all the festivals at the shrine would make it hard."
"Sure. Gettin' married all traditional makes sense for them."
"It's the kind of wedding Kasumi always wanted."
Deeply awkward silence until their fathers came stumbling in.
"Good morning Akane, Ranma." His father rubbed his head as he took a seat at the table as well. His nose led his face near their plates. "Your mother made breakfast?"
"Actually, it was Ranma." Akane offered up.
"You cook boy?" He quipped an eyebrow up.
"I mean, I kinda have to on the road pops. I can't just rely on handouts or" stealing, trading myself, scheming "whatever I can get. I had to be able to take care of myself."
His father nodded, as if he could understand that.
"Well, you look fully capable m'boy. Look at how you've grown! You're taller than me now and a bit better built to boot. I can't wait to spar with you later!" He slapped his son's large shoulder harder than necessary to assert himself as still his father. "A cook, a well-built fighter, respectful of his path and family! I'd say that'd make you quite the catch." His eyeglasses seemed to have light bounce off of them as he tilted his head. "Don't you think so, Akane?"
Ranma closed his lips as hard as he could to not have an outburst at his father, he'd been there less than a day and already he was feeling like a teenager again.
Fuckin' embarrasing ol'man.
Akane gathered her plate and glass in front of her.
"I would say he would make for a wonderful" boyfriend, fiancée, husband "sensei for the dojo. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get ready for work. Thank you for breakfast." She excused herself from the table and walked into the kitchen only to nearly bump into Nodoka.
"Auntie, dad and Mr. Saotome are awake. Sorry you weren't able to enjoy your breakfast."
"That's fine, I figured they'd be up soon anyways." She gave her a deep smile that she quickly returned as she headed upstairs. Nodoka was left to her devices when it dawned on her. Akane hadn't called her husband 'Mr. Saotome' for quite some time. Maybe years. Her face dropped as she continued making breakfast.
xXxXXXxXXXx
Before he was able to approach her again, albeit slowly and carefully, Akane had already headed out to her job. Left with his parents and Mr. Tendou, he decided a small sparring match between him and his father was in order. Taking it outside to enjoy the nice temperate weather of the summer, Genma was delighted to be fighting his son for the first time in ages. In his occasional letters to his parents, he mentioned studying some new techniques depending on where he had landed, Muay Thai in Thailand, Taekwondo in South Korea, Tai Chi in Taiwan, Nanquan in Southern China. He mentioned his tutelage and would give occasional updates in those few and far between notes. Nodoka expected a letter every 4 months or so, always about his art, always to say he was okay.
After a round and half, Genma was taken aback at the ease in which his son could change styles depending on the opponent's moves. While his son was larger and less lean than when he'd last seen him, he moved as if the added muscle was no issue to his abilities. His strikes hard, kicks quick, his movements were like water and in that moment Genma had to admit that he'd never seen some one so talented in the arts.
After a cool down the three older adults asked him additional questions about his training, he went into some of the places he'd stayed and studied under, the tournaments he'd entered and won, abridged stories of his adventures. They regarded him in new eyes, he'd certainly make for a stand out leader in the arts here, if he was going to stay of course. After sometime he asked if he could use the bath because he needed to make a visit that was quite important. But not before confirming Tofu was in the same place he'd always been, they assured him he was.
xXxXXXXxXxxx
Walking the familiar route to the doctor's office he finally had time to think about the night before. He had been waiting months, no years to see Akane again and being able to hold her and kiss her as a man had been a dream. The pleasure that had spread throughout his body when he was able to kiss her again had been almost too much, to smell her, capture her taste, feel her skin. She was real, she was there. In his arms.
So, when that brunette, that fucking guy came out asking what was happening, of course he was going to take what was his. She was always his. What kind of claim did this dude think he had. But when it was clear that they were together, that's when things had slowed down around him, when she went to him to explain, to put herself between the two of them. It was like Ryugenzawa all over again except exceedingly worse. And now they were at best on one sentence conversations with the other.
And then the ol' man talkin about me like that, like I gotta be sold on her or something. We were engaged for fuck's sake!
But betrothed and engaged were a little different, weren't they? They didn't choose to be engaged at the start, they had it thrust upon them. But over the two years he lived there, hadn't they had feelings? He had developed them, but because he was a useless coward, he never admitted it. Never told her the truth.
At Jusenkyo of course I said I loved you Akane, because I thought you were dead and you were everything to me and I had to tell you, I had to have you know. But when you said you heard me, I denied it, and all I ever did was deny it. I told you to your face that I never said that, even on the fucking day I was going to marry you I denied it. If I had just told you the truth...we wouldn't be in this mess, would we? But my pride. My fucking pride, I wanted you to say it to me first. So I didn't look weak, so I got my way.
He stopped for a moment and looked at a metal pole in the street, his rage growing in his stomach at his contempt at himself and the situation. Pulling his fist back he slammed it into it, causing a snap as it fell into the street, luckily only a single street light. Feeling stupid for not being able to control or focus his feelings and now causing property damage he picked it up from the street to prevent any issues and propped it next to where he'd snapped it. He'd ask Tofu to call the municipal office to send someone down to fix whenever they could.
"Mr. Saotome, is that you?" He turned around to find a small, grey-haired woman looking up at him, a tiny smile across her face. He took a moment and then placed her, the washer woman of course!
"Mrs. Tanaka! Hello, how are you?"
"I'm very good, thank you for asking. I almost didn't recognize you until I saw your pony tail. You're back in town?" He nodded.
"Yeah, I've been gone for a bit and came back...to visit for a little bit." He choked a little on his sentence.
"Ah, I'm sure Ms. Tendou would be happy to see you. Back to get married and settle down?"
"Oh, no. No, we aren't gettin' married or anythin' like that."
"Ah." She nodded, then smiled again. "Well, I'm sure you're trying to get to the good doctor's office, yes? Don't let me hold you up any longer. It was wonderful to see you."
"You too!" He continued on his way as he took a second to realize she hadn't been washing anything.
xXxXXXxXxXXXx
Entering Tofu's office, he called out for the doctor only to notice a woman with her back to him working the front door. He coughed to get her attention.
"Yes? Can I – Oh! Ranma?"
Of fucking COURSE, it was going to be her.
"Hey 'Kane. Didn't realize you worked here." He could feel the pressure in the room increase because this was of course his luck after all. He had incredibly important business with Tofu regarding her so why not have her right there along with it. He ran his tongue across his teeth, desperately trying not to get annoyed at the situation. "I was here because I needed to see the doc, he available?"
She looked over some charts and regarded the time.
"He should be back from his lunch anytime now; he has some time for an appointment. What did you need done?"
"I uh, just gotta talk to him about somethin'. From when I was on the road." She nodded and plastered a force smile on her face. Nothing more to say on her end, so he took the charge. "What's he got ya doin' here anyways? You graduated a nurse or somethin'?" God, he didn't even know what she went to school for. Quite the catch indeed. She didn't love that interaction.
"No, I graduated with a business major and a minor in teaching. I work here during the summer to help and make some money. Typically working the front desk and helping with people's occasional scraps and bumps. I've also been learning some shiatsu from Dr. Tofu that I also perform on some patients."
"Akane Tendou givin' out massages over here? The guys from school must be lining up the block for some of that, huh?" He joked and leaned against the desk, slightly peeking to see if she had a book of names of those particular names. Her hand went over a small black book on the desk, fingers splayed across.
"They're therapeutic massages. I can assure you there's nothing lurid about it. I'm learning so I can use it in the school down the line."
"Psh, yeah but still it's 'Dream Girl Akane Tendou', how many of those dudes are probably still in love with ya."
"What would you know-"
"Ranma! Hello! What do I owe the visit?" Tofu interrupted at an ideal time even for him, Akane had felt herself slip backwards into her anger over his moderate teasing. She took a second to breathe as Ranma explained the reason for his visit.
"Yeah Doc, I got something I wanted to discuss with you from uh on the road. It's some, new...chi technique I learned that I wanted to share. Thought it could be of some use."
"Oh well, we can talk here! I'd love to learn what you've found on your travels." Ranma went white as Akane watched them.
"NO! Uh it's pretty um, private and wouldn't be a good idea to just be...throwin' around out here you know?" Oh man this was pathetic. Akane's eyebrow lifted at the both of them as Tofu nodded solemnly.
"Yes, well if you say so Ranma. Let's go into my office. Akane, please no calls unless it's an emergency." She nodded as Tofu escorted Ranma to his office.
"Does this have something to do with your curse? Did something happen somewhere and that's why you came back?" Tofu closed the door behind him as Ranma stood in the middle of the room, head down. "Where was it that it happened, I'll go to my books and see what could be the issue."
"Doc, what happened to the letter?" Ranma's monotone voice filled the room as he looked down at himself.
"What letter Ranma? You said you had an issue I think that takes-"
"Forget the chi thing! I made it up!" He didn't mean to be so loud or to snap at him but this was important. "Sorry Dr. Tofu but it was..." he moved closer to him, trying to keep his voice down. "The letter I sent you to give to Akane. Two winters ago, I sent it to you along with instructions about it. Do you remember this?"
Tofu searched the young man's face in front of him, stony and deathly serious. He'd never seen him in such a way, even in those few years he'd known him. His mind went back to that time, two winters...he went to his desk and pulled out an envelope that Ranma immediately recognized.
"YES! That's it, is that Akane's?" His face was beaming, of course Tofu just forgot! Sure, it was still a nightmare situation but he'd just forgot! But wait no, that was -
"Those are the instructions I sent you, to give her the letter. I told you that it was important to give her that letter and only her. What happened to it?" Ranma was about to go tearing through Tofu's own desk to find the letter but the doctor stopped him gently.
"Ranma. What was on that later?" The face of the young man was cracking, the scowl on his lips was dropping on the sides.
"It was a private letter to Akane. What happened to it Tofu? I trusted you with it because you were the only person I could trust wouldn't read it or mess with it. What happened?" His voice cracked slightly.
"When did you send it?" Ranma nearly fell to the floor.
"I sent it nearly two years ago, in fall from Thailand. It would've arrived here before the 1st of the year."
Tofu stared at the pigtailed man, the gears in his head moving slowly as it dawned on him.
"Ranma." The man's eyes grew large and shimmering. "I'm so sorry."
December 1999
Tofu was finishing up the last of his work for the day as his secretary had left for the day already. Tonight was important, incredibly important. After years of being unable to even look at her, he'd finally been able to be with Kasumi Tendou romantically. He had pined after her for so long and after taking the initiative decided to do something about it. He trained himself, focused his chi and body and could finally keep it together when they were together. And now they'd been together for 16 months. 16 gloriously beautiful months. He was already very much in love with her and was hopeful that she felt the exact same way.
That's why tonight was so special.
Tonight, he would propose at the Tendou's Christmas party. The one night she always outdid herself, the incredible hostess and woman that she was. Tonight, would be her special night after making it so special for so many others. He put his jacket on preparing to leave when he took the ring box out and placed it on the table. He took a moment; he was forgetting something.
Of course! The letter from Ranma to Akane!
He'd received it a few days prior but waited for tonight to slip it to her. Ranma had sent a letter to him along with one to give to her in private, away from the rest of the family or friends. That it was for her eyes only.
He had a clue of what was inside and was excited for the two of them, he grabbed the letter from atop the shelf behind his desk. With former fiancees of his and suitors of hers and both families in and out of the office, he didn't want to risk anyone else seeing it. He didn't hear when she opened the door behind him.
"Oh Tofu, are you ready?" Her beautiful light voice was like beautiful chimes on his ears. He gripped the letter a bit harder than he intended, caught off-guard. He turned around slowly, smiling.
"Ah Kasumi dear, I thought I would meet you outside?" He opened his eyes and saw her staring.
The box.
He'd left the box out and now she was just staring. His hands on the letter closed in around it, crushing it. He watched in terror as she walked over to it.
"Is this...?" She opened it. The letter was now slowing tearing in half between his hands over how nervous he was. She looked at him with tears in her eyes, her wide beautiful smile. His beautiful Kasumi. There was nothing else in this world that mattered.
"Yes, Tofu. Yes!" She cried softly behind her hand. He lost control. In a matter of seconds, the paper in his hand was torn into a hundred pieces as was anything else he could get his hands on. He went over to her and held and kissed his new fiancée, telling her of the hotel he was taking them to celebrate overnight after the party at home. By the time they got to the Tendous he'd completely forgotten about what he was supposed to do.
His cleaning lady wasn't happy the next morning, but left the office looking clean.
Present
Ranma stared at the floor, unable to comprehend how one person could have worse luck than him. That letter. That all important letter, just destroyed in a matter of seconds. Because Tofu was proposing to Kasumi that night. Of course, this would've happened. But Tofu was always reliable. He'd told him so many things in the past that never left this room. That probably never left Tofu's mind but the one variable he overlooked was the worst of all, Kasumi.
"Ranma, I am so deeply sorry." Tofu didn't know where to begin with his apology, mortified at what had happened. Before he knew what was happening, Ranma rushed passed him to his large shelf, pulling it out from it's spot. "RANMA! What are you doing?!" Ranma shoved the shelf to the middle of the room and dropped to the floor, the dusty, unswept wood beneath the the shelves. He was desperate to find proof that it hadn't happened or it did, he didn't know but he wanted out of this terrible nightmare.
But then there it was. On his knees he leaned over and found a small white piece of paper. Terrified, he slowly grabbed it and turned it over.
"Aka-" There it was – his shitty handwriting. He put his hands over his eyes, pressing the palms into the sockets. Tofu was unsure of what to do, he clearly needed comfort but he was the source of his pain. Instead, he'd use his words.
"Ranma, why don't you get off the ground, let's speak for a moment." He dropped his arms and took a seat in the doctor's chair, a long stare clouded his face, the small scrap in his hand. He didn't seem angry or sad or anything. Just a body, as if comatose.
"Ranma, what was on the letter?" His clear blue eyes coming up to meet his, he found parts of his voice.
"It was..." he chocked a little. "It was a letter to Akane. About the engagement."
"That you were ending it?" Why would he care then?
"That I was comin' home for her. That I wanted to be with her."
"I don't understand. You sent the other letter saying you wanted to break the engagement to your families?" Ranma ran his hands over his face, this had turned into a complete disaster. Of course, he couldn't think anything through. He laughed heartlessly over the situation.
"I wanted to end the engagement that she was forced into. The one her dad and my ol' man forced on 'er. I wanted her to be with me to be with me, because she wanted to. Not because she was honor bound or expected to do it. I told her...how I felt and hoped she could wait just a little more for me. That we could be together because we wanted t'be, that the end of the engagement wasn't because I didn't want her but because we didn't need it."
Tofu looked on at the poor man in front of him, what a tragic fool he'd been. If he had just not said anything at all they would've probably still been engaged, if he had written, hell if he'd have just stayed they'd probably be married by now. But how stubborn and bullheaded and fool hearted the two of them had been. And in his case still was. Whether this was meant to be a grand romantic gesture or not it had failed miserably and now like that of his letter, lost to time.
"Ranma, you need to tell her this." He grabbed him sternly by the shoulders. The martial artist turned away.
"I can't do that doc, she's got a boyfriend an' all. She hates me." He was shaken by the older doctor.
"Ranma, listen to me. You need to tell her everything."
Tofu in that moment remembered as they came into the party the night of the engagement. Everyone had been so excited for them, so adoring of their love. He remembered Akane gushing to her sister and her ring in the hallway, so happy for her as they both shed small tears. Soun had been ecstatic, that two of his daughters were engaged to incredible men. Akane had blushed and shook her head laughing with Kasumi, light, happy, silly even.
Ranma's letter ending the engagement came one week later.
"Tell her, Ranma!" The martial artist pulled himself up from his seat, a new resolve flooded over him, he nodded to the doctor and stood to leave. Tofu fell back into his seat, overwhelmed with grief.
Ranma made his way to the hallway, his chest puffed, ready. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so focused but this was imperative. He had to pull her away from this, tell her what was real, how colossally he had fucked this whole thing up but how he was going to fix it. With her, he'd fix anything. He stopped as he saw her on the phone, any battle spirit he had smoked out of him.
"Shingo, please if you could call me when you get this...I just want to talk to you, see you even. I... you know me, how complicated things can be but I promise it isn't that complicated. I just, please call me, I want to make this better... I want to fix this." She whispered something else into her phone as she hung up. Ranma couldn't move.
"Oh Ranma, sorry. I know it's not really professional to be on the phone at work, it was just uh little call, please don't tell Tofu."
He nodded, his eyes went downward.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, genuinely concerned. He looked exhausted. "Was it the technique?" She moved from the desk, about to offer him water as she stood only a few feet from him. His head popped up, a goofy grin.
"Yea of course, 'Kane you know me! C'mon you think some little technique is gonna put me on my ass?" He chuckled loudly. "I'm gonna go for a walk in the neighborhood, catch up on some places, I'll see ya back at the dojo!" He walked to the door to leave as she watched him strangely, he gave her a wave and another smile.
Coward.
October 1999
Ranma had arrived to the temple Wat Phra Kaew in eastern Bangkok finally. After several weeks in the city, competing in tournaments and staying at different dojos, he'd decided to go somewhere that the locals promised he'd find peace in. It had been a couple month's since he'd sent a message back home to his parents and he could feel the pangs of homesickness washing over him. He hadn't been back to Japan in over two years now, having visited everywhere else one could imagine. The bustling cities of Seoul and Hong Kong, the jungles and villages of China, but he had been awestruck with Thailand and its natural beauty. In love with Bangkok and its culture and finally feeling like he was steady enough on his feet.
It was muggy out but the sun was setting so it'd be cool soon, he moved away from where the guests were gathered to do their touristy stuff. Instead, he moved outside the temple and decided to look on his own. The vivid white and gold of the buildings, how the sunset reflected and shimmered off of it. He smiled wide, pushing his flowing ponytail behind his head on his shoulder, out of its normal braid, he'd need a cut soon. Taking in the amount of people around him, he went looking for higher ground. He noticed behind the large temple a large business center building. Leaping out of the gardens around it, he made his way to the roof, staring down into the temple and smiled. This was perfect. He looked over his shoulder to the setting sun, he'd have enough time to put it together. Cross-legged he took a seat and pulled out of his pack a pen and paper.
Akane,
I'm really sorry this is the first you're hearing from me since I left. I'm sure mom and pop tell you about my letters I send them. They're nothin' special though, just updates on where I go and that I'm okay. I just don't want 'em worrying, I don't want any of you to worry too much about me.
I guess I'll just get into this, I don't want you to blow your lid waiting for me to get to the point of my letter. (It's a joke!) By now you know about all about my other letters I sent to Shampoo, Kodachi and Ucchan. This ain't one of those.
I'm no good with words and you know that, being away from you for two years it ain't gotten any better. But I'm gonna try.
I've seen so much while I've been gone, huge cities full of people you just get lost in. These mountains I've hiked through that are so large and grand you can't believe when you look out into the world after you reach the top. These sunsets that are so beautiful you can't really put words into it, it's like how I feel about the art, I can't really describe it. All of that, doesn't compare to how I feel when I look at you. I've walked hundreds of miles around the continent and couldn't find a single thing that gets close to how beautiful you are. I think the closest is right now, I'm at a temple in Thailand and the sun is setting and I kinda had an empf, apeth, epiphany? (I think that's how ya spell it, whatever, shut up!) I wish more than anything I could share this with you.
I realize it wasn't right for me to leave like I did, but I just wanted you to have a life without me, even if it was for a little bit. I know you had a life before me and you have had while I've been gone, I'm sure you've done so much! You deserve to do all those things you said, to act or paint or dance. I hope you have. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you the truth or why it's taken me this long to say something, I guess I wanted to figure all my shit out too. With all those engagements and chicks chasin' me I needed to fix those things, I needed to fix a lot of things wrong in my life. But now that I have, I see what's really important to me and that's you. So, I hope you can forgive me for being stupid.
You were right about my confession after fighting Saffron. I was so sure I lost you that I would've given anything to have you back, it was like I couldn't breathe anymore, didn't want to live anymore. I loved you then Akane and I love you even now, I'm sorry I didn't tell you when I should've. I wasn't decent to ya or nice but I love you so much I want to make this right.
So, because of how much better I want for you, I'm sending our parents a letter after this one that says I wanna end the engagement. Not because I want to, but because we don't need it. I don't need it to prove I love you, I've got the rest of my lift to prove that. I'm sure our dads are gonna flip but they've meddled enough in our lives and in the end, they can get the satisfaction of knowing the school is secure. I just wanna be with you and I'll hope you'll consider me as good enough for ya. That being said, if you told me you wanted it, I'd marry you the day I come home. Otherwise, we can just be together however you want to be. I just want to be with you.
I know I've already been away long enough and I am going away for a bit more but only because I have one last thing I have to do so I know I've done everything to be the man who deserves you. And once that's complete, I'm coming home baby! I'm gonna set that date at June 15, 2001 that should be enough time to take care of my issues, you'll be out of school and then we can go on our own adventures.
Akane, I'm so sorry this took so long to say and for me to write you, I couldn't find the words that felt right and even now I think I'm screwin' this up but I just wanted you to feel like you had a chance to live a life you wanted and not have me and my shit dragging you down. But I also realized that I'm selfish too and all I want in this life is an angry tomboy, so I hope you'll take me and my greedy heart.
I can't wait to kiss you again.
Your idiot of a fiancée,
Ranma