Akane's heart started thumping hard. She couldn't take this pressure anymore.. Her mind is tired with all this hassle that had been going through with her since yesterday.. But she has to know the truth.. She needs to find out why her aunt is being so hard on Ranma! All she knows is that her aunt wants them to live an independent life, where they will educate themselves first and then settle their own lifes. Her aunt also didn't want them to get married soon either… Because, they have seen tremendous days of poverty and struggles in their back days. And after what her aunt Suki had went through in her life, to pull them out of that dreadful situation, she wouldn't want their daughters to choose the same path again and suffer..
That's why Akane had assumed that maybe, because Ranma has so little to offer her for her future, that's why her aunt is stopping her from having any relationship with him. But now that she found out, that's the least reason her aunt would ever consider thinking, her mind became jumbled with possibilities about what might have happened in the past that her aunt is so reluctant about their growing relationship. She has to find out about it.. And she has to find out any possible solutions as well, to make her aunt understand about her love for Ranma. She took a deep breath and stared at Suki with vulnerable eyes, as she asked her in a low soft voice,
"I don't know why you guys would ever hide anything from us, Mom, but… but I trust you guys. I know there must be a reason why you did that… But please mom, if there's more to the reason behind all this, please tell me now.. Come clear to me.. Because I have fully lost my path, I am fully blank now..Help me to understand why you are so against this relationship.."
Suki gave a tired sigh as she averted her eyes from her. She slowly stood up and decided to sit by herself on a single sofa. She sat there as she clasped her both hands together and looked down at her hands. She slowly began to prepare herself to relive the life she once had gone through. This is way too hard for her, because this is the cause of her anxiety. And she always becomes depressed whenever she thinks about it. But, she had to do it.. She had to come clear to them, so that they could choose their path wisely.. Suki takes a deep breath and began saying,
"My childhood was not that smooth as well, Akane. I was only five when I lost my parents and I was left with my only elder brother Soun. I remember he was twenty-five that time, more than capable of taking care of me, but he never did. So, I had to change places to stay with the relatives, because they also didn't want any new burden on their life. At a very small age, I had become distressed, I felt like a leftover, a burden to this world. It was not a healthy way of thinking for any child, but I couldn't control it and at that small age, I became helpless.
Then suddenly one day a miracle happened in my life and my elder brother had brought a beautiful lady with him to one of my relative's houses, where I was living back then. I can still feel the chill that ran through my body when that lady looked at me for the very first time. I still remember, when she was trying to reach me, I instantly ran out from that place and hid myself in one room. I thought, if I do that she would also leave as others do. But to my utter surprise, she soon found me and came to me,"
~~~"Suki…..come out, dear! Don't be afraid of me! I am Natsumi, I am your onii-chan's wife. Why are you hiding from me, Suki? Come out dear.. Didn't you like your onii-chans wife..? Am I that bad?"
Her soft warm tone instantly melted all the fear she was feeling at that moment. She slowly revealed herself from her hiding place and looked at her with tears in her eyes as she said in a trembling chubby tone,
"You are not bad… I am bad.."
Natsumi seemed surprised to hear that,
"And why would you say that , honey..?!"
Suki sniffed and said in a haste, "Because… because.. Everyone says that! They don't want me! Onii-chan doesn't want me! No one wants me! They all want me to disappear!"
Natsumi's heart clenched as she kept listening to what this child was telling her. She composed herself as she asked her,
"You shouldn't say like that, Suki.. I am sure no one thinks like that.."
Suki desperately shakes her head, saying no to her, as fresh tears trailed down from her face,
"You are wrong..! They say it all the time..!"
"They? Who, honey?"
Suki sniffed and began to rub her eyes forcefully as she replied..
"Everybody! They tell me to disappear somewhere, they always push me away.."
There was a long pause after that, then suddenly, Suki felt a warm hand over her arms as it slowly pulled her towards a warm body. She was shocked at first, but the warm feeling of being hugged by someone was so overwhelming to her. She was longing for it for so long! Her heart started beating fast as she heard what Natsumi said to her next,
"I want you.. Will you come with me, Suki..? I promise you, from now on I will try my best to take care of you.."
Suki was still uncertain as she asked her doubtfully,
"But.. but Onii-chan won't want that! He will be upset if I come with you."
"You don't have to worry about anything, honey." She whispers and makes her look at her in the eyes. She slowly wipes her tears clean and said while laying both her palms over her wet cheeks.
"You are a Tendo. You belong to stay at your own house. It's your right, honey! And I will always be with you to get what you really deserve, my baby imouto. Don't worry, you have your Onee-chan in me now. I promise you, I won't let you down.. Please come with me.."
Hearing her warm motherly tone, Suki couldn't hold back anymore, she hugged her again with despair and began crying her heart out on her warm arms. ~~~~~
"I was right when I warned your mother, that my brother won't like it if I go with them. But, she hided that matter from me. She also made sure that I never find out about the fact that my own brother doesn't wants me, but I knew she was keeping it secret from me. And one day, I also heard her threatening your dad that,
"If Suki leaves, then I leave too..!"
"After some days had passed, I never saw my brother complaining about my staying with them again. My life has changed drastically after that. I got back my house, my family.. I started going back to school again.. Natsumi Onee-chan started taking care of me like her own child and I began seeing her as my mother… My brother was struggling to tidy up all the financial crisis. His martial arts techniques were not enough to attract students to come and join the school. He started doing other jobs to finance the family. It was not enough, but we were happy with each other.
Soon, my Kasumi was born and we all were so happy. After her birth, I have noticed a change in my brother. He had become so cheerful, full of life! He was so happy and excited to have his first child! He always used to be in optimistic mood too.. He not only devoted himself fully to taking care of his family, but he also started treating me with love and respect. We couldn't be more happier.. But, one day, one unfortunate visit from his friend and master, had changed everything for us….
"Here's your tea master Happosai.." Soun said bowing as he offered some tea to Happosai and Genma.
Happosai took some sips from his cup and nodded his head,
"This tea….. is amazing! Who made it!?"
"My onee-chan had made it, sir..!" Suki said politely, while eying him from under her bangs.
"Hmm? And who are you, young lady?" Happosai asked.
"Master, she is my younger sister.. Her name is Tendo Suki.."
"Oh! Interesting!"
"Hey buddy, you never said you have a sister so young like that! Now I get it, why you are getting so weak day by day.. Surrounded by girls all the time can only make a man, not so manly after all! Hahaha! Am I right, Master?" Genma said laughing hysterically .
"Yes, I agree with you, Genma! You are surrounded by too many girls, Soun! And it could make you weak!" Happosai said while giving him a serous look.
"And I think that's the only reason why you have become so weak to deliver a girl as your first child." Genma said moodily.
"Hmmm.. Genma is right though! And that's so sad!" Happosai said while shaking his head.
"Hey! What is the problem with you guys! And why would we be sad! We are happy with our Kasumi!" Eight years old Suki said growling as she eyed both the guys heatedly.
"Suki! Apologise to them, right now..!" Soun scolded her angrily, his eyes wide with irritation.
"No! I WON'T! We are happy with Kasumi, why don't you tell them that?!"
"SUKI! I am warning you..!"
"Suki.."
Suddenly Natsumi spoke up from behind the kitchen door and asked Suki to come to her. Suki angrily pouted at them and left the room in a haste. When she reached Natsumi's side, she crossed her arms and asked her angrily,
"Why did you call me here, onee-chan? I was having a serious talk with them!"
Natsumi giggled and kneeled down to her level,
"Aww my honey, aren't you looking cute when you are serious! Anyways, lets not interfere in their conversation, alright? Let your brother handle it!"
"But.. They are talking wrong about us!"
"I know that... I heard what they said." She sighed nervously and said, "Suki, I have faith in my Soun. Let him handle this situation… I know he won't disappoint us.."~~~~
"That's the first mistake your mother had made to blindly trust your father. Because after that night, a drastic change has enveloped his mind. He began to act weird. He stopped being cheerful and energetic and started avoiding us.. Not only that, he stopped spending time with us as well. I could always see the worry written on your mother's face, because his sudden mood change had affected all of us. His ignorance continued for almost a month. Then, one morning we found a letter written by your father that, he is going to a long training trip with his master and his friend Genma..
At that moment, for the very first time I saw your mother shattered completely .. She was shocked by the sudden decision by her loved one. To leave her alone like this.. With their one year old daughter and eight year old me! Not to mention, with almost zero money in hand, your father had selfishly left your mother and us. But despite that, she learned to be strong for us and never let us realise the struggles she went through to make everything possible for us.. She managed everything single-handedly! Not flinging a bit, always smiling for the outside world, but underknown to her, I saw her. I used to see her crying alone, suffering alone, but unfortunately.. I couldn't do anything to help her at that time...
Eventually, we have become habituated by all this. Your mother, me and Kasumi, we had become the closest of family and learned to live with each other. Then, two years later, one night, your father came back to us. I was angry when I first saw him on our doorstep, to see him standing there with no shame and no regret for his action. But, again your mother made a mistake by forgiving him as she embraced him with her open arms. Then after one month , your mother announced a good news to us that she was pregnant again with his child.
~~~~"Really, onee-chan!" Suki asked excitedly. And when she saw Natsumi nodding her head and giggling ,she squeals happily and began swirling with Kasumi with excitement,
"Yay, Kasumi! See what your mom just said! You are soon going to get your own little sister!"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT,SUKI!"
Kasumi and Suki both stopped their celebration as they both got scared when they heard Soun scowling at them and giving them a heated look.
"Honey! Don't yell at them like that! They are just kids! What's the matter with you!?" Natsumi said as she eyed Soun disheartenedly.
"How dare she say that we would have a girl again! That's impossible!"
"But dear! How can you be so sure about the baby's gender!"
"THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE WOULD HAVE A BOY THIS TIME, NATSUMI!" Soun said scowling as he forcefully grabbed her shoulder and squeeze them tightly,
"You have no idea how hard I had trained to make myself strong enough to provide you with a boy this time! This time if we don't get a baby boy , then that means, the problem is within you and not me! Because my friend Genma said to me that, after this long training, it's impossible for me to not to have a boy! And I WANT a boy for my school, you hear me Natsumi! No if, no buts..! You won't deliver a daughter to me again!"~~~~~
Suki smirked as she pinched the bridge of her nose, then she said,
"The pressure was doubled up on your mother.. For the very first time, I saw fear in her beautiful eyes. She became troubled and she always used to worry about the upcoming.. The poisonous words had already been given to your father's ears, which not only made him deaf, but a blind person as well..Your father never saw the worry on her face. He didn't saw her suffering. He chose to ignore her tears as he continued to tell her and pressured her to give him a boy.
But.. As you guys already know.. your mother had failed to give him a boy again. And my brother.. Got furious! Nabiki, your father didn't even come to see your face for one month. I am sorry, dear. But, it is the truth. But, me and Kasumi were the happiest! But because of your father's presence, we couldn't celebrate it either. Then after five months of your birth, Genma came back to give us a visit which made matters worse."
" That's impossible, pal! It's a girl! APGAIN!" Genma roared as he punched the dojo wall in frustration. "And after what ya have gone through! This is unexpectable! Your wife should be punished.."
Soun sighs defeated and said,
"No Genma, whatever it is, she is my wife, I can't punish her.."
"Ya are still so unmanly! Be a man! Roar like a lion! What are ya doing?! If you don't take any action now, how'd ya bring a hair for this dojo!"
"Umm.. Then I think I have to try more.." Soun said with a determined face.
Genma nodded wisely as he laid his hands on his arms,
"We need a good training session, my friend. Let's not waste anymore time here. We have to get going.."
"But, how can you go? I mean, isn't your wife pregnant?" Sound asked him.
Genma shrugged his shoulder and said,
"So what! It's her duty to provide me with a boy! Let her do her job! Why would I stay with her! Feh… ya know what I say all the time.."
"Women are just a waste of time.." Soun intervenes as he looks at him with determination.
Genma grinned widely and nodded his head,
"Ya.. Now you know it, my friend.."~~~
"Me and Kasumi, we both heard all their conversation and we ran to inform your mother. But, for some reason your mother was quiet and asked us not to stop him. And as expected, he left the very next day. We were not shocked at his decision, but what shocked me was the changed behaviour of your mother. She had become so distant, her mood always swore, her smile vanished. She used to pretend to be happy in front of us, but I could see that she was hiding something from us. And soon I got all my answers, when one day I saw her crying so desperately while holding onto her belly…."
"Onee-chan!" Suki ran up to Natsumi's side and band down to her level, "Oh one-chan.. Why are you crying like this? What happened to you? Are you hurt somewhere..?"
"Oh Suki..!" Natsumi turned to Suki and hugged her tightly as she said in between her sobs, "Suki.. I am pregnant.."
Suki's eyes went wide with surprise,
"You are pregnant? Really?" She saw her nodding while crying, "But it's a good news one-chan! Why are you crying?"
"What if… what if.. it's a girl again.." She asked with a shaky voice, fear in her voice.
Suki looked at her with determined eyes and said,
"Then it will be more fun for us! You don't worry about this silly things.."
Natsume shakes her head,
"No, Suki.. You don't understand!"
"No! You don't understand, onee-chan!" Suki stands up and starts to pull her up with her, "You don't have to worry about anything! Everything is going to be just fine!"~~~
"And that situation was fully underestimated by me. Because, things got a little out of hand after that. Your mother was already three months pregnant with Akane when she found out about it. And at that period, she had become so sick that she couldn't even manage to stand up and work in house. So, going out for work had become an impossible task for her. Dr also told her to take full bed rest.. That time, it felt like, all hell broke through on us as poverty, responsibility, everything came to our back mercilessly.
But soon after one month nonstop struggles, Kami showed little sympathy on us and send one angel for us, in the form of your Uncle."
"Uncle Haru?" Nabiki whispers as Suki nodded her head.
"Haru-san, your mother's elder brother. Who had come to deliver a devastating news to your mother that their parents were no more. She became even more broken after hearing that. And after seeing her state, he had decided to stay with us and took all the matters in his hands.
He is a very caring elder brother.. I was so shocked and overwhelmed when I saw the bond between them. It was shocking for me because all my life my brother kept acting as if I am a burden to him. But those two were so close to each other and loved each other so deeply.
Soon, we were blessed with our princess Akane. And Haru was so excited to see Akane born. We celebrated like never before. His excitement, his overjoyed persona, made all the fear in our heart vanished and we all started enjoying every moment of our life. After so long, finally I saw calmness on my one-chan's face as she began living her life again, with me and her three adorable daughters and her brother.
Three years had passed by like that and your father still hadn't returned home… I still remember that night, when he finally returned home on Akane's third birthday. He was so shocked to see all that was happening. He couldn't believe his eyes. When he saw Akane, he couldn't believe that she was his child. He became furious and did something that we couldn't even dare to think that he could ever think. He started blaming your mother for cheating on him. He started calling your mother a loose woman, while he denied that Akane was his child.
And that was the last straw for Haru-san. At first he tried his best to make your father understand that he was wrong. But, when he kept denying while blaming Natsumi, Haru-san fully lost his mind and hit your father hard. Your father tried to hit him back but Haro-san was unstoppable. That fight was so nasty, where my brother got the most hits. I am feeling guilty to admit that, at that moment when I saw my brother getting beaten up by Haru-san, I felt so relieved, because I know he deserved every hit.
Onee-chan stopped that fight that time. But Haru-san was not finished with him. He warned my brother, and made him realize his mistakes. My brother apologized to your mother and everything turned normal again. Soon, Haru-san left Tendo's house. But before leaving the house, he warned my brother that he will be connected with me and his eyes will be on his sister's wellbeing. And if your brother ever tries to leave your mother or make her pregnant anymore, he will hunt him till the last breath he takes. Your father was so scared of Haru-san so much. He listened to him and started taking care of us again. But it's not like he didn't try to escape, we actually didn't let him escape this time.
Me and Kasumi, we had a mission on our hands. We tracked all the mails and made sure my brother didn't get any letters sent by Genma or Happosai. Our mail man also helped us with this. He always used to deliver their mails to only us and not to my brother. And underknown to my brother, Haru-san had changed the landline number before he left the house and that's how neither Genma or Happosai could contact him via phone as well.
Everything went well for the next two years. Your father had become responsible enough to take care of his family. But, I could always tell that he was eagerly waiting for a call or mail from his friend, which we very tactfully handled..
Akane, do you remember honey, when you got lost in one forest named Rukanjawa?"
Akane's sorrow-filled wet eyes met Suki's helpless ones as she silently nodded her head. Suki bits her lower lips and took a deep breath and began saying,
"We all were so worried for you. You had been missing for so long! And when we were about to call for help, you returned with a few minor injuries on your knees and arms. You were so scared and crying nonstop! At first we thought you were crying because of your cuts ,but to our surprise, we found out that you were crying for a friend of yours, who had saved you in the forest. We took you back home and you got a fever. I still remember that day like it happened just yesterday, Akane. When me and onee-chan were taking care of you at that night. Everyone was asleep at that time except us. Your mom was constantly caressing your hair, worry was written all over face as she kept looking at your sleeping form. I got worried by her look and tried to approach her casually and that's when I realized she was not the usual onee-chan I used to know, and for the first time, she talked to me like a mother of you three..
"Onee-chan!" Suki moaned and walked towards Akane's bed as she sat by her sleeping form. She looked at Natsumi and said,
"Please don't look so worried! Our Akane is perfectly fine now! It's just a little fever! It will go away.. Don't worry about her too much!"
"Suki.. I was really scared today, you know…"
Suki smiled and caress Akane's cheek and said,
"Yeah, tell me about it. But our Akane is really brave! A little clumsy but i know my Akane will be the strongest!."
"I am not worried about her being clumsy, Suki..." Natsumi kept caressing her hair as she said, "Because, I know she is not alone. And if she fell down anytime because of her clumsiness, I know you guys would be there to back her. What worries me about her is..." She paused for a second..
" What is it?"
"She is just like me , Suki.. And that's not good at all.."
"Oh Kami! you are worrying for nothing! In fact If she is like you then I must say my Akane is a blessed child."
"No... No you don't understand..."
"But.."
"Suki, I want to say something to you.. I haven't shared this with you before, but I think I am ready to share this with you now... I... I have married your brother by eloping with him. My parents were not happy when I told them about Soun. They were against this marriage because they didn't want me to marry a martial artist. But I was blinded by his love and I took decisions by my heart, not brain. I left my parents to be with your brother. I left my father, who had always treated me as his princess. I left my Mother, who never used to let me go out of her eyes. I hurt their feelings so badly and chose to be with Soun instead of them. They begged me and constantly tried to make me understand, that he is not a right choice. But I never heard their pleading and ran away from them.
I was so precious for my father, you can say ample of his eyes. But, after I left them, he got really angry at me and his feelings were so hurt that he cut off all connections with me. He didn't even let my mother come to met me .. But, can i blame them!? I was a selfish girl... And I got punished for that..."
"Oh, Onee-chan.."
"Wait here, Suki. Let me get you something.."
Natsumi said as she slowly stood up and went to one of her closets and began searching for something. After some moment she came back to the bed and sat by her side, facing her. She takes her hand on her and laid a big jewellery on her palms. Suki took a sharp breath seeing this as she asked her,
" Onee-chan! This is so beautiful! Is it yours? Wow, it looks so expensive too!"
Natsumi smiles and said,
"It's my mother's. She had given it to Haru Onii-chan to deliver it to me. My father didn't knew about it.."
"Oh! So, that's the main reason why he visited us?"
"Yes, Suki!" Natsumi whispers as her eyes tear up, "His main motto was to fulfil our mother's last wish.. And now,I am giving it to you, Suki.."
"What! But why me?!"
Natsumi's eyes were filled with distress as she said with trembling tone,
"Because, for the very last time I am going to be selfish again, Suki. I have always seen you as my own imoto. But, now all I will think about is my daughters , Suki.. Please, forgive my selfishness.."
"Onee-chan! What are you saying?!"
"Suki, my imouto, will you promise your selfish one-chan one thing?"
"Please don't ask me like this! I will do anything for you!"
"Oh Suki.." Natsumi whispers as she hugs her closer. Then breaking their hug, she tells her with her broken tone,
" I am now giving you this last reminder of my mother, with a belief , Suki. Either you will give it to my daughters, if they ever got trapped by their father's arranged marriage, or you will sell it, so that you could build a better future for yourself and then you can pull my daughters out of this merciless situation."
"Onee-chan! What do you mean to say?"
"Please Suki.. Please.. I beg you, please don't let my daughters choose the path that I have so recklessly choosed for myself. You have no idea how bad it hurts! How it kills you when you find out that the man for whom you left everything, would selfishly choose their trips, their friends, their masters, instead of his own family. I don't want my daughters to face the same mental torcher that I have gone through. I want them to feel free. I want them to live their lives for themselves! I don't want them to feel fear if they ever give birth to any daughters.. And I know, they can't get this if they keep staying here.. The whole atmosphere here would force them to choose responsibility against their own life.. I don't want my daughters to suffer as I did, Suki! Please my imouto, promise me, you will free my daughters from this unfairness. You would show them that their is a life outside all this responsibilities, outside martial arts! Promise me that you will free them from this craziness.. Please don't let anyone make fool of them! Please help them, Suki.. Only you can free them.. No one else.. Please Suki, I beg you.."
Natsumi broke down into tears as Suki held her hand tightly. Then with a determined tone she told her,
"I promise you, Onee-chan. Your daughters are my daughters from now on. And I will do everything to give them a better life they deserve. I will take them away from this insane predicament. I promise you…"~~~~~
" That night, I have promised your mother. And I know I will keep it with my last breath. But, I was still confused about why she had suddenly asked me to do I didn't need to wait for too long to find out why though. Because, after some days has passed by, your father finally found out all the letters of Genma, which we were hiding from him. Not only that, the new mailman suddenly appeared and handed him Genma's latest one, which made him even more furious at us.
I have never witnessed him acting so rough towards all of us. Kasumi got so scared when she thought her father would scold her. My poor Natsumi One-chan didn't even had any clue about what we were doing for the last two years. That's why when my brother recklessly started to blame Natsumi for the crime that she didn't even had any clue of, I couldn't hold back anymore and for the very first time i had the most heated fight with him..
~~~~~~" GENMA WAS RIGHT! It was a MISTAKE marrying a non-martial arts girl like you! How could you even understand the value of responsibilities towards martial arts! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND THE WORD CALLED DUTY! You have shamed me with your RECKLESS behaviour, NATSUMI! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT!"
"But… what have I done!" Natsumi asked in a shaky tone as Akane hugged her leg tightly.
"Don't TRY TO play INNOCENT! I can't believe how much a liar you have become…!"
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER A LIAR!" Suki interfered in the middle.
"Suki no! Stop!"
"NO ONEE-CHAN! Don't stop me anymore! He had no RIGHT to talk to you like this!" Suki said while fuming with anger.
"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO YOUR BROTHER LIKE THIS! Don't forget young lady, if I want, I could still throw you out from this house!"
"Soun!"
"Oh really, I dare you to try and do that, brother! This is my house too! You can't tell me to get out of here! I have all the right to stay here, you hear me brother?" Suki scowled as she looked at him hard.
"Oh! So now it came to this point! It was all pre planned than! YOU GUYS DISGUST ME!" Soun said fuming.
"I told you before and I am telling you AGAIN, BROTHER! Onee-chan is innocent! It was ME who had hide all those letters from you!"
"HOW DARE YOU TO DO THAT, YOU RECKLESS WOMAN! MY FRIEND JUST TOOK HIS SON, THE ONLY HAIR OF THIS DOJO TO A LONG TRAINING TRIP ALL BY HIMSELF. AND I HAD PROMISED TO BE WITH HIM TO TRAIN HIS SON, BUT BECAUSE OF YOU…"
"WHAT HAIR?! AKANE WILL BE THE HAIR OF THIS TENDO DOJO, NO ONE ELSE!" Natsumi growled.
"Heh! You must be dreaming! A GIRL CAN NEVER BE A HAIR OF A DOJO! IT HAS TO BE A BOY! IF YA GUYS ARE SO PRIDEFUL, THEN WHY DON'T YOU ASK YOUR LAZY ONE-CHAN TO PROVIDE THIS FAMILY A BOY!"
"HOW SHAMEFUL OF YOU BROTHER..!" Suki yelled as her eyes filled with tears, "You know how sick my onee-chan is.. But still you are being so heartless! I am so ashamed to call myself your sister! YES! I DID HIDE ALL THOSE LETTERS FROM YOU! Because.. Because I wanted you to stay with your family, which your friend was not letting you to. .. Your daughters need you, my onee-chan needs you, CAN'T YOU SEE THAT! HAVE YOU BECOME SO BLIND!"
"I will not stay here to hear your nonsense anymore.. I am leaving now.."
"You are leaving? What do you mean by that?" Suki asked, surprised.
"I mean what I said,Suki. Genma is not too far away from here! If I leave now, I know I can reach them.."
Plan set, Soun began to walk towards his room, but he stopped when he heard Natsumi's whisper,
"Don't go.."
Soun turned towards his wife and saw her looking down. Then suddenly she looked at his eyes, fear clouded her eyes as she kept repeating same words again and again,
"You can't go.. I won't let you go.. Please dear, don't leave me.. Don't leave us.."
"Natsumi, as a wife of a martial artist.."
She didn't let him finish as suddenly she bent down on her knees and held his hands tightly, as her plea turned into begging,
"You can't leave us! You have to stay with us!"
"Natsumi!"
"Onee-chan!"
"YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME BEHIND, SOUN! YOU HAVE TO STAY FOR ME! I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT! I AM DYING!"~~~~
"Her sudden declaration shook us all so badly. I still remember the scene, because it hunts me all night. Her tears, her fear, her pleas, it still rang into my ears. That time when I saw her, the puzzle pieces started to settle down itself for me. I was confused why she asked me to promise her that day, I was not sure why she gave me her mother's jewel. But that night, everything came clear to me. And the sudden realization hit me,that she could have saved her life by selling that jewel for herself. But she hadn't, instead of saving her life, she gave it to me so that I can save her daughters future. I was left heartbroken, I had lost all the clues about what I should do or not.
Your father hadn't left her side. I forced her to sell the jewel for her treatment, but she got outrageous and denied it. After some months, what happened… I don't want to recall that.. And when your Uncle Hiro came to visit her and heard the news, he was ready to kill Soun. I was not doing anything to stop him, but you guys stopped him. Haru-san never came back to Nerima again. But he kept tracking you guys by calling Tofu. And when I was abroad he sometimes gave me a visit and only wished that he could see Kasumi and Akane soon.
Now…. Tell me, Akane… Point me the fault that I am making. Now tell me what should I do, my dears? Tell me what I am doing wrong. Make me believe your words. Because, from the day, I have heard that Genma has entered Tendo house, to marry one of my onee-chan's daughters, I haven't been able to met her eyes ever since. I stopped looking at her pictures, because her picture was accusing me of losing, it was blaming me for my delayed action, and implicated me as a failure to fulfil her onee-chan's last wish! Tell me my dears, because I am tired of hiding from my onee-chan! Tell me where I am wrong here….."
A:N: I am still so emotional! It was really painful writing this part! But anyway, I am going to clear to all of you guys that, I am big fan of RanmaxAkane, so whatever situations comes in here, they will 110% going to get together ... So never get worried fot this. ! I can never imagine them apart... I think i should stop being spoiler of my own fic :p.. But, i dont want you guys to get scared for this... Bye.. Take care.. And please REVIEW :)