AN: I do not own Ranma1/2
Thanks to Rose1948, Nightshade6265, Richard Ryley, Maric, snowpsyuko, duskrider, N1cromanc3loveR, Kweh Viola, foxchick, Ranmaleopard and Tenchi Saotome. I hope you guys continue to like this story as much as you have been! I apologize for my hiatus, but I am back!
A Touch Of Fate
Chapter 3
"Ran-chan, let's head off to school!"
At these words, I see my old man my freeze from across the table, as well as 4 questioning glances for each of the Tendos. Shrugging at them I turn to the old man and say "Funny how the past has a tendency of catching up isn't it?"
Nabiki is the first to regain her wits, saying, "Ran-chan? The past catching up?"
Again I simply shrug and walk away not prepared to deal with the inevitable fall out when my old man comes to his senses. He has a way of pushing these situations on me, and I have no intention of dealing with that right now. I slip outside,grab Ukyo and run off into the day awaiting me. Ignoring the the old man's shouting and Ukyo's protests about being dragged I run off. Eventually, a good few blocks away I stop and let her go.
"Next time, don't drag me along... I am perfectly capable of running you know, " Ukyo complains, "You know Ran-chan, if you don't need to be shy about wanting to be alone with me."
Cringing I reply, "Ukyo, I was serious when I said that I do not want to get involved in the fiancee mess that I am in right now. I am having more than enough trouble as it is. I will not budge on that one, Ukyo"
"What would you have me do then, Ranma? This is the condition that the cart was given to your father, and because of it I have suffered for the past 10 years! I think in the very least I deserve what was promised to me in exchange for the cart! Okonomiyaki is my family's art and that cart was the source of our livelihood. What do you think happened after that Ranma? That we had some secret stash to make up for that?" Ukyo raged.
Shaking my head again, I say, frustrated, "Ukyo you are not the only one that my father has short-changed, but the one to take this up with is him, not me! He stole it, not me! You are my childhood friend Ukyo, but that is it. I still think of you as a guy, so how can I accept you as my fiancee? These are harsh words, but you need to just let it go. Because seeking my old my to release you will not do anything for you! He is incapable of dealing with the consequences of his actions, and that is why you must free yourself. Because I will not let myself be tied down because of his actions."
Like a deer caught in the headlights, Ukyo freezes, completely unsure of how to respond to that. Sighing because I realize how harsh I was, I weakly add, "Ucchan, I will be happy to help you do this to the best of my ability, as your friend. But if you want to be free from the past 10 years that is the only way to do it. Even getting what was promised to you in return will not undo the past 10 years. Be strong, okay Ucchan? I know that we can do this together."
Looking absolutely dejected she manages a weak smile and replies, "Will I get my womanhood back?"
I smile back and offer back to her, "You'll discover you never lost it. My old man just made you lose sight of it."
At this remark she shrinks back and looks away from me. Mumbling in a way that I know I was not supposed to hear, "But that does not give me the last 10 years of my life back…"
"You are right that it will not give the last 10 years of your life back. But nothing can do that for you. The only thing that you can do at this point is leave it behind you so it does not take away the next 10 years of your life as well." I firmly remind her.
This only serves to reignite her anger at me, "Ranma, how can you say that! You don't know what I had to deal with in those 10 years. You think that I can simply just make that disappear?! I came here with a purpose, which was to take revenge on you! Though I can see now that you are not the one that I should think of attempting to take revenge on. You have been dealt a punishment that perfectly mirrors mine anyways! So now instead I will regain my womanhood through marrying you."
"I have told you, I have no intention of marrying you. Any issue that you have you should take up with my old man and not with me! If this is what you wish to focus on, I bid you a good day. Either you keep going or you don't. But don't count on me staying back for your sake, because I won't. I will not back up on my word. With that said I am off to school." I huff, and start to resume to walk to school leaving her standing dumbfounded.
Walking through a suburban neighborhood, I take note of how much of a lack of freedom there is. So many rules, both defined and undefined. In my time here I had obviously agitated a good number of people, but it seemed to be by more undefined reasons than the defined. The defined was clear, it was easy. All that was required of me was to follow the laws of the society, which were more or less contained within my morality.
The problem lay in the fact that it was not just about the defined rules, but also the undefined ones. The ones that are engraved into you by society from the moment you are born. A set of underlying forms of conduct that ruled how you were to act, even though for it the are not recorded anywhere, nor does anyone teach you the faux pax committed. The only thing that is clear is that you have broken the rules. In many ways I feel as though it is my very soul that is enslaved in this environment. THe only thing keeping me from doing certain things is the promise of a total retaliation in non-direct forms.
I long to have my problems be simple. I just want to confront it head on, like my father had taught me in martial artists. I do not want to be bound by the restraints put on me here.
The only thing I can do for now is to keep moving forward, the very same advice that I gave to Ukyo, yet I need in all of the very same ways. Shaking my head clear of these thoughts, I head towards the school.
Once at school I notice glances shift my way as people begin to gossip about my encounter with Ukyo, wondering what foul I could have committed for Ukyo to be so upset with me. Ignoring the glances, I wonder off tonelessly towards my class expecting another monotonous day. Grabbing my seat, I sit and wait.
"I am beginning to get the impression that it will never be dull to watch your life unfolding, Ranma," a voice from behind me said."It has been a while Ranma."
I spin around on the spot, seeing a face that I had not seen in quite some time. None other than my old classmate, Rokubungi Touji. Grinning, I offer my hand and inquire,"It's been a while Touji! How's it going?"
Ignoring the proffered hand, he merely warns me, "For the sake of old times I thought that I should warn you. Hibiki is bound to find you soon."
My face furrows into confusion as I ask, "Why would I need to worry about Ryoga? We had some spats, but I mean nothing major-"
He turns his back to me and starts to walk away offering only, "When you left your affairs were not dealt with."
Alright, here is a WAY overdue installation into this story! I am sorry folks, I will try to stay on top of this more!