Chapter 3

Ranma sat down on the bench next to the elderly couple. She felt extremely awkward having this conversation, but realized that if you wanted to learn from a Master, you had to find a Master to talk to. God knows that most everyone she currently knew was disqualified from being able to give her some decent advice.

"It's funny you should pick us" the lady started. "I was once very much like you, only I was fixed on being the best journalist ever. I had dreams of writing for the major Tokyo newspapers. Traveling the world, and finding out the lowdown on everyone and everything. Just out of curiosity, how old are you miss?"

"Seventeen" she murmured.

"Ah, I was well on my way to fulfilling my dream. Or at least thought I was. By the time I was 21, I was working in a mid-level newspaper. I was putting in horrendous hours to 'pay my dues' so that I could keep moving up to bigger newspapers. It was then that I met Asuko here."

The old man smiled. "Yup, I ruined everything for her."

"What do you mean" asked Ranma.

"When I first met Asuko, we started dating, but nothing much came of it because I had so little free time to be with him. We had being seeing each other off-and-on for 6 months, and then one day I was talking to a woman wher I worked. She was a senior reporter, single, middle aged and very unhappy. It seemed that she had also wanted to be the best reporter...and she got her wish. Problem was, she realized too late that focusing on one goal often costs you others. She told me that sometimes there were more important things than just being the best there was. Sometimes you need to find what you want in life. That got me to reconsider the time I spent with Asuko. I started spending more time with him, and less time at work. As time went on, even though I backed off on my work hours, I still became a senior reporter. The funny thing was, I found out that I enjoyed my time with Asuko more than I enjoyed being one of the best reporters."

Ranma sat quietly, thinking about what the woman said. It made sense in some ways. Her current unease might be caused by her absolute focus on Martial Arts. I guess it's like only focusing on offense she thought to himself. If you ignore everything but one aspect, it doesn't make you stronger, and it may leave you open to other problems. "How were you able to give up the dream you had for so long? It sounds like you just changed your mind all of a sudden."

"Oh no, not at all. All it took is for me to realize that it wasn't really my job that was making me happy, it was being with Asuko. Granted, it took a while to come to the full realization that maybe...maybe what I thought I wanted wasn't really what I wanted after all. I had spent so many years listening to other people tell me how important it was to be the best, that I really never sat back and considered what I would be sacrificing to be "the best". What's more, when I really started to think about why I wanted to be the best journalist, I realized that I wast trying to still perform for other people, and not for myself."

"Granted, this may have worked for my wife here" the old mad added. "It doesn't mean that what she did would work for everyone. I know several people who have given their life for their 'Art" and seem to be quite content with their decision. The point is, you have to make the decision for yourself, and not let others drive you. For us, the decision to be together helped put everything else in perspective. It gave us a balance that we didn't have before."

"Of course, the fact that we're both hopeless romantics helped with our decision." the woman smiled at her husband. "It's funny. So many people stress doing well in your job or your 'Art', but so little is spent letting people know there are alternatives to being a work-aholic. I'm not sure why, maybe because there's no money to be made in romance compared to getting people to run faster in the rat-race."

They continued to talk about the couples early life together, and how their companionship was what mattered most in their lives.

"Thanks" she finally grinned. "I think I see what you mean. I guess my problem still is trying to figure out what...or maybe who... I'm missing"

"Ah, that is a tough one" stated the older man. "In fact, the toughest part of your problem, and it sounds like you already know this, is that nobody can really give you that answer but you"

"Yeah, I think you're right. Thanks again for talking with me" she said as he rose to leave. "I may not know what I want yet, but at least I think I'm getting closer to figuring it out."

Ranma went back over to her bench and continued to watch the people in the park for the next hour or so. Not everyone was a happy couple, and many times he saw individuals enjoying themselves just as much as the couple he talked to. But something in the older couple's happiness touched her in a way that he knew was significant.

I guess I am lonely she thought. I've been on the road so long with pop that I can't really even imagine being happy and secure with family and friends. Every time I got close to somebody pops would insist we move on so I wouldn't become weak by becoming to close to my new friends. The years of solitude combined with the chaos that surrounded her now surely didn't contribute to a feeling of security.

Kasumi said to watch other happy people and get ideas from them she thought. None of these people seem to be pushing themselves non-stop. People were enjoying each others company. There were no intense rivalries, no malleting of bakas, just people taking the time to enjoy themselves and not constantly trying to better themselves every waking moment. No wonder I'm so caught up in being the "best there is!" Everybody around me is so fixated on getting what they want, on being better than everyone else that I didn't even realize that they were just as bad as me!

But being relaxed isn't the only key ingredient she realized. Most of these people take care of each other by having jobs that let them spend time with their families. Definitely no 10 year training trips! He mused. It seemed like she at least realized being alone wasn't what she wanted, but she still had no real idea what to do other than Martial Arts. Dammit! I've spent my whole life trying to be the best, I'm not going to solve this problem in just a few days.

"I might as well go face the last challenge" she finally said as she roused herself from her seat and set off to the Tendo Dojo to talk with the last person on her list.

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Ranma found Akane in the Dojo. The stupid tomboy was in the corner breaking her usual bricks. Feh! What a waste of time! And what did it get her...nothing except to build her anger to higher and higher levels.

"Akane" she began "could I talk to you for a few moments?"

"About what?" Akane stopped her pummeling and faced Ranma. For once she didn't have her mask of frustration on, but appeared to view her with a more neutral attitude.

"Well...I heard something at school the other day that got me thinking. Thinking about what I was, and what I wanted out of life. Kasumi suggested I talk to some other people and find out what they were looking to get out of life...and...well...I was wondering what you were planning on doing."

"Wow Ranma. That sounds like your really care. Do you really want to know what my dreams are, what I'd like to do?"

"Sure" she said. "If you wouldn't mind telling them to me..."

"You'll probably just make fun of me."

"No I won't!"

"You will too!"

"Look you stubborn Tomboy, I said I was interested" Oops, the trusty Akane scowl had appeared. "Look Akane, I don't want to argue. I'm...sorry I called you a Tomboy. Could you please tell me"

Akane stopped in mid rant and looked like she was trying to decide whether to mallet her or to calm down. What helped her decide was Ranma's uncharacteristic apology. "Ok, I'll tell you."

"Thanks Akane."

"Well Ranma, even though I like doing martial arts, I found out last year that I really enjoyed being in that play. I've talked to drama teacher about acting and she said I was a natural. Something about being able to show emotion well"

Yeah, negative emotions! Ranma thought

"So I've been looking into being an actress. It would be nice to get the attention and to have people look up to me. I've noticed that more and more foreign actresses are getting to work in American films, so my plan is to start in Tokyo, but if I can earn enough money I'd like to fly to America and see if I can break in there."

"Wow, that could take years couldn't it?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't mind. I could lead a simple life waiting for my big break. After all, its not like we're rolling in money now."

"But wouldn't you have to give up your Martial Arts?"

"You know, I've thought about that, and for as much as I like being a Martial Artist, I've finally come to realize that there are a lot of better Martial Artists than I am, and after seeing the ridiculous training that all of you had to endure, I'm not sure I really want to compete in that arena anymore."

Ranma was dumbstruck. Akane actually was admitting that there were better Martial Artists than herself? What could come next, that she could actually cook? "So...ah...what about the engagement?"

Akane looked down and fidgeted a few moments, then looked back and met Ranma's eyes. "I'm not sure how that's supposed to work. I figured I could come visit you while I'm in Tokyo, and then if I get to America, maybe you could come too." Akane knew how week it sounded, but deep in her heart, she knew that she wanted to be a star, and Ranma would never give her the credit she so deeply wanted. Oh sure, if she surprised her by coming along with her, she wouldn't object...maybe.

"Oh" She hated to admit that this surprised, and slightly hurt her. Oh sure she teased her, and called her names, but when it came down to it, she was the closest thing she had to a real friend since Ukyo. They had been through a lot together, and she had done everything he could for her when the chips were down. That childish part of her that wanted to be the center of attention cringed at the realization that she was considering moving on.

They sat there a few more seconds, Akane began to say something when a familiar bell sounded and a shape loomed above Ranma only to crash down on him a moment later. "Nihao Airen! You ready to take Shampoo on date? Talk more about wonderful life in village?"

"Not now Shampoo" Ranma extracted himself from beneath the bike. "Can't you see I'm talkin' to somebody"

"I see Kitchen Destroyer leaving...so we can go on date, Yes?" Shampoo reached into her basket and pulled out a thermos of hot water. "I fix it so we go on real date, OK?" she said as she splashed Ranma with some of the warm water, shifting her to his male form.

Ranma turned around to see Akane stomping off. Oh well, so much for the magic moment of her letting down her guard. As he watched Akane walk away, a growing resentment built.

"Shampoo! I sat down to talk with you, and listened to your ideas. I told you that I was going to talk to other people, couldn't you let me finish!"

"Why, she no good for you. You no need to talk to anybody else. Come, let's go on date!"

"No Shampoo! Not now, I don't want to be with you right now." Instead of the usual continuation of protests, he just stood up and lept to the fence and then up to the nearby roof.

"Aiyah! Shampoo no understand why Airen so angry. Maybe I talk to great-grandmother about what to do" Shampoo muttered as she rode away on her bicycle.