Michael Gutin

Disclaimer: Insert another one of my disclaimers here

Pfft, only got one review that I can really respond too, 'cause most of you have been too lazy to review. (You know who you are.)

Anyway, to answer your question ss4-link, think of it this way: For two years, Ranma did nothing to really help his fiancée problem; he just delayed having to face it, even though he knew he would have to eventually. I'd say that's running away, wouldn't you? I mean, he's facing it now, but who's to say how long this bout of bravado will last?

Hehe, bout of bravado is fun to say.

Walking a Thin Line

Chapter 6

Bleeding

I enter Akane's room, and so does she. I take a deep breath. I always pick the worst time to think of these things, don't I? I really should leave the soul searching and self-doubt 'till later.

"Well…" I began, "this is about the wedding. I…I can't let something like that happen again…"

"Huh?" was her brilliant response.

I didn't show it, but on the inside I was seething. Was I honestly the only one who gave a damn about what happened? Apparently so.

"Look, at the wedding, the fiancées they…they crossed a line."

She looked at me, confusion written all over her face. I resisted the urge to smack her upside the head. Gotta remember this is the girl who doesn't know that her pet is really Ryoga, she's a little dense.

"We have to make sure they never do something like that again."

"Why?"

Once again I had the urge to shout out what was on my mind. The thing is, this time I did.

"Because I'm trying to save your stupid ass!"

Akane was shocked at this. So she did what she normally does in response to being shocked, she got angry.

"Hey, I'm a martial artist too! I can defend myself."

And then, at that exact moment, something changed. I don't know exactly why. Perhaps it was all the stress I felt, the nervousness that the plan might fail, the despair that maybe the plan must fail, or maybe it was just two years of frustration that had finally found a target, but right then I…I…

I snapped.

"No…" I muttered.

"Ranma…"

"Shut up! Just shut the fuck up! You damn idiot. You overconfident, prideful, conceited bitch! You're wrong. Why won't you face it? Ukyo and Shampoo could wipe the floor with you, at any time. Don't you fucking get it? YOU. COULD. DIE. At anytime. So why? Why the hell do you keep spouting your martial artist nonsense? Why do you make this so difficult? Do you want to die? Is that it? Because I'm trying to help you. I really am. But you just…you just…"

I shouted all that before I could stop myself. When I finally did, I noticed Akane staring up at me, frightened, and near tears. I know I should've at least tried to say something to explain my outburst, but right then I didn't care, I just plain couldn't give a shit. I don't know how long we sat there, just staring at each other, but eventually Nabiki opened the door, she must've heard the noise all the way in her room.

"What exactly just ha-" was as much as she got out before I pushed her out of the way to exit the room.

She managed to shout a "Hey!" at me before I had left the Tendo house.

Where was I going? I didn't know. I just wanted to go away. I guess I was running away again, but I didn't care. I would be back. I just…couldn't deal with it, not now.

Just one day. One day where I didn't meet any of my fiancés, or had to deal with any of their shit. That's all I wanted. And you know what? That's what I was going to get. I think after two years I deserved a break.

So I just ran. Nowhere in particular, just some quiet, secluded place where I could just lie down and think about something else for once.

I found a spot quite easily. Under some bridge. Not much traffic, and I could just stare at the river under it going by. I got into a comfortable position and just relaxed.

What did I think about? Nothing. Just enjoyed the scenery. It was bliss.

Ironic, isn't it? Humans aren't the fastest nor the strongest. Our one advantage was our brains. And yet here I was, enjoying myself more than I had in such a long time, doing something as brainless as staring at the river before me.

But these types of things never last. And this time I wasn't interrupted by a fiancé jumping out at me, or a rival screaming at me. Nope, this time it was my inability to keep a blank mind. Once your mind starts thinking about something, there's nothing you can do about it. You try to not think about something, you'll only end up concentrating on it even more. So here I was, a victim of my own train of thought, hoping my mind would think of pleasant things.

I started to think about Nabiki. About how she was going to have to explain what happened to Akane. I laughed despite myself. I wondered how she would ever get out of that one. I realized then, just how much Nabiki had been helping me. How much of her time she had devoted, just to help sort out my problems. Not hers, mine. It wasn't like she had to. She owed me nothing. I couldn't even say it would have been mean of her not to, after all, they were problems I created. But she did. It was then I realized just how strange that was. It was always about money with her. I used to be awed by the situations she could extort money out of. And this time, she didn't even ask for money. It made no sense.

Tried as I might, I just couldn't find a reason. So my mind moved on.

A thought rose unbidden from my head, I should thank her. And the more I thought about that, the more I realized it was true. Hmm, maybe I could get her flowers. Yeah, I could come to her, with a bouquet of roses, and I would exclaim "Nabiki! For all that you have done for me, I am eternally grateful, please take this as a small token of my appreciation, and if there is anything else I can do for you, tell me and I shall make it so." And then she would run into my arms and declare "Ranma, the only thing I request is to bask in your presence!" and then we would make out like a pair of….woah, I better stop that train of though while I can.

Now that I think about it, the real thing I should be thinking about now is what the hell I'm going to say to Nabiki when I get back. This isn't going to be easy to explain. Nabiki has been rather nice to me lately, but she has limits. Yup, the only conclusion I can come to is that when I get back, I'm screwed.

And Akane, oh boy, who knows how the hell she took my little outburst. And is this going to screw up the plan…damn. I have to get my mind off of the plan. That's why I came here in the first place.

It was at this point that none other than Mousse charged at me, screaming "You shall not take from me my beloved Shampoo."

I came out from under the bridge only to find Mousse running, and for some reason, not at me. It was then I realized that he did not have his glasses on, and managed to think 'That explains it' before Mousse proceeded to beat the hell out of a nearby lamppost.

Now, you think the texture of the lamppost, or the sound that his weapons made against it would have alerted Mousse that this was metal rather then flesh, but nope, he just kept pounding the crap out of that poor lamppost.

I could've stopped him, I suppose, but let me tell you, there is nothing in the world more entertaining than a fight to the death between a martial artist and a lamppost.

As I edged closer to get a better look, Mousse spotted me, and changed his target accordingly. I had something to I wanted to discuss with Mousse, but I had to do something else first. Remember what I said about sparring being a way to relieve stress? Well, I had a lot to vent. Yup, half an hour of beating up Mousse just enough to keep him conscious for all of it. I suppose it was a bit cruel, but in my defense, he was the one that attacked me, plus, I felt a whole lot better afterwards.

Now that he was on the ground panting, I felt it was an excellent time to discuss things.

"Look, Mousse, we really have to talk about this Shampoo issue." I stated.

"What's there to talk about Saotome, I know you're trying to seduce poor innocent…"

"How about actually listening to me instead of just waiting for your turn to talk for once Mousse? Now, I'm only going to say this once, so be sure to take this down. I, Ranma Saotome, in no way, shape or form, wish to take from you your…erm, 'beloved Shampoo.'"

"But you…" he stuttered.

"Mousse, you know very well that there is a law that is forcing Shampoo to pursue me."

"Yes, but…"

"You want to find away around that law, don't you?"

"I…of course I do!" He exclaimed with newfound vigor.

"Here's the thing Mousse, this key point that you seem to be unaware of: So do I. Do you understand Mousse? We, me and you, we have a common goal. To that end, I propose an alliance of sorts. Both of us, we work together to get me out of this stupid engagement with Shampoo."

Mousse looked at me, clearly still suspicious.

"What do you have to lose Mousse?" I continued "All I'm asking is you check that big ol' book of Amazon laws, and if you find anything that could get me out of this, tell me immediately. Is that so much to ask for?"

"That is…okay, fine Saotome, you have a deal."

"Okay, good."

"Just one thing Saotome."

"Yeah?"

"You…you can dodge my attacks fairly well, can't you?"

"Sure" I answered, not really knowing where this was going.

"You could have dodge me for quite a while, am I right?"

"I suppose." I muttered, trying to maintain any are of humility.

"Say, long enough for you to have explained this to me?"

"Er…yes, I probably could…"

"So then why did you feel the need to beat the hell out of me before having the conversation with me?"

"Ehehehe…about that…" I paused, before shouting "Saotome Special Technique: Run Away!" And, well, you know the rest.

Author's Note: I liked writing this chapter a lot. It's weird, because, I'm all for a Ranma and Akane pairing, I'm not one of the many people who virulently hate Akane, but, the part where Ranma was shouting at Akane, that felt damn good to write. And, the funny thing is, I never really intended it to happen. About two lines before it did, I just got in my head that this would be an excellent place for Ranma to get pissed off at Akane, and just went with it. So yeah, that's about all I have to say.

No wait, I do have one more thing to say, review, because it makes me feel all tingly inside. You want me to feel tingly, don't you? I thought so.