Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½. Nor do I own Endless, A Silent Whisper. It's a song by a Filipino band called Urbandub.
Chapter 3
Doctor Tofu refused to believe it. He blinked his eyes a couple of times and checked the paper he held in his hands once again. It was still there. He wasn't just imagining it. The words were printed as clear as day. 'This can't be happening.' He thought. 'I have to tell her soon. I can't keep this from her… but what about her family?' He didn't know if he should tell her family too. 'I guess I'll have to talk to her first. Geez, Tofu. You've known this girl since she was but a child. You know she won't hate you for whatever news you bring her… Kami-sama… Help me… No… Help her.' With that last thought, Doctor Tofu made his way up the stairs towards the room where Akane Tendo is resting.
"Ukyo?" Akane asked again.
"Yes, Akane. It's me, Ucchan. How are you now?" Ukyo smiled. Akane looked at her fiance's fiancée. She saw pure concern in her friend's eyes. She smiled and closed her eyes.
"I'm okay now, Ucchan. Tell me… What happened? And how did I get here?" Akane saw Ukyo hesitate.
"I guess I should tell you about my secret. See… Ucchan, it's like this… I've been fainting frequently these past few weeks. I guess it might be because of the stress. So don't worry. I'm okay now." Akane narrated to Ukyo. She watched as Ukyo digested the newfound information.
"I see. I got really worried because for you, a really strong girl, to faint like that… There must be a reason. I guess it's just stress. But please get better, Akane. We're not sure if stress is really the culprit." 'Because I have the strangest feeling that it isn't.' She continued in her mind.
"So how did I get here, anyway?" Akane gestured to the whole room. 'Ranma must've carried me here. He probably went home to tell the others.' She thought.
"I carried you here. I saw you faint and I gave you a piggyback ride." That stopped Akane's musings about Ranma's absence. Ukyo saw a strange look pass on Akane's face.
"You do remember what happened before you fainted, right?" Ukyo checked.
"You mean it wasn't a dream? It really happened?" her voice was shaking. 'Ranma was really kissing that new girl! It wasn't some nightmare! It really happened!' Akane felt her heart constrict at the thought.
"He didn't know that I saw him?" She saw Ukyo nod at her question.
"He didn't stop when I fainted?" Akane wanted to know.
"No." Tears started to well up in Akane's eyes. She looked up and forced her tears back. 'I can't believe him.' Ukyo saw this and tried to reason out.
"He didn't know that you fainted! So there's nothing to be sad about, Akane." Ukyo stuttered.
"Look, Akane. You probably don't know this but Ranma really cares about you… I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you. He cares more for you than anyone else, even himself." Akane sighed and felt her heart clench. 'Ranma, you idiot. I'm so tired.'
"Ucchan… I find that hard to believe. With the way that he treats me… Well… I don't know… I could say that I'm one of the people he hates the most. Maybe he cares… but only a little… But Ucchan… Ranma doesn't love me. From the way I see things he probably loves that Miyuki girl. I mean… He kissed her, right? And he's such a gentleman when it comes to her. I think it's time to let him go." Akane's voice was filled with pain. 'Akane, don't do this.' Ukyo thought. 'He cares for you… I know he does… But…'
"But Akane! After all you two have been through together?! I gave up on Ranma already. You know that. It's because I feel… No! I know that it's you that he loves. I'm willing to help the two of you get together! Come on, Akane! I know that you love him!"
"Yes, Ukyo! I do love him!" Akane shouted. She stopped and tears poured down her face. Ukyo was shocked.
"I love him so much it hurts… Do you know how much it hurts whenever he calls me uncute? Unsexy? Whenever he tells everyone how much he dislikes our engagement?! Do you know how much it hurts whenever I hear him call you cute? A good cook? A good friend? Do you know how much it hurts to see him laughing and having fun with you? It hurt me big time when he actually went after Shampoo during the cursed jewel thing. I love him, Ukyo… But he doesn't love me… He'd be much happier with another girl. I mean… Come on… Who'd he rather be with? A sweet Miyuki Fujiyama? Or a violent tomboy with zero sex appeal? He has never failed to inform me of how thick my thighs are. To Ranma, there will always be something wrong with me. So please. Ukyo. Stop making it seem that Ranma actually might love me. Because I can't take it anymore. I don't want to live a lie." With Akane's last sentence came a bone-crushing hug from Ukyo. Both had tears flowing freely down their faces. 'I never knew that Akane felt that way… Poor Akane.'
"Shhhh… Hush now, Akane… It's going to be okay…" 'Now I know what you really feel… I'll do everything I can to make your life better… Not as payment to what I've done to you before but because… you're my friend.'
"I can do this." Tofu whispered to himself as he stood in front of Akane's room. He heard sobbing coming from inside and hesitated. 'If she's crying now, what would she do after I tell her? Kami-sama, help us.' His hands were fidgeting as he readied himself to deliver the news to his dreamgirl's sister.
"Akane? Ukyo? It's me, Doctor Tofu. I'm coming in." and with that he entered.
Both girls looked up at the sound of the doctor's voice. They quickly dried their tears and plastered smiles on their beautiful faces. Doctor Tofu made his entrance as calm as can be. He can't show any signs of weakness. He took a long look at Akane and sat down beside her on her bed.
"Hi, Akane-chan. How are you now? Feeling better?" he asked. When he saw Akane nod, he looked at Ukyo, who was sitting on Akane's other side, and smiled at her.
"I heard you've been watching over Akane. Thank you for bringing her here. You made the right decision." Ukyo smiled at him and asked when Akane can leave the clinic.
"Oh… About that… Ukyo… Can I talk to Akane alone? There's something important I need to discuss with her." The two girls felt the sudden tension in the air and realized that what he had to say must be serious. 'His tone makes me dread hearing what he has to say.' Ukyo thought. 'Maybe this is what I've been dreading ever since Akane fainted. I hope not.' Ukyo's worry grew as she saw the doctor's eyebrows meet. She noticed how his hands were unsteady and thought that Akane might need her there when he talks to her.
"Do you think I can stay, Doc? I mean… Akane might be okay but I think she needs someone with her right now and seeing as I'm here… Well… Can I stay?" Ukyo pleaded. The doctor was about to shake his head no when he heard Akane speak.
"I think whatever you need to say can be said in front of Ucchan, Doctor Tofu. We're friends and I think I need someone with me right now." Doctor Tofu took a deep breath and sighed. 'Let me do this right. Kami, please let me do this right.' With that thought he began his questioning.
"Akane… Have you fainted before? Before today?" he questioned. He looked at the girl and saw her pale. He saw her shake her head and nod.
"Okay… How many times have you fainted? Do you think you can remember?" he watched as Akane clasped her hands together.
"Um… About two or three times a week…" He saw Ukyo straighten up from her slouched position.
"Ever since when?" He watched as Ukyo look at Akane worriedly as Akane plays with her fingers.
"The failed wedding." Was her whispered reply. Ukyo gasped at the news.
"Does anyone know about this?" He was given a shake of the head as a reply. 'She's been fainting that long and she's never told anyone about it?!' Ukyo thought worriedly. She took one of Akane's cold hands.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Akane felt Ukyo give her hand a comforting squeeze. She looked at Doctor Tofu in the eye.
"I don't want anyone to worry about me." Akane answered honestly.
"Akane… Listen…" Doctor Tofu felt his chest tighten at what he was about to do. 'Kami-sama, here it goes.'
"I know why you have been fainting frequently. I checked your body and found some bruises that weren't there before and… Well…" Doctor Tofu took of his glasses and cleared his throat.
"I guess Jusendo and the failed wedding has really taken its toll on your immune system. It seems that due to the overdose of poisons and potions, your body's immune system seems to have weakened. Akane…" He took both of Akane's hands and looked her in the eye. Akane felt her heart start beating wildly. 'What's going on?' she thought. Ukyo put her hands on Akane's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. 'I'm here for you.' She told Akane mentally.
"Akane… You have leukemia." Silence. Nothing can be heard in the small room that contained three people. Ukyo and Doctor Tofu didn't dare to move. They were both looking at Akane expectantly. What they saw chilled them. Akane looked dead. Her face was void of all emotions. Tears sprang on Ukyo and the doctor's eyes. Akane pulled her hands away from Doctor Tofu and closed her eyes. She sighed.
"I told you, Ukyo… It's better if I just let him go. What use would I be to him if I'm sick? If I was a burden to him before then I don't know what I am now." They heard her chuckle and it sent chills down their spine. 'I can't believe it. I have leukemia. I guess this answers my question.' Akane thought.
"Akane…" Ukyo made a move to wrap her arms around the smaller girl when she suddenly found Akane lying down on her bed. 'Akane… No… This can't be happening… I am one of the reasons why you're like this… I helped in that failed wedding…Oh kami! Now I'm really set on making you happy, Akane… You deserve so much more…' Ukyo thought. Doctor Tofu cleared his throat.
"I'll be going now, Akane-chan… I'm really sorry. But I'll do whatever I can to save you. I called up my friends from America to contact the experts in the field of cancer. We will save you. You will live a long life…" He hugged the girl and gave her forehead a warm kiss. He stood up and patted Ukyo's shoulder. He made his way towards the door.
"I'll call your family now and let them know." He had his hand on the doorknob when he heard Akane call out his name.
"Please don't tell him. You can tell my family… But please… Don't tell Ranma." With a curt nod, Doctor Tofu made his exit.
It's been an hour since the doctor dropped the bomb on Akane and Ukyo. Both girls have been silent ever since. Akane just lay on the bed and stared off into space. Ukyo was crying silently. She couldn't believe the sudden turn of events. 'If this is how I feel, miserable and gloomy, then… How must Akane feel? She's the center of it all… Awww… Akane… Finding out you have cancer must be hard… Seeing Ranma, the man you love, kissing another girl is hard too… Oh Akane… Please let me help you…'
"Akane?" Ukyo tried asking the still girl. She was afraid Akane would ignore her.
"Yes, Ucchan?" She sighed in relief. Akane sat up and took both of Ukyo's hands in her own. She started playing with Ukyo's fingers when the owner of the fingers asked her.
"Why don't you want Ranma to know? Don't you think he has a right to know?" Ukyo asked curiously. She felt Akane stop playing with her fingers. She heard Akane's defeated sigh.
"Ucchan… I don't want Ranma to start acting different around me because I'm sick… I don't want him to start treating me better because he feels guilty or obliged to… I don't want to keep him from loving Miyuki because of me…"
"But you said you love Ranma… Why, Akane?" Ukyo chose that moment to stand up and look out of the window. She started pacing around the room and settled herself on the chair by the window.
"I'm tired, Ucchan. Like what I said awhile ago, before Doc's announcement, I'm setting Ranma free… I'll tell our fathers that I'm canceling the engagement. I'm letting him go. I want him to be with who he wants to be… with Miyuki." Ukyo watched as Akane dropped her head. She looked at Akane as the girl stared at her clasped hands in her lap.
"My life is in chaos. I don't want it to be any more complicated than it is. I'm going to live a normal life. I'll go to school. I'll train in martial arts. I'll be okay." Akane whispered.
"But will you be happy? If you're letting Ranma be with Miyuki, will you be happy?" Ukyo questioned.
"No. But I'll be contented knowing that he's happy. That's all that matters to me. I love him, Ukyo. True. But there's no point in fighting for him when not only people but also circumstances are tearing us apart. It's like the kamis are telling me that we simply aren't meant to be. That's it." Akane's smile didn't quite seem to lift the corners of her lips.
"Is there anything I can do, Akane-chan?" It was Ukyo's voice that was faltering. She thought weak of herself to cry at the situation when Akane, the one who had more right to feel bad, was handling it quite well. Akane looked up and took a deep breath.
"Just promise me one thing, Ucchan."
"Anything, Akane. I'll do it."
"Promise me never to tell Ranma of my sickness." Ukyo's eyes grew wide at the request. She saw Akane look at her pleadingly and gave in.
"I promise." She whispered. And with that said a lone tear made its way down Akane's right cheek.
End of Chapter 3
Author's Notes:
Okay. Hi everyone. First, I would like to extend my deepest apologies if I have not updated for quite some time. It's just that it's my first year in college and I'm getting used to everything. College is very different from high school. So yeah. That's it. I also wanted to thank everyone who read my Rurouni Kenshin one-shot entitled 'Perfectly'. I might bring Shampoo and the other characters into the story soon. I told you guys before and I'll tell you again that I'm no writer that's why I'm having a difficult time writing this fanfic. So I'm really sorry about that. This chapter is longer than my previous 2 chapters so I hope that makes up for the wait. I know that the turn of events might be shocking but I wanted something normal as Ranma's enemy. I mean, leukemia isn't something Ranma can fight. His martial arts can't be used to save Akane this time. This is RanmaXAkane. It's just that I want reality to catch up on them. I'm really sorry if you don't like the turn of events but things will get better, I hope. So there… Thanks again!
Thank you, by the way, to those who reviewed for the previous chapter:
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Once again I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this stupid product of curiosity made by me.
-TheReviewerGirl