A/N: *--, This bold symbol means memories.. I hope it will help you read this chapter :)..
Akio was shocked at first when suddenly he saw that a person has popped up at his doorway from nowhere, then when he recognised the person , instantly his confusion turned into pure full fledged anger..! He angrily pointed an accusing finger at him and said furiously,
"YOU!! You are that guy who always stays with that Ukyo!! Why did you come here, huh?"
Konatsu bowed down infront of them and said in a trembling tone,
"I came here to apologize to you guys! Especially, to Ranma-sama!" He looked up at them with determination and told them in a hard tone,
"Ranma-Sama is innocent! He hadn't done anything to betray Miss Akane!"
"Then how do you explain to me the scene that me and Akane had witnessed that night!! And how are you going to justify Ranma's absence for two days?!" Akio asked him furiously.
Ranma turned to face Akio angrily as he snapped at him, saying,
"I don't know what you are talking about , Akio!! But I know one thing for sure, I WOULD NEVER BETRAY AKANE!! YOU ARE WRONG!!"
"I AM NOT WRONG!! I AM TELLING WHAT I HAVE SEEN, SAOTOME!!"
"YOU ARE LYING, AKIO!!" Ranma argued angrily.
"I AM NOT LYING, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS LYING HERE!!" Akio retorted with the same anger in his voice..
Ranma growled in anger as he said with his greeted teeth,
"Why…you… Akio! I have heard enough from you!!! Now shut the hell up and tell me where my Akane is.."
"Boys , boys please calm down before the neighbors decide to call the police on us!!" Konatsu tried to calm them down as he asked them to stop in a hush tone.
They both gave him a deadly stare as he sighed and said in a urgent tone,
"If you guys fight like a kid now, you will get in more trouble..! Please listen to me first.. it's really urgent..!!"
"So, you came here to tell me that Ranma is innocent!? That, what we saw that night was nothing but misunderstanding!?" Akio snapped at him in a harsh tone.
Ranma growled in irritation as he snapped at Akio, saying,
"No!! He came here to tell me that you are the ONE who is lying!!"
"NO ONE IS LYING HERE!!" Konatsu snapped at both of them when he sensed that a big fight is about to happen between them again. Ranma and Akio looked at him in disbelief as Konatsu sighed and said in a much calmer tone,
"Please , let me explain it to you clearly.. Otherwise, we will invite more troubles for us.."
Ranma and Akio looked at Konatsu with a serious manner as they told him simultaneously,
"We are listening.." *
Nodoka got tired of her tears, she had been crying since she had scolded Ranma for his dishonesty. However, no matter how many times she wants to believe that her son is wrong; his mesary filled tone kept ringing on her ear, making it difficult for her to ignore his pleading,
*'Mom!! I am innocent!!'*
Nodoka wanted to believe him so badly; but the way she saw Akane's crying face, the broken state of that poor child; just by thinking about that scene her heart is not allowing her to forgive her son this time.
'But.. I should have at least give him the opportunity to explain to me why he did that to her.. I shouldn't have pushed him away like that! I think I should go downstairs and see what he has to say to me..And if he is telling the truth then, maybe….'
Thinking that to herself, she slowly stood up and started walking out from her room. But when she reached the living room, unfortunately she again found her home to be completely quiet and empty. It didn't take her long to understand the fact that her son has left after she dismissed talking with him. She sighs tiredly as she silently stands on the porch with a broken heart.
After she met the Tendos and then her son, she completely forgot how it felt to be alone. She has lived her whole life all by herself, missing her family life, earning for love and care. When she started living with Akane and Ranma, the love and care she got from her kids, it took away all the mesary from her life. As she kept standing there on the porch, in her depressing silent house, all the pleasant memories of her childs started to roaming on her brains. As if she could actually see and feel their presence around her; Akane and Ranma's constant childish bekaring, their laughter filled conversations, the way they used to play around each other, their teasing , crying, caring for eachother, it was filled with so much pure love and emotions that , she never felt alone when she used to stay with both of them. How she wishes everything to come back as it was before. But as hard as it is, she knows her wish won't come true this time.. Everything is messed up,nothing will fix this time... She chocked on her sobs as she whispers to herself,
"Oh Kami.. Please do some miracles... Please bring my kids back to my arms.. please, please…."*
"Yeah yeah I understand the seriousness of the situation, Devid! Don't worry I am on my way and I promise, as soon as I reach, the first thing I will do is visit your office, okay?! …. I promise it won't take long.. Thank you so much.. I will see you soon , then? Ok, bye!!"
Suki sighs tiredly as she cuts the call and murmured to herself,
"Just my luck!! This is the last person I wanted to work with!! Darn!!"
"Are you alright,aunt Su?" Nabiki asked as she sat beside her.
Suki sighs tiredly and said plainly,
"It's devid!"
"Oh! That crazy dramatic guy you hate so much!!!"
"Ummhmm..I have no other choice left, I have to work with him!! Now he wants me to visit him as soon as we land there!! Can you believe him!!"
"That creep!!"
"Anyway, forget about him, where is Akane?"
Nabiki smiles at her and twinkles her eyebrows to show her where her sister is sitting at. Suki sighs as she saw her daughter sitting at the waiting area, a book in her hands as she was hiding her face with the book.
"Oh my poor child!! She must be so sad!" Suki whispers in a sad tone.
"Ummhmm.. I feel sad for her too. But... are you going to tell her that she is holding the book upside down , or should I tell her myself..?"
Suki gave Nabiki a narrow look, but couldn't stop smiling hearing her silly laughter. She shook her head at her and slowly makes her way towards Akane and sat beside her quietly. She looked at her and noticed that she still hasn't noticed that she has sat beside her.
Akane had a distant expression on her face, her eyes unblinking, a sad feature clouding her appearance. Suki sighs as she clears her voice to announce her presence to her. Akane jerked slightly at the sudden sound, she quietly turned to face Suki and tried to give her a small smile. Suki smiled back at her and asked her in a concern filled tone,
"Are you okay?"
Akane smiled at her and whispered softly,
"Yes, mom!! Just .. a little bit tired that's all…"
Suki smiled back at her and asked her again,
"Are you sure? Because I think my daughter is trying to hide something from me.."
Akane blinked her eyes in confusion and asked her,
"I am fine , mom.. Why would you think something like that..!"
Suki sighed and took the book from Akane's hand and put it back to her hand in the right way. At that exact moment Akane realized her mistake as she sighed defeatedly . She closed the book and put it on her lap. She looked down at the book on her lap and heard her aunt telling her,
"I know dear, this situation is not easy for you. But.. but if you want you can still change your mind, you know.."
Akane closed her eyes tightly and shook her head,
"Please mom; I don't want to change anything. I want to leave this place as soon as I can. I am feeling suffocated here.."
Suki dreadfully looked at her and said in a concern filled tone,
"Oh honey.. I am sorry that you have to go through all this, but please calm down and tell me what's really bothering you.."
Akane gave a big sigh and said in a low whisper tone,
"I.. I just… Honestly, I am missing Obasama a lot.."
"Nodoka?!"
Akane nodded her head and continued saying,
"We were not like this, right mom? We have went through lots of hardships,but we never acted selfishly! I am feeling as if I have become so selfish dealing with my own problems that I didn't even think of going to her to see her; to see if she is doing alright or if …. if her son has returned to her so that he could take care of her… Now that I am here, I just.. I just wish we would have gone to her first so that we could at least say bye to her and at least see for ourselves how she is doing..."
Suki silently kept staring at Akane; she was astonished to find that the thing which is bothering her for days, her daughter is feeling the same way right now. She also wanted to see Nodoka before coming here, but she didn't want to leave Akane and she was also concerned
that Akane might not like the idea to going back to the Saotome's house to check on Nodoka. And that's the only reason she had to keep a distance from her. But now, after hearing Akane, she is beginning to feel like a selfish woman herself. However , she knows that now they can't go and meet her and the only way she could find out about how Nodoka is doing is….
She sighs sadly and carefully takes her mobile out from her pocket. *
Nodoka still stood by the porch, a small smile on her face as memories of Ranma and Akane were playing over mind again and again. Her house was completely silent, rooms dark, the only way she is finding peace was by drowning into her day dreaming. Her lost her mind in a peaceful state when suddenly she jerked in fear when she heard her phone ringing. She was confused at first, but upon understanding, she quickly ran to the phone and received the call with her shaky hand.
"He— hello? Saotome residence.."
"Nodoka?"
Nodoka took a sharp surprise breath when she heard the knowing voice. Her heart started to beat fast as she whispers in reply,
"Suki!! Oh my goodness!! Dear.. how are you? Where are you now?"
"Oh Nodoka, we are now at the airport. We are leaving today, dear. I am really sorry I couldn't come to meet you before leaving .."
"Please, please don't say anything about it. I know why you didn't come.."
"I know you would understand.. Now tell me, are you alright, my friend?" Suki asked in a low worrisome tone.
Nodoka sighs and said,
"Ummhmm.. I am absolutely fine, dear. And now that I know my Akane is in safe hands, I can rest properly.."
"What!! What are you trying to say!!"
Nodoka gave a soft giggle and said,
"Silly me! Don't worry too much about me, Suki. I am fine."
"Then why would you say something so horrible like that?"
"Oh Suki, I am sorry that I made you worried about me, but trust me I am absolutely fine here.. it's just.."
"It's just what? Tell me..."
Nodoka hold the phone tightly with her both hands, she was trying hard to hold back her tears as she said in a shaky tone,
"It's just.. This is way too lonely for me!! I don't know.. I don't know why I am feeling this way suddenly !! I am used to staying like this for a longer period of my life!! But after staying with you guys, now it's like.. it's .." Nodoka paused as soft sob sound escaped from her lips.
"Oh Nodoka.." Suki whispers in a miserable tone.
Nodoka sniffed and said in a more strong tone,
"Don't worry about me, please. I know I will be fine. Don't forget Suki, you have a promise to take care of. The promise that you made with Natsumi-chan!"
"But what about you..?"
"It will pass, Suki. I know it will.."
"What about Ranma? Is he home yet?"
Nodoka was silent for some moment; she didn't even know how to answer her question. Suddenly, Ranma's pleading filled miserable tone began to roam through her mind again and again, making her unable to answer her.
'Mom I am innocent!!!'*
"Nodoka! Are you there? Hello?"
Nodoka sighs and said softly,
"Yeah I am here. Suki.. don't worry about anything at the moment; I will be fine, okay? Anyway, I don't need any Saotomes to be by my side to be happy !"
Suki got silent as she couldn't find anything to ask her anymore. Nodoka sighs and asked her,
"When is your flight?"
Suki smirks humorlessly as she she replied to her,
"Guess what.. they just announced that we have to board the plane.."
Nodoka gulped the lump that just suddenly formed. She composed herself and said,
"Th- that's great then.. You guys have a very safe and healthy journey, dear.. And Suki, can I ask a favor from you?"
"Yes Nodoka, anything .."
Nodoka sniffed and said in a trembling tone,
"Tell my Akane that, I love her with the bottom of my heart. Tell her that I have always seen her as my own daughter. I know after what my son did to her I shouldn't be asking this from her; but please, could you ask her not to forget me ever? Can you ask her to forgive me ? I just hope.. I just hope that she won't hate me…"
"Oh Nodoka.. you know you can always talk to her.. let me pass the phone.."
"No!! No, please no!! My poor child has suffered a lot already. Don't make it harder for her, Suki..! Dear, you guys take care, okay? And please call me after you reach there.. I will be waiting for your call.. bye for now , take care.."
Nodoka quickly puts the phone down and instantly broke down into tears..*
Suki sighs and looks at her cellphone in her hand. Then she heard Akane's soft tone asking her,
"Mom…. Is she.. is she alright?"
Nodoka plainly looked at Akane and saw how worried her daughter is looking at that moment. She gave her a small smile and pulled her towards her to give her a warm hug..
"Mom?"
Suki sighs and began to crease her hair softly as she whispers to her,
"You are right, my child.. We have changed a lot.. Suddenly, we have become so selfish! But.. We were not like this before and I know for sure that, if my Natsumi-oneechan were still alive, she would have been very much disappointed with us.. But… but honey, we don't have any other choice left now, do we..?"
Suki broke their hug and laid her warm palm over Akane's wet cheek as she lovingly whispered to her,
"You have always listened to me, Akane. And because of that, you had to go through lots of difficulties, my child. That time, I always used to encourage you to be strong and get a hold onto your emotions. And today also, I am telling you the same thing. Be strong, Akane!! Have control over your emotions.."
"Oh mom.."
"Hey guys, we will be late if we don't hurry up now!! Time to get started on our new journey.." Nabiki said in an encouraging tone as she came by their side.
Suki smiled up at her and nodded her head; then turning to Akane she whispers to her,
"Yes Akane; let's start this new adventure together.."*
Akio and Ranma both got completely speechless after they heard Konatsu's explanations. They were too surprised to react to his revelations and became way too dumbfounded by the whole situation. Konatsu impatiently looked at them and said in a panic tone,
"Oh my! Why are you guys looking at me like this? Please say something.. We don't have time!!"
Ranma growled after hearing that as he asked him in a heated tone,
"How could ya do this to me!! YA GAVE ME SLEEPING PILLS, YOU MORONS?!!"
"I.. I didn't give you! Mistress did.."
"Look, I still don't believe whatever you are saying, you hear me?" Akio said while pointing an accusing finger at Konatsu. Then he added saying, "But if you are really in Ranma's side, then why would you let her give pills to Ranma?"
Ranma looked at Konatsu for the answer as Konatsu replied in a shaky tone,
"Oh!! I swear to my Kami, I didn't have any idea that she was putting pills on Ranma's food! I was just feeding him as she asked me to do. Then yesterday I accidentally spilled the soup on the ground and she became furious at me. She behaved so unusually cruelly that I suspected her actions and decided to secretly spy on her and I found out that she is mixing sleeping powder on their food!! Believe me, I just found out about it last night and from that time on, I didn't feed any food to Ranma that my mistress had made! I made sure to stay by his side all the time and that's the only reason why he woke up today! Otherwise, she was planning to make him sleep for longer period, trust me!"
"Then why didn't you inform his mother last night..?" Akio asked him angrily.
"I was confused, OKAY!!" Konatsu said breathlessly as he continued saying, "All the things were happening so fast!! I couldn't even understand what is happening anymore! All I wanted is to bring Ranma back from sleep so he can handle this situation by himself!!"
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT SITUATION HE IS IN NOW!!!" Akio roared angrily.
Ranma turned to look at Akio with a helpless expression as he heard him saying in a bitter tone,
"Me and Akane had practically seen him in Ukyo's room without his damn clothes and that woman was wearing his shirt too!! And it certainly didn't look like an innocent act to either of us!!"
Ranma's face instantly turned blue as his blood becomes cold out of fear, he looked at Konatsu for some answers. Konatsu looked at Ranma with a miserable state as he said in a pleading tone,
"That's why I took the risk of coming here! Because I know that the situation Ranma is in now is not as simple as I thought before! Look, I didn't had any idea about that night's incident, Akio. If I knew that mistress had gone this far with this, I would have gone to Akane-chan and explained everything to her myself! But I only came to know about all these incidents some minutes ago! When..when ... when Mr Saotome also woke up from his deep sleep."
"Pop!? But how did he!?"
"Mistress asked me to put him in our stock room for the time being and I was kinda giving him the same food that I used to give you. That's why he was unconscious as long as you were. But today after you left, he also woke up and found out about the sleeping pills and now he is messing things up way more vividly!!"
"What's more to mess up here!!" Akio asked tiredly, ..
"You see, after he found out about all the incident he started his bribing again… And this time it's more dangerous then any of his other bribings..."
* "So, I see… You have tangled things up very badly, miss Ukyo!!" Genma said in a hard tone as he kept eating his Okonomiyaki, he looked up at her suspiciously as he asked her, "You haven't mixed anything in it, did you?"
Ukyo sighs and said in a low tone,
"I swear on God, please trust me.."
"Trust you! Huh! Ya must be kidding me.. Anyway, are you sure this is the only secret you are sharing with me or you have more store!? "
"I have told you everything..!" She replied hesitantly.
" I think you are still hiding a big secret from me... Huh, Serve yourself then , young lady! Later don't tell me I didn't warn ya!! I thought you were smart , but now I think you are an extremely clumsy player..!"
Ukyo looked down at her lap as she lost into deep thinking. She looked up at Konatsu and then decided to tell them about the incident about Akane and Akio. After her explanation is finished, Konatsu almost dropped the plate he was holding, because he could never imagine her mistress to do something so low as that. But in other hand, Genma looked quite impressed with her as he smirked and said to her,
"I want to take my words back then. You are an evil player, I must say. I have underestimated ya! Anyway, your planing was good but it's quite risky, young lady!"
"Risky!?"
"Don't look surprised … Ranma would sure find out sooner or later about his two days sleeping and worse he would definitely find out about that incident with Akane.."
Ukyo thumbed her fists over the table as she said,
"But he can't find out about the incident! You won't tell him, right?"
"Won't I !?" He started laughing hard; Ukyo growled in annoyance and stood up from her chair. She soon brought hard cash with her and gave it to Gemma's hand. He looked up at her in disappointment and said,
"Is this a joke? You can't shut my mouth with such a low price.."
"This is all I have now.. Please… I will give you more money soon; please help me out of this situation.. I beg you, Mr Saotome.."
Genma smiled at her and said,
"Ya have my word then, my mouth will be sealed; but how could you shut other mouth?"
Ukyo looked at Konatsu and then to Genma as she said,
"I trust Konatsu, he won't tell anyone about it.. and I know Akane already left with her aunt so.."
"And that Akio guy?"
"Akio? But you said they are leaving Nerima!!"
"I SAID Akane is leaving;not him.."
"Oh no!!" Ukyo whispers in panic as she flopped down on her chair in a defeated state,
Genma snickers and said,
" You are completely screwed now, Ukyo. You will now lose Ranma for sure and he will hate you for all his life.. But... If ya promise to give me this property of yours then, I have an idea that might benefit you in every possible way. It will even help you to marry Ranma in no time.."
Ukyo hopefully looked up at him and begged him by saying,
" I will write this property in your name. I am giving you my word. Please tell me what I have to do.. please.. I don't want to lose Ranma.."
Genma smiled at her and said,
"That's like a good girl! Anyways, Your planning was good but with major faults in it. That's why it will be better for you if you leave Nerima as fast as you can."
"Leave!! But how would that help me?"
" Dumb Ukyo, Ranma will soon come here and demand you to answer his questions!! Not only that, if he finds out about that incident from Akio, he would blow this restaurant just to get his answers from you. And don't forget, you have no answers for any of his questions! That's why you have to elope from this place now and return here after one month.."
"Won't he ask me the same question at that time, Mr Saotome?"
Genma smirks as he replied to her,
"That time you would have an answer ready for him, Ukyo! You would tell him that you are expecting his child. He will deny it for sure, but I will be the witness of it and more vividly Akane and Akio will be the major eye witness of it!! At that time to restore his honour there would be no other choice left for him but to marry you! Me and my wife will force him take responsibility of his actions!! He will scream, he will defend himself, but who will listen to a Casanova? He will be cornered for good and soon he have no other choice left but to marry you and there, your deal with me will be fulfilled!! You understand what I am saying, young lady? Or do you want me to explain it to you more?"
Ukyo's torn face immediately lits up with hope as a sly smile formed on her lips. She looked at him with a determined face and declared hotly,
"Konatsu, pack your things ; we are leaving this instant….!!"*
Ranma's whole body was shaking with anger. He looked at Konatsu with complete disbelief as no word came out of his mouth..
Konatsu gulped and said in trembling tone,
"I am sorry, Ranma-sama. I am so sorry about all this. I know, knowingly and unknowingly I have a hand in all this. I am feeling so guilty for all this. If you want to punish me I will bow down to you and except all the beating from you. But not now, we don't have time for all this. We have to go to the Mistress and stop her from doing such a crime! She has become completely blind now and She is behaving completely recklessly .. We have to stop her!! Please Ranma-sama, I beg you help me to stop her, please..."*
Ukyo was packing her things with a record speed. She couldn't even imagine that the reckless way she have behaved this two days will benefit her in such a great way..! She is more then willing to go with this plan. So what that she have to name this property to Genma, she will get Ranma and that's what more matters to her. It's scaring her that she have to declare to them about her one month fake pregnancy!! But she have to be strong and go with the plan. Anyway, She will marry Ranma soon and immediately become pregnant for real, problem solved!!! She giggled to herself as she busied herself to close all the equipments on her kitchen.
It's like she has to finish endless works before she could leave . She is trying hard to finish all the works as fast as she can. And if she could get one more hand to help her, she would have done all the works more earlier then now. But She had to do all her work by herself; because Konatsu has decided to take a long shower before the elopement! Soon, She finished her work gracefully.. But now that she is done, She was getting angry at Konatsu for taking too long in the washroom. She knows that he has this bad habit of taking too long at the washroom, but he had to understand their situation, he just can't take his sweet time this time..! Ukyo growled in annoyance and decided to call him again,
"Konatsu!! This time I will count to Ten, after that if you don't come from the washroom, I will break that damn door and drag you out from the there, you hear me..!?"
She heard only the loud water sound from inside the door and no reply came out from there. She growled loudly and said in a harsh tone,
"I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU ANYMORE!! COME OUT, OR I WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU, JACKASS!!"
"Why are you in such a hurry, Ucchan?"
Ukyo's eyes went wide with surprise. She hastily turned to face the person who had just suddenly appeared at her doorstep. The bag she was holding fell from her hand as she horrifyingly looked at the person she least wanted to see at that moment…
"Ranchan…"
A/N: I hope you have enjoyed reading it.. Please leave a review guys, I will try my best to post as soon as I can.. Take care :)