"I blame myself for everything that you've gone through, Akane, and I will never forgive myself. I haven't accepted the fact that you're in that much pain." My heart tightens into a knot. "Akane…. I wish I could tell you that. Tomorrow, I'm going to do anything and everything that you want to do. Hopefully, you'll forgive me one day."
Ranma, you're so stupid! I've already forgiven you! It's YOU who hasn't forgiven yourself!
"When you were screaming my name, what were you dreaming Akane?" He whispers. "Were you mad at me again? Did I do something wrong?"
"Shut up." I say. Woops.
"Wh-wh-what?!" Ranma speaks loudly. "Akane?!"
"Ranma, everything you just said was wrong." I open my eyes. I'm FURIOUS! How could he blame himself?! "How can you blame yourself for something that I instigated?! Ranma, this is not because of YOU! And Ranma," I shout, and eventually quiet down to a whisper. "I've been having the same nightmare for the past two or three days. It's the same one over and over again. I find myself in a dark space, not being able to get out, and finding you there, … dead." I look up into his face. His eyes are fixated on something in the room. Either that or he just doesn't want to look at me. His eyebrows weaken and his sea blue eyes navigate their way to stare straight into mine.
"Oh, Akane…" He swiftly moves the hair from my tear stricken eyes.
"Right now, I just wanted to know you were still alive. That's why I wanted you to stay here. I don't want you dying." I grip his shirt in my hands.
"I don't want you dying either." He smiles and pokes my forehead.
"I'm glad we agree on at least one thing." I say shrewdly. Well, at least it's a start. "Can you take me outside?"
"Outside? Why?" He questions.
"I want to see the snow." I pip and lean up in bed. I stop. "Just, don't get anywhere near ice. Okay?"
"Okay, okay, sheesh. Hop on, clumsy." He taunts and offers me his back. He piggybacks me down the stairs and out into the garden. The white blanket covers the entire space! All I can see is white!
"Oh my, it's so pretty." I gawk and get down. I look up at Ranma who seems to be shivering. His face is blue. I rub some friction into his limbs. Without warning, I decide to do something. I lean up and nuzzle his cheek. Not for me, not for him, but for my heart. My heart doesn't know he's alive yet. Why would I have these terrible nightmares?
"Akane.." He turns to face me, his face the color of a ripe, red radish.
"I'm sorry, it must be my fever, I really didn't mean to…" I say loudly, scratch that burning point on my head, and look out at the snow.
"It's okay, Akane," He smiles. "I don't mind it. To be honest, I'm glad it was you and not Shampoo, Ukyo, or anyone else." A grin pecks at the corners of my mouth.
"Let's go up." I say. Ranma hoists me up on his back and starts walking. I close my eyes. I wish I could stay like this forever…. He's so warm. He gently lays me down on my bed and tucks me under the covers.
"Have good dreams tonight, Akane." He says blankly. The duck on my door paddles against it to make a tapping noise until it eventually subsides. Good dreams..
"Akane! Akane! Wake up! Wake up!" Someone calls. Who is it? Is it Ranma? I groan and blink open my eyes. Huh. I never noticed the paint on my ceiling was peeling. I better tell Kasumi. "Akane! Akane! Mr. Saotome and Ranma are gone!" Kasumi says a bit louder than usual. What? They're gone?! I flip off the covers and run into the Saotome room. Oh my god.. It's empty. It appears as though there's never been a trace of anyone living here!
"Akane! I'll figure it out. Right now, you have to get to school! I know you're doing better, and you'll be expelled if you have many more absent days! Do you know what that will be like for the Tendo family?" My father cries from the room next door.
"Okay, fine! Just please figure it out!" I say. I go back to my room, throw on my uniform, brush my matted hair, and prance back into Ranma's room. It's completely empty… Why Ranma? I sigh and walk down the creaking steps that groan with every movement I make. I run to the kitchen, grab my lunch, and I'm out the door.
"I'm so late! I'm so late! It's all your fault Ran-" I bark, then stop. Ranma… I start running next to the fence, which he usually uses when going to school. Nobody's there. Where did you go, Ranma? And Mr. Saotome… I reach school early. In fact, 10 minutes early. I guess without Ranma, I'm not late after all. I clench my hands into fists and slam my head on my desk. A tear trickles down and onto my notebook, blurring the title of the notebook, 'Math', into something unreadable. I used to help Ranma with his math homework… I sit up and rub my eyes. I'm done. I sit there motionlessly, through class, through lunch, until the bell rings and it's time to go home. I loop my scarf around my neck and pull my hat over my head. I make my way down the market street, nearing Ukyo's restaurant, when I hear a voice.
"A-a-a-Aka-ne?" Someone says.
"R-r-r," I glow with a happy yellow light and turn around. "Ryoga?"
"Hi, Akane. Listen. I have something to tell you." He fumbles with his umbrella and walks up to me. I can smell the stench of mud on him from 10 feet away. "It's about Ranma."
"Ranma? You wouldn't know what happened to him, would you?" I pipe up and get in Ryoga's face. "Ryoga, I need you to tell me what you know!"
"OK-OK, Akane. I will. Ranma came to me early this morning asking me to take care of you. Oh and to give you this." Ryoga says calmly and shifts something around in his pack to try and find what he's looking for. He brings out a white cloth. My handkerchief. It has a message on it! I snatch it and begin to read.
Akane-
I know you're probably wondering where I am. Don't worry. I'm safe, and the important thing is that you are too. See since I'm the one that hurt you in a silly game, if I was to ever get mad at you for something, who knows what would happen. So, I've decided to move somewhere where I can't hurt you ever again. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm just too much of a coward to see you in pain. Hopefully, since I'm trying to move on, you can too.
Signed,
Ranma Saotome
Ranma.. You're such a dummy! Dummy, dummy.. I bite my lip to prevent myself from crying.
"Ryoga, did he tell you where he was going?" I stare into his deep, brown eyes. I wish I could know what he was thinking right now.
"I- I don't know, Ak-kane.." He looks down at his shoes. "He didn't say." His cheeks turn a little red. "He didn't say."
"Oh…." I tuck the cotton cloth in my book bag and tug at my scarf to cover my mouth. "Thanks for telling me."
"D-d-do you want to get some food, Akane?" Ryoga says, a bit loud. He takes a step back, evidently feeling as if he intruded. "I just want to cheer you up."
"That's very nice of you, Ryoga." I say. I try to smile, but my face disobeys me. We walk in silence, except for the passing cars and the slosh of snow. A few chatty people pass on the other side of the street. I can hear bits and pieces of their conversation.. They're talking about a certain book.
"What-what do you want to eat?" Ryoga says eventually. I look up into his face.
"Does Okonomiyaki sound okay to you?" I search my coat pocket for the yen I picked up this morning. "I was thinking about eating at Ukyo's today."
"Ukyo's?" He looks surprised. "Why there?"
"I'm in the mood. Do you not want to go there?"
"No, no, no! It's fine! If they're closed, do you have a second choice?"
"Why would it be closed?" I interrogate him. "Did Ukyo go somewhere?"
Ryoga looks desperate. He's fidgety, and looking all around as if someone were listening to the conversation.
"No reason! No! Let's just k-keep going, okay Akane?"
We keep walking when we come up to the door.
"I'm sooo hungry!" I paw at my belly. "I could eat a whole pig."
Ryoga starts shivering and his eyes get as big as saucers.
"Are you cold, Ryoga? We should hurry up then!" I reach for the door, but it won't open. Why is the door locked? There's a note...
'Temporarily out of service! Come back later. –Ukyo's Okonomiyaki' it reads.
"She really did leave.." I contemplate. "How did you know she left?"
"I didn't! Really Akane, I didn't. We should get some food-" He insists and softly nudges me down the street.
"Why won't you tell me?" I say calmly, not wanting to get angry with Ryoga.
"Okay, Akane. I'll tell you," He pats my shoulder. "Ranma told me to take care of you since he left. He left with Ukyo and Mr. Saotome." I didn't even know Ukyo was absent today… I guess I wasn't paying attention to anything at all.
"With Ukyo? How could he?! How could he?! Did he tell you where he was going?" I shout in his face by accident. I can't contain my anger.
"I d-don't know, Akane! I don't, I swear! But I'm not going to leave you," He rubs his temple with his callused hands. "Because I promised Ranma I'd take care of you. And a promise is a promise."
"R-Ryoga…" I stare in amazement at Ryoga; he's a someone with such a commitment to keep his word to Ranma.. He really must care about Ranma,. I curve the corners of my mouth in to show some very evident dimples. "Do you want to get some ramen?"
"Yes," He smiles and a snowflake gets caught in his hair. He puffs his bangs up with his foggy breath and they flop back down and poke him in the eye. I giggle and sift through his hair. We walk down the street for hours, it seems, but we've only walked a few blocks. I comment an occasional 'yes' or 'you're right' without really knowing what I'm commenting on. Laugh here, insert sarcastic comment there, but I'm not really listening to what he's saying. I'm only thinking of Ranma… Where did he go so that he had to tell Ryoga out of all people to take care of me? I'm just glad it's not Kuno. I laugh to myself. I scan the market stalls to try and find a nice place to eat when I notice Shampoo's restaurant! Her ramen is good… Maybe she'll try to poison me though. Ehhh.. It's worth the risk.
"You want to eat at Shampoo's?" I point to the red banner. 'Cat's Café' is written in big, block letters.
"U-u-uh, sh-sure, why not?" He laughs a really loud, embarrassing laugh. I go up to the entrance and trace the square pattern with my fingertip. A little sign that's taped to the door catches my attention.
'Hello! Thank for coming to Cat Café! We hope you come next time! Out for time! Come back laytah! – Miss Shampoo and Cologne.'
So Shampoo and Cologne are gone too? What's up with this? Where've they all gone?
"Do you know where they left to?" I turn around and give him the sign.
"No, Akane, I don't." He laughs and scratches his head. That's exactly what I do when I lie.
"Now the truth…" I twitch my brow; not out of frustration, but out of sadness that Ryoga doesn't trust me enough to tell me the truth. Ryoga's eyes fill with disappointment.
"All right, Akane. I'll tell you everything. Can we go and sit somewhere first?" Ryoga pleads. Piles of snow interrupt our gaze. I nod, skid over to the next food store I can find. We run in and sit in a booth seat.
"So what were you going to say? Where did they go?"
"Akane, they went to somewhere very far away." Ryoga closes his eyes and sips a cup of water.
"Well? Where did-" I begin, but a woman comes up to the table.
"Hello! Can I start you guys off with anything to drink?" The lady smiles a gentle smile. She looks between us an awful lot. "You guys on a date? How cute! I'll bring you both tea on the house!"
She leaves. I turn back to Ryoga, scratch my head, and stare meaninglessly into space.
"Ranma didn't want me to tell you, but I don't know if it's obvious, I don't really like Ranma," Ryoga plays with the pair of chopsticks on the table.
"Why is that, by the way?" I entwine my fingers together and pick at one of my chapped cuticles.
"Why-why is what?" He loses his train of thought.
"Why do you hate Ranma?"
"Oh, umm.. we've never been best buddies, if you know what I mean."
"That didn't answer my question."
"Here's your tea!" The bubbly waitress interrupts and sets down a tray with biscuits and tea. "Enjoy."
"Thank you." I bow my head and accept it graciously. "Ranma, I asked you something!" Ryoga gives me a look as though I've stabbed him in the face. "Oh god, I'm so sorry Ryoga… I'm just going to forget that just happened. Ryoga, where did Shampoo and Cologne leave off to? You said somewhere far away?"
Ryoga takes a slug of tea and knits his hands together. "I want you to listen to everything I say. Ranma, Shampoo, Cologne, Mr. Saotome, Ukyo and Moose are all safe and together."
"Ryoga! Where did they go?!" I grit my teeth. He's hiding something, and I WILL find out what.
Ello, me keikies! Okay, here's the next chapter. I hope you know that the leads WILL change throughout the whole thing, as I mentioned at the end of the last chapter. Me hopes you enjoyed it. New chapters will be coming out probably not as frequent until next week. Midterms, ya see. Hasta luego, keikies!