Ranma ½ doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the great Rumiko Takahashi, if I did own do you think I'd be here right now?
-/-
"You see Ranma it is a very long story, so I can imagine that the best place to start would be from the beginning." Hikaru looked up from his folded hands to see Ranma staring at him with anxiety and wariness. Hikaru chuckled. "I know this is what you have been waiting for, to hear Akane and Kimiko's past, so I will gladly give it to you. You see it started almost twenty years ago now…"
Twenty years ago ~
"Someone, stop that thief!" a younger Genma cried as a shadow of a young woman with long hair bounded over the stone border. "Stop her! She mustn't get away! She has the clan's sacred item!"
When Genma saw that his guards were no use, he went chasing after the girl himself and by the time he had gotten over the fence, she was long gone. "Damn," Genma muttered under his breath. Genma rested his head in his hands and through his fingers he saw a small, rectangular piece of parchment. He picked it up carefully and examined it. He drew in a breath of surprise at what he saw drawn on the paper.
On the old, yellowing paper was a detailed picture of a crystallized comb decorated with rubies that made the picture of a phoenix rising out of flames. Genma flipped the paper over and on the other side, written in a neat script, was, 'This will be my next and final target.'
Genma crushed the paper in his fist. He shook with rage and the look that woman gave him before she escaped flashed in his mind. Her large brown eyes with a hint of a golden tinge dancing with mischief. Her perfectly carved red lip quirked up in a smirk. It made him sick just thinking about it.
He must inform his friend at once that his clan's sacred item was the Phoenix Thief's next target.
The next morning Genma traveled to the Fire Clan to visit his friend and tell him the news. When Genma reached Soun's home he didn't bother to knock and just let himself in. "Soun!" he called out.
Genma heard the sound of feet padding across the smooth hard wood surface with the patter of littler feet following. Soon Soun Tendo emerged from the hall with his two daughters in tow.
"Ah Genma, what a wonderful surprise. I was not expecting you," Soun said, delighted at seeing his friend. Kasumi and Nabiki waved their tiny, chubby hands at their Uncle Genma and he waved back sweetly. The two girls giggled and hid behind their father's legs.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you?" Soun asked, patting his daughters' heads.
"Well, it is actually something I would like to discuss with you in private," Genma said, gesturing to Soun's two girls.
Soun took the hint and told Kasumi and Nabiki to go play with their mother so he could catch up with his friend. Soun led Genma to his private study and the two men sat across from each other in the dark room. "So what is the problem Genma?"
The larger man cleared his throat to speak. "You know that lately there has been a certain thief known as the Phoenix Thief who has been stealing each clan's sacred item. Last night, the thief had come to my home and taken my clan's sacred item. I chased after to her but I lost her. But she left behind a note that said you clan's sacred item will be her next target. I thought you would like to be warned so you could be prepared for her attack. But do not take her lightly just because she is a woman, she is surprisingly strong."
Soun nodded and walked over to his desk. He opened a secret compartment and pulled out a wooden box. He took out a key from his gi and used it to open the padlock on the box. He reached in and pulled out a crystallized phoenix comb. "Do not worry friend, I have plan."
Later that night, the Phoenix Thief decided that was the night to strike the Tendo household. She was surprised to see the place unarmed and unprotected. She hopped over the fence and dashed across the yard without making a sound. She hid behind the safety of a large willow tree and checked to see if it was safe. She dashed to the back porch and tested the door. It was locked. She pulled picks out of her hair and started to jimmy the lock.
It clicked open silently and the thief slinked inside, shutting the door and locking it once again. She walked along the shadows the full moon provided and finally made it to Soun's study, where she heard he kept the comb. She again had to unlock the door and she squeezed through the small crack. And there it was; the phoenix comb just sat there on his desk, shimmering in the moonlight.
This was the crown jewel of her collection. She had waited a very long time for this moment and now the treasure was all hers. But it all seemed too easy. She would think about that later. She put the comb in a pouch tied to her belt and dashed off back into the night, unaware that someone had watched her and was now following her.
Soun had watched the thief since she had first arrived. His plan was to follow her to wherever she went after stealing her treasure and then battle her there. But he almost forgot about the plan after seeing her. Her ethereal skin that was lighter than the moonlight. Her curly hair fluttering in the breeze as she flew across the yard. Her gracefulness as she melted into the shadows and then to reappear suddenly. She was an exquisite creature. Not that he did not find his wife beautiful but this Phoenix Thief had a different beauty.
Soun shook his head to clear himself of those thoughts and grabbed his bow and arrows to follow the girl. He followed her through the thick foliage, hopping over fallen branches and trying to stay quiet as his feet crunched the leaves beneath him. Soun found another thing to admire about this thief; she was as silent as the night.
Soun stumbled out of the forest and found himself standing in the most wonderful clearing he had ever had the pleasure of seeing. The grass was tall and lush, and looked warm to take a nap on. The wind blew peacefully across the land, rustling the grass and the fully in bloom cherry blossom trees. There was a crystal pond that mirrored the moon. Water lilies glided across the smooth surface as fireflies from above landed to rest on them and then to take off and play in the foliage again.
Soun was left star struck by the marvelous sight before him that he did not sense someone coming up behind him.
It all happened so fast; someone kicked him in the small of his back with his or her heel and his bow was snatched out of his hand. His arrows were stripped off his back and he felt the arrowhead prick against the base of his neck…all before he hit the ground.
Soun extended his arms to catch himself and quickly flipped over on his back to face his attacker. He was staring cross-eyed at an arrowhead that was held between his eyes. He looked up the length of the arrow and came across a small, delicate hand. He followed that hand up the slender arm and then to her face. The same face that belonged to the thief he had seen in the moonlight; she was even more beautiful up close.
The girl glowered down at him and then her face lightened and she smiled happily; Soun felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. "I knew someone was following me!" she said gleefully. "My instincts are never wrong."
Soun blinked in confusion and then his lips twitched up as well. The girl tossed the arrow to the side and offered her hand to help the man up. He looked at it strangely for a moment and then received it gratefully. The girl smirked and in an instant she was behind him and put him in a chokehold, not strong enough to hurt him but strong enough to keep him there.
"I suppose you followed me from the Tendo house to get back the treasure I had just stolen?" she whispered in his ear. Soun nodded his head, trying to hide the fact he was blushing. Her voice was so light and cheerful. "Well too bad, because I'm not giving it back. I need it."
"Huh? Why do you need it?" Soun asked curiously.
Then Soun was dropped to the ground and a foot was placed firmly on his chest. "You mean that you will listen? You're not going to arrest me?"
"It all depends on how long you keep beating me up," Soun said playfully.
The girl smiled and dropped down next to Soun. "Well, you see, the man who raised me is really sick and he's so old he could die. Unfortunately the doctors where I live don't have the proper treatments to cure him and no one will hire me for a job so I can pay for the medicine to give to him. So I decided to become a thief."
"But why only steal the clans' sacred items?" Soun interrupted.
The girl smirked. "Well, it was the only things valuable enough to sell and get a decent price for."
"You've sold them?" Soun asked, horrified.
"No, I haven't sold anything. This phoenix comb is the only thing that I can sell and will be the highest price. I have stolen each clans' sacred items and asked for their prices but they are surprisingly low. I asked how much the precious phoenix comb would be and it was a great sum; that is the only thing that really is worth anything. I will return everything else later, but I need this comb," the girl said pleadingly. She clutched the comb protectively to her chest.
Soun stared transfixed into the girl's beautiful brown eyes. "What is your name?"
"Kimiko," she said confusedly.
"No last name?" Soun asked. Kimiko shook her head. "Well, Kimiko I'm—"
"I know who you are, you're the Fire Lord, you're Soun Tendo," Kimiko interrupted.
Soun smirked. "Obviously I know who you are. You're that famous thief, the Phoenix Thief. Strange name for a thief."
Kimiko hugged her legs close to her chest. "I've become famous?" she asked playfully.
Soun nodded his head and Kimiko giggled, giving Soun a strange feeling his his chest. Soun took the comb out of her hands and stuck it in her hair. "These treasures suit you perfectly. I give you my permission to steal my clan's sacred item," Soun said, very seriously.
Kimiko's face lit up with joy and touched the comb in her hair. Soun quickly turned away before she saw him blushing. Soun cleared his throat and brought his attention to the clearing. "So what is this place?"
"It's my paradise," Kimiko said, a sudden breeze lifting up her hair. "It's my special place, and my secret clearing. You better not tell anyone about it," Kimiko said sternly.
Soun chuckled. "I won't."
The two sat in silence for a moment and then Kimiko suddenly rose to her feet. She turned around and walked towards the surrounding forest to leave. Soun stumbled to his feet to catch up with her. "Wait! Will I ever see you again?" Soun asked hopefully. Soun didn't understand why he felt such a strong attachment to this woman. He was married and had two lovely daughters.
Kimiko stood stiffly as the seconds ticked by. She then looked over her shoulder to look at him radiantly. "Meet me here every night just when the sun has set and the moon is up." And then she was gone.
Soun couldn't help the wide smile spread across his face. He pumped his fist in the air and mouthed a triumphant, "Yes!"
The next morning, Soun slept in until noon because of how late he stayed up last night. It wasn't until his wife, Hinako, took a pale of cold water and splashed Soun with it. The man awoke spluttering and coughing up water. His arms flailed about, grasping at the air, and looked around the room frantically. His eyes finally landed on the angry Hinako and sighed; he raked his fingers through his soaking hair. "What is it Hinako?"
Hinako dropped the pale and crossed her arms over her chest. "Nothing, I don't mind at all that my husband didn't come home until dawn. What were you doing all night? Are you seeing another woman? We have two children together, how can you do this?" Hinako asked, going off on a rant.
Soun brought his hands up in a warding off gesture. "Hinako, calm down. I wasn't out with any woman." It was true that he saw a woman last night, but not the way Hinako thought. Soun rose to his feet and kissed his wife on the cheek. "I would never do anything to ruin our family. I was out last night on important business. That Phoenix Thief stole the Fire Clan's sacred item."
Hinako gasped.
"So I chased after her but I lost her," Soun quickly lied.
Hinako threw herself at her husband; she snaked her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry, dear. That thief has to be stopped."
Soun gulped silently and hugged Hinako back. "She will be," he said silently. "She will."
And that night, Soun met up with Kimiko as promised. Then just before dawn he would leave and get an hour or two of sleep so he would be there when Hinako woke up. This went on for almost a year and Soun could only get a few trivial things out of Kimiko. She didn't like talking about her past life, and not much about her personal life either. She would only talk to him about her friend Ayumu. She never told him why she kept her hair so long.
As Soun and Kimiko's relationship slowly became something more than just friendship, life continued normally at the Tendo house. Kasumi and Nabiki took on hobbies of their own and took interest in listening to stories about previous Fire Lord's and the title they would take on when they grew up. They often asked about their father's life growing up and Hinako grew a little suspicious.
Genma became concerned for his friend as he made up a search party to look for the Phoenix Thief so they can return all the sacred items to all the clans.
A special moment was shared between Kimiko and Soun and then…
"Let it be known that Kimiko, otherwise known as the Phoenix Thief, will be living in the Tendo household for carrying my third child," Soun announced to all the staff and his family and friends. His arm was hooked around Kimiko's shoulder while the woman avoided all the stares she was receiving, rubbing her hand over the round bump on her stomach.
Everyone's mouths hung open in shock, while Hinako glared daggers at the woman that stole her husband away. Genma was too surprised to be angry, he had searched for this woman for the longest time and here she was. He must admit that she was very beautiful up close. If he didn't have a wife and a child on the way as well, he would pursue this "Kimiko" woman too.
The servants were dismissed, whispering about how Soun's mistress was a thief and how the child would be a demon child. Meanwhile, Kasumi and Nabiki looked at Kimiko with sparkling eyes, oblivious to the situation. They walked up to Kimiko, their mother following them warily, and Kasumi tugged at her pants sleeve.
"Are you going to give me a baby sister?" she asked hopefully.
Kimiko was caught unaware by this question and kneeled down next to Kasumi. "Do want a baby sister?" she asked. Kasumi nodded her head enthusiastically. "Then, I'll try my hardest to give you a baby sister."
"It was you trying your hardest that got us into this mess," Hinako muttered under her breath.
"What did you say Hinako?" Soun asked.
Hinako sniffed. "Nothing." She turned on her heel and stormed out. Hinako stomped down the halls like a child until she was pulled aside into a shadowy hall. She drew in a breath to scream but a bony hand covered her mouth before she had the chance.
"Tell me," a hoarse, quiet voice said to her. "What would you do to get back at your husband for cheating on you?"
Hinako narrowed her eyes suspiciously but nodded her head anyway.
Meanwhile, Nabiki and Kasumi argued on what the baby name will be.
"I'm telling your Kasumi, Kame is a stupid name. Who wants the name "turtle"?" Nabiki asked.
Kasumi pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Then what name do you suggest?"
Nabiki looked at Kimiko and then her small, round belly. She put her chubby little hand on her abdomen. "How about…Akane?" she suggested.
Kimiko thought for a moment and then smiled tenderly. "That's a wonderful name Nabiki."
"Yes it is," Genma said honestly. "Now why don't you two play so the adults can talk?" Genma asked.
"Okay Uncle Genma," the girls said in unison. The two girls trotted away and Kimiko felt lonely already. She always liked children, and she would make sure to tell them the story of Princess Haine later. Children didn't judge you on the deeds you have done in the past, but what you do in the present. When adults judge you on all the mistakes you have made and will make in the future.
Kimiko was helped up by Soun and stood awkwardly by him. She only hoped he wouldn't find out about her past mistakes, she really did love him but she hated what she did to his family. She insisted that she could take care of herself and the baby by herself but Soun wanted to do the right thing and take care of her. But he didn't understand, she didn't want to live in the Tendo house.
Everyone here was too classy and she was far out of her element. She didn't have the kind of class people here have. People would make fun of her and mock her; people would whisper and point whenever she walked by in the halls. Didn't Soun see that this would ultimately kill her?
"So should I call you Kimiko instead of Phoenix Thief?" Genma asked, snapping Kimiko out of her thoughts.
Before Kimiko had a chance to answer Soun burst into laughter. "Kimiko, of course. Doesn't the name suit her?" he asked, looking down at her tenderly.
Kimiko avoided his gaze and nodded her head obediently, like she was taught to do when she was a child. 'That's not what you said when we first met," she thought snidely.
"I see," Genma said, nodding his head. He looked down at Kimiko's bowed head. She was a magnificent creature, even when she frowned, her beauty shown over all. He remembered only seeing a glimpse of her in the shadows once. Her skin was lighter than the moonlight and her hair darker than night grew past her ankles.
"So, is there a chance that I will be able to get my clan's sacred item back?" Genma asked, reverting his attention from her looks.
Kimiko's head snapped up and looked at Genma with distress. "You're the Water Lord?" Kimiko bowed from the waist. "I'm so sorry, I will return it to you as soon as I possibly can."
"I will be awaiting it," Genma said. Genma had this strange predatorily gleam in his eyes that made Kimiko cringe.
So months past and Kimiko's stomach grew even larger. Kasumi and Nabiki grew closer to Kimiko and her kind ways, and Hinako changed dramatically. She no longer kept her spite to herself and instead often told Kimiko how much she hated her. Hinako started to wear revealing clothes and said that Soun likes these kind of slutty women.
Kimiko was wrong when she said people would talk behind her back, they instead talked to her face. Insulting her and her unborn child. Kimiko told to herself that right after the child was born she would return to her tribe so her baby wouldn't have to live with this cruelty.
Soun was completely oblivious to all of Kimiko's worries.
Meanwhile, as the day to Kimiko's deliver came closer, Genma did a little research on Kimiko.
She grew up in the Phoenix Tribe where special citizens of the Fire Clan secretly resided. They were descendants of the infamous Phoenix King and had the same power of the phoenix. Yet the power was so strong that it had to be sealed somewhere and if the seal was broken then all their power would come rushing out in a monstrous moment that would kill anyone that was close enough.
Kimiko was abandoned by her parents and was raised by her great grandfather. When she was a teenager she was with many men.
There were many things he must tell Soun about his "true love". She has deceived his best friend and he would make sure she would pay.
And then Akane was born. They had decided to use the name Nabiki suggested since Akane came out with a red, crying face. She was a beautiful little baby with a small tuff of blue-black hair. Kimiko looked down at her baby in silence as she slumbered in her arms. She had never had something that was truly hers before.
It was nice; that one moment of peace where she could pretend she was the wife of the Fire Lord, and not a mistress, and lived in the Tendo house before she had to leave. She could practically already hear all the gossip spreading around. Her Akane couldn't live in a place like this, where people would reference her to "the daughter of a thief".
Two months later, after Kimiko had fully recovered, she packed all her things and planned to slip away that night with her baby. As she was packing the last of her things in her private bedroom Soun provided her, she heard something, or someone, stumble and curse.
Kimiko reached into the hidden pockets in her sleeve and pulled out a short dagger. She slunk through the shadows to the front hall where she heard the noise. She peaked around the corner and saw nothing unusual. She crept out a littler farther and before she could react, someone reached for her dagger. The person took her hair and Kimiko felt the dagger creep closer to her hair.
She struggled to set herself free but what her captor said made her freeze. "I know everything about you," the male voice whispered.
"Huh?" Kimiko choked out; she was too afraid to move her arms.
"I know your past and what your future would be like if I cut your hair."
The next morning, Soun was called to his private quarters where he could meet with his friend alone. Soun waited at the tea table, drumming his fingers against the fine mahogany impatiently. Genma was the one who asked to see him; what was taking him so long?
The entrance doors banged open, surprising Soun. Genma came in dragging a kicking and screaming Kimiko into the room with him by her hair; Genma held the dagger in his other hand. Soun shot up from his seat and rushed over to Kimiko but Genma shoved him away. "I wouldn't do that if I were you Soun, this thing might hurt you," Genma sneered
"Th-thing? Genma, what is all this? What are you doing with Kimiko?" Soun asked in outrage.
Genma growled low in his throat. "Will you listen to yourself, Soun? You always say "Kimiko this" or "Kimiko that"! You have put her on a golden pedestal on the highest mountain when this monster should just be burning in hell right now! This woman, if you can even call her that, is not as great as you think she is! And it is about time I show you that…" Genma pulled at Kimiko's hair once more and with one deft flick of his wrist, all her hair was chopped off.
Present ~
Hikaru sipped his tea that had now become cold. "So after your father cut Akane's mothers hair Kimiko basically went on a rampage. You see Ranma, Kimiko came from a unique tribe known as the Phoenix Tribe because of their extraordinary firepowers. But their power is so strong that they had to seal it somewhere, for some reason they chose their hair, don't ask me why. So if their hair is cut that tribe member loses all conscious thought.
"They basically become monsters. Their hair turns an ashen silver and their eyes turn as red as the pits of hell. During this time they are known to have delusions that cause them to go on this rampage. They usually die because the energy they let off is just too much for them to bear, or someone kills them first. There are rare occasions where they can snap themselves out of it and become normal before they are killed. I also heard this legend that you can capture a tribe member and use them as a weapon.
"So eventually Kimiko snapped out of it on her own but not before she killed many innocent Fire Clan members. Very tragic indeed, do you want to know where those lost souls are now Ranma? In the legendary Flame, because it was the only solid thing their souls could grasp onto. That is why it is cursed to anyone other than the Fire Clan members. So after she had become normal again, Fire Clan guards chased her out of the city and killed her in front of Soun and Genma.
"But there is also something unique about Phoenix Tribe members. They are descendants of a phoenix so they are basically "reborn" when they die. Their soul goes to their descendant's and they live inside that new body as a guest; they do not take over completely. But they are usually set free to the heavens soon after they are attached. Thus, when Kimiko died she attached herself to Akane." Hikaru took another sip of his cold tea. "Any other questions I haven't answered?"
Ranma slammed his fists on the table and reached across the table to grab Hikaru's collar. He brought the pale boy to his face and shook him like a rag doll. "Where is Akane? What are you going to do with her?" After hearing that story, Ranma had a good idea of what was going to happen to her.
Hikaru smirked and pried Ranma's fingers off his cloak. "If it was Akane you were looking for, why didn't you just say so? I would be happy to bring you to her." Hikaru rose from his seat; he waved for Ranma to follow him when he was at the doorframe. "Come, come."
Ranma rose and followed warily; there wasn't something right in the air.
As they continued walked, Ranma heard metal reverberating and clanging, almost like a human body was being tossed at metal bars. What followed the strange noises were painful cries and muffled curses. The noises were loudest at the closed door they stopped in front of.
Hikaru stole a quick glance at Ranma and smirked. The smaller man pushed the door open with a bony hand and inside Akane was trapped inside a birdcage. She was throwing her body at the metal bars and her right shoulder was scared and bleeding heavily, leaving bloodstains of the metal.
"Akane!" Ranma cried. Akane jumped at hearing her voice being called by such a familiar voice. She snapped her head and saw Ranma running up to her. Her brown eyes widened and she gasped in shock.
"You dummy! What are you doing here?" she asked, but her tone was not rude or spiteful; there was a more lighter quality to it, but it was still panicked. Over Ranma's shoulder she saw Hikaru draw back his bow and an arrow went flying through the air. There was a twang and then a wet thunk as it drilled itself into Ranma's left shoulder. "Ranma!"
Everything went in slow motion from there. Akane screamed and Ranma fell, not having the energy to cry out in pain. He writhed in pain on the black marble floor and bit down on his lower lip until he tasted iron. Ranma clutched at his shoulder, fumbling for the arrow so he could pull it out of his shoulder. He glared up at Hikaru, who smiled down on him. Hikaru slowly approached Akane.
Ranma sat up as fast as he could in this state of pain. Fire pulsed through his veins and he tried not to scream. Hikaru started to unlock Akane's cage and stalked over to her slowly. Ranma pushed himself to his feet slowly, after many failed attempts, and found a firm grip on the arrow. He pulled it out quickly and cried out, "Run you idiot!"
Ranma's voice snapped Akane out of her trance and she tried to run away, but it was too late. Hikaru had a tight grip on her hair and he deftly chopped off all her hair with a flick of his wrist.
Akane's world caught on fire.
Her hair turned an ashen silver and her eyes became redder than flames. Her aura burst to life and leaped off her skin in six-foot flames. Hikaru stood back in awe, taking it all in like it was a work of art. "Glorious," he breathed out. Akane stood calmly, looking at nothing yet looking at everything at the same time. "Listen to me Akane, you must obey me. You will kill that piece of dirt over there," Hikaru said, pointing at Ranma. "And I will help you."
Akane turned her head to look at Hikaru. All her movements were not as wild as Hikaru explained to Ranma earlier. Her movements were slow and controlled. She brought her index finger and middle finger together and brought them to her lips. She held no emotions in her face when she blew out the mouth and flames were spit out. The flames encased Hikaru like a blossom closing up and burnt his skin to a crisp until he was nothing but dust and bone.
Meanwhile, the enemies Ukyou and Ryouga were fighting turned to dust before their eyes. The two friends met up with each other half way and quickly ran to Hikaru's palace as everything changed and morphed before them into a regular landscape
Ranma approached Akane cautiously, afraid that one wrong move would kill him. "Akane?" he asked. She didn't seem to recognize her name. "Akane?" he asked again, placing his hand on her shoulder. A moment afterwards, Akane kicked Ranma in the chest and sent him flying across the room, hitting a column.
The palace started to crack and chip away in chunks. After Akane had killed the only Shadow Lord, all he had created was now being turned to dust.
Ranma brushed the rubble out of his bangs and picked himself up quickly. When he regained his balance he was punched in the gut by a shaky fist. He looked up at Akane's face in surprise and saw tears pool in her red eyes. "Ranma," she whispered. "…Help…m-me."
Ranma drew in a breath of understanding. She was fighting back the monster that was inside of her. Ranma smirked. He dodged every attack she would throw at him while trying to get her back to reality. "Akane, wake up! It's me," Ranma exclaimed, ducking a kick to the head.
Akane continued to attack me, yelling out battle cries. "Akane, snap out of it! You're not a monster," Ranma continued, catching her fist in his hand and pushing her away. "You can fight this Akane, you're not a monster, you're human!" A big chunk of the ceiling landed in between them while they were fighting. Ranma caught her in a vise hug as she continued to claw, and bite, and kick him. "Listen to me! Remember me, and remember me and you and our childhood, and Ryouga and Ukyou. You are human!"
"And you are precious to me," he whispered in her ear.
Then the ceiling caved in on them.
-/-
"No!" Ukyou screamed. She ran to the falling building but Ryouga caught her before she got far. "Ryouga let go of me! Ranma and Akane are in there! Let me go!"
"Akane's in there?" another voice from behind them cried. The two twisted in surprise and saw the other two Tendo sisters; their clothes were stained and wreaked of dried urine and rat droppings. Their hair was a mess and their faces were smeared with dirt.
"Nabiki-Sama! Kasumi-Sama!" Ryouga and Ukyou cried in unison.
"Did I hear you correctly?" Nabiki asked the two in a hoarse voice. "Is Akane in there?" Nabiki growled at either one's lack of response. She grabbed Ukyou's collar and shook her. "Tell me!"
"I'm not sure, but I wouldn't get your hopes up!" Ukyou yelled back. Talking back to the Lightning Lord was not a good idea, considering her attitude, but all Nabiki did was drop Ukyou's collar and fall to the ground.
"Oh God," she breathed out. Kasumi kneeled by her sister and rubbed her back comfortingly.
Ryouga turned away from the scene, feeling unwanted emotions bubbling to the surface. He saw two blurred figures forming in the debris. He rubbed his eyes, afraid that they may be playing trick on him but they were real. They were…"Its Ranma and Akane!"
3 months later ~
Nabiki banged at Akane's bedroom door in annoyance. "Come on Akane! Quit moping around already, it's been three months! It's just hair, get over it!"
Another silhouette joined Nabiki's. "Please don't bother her right now Nabiki, she has gone through a lot of stress," Kasumi chided gently. Akane then saw Kasumi guide Nabiki away, but Kasumi stayed longer. "Do you want me to bring dinner to you? Or any of those letters your three friends keep sending you?" Kasumi asked.
"No thanks," Akane said quietly, but enough for Kasumi to hear.
"Oh, all right then," Kasumi said, walking away defeated.
It had been a long three months since the incident at Hikaru's palace. Akane discovered her mother left her body, and this time it hurt even more than the first time she left Akane alone. All the sacred items were returned once again and she had news to tell her father. The Hinako that Soun had been living with for eighteen years or so was a fraud. It was a puppet Hikaru's father made.
Akane discovered this when she visited the Light Clan. She had found the original Hinako that had been reduced down to a sickly child because of how much fake Hinako drained her. Soun wept at the loss of another one of his loved ones but he said that instead of her being his wife, he would take care of her and treat her as his daughter
Akane and Soun finally sat down and made up, of course it is still awkward but they are working on it.
Ukyou, Ryouga, and Ranma had become lords; Akane didn't come to any of their ceremonies. The three wanted to be forgiven by Akane and become friends again but she refused to see anyone.
Akane had been living three months in solitude, trying to get used to the empty feeling in her chest now that her mother had truly left her. She would take back all the rude things she said about her just to have her back. Akane fingered her shorter hair and picked up her hand mirror. Her face was unwashed and her shorter hair was in disarray. Maybe Nabiki was right; maybe she should stop moping and get her mind off of it all.
She instinctively decided to go to the clearing. The clearing where her father and mother first met. The clearing that was her mother's safe haven. The clearing that saved Akane. The clearing where Akane learned to trust and not to trust too much. The clearing where she met her friends. The clearing that was so magical.
Akane lay in the lush grass in peace, twirling a sakura blossom between her fingers absentmindedly. All was peace until a rustling in the bushes disturbed it. Akane sat up in interest to see what made the noise. Ranma emerged from the forest lining the clearing, stumbling and picking leaves out of his hair. Akane sighed and fell back down on her back; she hadn't seen Ranma since she "woke up" that day at Hikaru's palace. Apparently he had saved her from herself and the falling building.
Ranma chuckled awkwardly. "I thought I heard someone over here." He received no response from Akane. "Can I sit?" he asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. Akane shrugged nonchalantly, refusing to talk to him.
The two sat in uncomfortable silence until Akane spoke up, "So, being the leader of your Clan is a big pain in the ass, isn't it?"
Ranma couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, it is."
"So how come you're here and not working at the Water Clan?" Akane asked.
"Because I knew this was the only way I would be able to see you. You didn't come to my ceremony, you refuse to see me when I visit, and you won't reply to my letters."
"I don't even read your letters," she muttered.
Ranma's left eye twitched. "I heard that."
Akane pushed herself up to sit next to Ranma. "So what's so important that you want to tell me? If you're being so persistent it must be huge."
Ranma smiled; he liked this new Akane, or old Akane. The way she acted when they were kids and she was happy, without any sarcasm in her tone. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for all the wrongs I've done you. I hadn't realized how much I was like my dad, and I swore I would never be like him. I've been a jerk to you Akane, and I'm sorry for lying to you. I'm sorry for all my questions and nagging and I'm even apologizing for what I did four years ago. I want to start again from the beginning, and do everything right this time. This time no secrets. Will you forgive me?"
Akane stared into Ranma's pleading eyes and felt her heart melt at the sight of his sparkly blue eyes that she could swim in. Akane smiled up at him with tenderness in her eyes that made Ranma's heart leap. "I thought you'd never ask." Akane threw herself on Ranma and looped her arms around his neck in a hug. She gently rested her ear over his beating heart as he snaked his arms around her tiny waist and held her tight, making sure she wouldn't get away from him this time.
Ranma ran his long fingers through her now short hair and smelled her jasmine shampoo. "Have I ever told you how much I love girls with short hair?"
-/-
A/N: Okay, so I lied, this was the finale. I am so sorry for not doing a proper send off to this series, it deserves better than that lame chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Please no flames (I suck at writing battle scenes).
This was my first ever fanfiction story, so it's sort of sad to see it end, as horrible as the end may have been. Fusion is my baby, but it was also an experimental fanfiction story, where I tried a lot of new things (i.e. OCs) and new writing styles. I was thinking of doing a sequel but I'm not sure anymore.
I would like to give out a big thanks to all the reviewers and readers, especially tuatara who has been a very loyal reviewer and has helped me a lot with this story.
Make sure to read my other stories too!
- Ranko twin