The Test (Part 3)
"Where is that girl? She's late? Didn't you come home with her, Ranma?"
"No. She didn't talk to me during school. Not one word."
"But…the test…"
"Look, I don't care. I came and that's all. Bye." Ranma turned to leave, but Genma grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Find her. Find her now. Go and find her, for the Dojo's sake!"
"Man, God, alright!", Ranma groaned. He got up and went out.
'God, why did she have to run off? Now I can go looking for her, great!', Ranma thought while stomping out the entrance. 'She could at least TRY. Like she said. She could really TRY to work this out…wait, what am I thinking? Make what work? Our engagement? No way.'
'Why am I here? I could just go home, but…tomorrow's the day. We could stop all of it. By just saying we're not a real couple. We'd break up and…Ranma would move away. He'd be gone, vanished out of my life and it all just never happened. I'd marry another guy and take over the Dojo. But…I…" Akane burst into tears and didn't know why. She continued crying and crying and didn't even WANT to know why. She just sat there, crying and crying. Part of her wanted someone to come and save her from the tears. Another one wanted to be left alone and never ever go back home.
"Father! Father, Akane is back, she's fine, there is no need to worry!", Kasumi cried through the house.
Soon Soun came stumbling in, an absolute wreck.
"Akane! Akane, you're safe. We thought you were being kidnapped, killed, stomped on by chickens!", he wept.
"Yeah, YOU thought that Dad.", Nabiki said. "He was at the point where his imagination runs wild. And so does he. But seriously, where were you? We were all really worried, Ranma's out looking for you."
"He is?"
"Yes. So that means no lessons. No right answers, no engagement, no Tendo and Satome heirs.", Genma said, dramatically posing.
"Akane, I am very disappointed. I thought Ranma would be the one who doesn't show up.", Soun said to his daughter and suddenly looked more serious.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't hear you this morning and I...I was at a friend's, so..."
Soun didn't answer. He just nodded and went off to his room. So did Genma, but he sighed before leaving the room. Kasumi warmed Akane up some of the dinner she had missed and Nabiki had a phone call and left shortly after to meet some friends.
Ranma came much later in the night. The house was silent. He sneaked into the kitchen and there she was. All well. At the kitchen table. Akane.
She turned when she heard him come in and he could see she had been crying. Why had she been crying? He pretended not to see it and said: "Hey, what the hell? I've been looking everywhere for you. I was really worried, you know. Not at first, because you can always take care of yourself, but after a time, when you were nowhere to be found...I..."
She was grateful he wasn't saying anything about her red, swollen eyes.
"I know, sorry about that."
"Oh. So you're talking to me again.", Ranma said.
"Yes. Yes, I am. Because you...because you looked for me so much. Thanks."
Just then, Ranma's stomach growled.
"Should I warm you up some of the dinner you missed? It's the least I can do after you missed it because of me. I know I'm not great at cooking, but I'm bound to be able to use a microwave."
"Sure, thanks."
And then they both sat there together, as Akane watched Ranma eat. She smiled slightly.
"Akane, can I ask you something? I know you heard your father this morning, otherwise you would have asked what he said. So why...why didn't you show up? Do you...do you wanna...do you still wanna get rid of me? Do you...hate me?"
To Ranma's surprise, Akane all of a sudden started crying again.
"Oh no, don't...don't...cry...please..."
"I don't hate you, Ranma, I don't wanna get rid of you! I don't wanna lose you! I can't say if I wanna get MARRIED to you, but I...Ranma, I want you to stay here forever and ever."
"Akane, I...I..."
"That's it! Off to bed! Both of you! I will not have you fighting right before the big test! Off!" It was Soun, standing in the kitchen, waving his arms around and shouting. "The least you can do is not fight, now off you go! GO!"