CHAPTER 04

-"SHADOW PAST… AKANE'S DARK SECRET"-

It was a good morning at the Tendo Dojo. Ran woke up at the same time as Ranma. They were preparing to go to school. Of course, when Akane woke up, she storm right to the kitchen in her 'usual' mode:

Akane glares at Ranma. "Why didn't you wake me up baka?"

"Hey, I did, but it's not my fault that you couldn't get up," Ranma says.

Akane's mad. "Why you…"

Kasumi interrupts, "Now, now, Akane, don't be mad, here, have some breakfast."

Ran, Ranma, and Akane eat as fast as they could and rush toward Furinkan High.

Over the course of the week, Ran was wondering why Akane was still mad at her. And, why did she hate Ranma so much, she intended to find out. So, on one afternoon, Ran decided to talk to Akane. When they were on their way home, Ran asked Ranma to go ahead. Once they were alone, Akane's the first to speak. "What do you want to talk about you baka girl?"

"Akane, I just want to know why are you still mad at me all this time?" Ran asks.

"Why? Why, you say?… it's because you act just like that baka Ranma! You also cheated!"

"You're still mad about that…? Geez, Akane, can't you just let it go! It was just a fight, nothing to get all mad about."

"Nothing to get mad about…? THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK YOU HUSSY!" Akane yells.
"Hey hey, come on! Don't get mad at me! So you lost a fight. Accept that. You can't win them all."

"YES I CAN! UNTIL YOU CHEATED AND BEAT ME, JUST LIKE THAT JERK RANMA!"

Ran's confused. " Say what?"

"I WAS THE No.1 MARTIAL ARTIST IN NERIMA, UNTIL THAT JERK RANMA CAME AND TOOK IT AWAY FROM ME! AND NOW YOU CAME AND DID THE SAME!"

"You must be kidding me Akane. You can't possibly think that!"

"YES, IT'S TRUE! BUT WHAT COULD A CHEATER LIKE YOU POSSIBLY KNOW ABOUT THAT? TO BE THE BEST?"

"All I know is that a true martial artist accepts his losses and acts humble."

Akane scoffs."THAT'S LOSER TALK! TRUE MARTIAL ARTISTS ALWAYS WIN, AND NEVER LOSE!"

Ran blinks at Akane's rather misguided concept of a martial artist. "Who the hell told you that Akane?"

"My dad," Akane replies.

Ran couldn't believe what Akane just told her. "Akane, just where did you learn Martial Arts?" she asks.

"From my dad." Akane tells her.

"Did he actually train you?"

"No. He explained it to me how to fight."

"Akane, I'm afraid to tell you this but… You don't know anything about Martial Arts." Ran says.

"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT? I KNOW MARTIAL ARTS!"

"Is that so…well, can you tell me what's the first rule about it is?"

Akane didn't know what to say. She just stands there.

"Well, I'm waiting Akane," Ran patiently says, awaiting Akane's response.

"What's the point of that, it's just a waste of time."

"You don't know, do you? How can you be a Martial Artist when you don't even know the rules of the Art Akane?"

Akane defends, "Why should I? I don't need it! As long as I can fight, that's all that matters!"

"No wonder you can't fight Akane. How can you fight when you don't know anything?"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK YOU BITCH!"

"Make me!" Ran teases as she runs away from an angry Akane, laughing all the way.

The next thing she sees is that Akane always hits Ranma for almost no good reason. This intrigues Ran a lot. Then, on one of the many occasions when Akane hits Ranma upside the head for not eating her cooking, she approaches her. "Hey Akane, why did you hit Ranma?"

"Cause that jerk didn't want to eat my cooking, I spent all day making it and that baka insults my food!"

"That's because your food sucks Akane." Ran explains

Akane's angry. "YOU TOO? ARE YOU SAYING THAT MY COOKING DOESN'T TASTE GOOD?"

"Well…yeah, let's face it. Garbage looks and tastes better than that food of yours."

Uh oh. "SAY WHAT? WHY I OUGHTA…!"

"Akane, have you actually tasted your cooking?"

"No, but what does that have to do…"

Ran puts Akane to the test, just to prove her point. "Why don't you taste your food and tell me what you think of it. Go ahead, I dare you."

Akane snorts, "Fine, I'll taste it and prove that it's good and…"

When Akane grabs a bite of her food and eat it, her face turns several colors. Then she runs toward the bathroom, and vomits. When she comes back, Ran asks her, "Well…how did it taste, hmmm?'

Weakly, Akane says, "It…tasted good…yeah."

"Oh really? Then why did you cover your mouth and run to the bathroom?"

"Well, it was…to… I needed to go…because I was in the mood okay!"

"Stop lying Akane. Your food was horrible; you need to learn how to cook."

"I do not! I only need to improvise and…"

"Akane, stop being stubborn. You can't cook. If you intend to 'improvise' more, you'll end up killing everyone!"

"Oh shut up!" Akane snaps back.

"And another thing Akane, why are you always so mean to Ranma?"

"Cause he's a jerk, that's why"

"A jerk you say…How?"

"He's always flirting with those hussies Ukyo or that Chinese bimbo Shampoo, or with any girl he comes across!"

"That's a lie Akane and you know that. They always bother him, and he doesn't flirt with any girl"

"How do you know that…Ranma's always flirting!"

"Akane, have you ever listened to Ranma about those situations? You know, listen to his side of his story?"
Akane:" Ha, what for? He's a jerk."

Ran:" Akane, have you ever wondered if Ranma has ever wanted those problems to happen to him?…He doesn't have anything to say in this problem, have you ever help him as his fiancée?"

"Fiancee? No way! I don't want that jerk! that was all our stupid fathers' idea!"

Ran sadly says, "Boy Akane, how I feel sorry for you."

"You feel sorry for me!?"

"Yeah, you have a guy that's totally loyal to you, that has saved you many times, who loves you, and you don't appreciate him… boy, how foolish of you"

"It's not like I wanted it!"

"Boy, you really don't know how lucky you are to have him Akane and you insult him, beat him up for every little thing. You never trust him. If he was "my" fiancée Akane, I wouldn't do all those nasty things. I would even worship the ground he walks on. You have a guy that almost every girl would do anything to have him as her fiancée."

Akane snorts, "Well, if you like him so much, why don't you take him!"

"You know what, Akane? I think I will."

Akane's angry now. "YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR MOUTH BEFORE I…"

"What, beat me up? First learn how to fight Akane before you can make any threats."

"I do know how to fight!"

Ran:" Tell me Akane, how many fights have you ever fought before?"

Akane:" Well, I beat all those pervert boys at school every morning."

Ran shakes her head. "No Akane, those boys don't know how to fight."

Akane continues, "And I also beat Kuno up"

"Akane, that Kuno guy doesn't really fight you, because he's always distracted."

Akane tops off her list , saying "And I also beat that jerk Ranma!"

"Listen Akane, don't confuse that. Since I discovered that Ranma doesn't like to hit girls no matter what, you have taken that for your advantage."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean Akane is that since you know that Ranma won't hit you, you hit him. That, Akane, is not only dishonorable, but also cowardly"

With pure rage, Akane says, "ARE YOU SAYING IM A COWARD, YOU HUSSY?"

Ran replies, "Yes, 'cause you abuse him all the time, you hit him like a punching bag. That to me, Akane, is an act of a coward."

"WHY YOU… WHY YOUUU…!!"

"I bet that if you fought someone who wouldn't hold back, you wouldn't last a minute." Ran wagers.

"I DO SO, I CAN FIGHT ANYBODY AND BEAT HIM UP!"

"Is that so Akane? Care to prove it then?"

"YEAH, COME ON! BRING IT ON! I'LL PROVE THAT I'M A MARTIAL ARTIST!"

"Very well, you just wait."

Then the next day Ran, using her contacts, manages to call a friend of hers. Lucky for Ran that her 'friend' was near Nerima on her quest, so she was able to contact her and tell her about the challenge. She accepts, and then Ran arranges for the fight. Then she tells Akane about the fight. "Well Akane, it's settled Your opponent has agreed to fight you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, tomorrow at the backyard of Furinkan High. You better train for real Akane for this fight, cause your opponent is someone who doesn't hold back and fights for real."

Akane scoffs, "Ha! So can I!"

"Sure Akane, sure" Ran says sarcastically.

Then, the next day came. Ran took Akane to the backyard of Furinkan High. Akane was dress in her Yellow Karate Gi. When they arrive there were many students gathered there, waiting for the fight.

Her opponent arrives. Many students gasp at her. She's dress in a Sailor Fuku uniform with red gloves and a white long headband on her head. Ran's friend was none other than "Sakura Kasunago":

Hiroshi gasps, "Hey, look guys, it's Sakura Kasugano!"

"O man, the youngest Street Fighter, oh man I don't believe it!" Daisuke says in awe.

"She's actually here in Furinkan High." Sayuri says excitedly.

Akane sees that all the students were in awe by this girl, this was getting irritating for her. Angrily, she thinks, What do they see in that girl? She doesn't look like a Martial Artist. She looks weak.

Then Ran hugs Sakura. "Sakura, I'm so happy that you made it"

"Happy to be here Ran," Sakura says. "So, where's the fighter which I'll fight?"

Ran then points at Akane. Sakura looks at her, and then introduces herself to Akane. "So you're the one who I'll fight, right? I'm Sakura Kasunago"

"Hmph, I'm Akane Tendo."

"So, shall we get started then?"

Then both girls take stances, preparing to fight. Ranma arrives and sees Akane and another girl preparing to fight. "Say, what's going on here?" he asks.

Daisuke notices Ranma. "Hey Ranma. Your fiancé Akane is gonna fight against Sakura Kasunago."

"Sakura Kasunago? Hey, I think I heard of her, she's a good fighter."

Hiroshi chimes in,"You have? Well, Akane's gonna fight her. You think Akane will win?"

"Jeez, I don't know," Ranma says, uncertain. "That Sakura girl is well prepared, an experienced fighter."

Ran was acting as a referee. "Are you ready Akane…?"

"Ha! I'm ready, the question is, is she ready?" Akane says pointing to her opponent. She thinks she's already won this fight. Won't she be surprised!

Ran looks in Sakura's direction. "Are you ready Sakura…?"

Sakura clenches her fists in anticipation and smiles. "Ready as ever."

Ran:" Well…fighters ready…set…GO"

Akane thinks, Time to teach this girl what true martial arts is all about!

Then Akane charges against Sakura with a punch, trying to finish the fight fast. But, as she approaches her, Sakura blocks her punch and grabs it. Then she flips and tosses her over. Akane went flying and lands on her butt. "Ouch. What happened? She must have cheated!"

"Did you think that I wouldn't block that punch? It will take more then brute force to win a fight girl," Sakura tells her.

"You just got lucky, next time you won't be!" Akane counters.

Then, once again she charges toward Sakura, throwing punches and kicks. Sakura blocks them all whit no problem at all. Akane was getting very frustrated:

Akane:"-(angry)- STAND STILL WOULD YOU AND LET ME HIT YOU"

Sakura blinks. "You can't be serious. This is a fight!"

"COME ON, FIGHT ME ALREADY, OR ARE YOU TOO SCARED TO FACE ME!?"

"Okay then…"

Then Sakura hits Akane with a roundhouse kick at her chest, Akane hits the ground hard "Gack…WHY YOU…YOU HIT MEEE!!"

"Duh. We're fighting girl," Sakura says. "What did you expect?"

"GRYAAAAAAAAAAA!!" And in pure rage, Akane goes charging again toward Sakura. Sakura's getting tired of her, so she decides to end it. She charge her ki in her hands, forming a blue ball. Then she yells…"HADOUKEN"… throwing it against Akane. The ball hits her and she falls down, not getting up. "What! That's it? Come on girl, get up!"

Akane, though hurt, tries to get up. "Why you…you…cheater"

"Cheater…?" Sakura looks at Ran. "Man, you weren't kidding about her Ran."

"Told you so," Ran confirms.

Sakura says to Akane. "You lost okay? But, boy, you really did suck back there girl."
"What did you say?"

"That you suck. I merely hit you with a small amount of my power and you went down for the count, and you were fighting with only brute force and with rage. Girl, you are not even worthy enough to fight."

"ARE YOU SAYING THAT I CAN'T FIGHT!?"

"Not just fight, but also you lack focus. You do not have any concentration. I mean, you are a joke."

This part really insulted Akane and made her very, very angry. She's mad beyond belief, "HOW…HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME? I AM A TRUE MARTIAL ARTIST! YOU'RE JUST A BIG CHEATER! I CAN TAKE YOU ANYTIME! I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT A 'REAL' MARTIAL ARTIST CAN DO! GRYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

Then Akane takes out her trusty mallet and tries to hit Sakura with it. But Sakura sees that coming and dodges it. "Hey! No weapons allowed in a fight girl!"

"SHUT UP AND FIGHT!" Akane growls.

"Very well, if that's how you want it… SHOU-OU-KEN!!"

Then Sakura hits Akane with her Rising Cherry Punch on her jaw. Akane goes flying and hits the ground. She just lies there on the ground, unconscious. After that, Ran declares, "The winner is Sakura Kasunago…"

After that. Ranma carries Akane back to the Tendo House. Ran and Sakura were talking about the fight. "So, what do you think of her Sakura?"

"She definitely needs lots and lots of training," Sakura says. "She does have a bad temper though."

Ran laughs, "You can say that again. ha ha ha ha haaa!"

Sakura blushes. "But, I would like to have a match with Ranma. He's definitely a worthy opponent. You think you can arrange a fight with him Ran?"

"Let's ask him shall we…hey Ranma."

Ranma turns around. "Yes?"

"Sakura here is asking if she can have a match against you later."

"Well…sure I guess…she does have a good fighting skill." Ranma replies.

This makes Sakura happy. "Thank you Ranma…thank you!"

Ranma smiles. "You're welcome."

"So Sakura, what are your plans?" Ran asks her friend.

"To try to find Ryu, I heard he was near Osaka, and I will find him."

"I know you will Sakura. It's just a matter of time and patience"

"Yes…well… I'll see you later Ran and Ranma, bye," Sakura says as she waves goodbye to Ranma and Ran.

They both wave back at her. "Bye Sakura."

When they arrive, Soun was crying and demanding what happen to his 'baby girl'. Once finish with the explanations Soun was yelling at Ranma about why he didn't defend his fiancé. Ranma just told that if he did, then everyone would think that Akane couldn't take care of herself. This calms Soun but he was still mad at Ranma.

Later on, Akane woke up and see that she was in her room. "What happened. Oh yeah, I remember, that cheater beat me up unfair. I'll get her later"

"So, you're awake, Akane." a girl's voice says.

Akane turns around and see Ran at her doorway, "What do you want?"

" So tell me Miss. I'm-a-martial-artist-. About your fight against Sakura."

"I would have won, if that cheesy girl hadn't cheated!"

Ran groans, "Oh please Akane. Wake up and smell the bacon. She beat you fair and square. You couldn't even lay one single punch on her."

"She cheated, I know she did!"

"How did she cheat Akane? By defending and evading all your attacks easily? If so, that you're more stubborn than I thought."

"…", Akane says.

"You know what's the problem is with you Akane. You think that everyone who beat you cheated. Tell me Akane, when will someone fight you without cheating…? When you beat him?"

Akane stumbles, "I…um…yeah…"

"Wrong. Look Akane, I'm trying to help you here. To make you see that you don't know how to fight and that you need to learn how. You saw how awful you fought against Sakura. Don't try to deny it."

"You only want to rub it in my face! Why don't you get out of my room!"

"Geez. Some gratitude. Oh, and thank Ranma. He carried you to your house."

Akane's mad. "What…That Pervert"

Ran's confused. "Pervert! Why do you say that? He just carried you cause you were down!"

"But he touched me! He's a pervert!"

"What's your problem with him, Akane? He didn't do anything wrong with you."

"That pervert touched me…!"

"Well, how do you expect him to bring you home without carrying you…Geez Akane, you act like you have a grudge against boys!"

Akane, now mad, tells her, "JUST GET OUT OF MY ROOM! OUT!"

Ran goes away. Once outside, Ran thinks about it. What's with her? Why is she acting like if she hates boys for a reason?

Later in the afternoon Kasumi asked Ran if she could go to Dr. Tofu to get some medicine. Ran agrees and goes. When she arrives at Dr. Tofu's clinic and picks up the stuff, Ran politely thanks him. "Thank you Dr. Tofu for the medicine,"

"No problem, but, what's wrong Ran? You look worried. Is something the matter?

"Well, it's Akane, Doctor."

"Akane, what's wrong with her?" the good doctor asks her.

"I don't know. She acts like if she hates boys for a reason. I don't know why but I have a feeling that if something happened to her, but then again, it could be just my imagination."

Dr. Tofu thinks about it. And decides to tell Ran about a dark secret about Akane past. "Well…You're on to something, Ran."

"What do you mean Doctor?"

" Ran…I'll tell you something about Akane's past that I don't think I ever told before…just promise me that you won't say that I said so okay?"

Ran nods, "You got it Doctor."

"You see, when Akane was 10 years old, she had a crush on a teenager. Then one day he invited her to go out, Akane was happy about this, he took her to the movies and for a soda, everything was going well, until…"

"Until what Doctor?"

"One day, he took her to his house, there, once they arrive, he was talking to her, but at the same time, doing something else…"

"Something else? Dr. Tofu, what happened?"

"He began to try to take away her clothes, when Akane resisted, he hit her and tear away her clothes and…"

Ran begins to think for the worse. Now worried, she wonders aloud, "Doctor, you don't mean that…"

Dr. Tofu nods, "Yes…Akane was raped when she was only 10 years old"

Ran covers her mouth and she was horrified after hearing that secret. "Oh my God, I don't believe it. So what happened?"

"When they found her, her family brought her to me. I examined her, she was traumatized after that incident, and she didn't speak for almost three days."

"God, poor Akane."

"Yeah, so I guess that she hates boys cause of that incident when she was young."

"No wonder she calls all boys perverts. What a experience that must have been for her."

After that Ran went home, in the road began to think about what Dr. Tofu told her about Akane's past, then she made a plan to talk to Akane.

The next day Ran confronts Akane again. She's in the backyard when Ran finds her. "Hey Akane, got a minute?"

Akane glares at her. "What do you want? I'm busy."

Ran asks, "Akane, what do you think of Ranma? do you love him?"

"Love him? Why would I love that jerk, that pervert?"

"Yes or no, Akane."

"…Why do I have to answer to you?"

"Akane, I have a feeling that you love him, but at the same time you hate him. Why?"

"This is a waste of time…I'm outta here."

Akane begins to walk away when Ran quietly drops the bomb on her. "You're afraid that he'll turn out just like your first love when you were young, isn't it Akane?"

This stops Akane in her tracks. "What did you say, Ran?"

"Akane, I found out about your 'dark past' that you went through when you were young." Ran tells her.

"You did…? How?"

" It doesn't matter, look Akane, I believe that you're afraid that Ranma will hurt you like that boy, am I correct?"

Akane says nothing.

Taking the other girl's silence as an answer, Ran says, "I thought so. Akane, you can't let your past haunt you. That was in the past, Akane, the past. You must forget and realize that Ranma is not like that boy who…you know…he really loves you."

Akane:"…"

"Also, just because one boy did that to you, doesn't mean that all boys are perverts"

Akane, angry tears in her eyes, cries, "IT IS SO! ALL BOYS ARE PERVERTS! THERE ONLY INTERESTED IN SEX! ALL OF THEM! I HATE THEM!!"

"You can't possibly mean that Akane. That's not true. Sure there may be some, but that doesn't mean that all of the boys will be. You can't let that one incident control your life Akane. Or worse, control your love life."

"What?"

"Akane, if you close your heart to everyone, you'll never find true love, you can't let those awful memories stand between you and your happiness. You're a strong girl…bad tempered…but strong girl. Don't let it beat you."

Akane sobs, "Why are you acting this way? Is it to make fun of me?"

Ran shakes her head. "No Akane, but to help you. Think about it, Akane. About Ranma…Would a pervert help you all the times, would he risk his life for you many times and save you from certain death. Would he be patient with you all this time…? Tell me Akane, would he?"

" I don't know…"

" Think about it Akane…just think about it…I'll see you later."

Ran then leaves Akane alone in the Dojo.

In the night Akane was sleeping in her room. Then she begins to have a dream.

Akane was in the Tendo Dojo fighting against an evil Dojo-Destroyer. It was big, bald, bearded, and very muscular. She was there in the middle. The Dojo-Destroyer just laughs at her. This made Akane mad, and she proceeded to attack him, but, every hit she land on him it didn't even made him laugh. Then he hit her hard and she went flying. On the ground she was trying to get up, she was in a lot of pain, due to the punch she received from the Dojo-Destroyer. When she looks up in front of her, she saw Ranma. "Ranma…come on, take care of this Dojo-Destroyer would you?"

"…. NO." Ranma says after a moment.

Akane gasps, "What! What do you mean no?"

"I said no…this is your fight, not mine."

"But…"

"Come on Akane, you always say you're a Martial Artist…well, fight like one."

"But I…but I… but I…"

"What's the matter Akane, too much for you?" a girl's voice from out of nowhere spoke.

Akane then sees Ran. She pleads, "Ran, please help me with this!"

"No way…why should I…? Is it your Dojo, so defend it," Ran tells her.

Akane calls to Ranma. "Please Ranma, help me, I'm your fiancé"

Ranma coldly laughs, "HA, only when you need my help to save your sorry butt I'm your fiancé. Well Akane, this time you're on your own."

Needless to say, Akane's shocked. "Ranma…!"

"I'm tired of you abusing me, tired of being like a punching bag for you. I've had it, I'm outta here! Let's go Ran."

"Right behind you Ranma…" Ran turns to Akane and waves goodbye. "See you Akane"

Then Ranma and Ran fade away, Akane was alone against her opponent. She was scared, she could't stand against him. "Somebody…ANYBODY!? HELP MEEEE!" she cried…but nobody came for her. The giant just laughed at her and yelled …-" HA HAHA HAAA, I GROW TIRED OF THIS! TIME FOR YOU TO DIE LITTLE GIRL…DIEEEEE!!"…then he launched his mighty fist at Akane. Upon contact, she wakes up almost screaming.

She looks around and sees that she was in her room. She's relieved that it was only a dream, not a nightmare. After that she puts on her nightgown and goes outside to think. She begins to think about that dream and its meaning. She meditates about her past actions and her present. Then she realizes that all that Ran told her about her life made sense. She thinks about all the times that she acted like a spoiled brat. She begins to remember all the times she called Ranma a pervert or a jerk. Then she remembers all the times that Ranma saved her from many enemies. This makes Akane realize that she was wrong about Ranma; she really didn't realize how lucky, how blessed, she was to have him. She began to feel remorse about her attitude toward Ranma and she felt sorry about all the times that she hit Ranma, knowing that he never hit her back. This makes Akane felt awful about herself. And decide that she was going to change; she didn't want to lose him. And apologize to Ranma and Ran.

The next morning, Akane wakes up and dresses herself. It was Sunday so there were no classes. She headed for the Tendo Dojo were Ranma and Ran were practicing their Katas.

Ran and Ranma saw her coming toward them:

Ranma whispers, "Oh great, Akane's awake, I wonder what she'll do now?"

"I don't know. I hope she isn't in one of her foul moods." Ran whispers back.

"Hey, look at her face, she looks like she hasn't had a good night's sleep."

When Akane approaches them, she asks, "Um…Ranma, Ran, can I have a word with you guys?"

Ranma's confused, "With us? About what?"

Ran blinks. "Yeah Akane, what is it that you want to talk about?"

Akane lowers her head. "Ranma, I just want to say that I'm very sorry for treating you awful."

This part takes Ranma by the leg, he was very confused at Akane's apology. "What! What did you say Akane…you're apologizing to me…I don't understand."

Akane sadly says, "Ranma, all this time I've been a real pain to you. I've being hitting you, insulting you, and many horrible things… and you took it and never ever complained to me. I feel very sorry for ever doing those things to you…I'm very sorry Ranma, I'm so sorry!"

Ranma seems genuinely touched by this. "Akane…"

"I know that I done many bad things to you. If you don't forgive me, I'll understand, but you must know that I never wanted those things to happen to you." Now sobbing, she says, " J-just don't hate me, Ranma!"

"Akane… I don't know what to say… I couldn't ever hate you.Sure, you're sometimes violent but, Ran told me about your 'awful past'. I didn't know that, and, I couldn't understand your actions back then, but I do now."

Akane:"-(raising her eyes for hope)- "So, do you forgive me Ranma?"

"Sure, I guess…"

After hearing that Akane hugs Ranma tight and cries, "Oh Ranma Thank you thank you…I don't want to lose you, I love you very much. Say you'll give me another chance at being your fiancé, please?"

"Akane, only if you trust me more and listen to me…", Ranma's about to say.

"Sure, sure, I'll promise you that I'll try to trust you more and listen to you, and, I promise that I'll try to learn how to cook"

It's settled for Ranma. He smiles. "That's all I wanted to hear, Akane. I know we'll get through this together, right Ran?"

"Right" Ran happily agrees.

"Oh Ranma, I'm very happy!"

"Glad that you reflected, right Akane?"

Akane turns to Ran. "And thank you Ran, for everything you done for me. I know I acted like a bitch."

Ran aw'shucks at this. "No problem, like I said before, I was only trying to help you."

Ranma for the first time in his life felt secure about this. Then Akane decided to ask another help. "Um Ranma, can I ask you a big favor, please"

"A favor? Sure Akane, what is it?"

"Ranma, Ran, can you teach me how to fight"

"You want 'me' to teach 'you' how to fight?"

"Yeah, I thought I knew, but thanks to Ran, I found out I don't know anything. Please Ranma, would you teach me how to fight just as good as you and Ran?"

Ranma agrees. "Sure Akane, happy to do it, right Ran?"

"Yep!" Ran says.

Akane:"-(happy)- Really? Thank you!"

"But, it will be tough," Ranma warns. "You're up for it Akane?"

"Yes, I will do it, no matter how hard will be."

"I'm sure you'll do fine" Ran assures Akane.

After that. Ranma and Ran began to train Akane in the Saotome-Martial Art, mostly Ranma. At first she was slow, but as time went by, she began to learn a lot, she actually learning how to fight, not whit brute force, but whit training, concentrated. Ranma began to teach Akane some of the ability's of the Saotome…in the training of the Katchu-tenshi-Amaguriken Akane was having trouble learned it, cause she had to put her hands on the open fire, but, slowly and slowly she began to mastered. Ranma also began to teach her how to harness her Ki. She was learning well. She even made a dress for the Martial Art. It was similar to Ranma's but in a female way, yellow with a white belt.

Their parents were dancing with joy at the sight of Ranma and Akane practicing 'together' in the Dojo all the times. Ranma and Akane were enjoying their company a lot. Akane was indeed learning how to fight. Ran also helped her a lot.

During the times, Akane began to change, she no longer accused Ranma of being a pervert, she began to listen to him before she jumped to conclusions. And most of all… with the help of Kasumi and Ran, Akane began to learn how to cook. It took her quite some time, but she began to make decent meals. Ranma was impressed by her progress.

Akane was feeling alive. Not only because the training that she was receiving, but also, of her life.

TO BE CONTINUED…