A Month Later
It's remarkable how much Ranma had changed in just a month, which Akane feels so proud about! Their schedules have been completely revamped, and their days are now packed with activities. Yet, despite the business, there's a sense of joy that they've never experienced before. It's heartwarming to see them embracing these changes with such happiness!
Ranma is a born martial artist!! He is so talented that it not only surprised Akane, Akio was also mind-blown by his improvement! It was as if a layer of rust had cloaked his hidden talent, and Akane was the spark igniting the fire within him, helping to polish it to a brilliant shine! When she first saw him at her dojo and saw some of his moves, she knew he might be good at it if he practiced; but Akane never imagined he was this good!
Initially, she thought about teaching him just once or twice a week. However, his growing enthusiasm and dedication towards the art inspired her to take on the teaching role more seriously. Even though the new schedule left her feeling a bit worn out, she never let anyone see her tiredness. Instead, she embraced the challenge with a big smile!
Now things have been so casual between them that her family also started anticipating Ranma's visit. If sometimes he couldn't manage to come for his training; Kasumi would call him and Akio would also ask her about his absence. It makes her giddy with happiness whenever she witnesses the new bonding between them; for some reason it always fills her heart with warmth, seeing them so happy and comfortable together, just like a family.
Akane also never enjoyed doing martial arts like she is enjoying now! Before, she learned about it out of enthusiasm and family duty. Then she started loving the art so much that she couldn't stop herself from mastering it. She knows she still needs to learn a lot about this art. But her dream to fulfill her mother's wish hampered her dream. Anyway, she only learned about martial arts from her father and her grandfather. This is the first time she is practicing it with a guy her age! And not to mention, the guy she secretly admires. This actually makes her want to give him all her attention; whether she was tutoring him or teaching him martial arts; no matter how exhausted she feels, she would give in to his request to teach him a new technique every day. It's like her daily life became more and more thrilling as she kept spending more time with him.
She was enjoying every part of it, until oneday Akio decided to interrupt their training session and made it difficult for her. Akio, Ranma and Akane as usually came home from their university and went to the dojo for practice. Akane was discussing some methods with Ranma, then suddenly Akio came to the dojo and started observing what they were doing. After watching their fight for half an hour; he interrupted them and called Akane to pause;
"Hey! What happened, Akio? Why are you disturbing us?" Akane asked , slightly breathless as she gave Akio an annoyed glare.
Akio walked towards her, shook his head and tossed a water bottle toward her and said, "Take him more seriously, Akane!"
Akane took a sip from the bottle and said in a defensive tone, "I AM taking him seriously!"
"By how exactly?" He looked at Ranma and said, "All you guys are doing is dodging each other's attacks!" He again looked at Akane and said, "Why are you pulling your punches? You need to hit him if you really want him to learn about fights!"
Akane got nervous hearing that. She knows what Akio was saying was right! She needs to physically hit Ranma if she wants him to improve! But how could she hurt him? When she first started teaching him, she never thought that he would be a fast learner! She thought she wouldn't have to think about hitting him until at least six months! But he really messed up her calculation by learning fast! She was dreading the fact that she might have to hurt him sooner; but still she wanted to wait. But now the way Akio was pointing this issues openly to her, she doesnt know if she could play safe anymore.. She moaned feeling annoyed and said, "I know I need to hit him, baka! But… but I am not sure if he is ready or not!"
"I am ready!" Ranma said quickly, fixing the coat of his Gi.
"See! He is ready! You should start hitting him!" Akio said excitedly.
Akane traded looks between those two and said in a whiny tone, "But I am not ready! What if.. What if I hurt him seriously? You know how hard my punches are!"
Akio gave a tired sigh and said, "So what, Akane? You are a martial artist; your punches are meant to be hard! But if you don't let him practice with you; how can he get better at it? You want him to be a martial artist too, right?"
"Yes, I do!!" Akane moaned and said, "But.. I don't want to hurt him.."
"Kane.." Ranma interrupted them. He walked towards her and took the water bottle from her hand and drank some water first. Then whipping his face with the slave with his Gi, he looked at her and said, " Please hit me. I am ready for this! I know I can't learn about martial arts until I get some pain in! You know what I mean! Don't worry about me! Your student is much more tougher then you think, Sensai!" Ranma finished with a confident smile on his face.
Akane still looked at him doubtfully. She gave a big sigh and asked him, "Are you sure you won't quit after it?"
Ranma smirked and said, "Try me, Akane!"
Akane shook her head in defeat and said, "Alright then; bring it on!! You asked for it.."
He quickly stood in a ready stance, a confident smirk on his face as he said, "Bring it on, Sensai!"
One sparring round later
"Owww!!! Ow!! Ow! Ow! Ow! That hurts!! That hurts! That hurts!!!" Ranma whined in pain, as he bent down on his knees.
"HONESTLY!! I TOLD YOU YOU WILL GET HURT!!" Akane yelled in a panicked tone. She carefully touched his left shoulder; and she herself shrieked in surprise when Ranma again cried out with pain.
"I think we better take him to a DR." Akio suggested with a nervous tone, fearfully looking at Akane.
Akane growled at him and lashed out at him saying, "I warned you he would get hurt!! It's all your fault, Akio!"
Akio cringed hearing her angry voice and said, "How would I know he will get this hurt that easily.. Why did you hurt him like this.."
Akane growled and snapped at him, "So what did you think when I said I didn't want to hit him.."
"Akane.. Please.." Ranma started with a painful tone and said, "I am fine! It's my fault. I got a little distracted.."
Akio felt guilty and said, "I wish Oneechan was here.. Anyway, let's go, we need to see him a Dr."
"No!! No!! No!! No!! I don't need to see any Dr!" Ranma said in a panicked tone.
Akane moaned and slightly poked at his left shoulder; he almost jumped in pain as he closed his eyes and tried to hold his hand. Akane shook her head and carefully held his right arm and pulled him up. Ranma gave her a pleading look and said,
"Please Kane, I don't want to see any Dr."
Akane scrunched her eyebrows in confusion and asked him, "But why?"
Ranma gulped and said with a nervous tone, "I don't want Ryoga's family to find out about this!"
"But how would they find out about it?" Akio asked, still confused.
Ranma sighed and said, "They have a huge connection! If the dr knows the Saotome's and if anyhow the news reaches them that I am hurt then maybe.."
"Ranma.." Akane started with a soft tone as she said, "Don't worry, Dr Tofu is our family Dr and he is a very secretive person; if I tell him he won't say it to anyone."
Ranma still looked doubtful; but he also didn't want to deny Akane as well. He gave a shaky sigh, his pain reminding him that he had to make a decision soon. He nodded his head and hoped that what Akane was saying was right.
"Oh, it's a normal thing! Your shoulder is just dislocated, that's all..!"
With a quick motion, audible snap and a wild shark from Ranma later Dr Tofu had fixed Ranma's left shoulder. Ranma was surprised at the way Dr Tofu was handling his wounds. He never saw any Dr like him before! He found out that Dr Tofu is a Specialized Dr for martial arts. He is also a martial artist himself and he usually follows ancient techniques and medicine to treat people. Ranma became awed when Akane began to explain to him about Dr Tofu. She was talking about him at a speed he never saw her speak before! It was as if she was very proud of him and she would never get tired of explaining his talents to him.
"That's enough, Akane! Haha! Now you will make me blush!" Dr Tofu said while laughing a bit as he quickly fix a bandage over Ranma's face.
Akane giggled hearing that. She and Akio were seated in front of Dr Tofu's desk as Ranma sat on the side bed as Tofu tended to him carefully.
"So you are Ranma... Hmm, Akane sure told me about you a lot, but I never thought she would bring you to meet me in this state!" Tofu chuckled and finished his work.
Akane blushed hearing that, she bites her lower lip and said, "Umm; I am sorry; I was actually training him and.."
"Oh! Ranma is your new student, Akane? Then I think his visits would be on a regular basis from now on!" Tofu returned to his seat while smiling at them.
"Doctor!!" Akane whined at him, pouting.
Akio laughed hearing that; he looked at Ranma and said in between his laughing, "Man, I think you should quit and hide from her.."
Ranma grinned and shook his head and said, "I would never leave. Anyway, It's my fault. I tripped and fell! She did warn me about getting hurt in the beginning.."
Akane smiled at Ranma upon hearing that and glared back at Akio. Tofu noticed the short moment between Ranma and Akane; he smiled at her and said,
"I was just joking, Akane. In fact, I think that Ranma is very lucky to get a mentor like you! You are one of the most talented martial artists I know!"
Akane placed her hand on her blushing cheek and said, "Oh honestly, I am not that good, Dr Tofu!"
Tofu smiled and said, "I know what I am saying, Akane. If you had taken martial arts seriously as a career, I bet it would have been hard to beat you.. But, I know why you quit dreaming about it! And I admire you for that, Akane.." He looked at Ranma and said, "You know Ranma, she was very dedicated when she learned about martial arts! I remember I also taught her some moves and she is still my most favorite student. At that time of her training, she used to visit me very often! That little Akane used to get hurt so often, but she never gave up!! You should also learn from her! Yes, you might get hurt frequently; but that is how a martial artist is made! Remember, no pain no gain.."
Akio passed Akane a napkin; she took it and wiped the corner of her eye, laughing slightly; she said, "My path was not that smooth; but I still tried. Thank you, Dr Tofu! Your words really mean a lot to me.."
Tofu patted her hand which was laid on the table; he looked at Ranma and said, "All the best to you, Ranma! Don't worry, I will be always here to tend your wound; I hope you won't stop training with her.."
Ranma shook his head as he looked at Akane with appreciation. Then when Ranma noticed the kind exchange between her and Dr Tofu as they began to share more memories together. He felt a pang of jealousy run through his heart for not being a part of her childhood. As he kept listening to them, it felt to him like her childhood was moving as a scene in front of his eyes. He was listening to them with great interest and then he noticed something strange,
"Say, Akane.. Is.. umm..is Ka..ka..Kasumi do-doing well.."
"Oneechan?" Akand asked, then replied with a big smile, "Yes, Dr Tofu, She is fine! You know she started the course again!"
Tofu smiled at her and nodded, "Yes I know. I am glad she did…"
"Why don't you come to our house for dinner, Dr Tofu?" Akio asked, giving him a wide smile.
Akane became even more excited as she said, "Oh yes! How silly of me!! Please Dr Tofu, it's been a while since you last visited our house.."
Tofu looked hesitant as he said, "I.. I don't think that's a good idea, you guys.."
"But why? Please Dr Tofu.." Akane asked in a childish manner.
Tofu sighed and said, "I don't think Kasumi would…" He shook his head and said in a soft tone, "I will come later maybe.. But not soon. Anyway, you guys have to visit me frequently from now on, now that Ranma has started training!"
Ranma noticed the way his voice and expression had changed. It was like he wanted to ask so many things about one particular person; but he was suppressing it. They then talked for some more time, and after some time, they left the clinic. Ranma wanted to leave to go back to his apartment but Akane didn't let him go and insisted that he stay for dinner.
They reached the Tendo house just in time before dinner time. As they announced their arrival, Kasumi greeted them back and asked them to join her at the dinner table. They were so hungry, they straightway went to the table as the aroma pulled them inside like a magnet. They thanked her for the food and started eating in a haste. Kasumi smiled at them and noticed Ranma's discomfort as she asked him,
"Ranma, dear… are you alright?"
Ranma looked up at her and said with a warm smile, "I .. I am.."
"Akane hit him today at practice! His shoulder was dislocated , he got a bruise on his left cheek and.."
"Just shut up, Akio! Stop talking with your mouth full!! Honestly!!" Akane said hissing as she looked down feeling ashamed.
"Oh my, Akane! But you shouldn't have!" Kasumi said with a concerned tone.
"It's okay, oneechan!" Ranma said as he looked at her, "If I don't get hurt how would I learn? Learning about Martial arts has been a dream for me and I am really thankful that Akane is helping me to fulfill my dream. I am fine. I am just feeling a little numb on my shoulder now and then; but it's alright.."
Kasumi smiled at him and said, "I am sure one day you are going to be a great Martial artist, Ranma! Maybe you will get hurt by my violent little sister sometimes, but please don't give up on your dreams! Just remember one thing, no pain no gain.."
Akane chimed in excitedly, she bumped her shoulder with Ranma's and said, "You think that too, oneechan! Dr Tofu said the same line to him, you know.."
"Dr Tofu?" Kasumi's smile immediately disappeared. She gave them a wondrous look and asked them, "Did.. did you guys meet him?"
Akane nodded her head in excitement and said, "Oh he was the one who fixed Ranma! He said, he would expect us to visit him more now that Ranma started his training with me!" She finished , giggling sweetly.
"Oh… I see…" Kasumi whispered softly, as she looked down at her balled hands.
Akio cleared his voice and said, "He asked us about you as well.. We invited him for dinner but.."
"Why did you do that?" Kasumi asked with a firm tone.
"Huh?" Akio was completely taken aback by her tone. He stopped inhaling his food and looked at Akane, who also gave him the same confused look. Akio then looked at Kasumi and said, "Uhh, I am sorry?!"
Kasumi sighed and shook her head and told them while giving them a hard look, "If anyone wants to come they would come without any invitation! He is not a guest. He doesn't need any invitations, do you two get it?"
Akane and Akio both gulped and nodded their heads. Kasumi then places her hand on her cheek and said in more gentle tone,
"Oh my, have I been too harsh on you two?! I am so sorry.."
Akane and Akio shook their heads simultaneously and started eating silently. Ranma smirked and shook his head. He was so amazed to see the bonding between this small family. They are so uniquely close together! It's like, they know when to make fun, when to stop, when to be angry and how to handle the situation more maturely when needed.
After finishing the dinner; Ranma helped them to clean up the dishes. After helping Kasumi with the chores, he was about to leave when Kasumi asked him.
"So you say your friend Ryoga won't be home this whole weekend?"
Ranma smiled and nodded, "Yes. He went out for a short trip with his friends."
"Then why don't you stay at our place for the weekend then?" Kasumi asked him casually, gently smiling at him.
"Stay here?" Ranma became shocked to hear that. He gulped and asked again, "For the weekend?" He looked at Akane, and saw her nervously looking in his direction.
"Why not?" Akio started saying and said, "You can use the guest room and use my clothes if you want. And anyway, you are planning to come here in the early morning to start your session. Why don't you just stay here, it will save you some time.."
Ranma was hesitant, more because Akane was not saying anything to him. But Kasumi kept on insisting him and at last he had to agree to stay. After that, Akane silently went to her room and Akio took him to the guest room. He also gave him a night suit to wear as he said,
"Here you go, man! This is new. Akane gave it to me last Chirtmas. I haven't worn it yet."
Ranma took the clothes in his hand and asked him, "Are you sure I can have it?"
"It's alright! I will leave you to change then. Call me if you need anything, don't hesitate."
Ranma nodded with a smile as Akio left him alone in his room. He gave a long sigh and locked the sliding door and started changing into his green pajamas.
'Is she mad at me for some reason?' Ranma thought to himself as he changed his clothes, 'She didn't even say goodnight to me! Have I made a mistake by saying yes to stay here?'
~~~Knock~~Knock~~
As he finished changing, he was startled to hear the knocking on his door. He walked up to open the door and when he opened it, he saw Akane standing there, wearing the same yellow pajama he saw her wearing before. She gave him a sweet smile and asked him cheerfully,
"Ready for bed already? Can I come in?"
Ranma gave a big sigh of relief; he nodded his head and moved and let her into his room. She gave him a gloomy look and asked him,
"Would you be able to sleep on a futon?"
Ranma scratched his head and said, "Uh, I never slept in one before; but I can try.."
"Would you like to shift to my room instead?" Akane asked in a worried tone.
Ranma's face instantly became red with embarrassment; just thinking about staying the night at her room, was making his heart beat so fast. He shook his head and said hastily,
"No! No! Thanks .. I will manage here.." He laughed slightly, not wanting to make her worried anymore. Then he asked her a bit hesitatingly, "Umm.. Can you please help me set up the futon; I … I don't know how that actually.."
Akane giggled and pushed him slightly as she went to take the futon out. Ranma followed her lead and helped her to set the futon for him. As they were setting up the futon, he couldn't stop but stare at her for a long moment. A beautiful full moon night, alone with her in a room; as they were getting ready for the bed, this whole setup was fluttering his heart in a different way.
"I hope you will sleep comfortably here.." She turned as she said that, and caught him giving her a longing-filled look. She gulped hard as she blushed madly. Looking down she asked him, "Ranma.."
"Akane.."
They began simultaneously, looking into each other as they both blushed madly. Then clearing his tone he said,
"Are you mad at me for saying yes to stay here?"
"Huh?!... Why would you even think that?" Akane asked, confused.
Ranma then said, "You were silent and you also left.."
"Oh!" She giggled and shook her head, "I was actually worried because I know about your lifestyle. Our house is old and you may need to sleep in futon, that's why I was wondering if it would make you uncomfortable or not.."
"Uncomfortable!! Old house!! What are you saying, Akane!! I love this place! Honestly, I became so thrilled when Oneechan asked me to stay here!"
Seeing Ranma's excitement , she warmly smiled at him and said, "And also I wanted to get ready fast; because I wanted to take you to my favourite place."
Ranma gave her a confused look and asked, "Now?"
Akane nodded her head and stood up. Ranma looked up at her and asked,
"Do I need to change?"
Akane giggled and said, "Nope!" She grabbed his arm and pulled him up and asked, "Now tell me, have you used any wooden ladder before?"
Ranma looked up at the open sky with wide surprised eyes. He took a deep breath as some fresh breeze washed over his face.
"Do you like it here?" Akane asked with a soft whispered tone.
Ranma turned and stared at her and said, "I couldn't even guess that we could claim up the roof tiles! This is very new to me..!"
Akane scrunched her eyebrows and asked him, "Why? Haven't you went to any roofs before?"
Ranma sighed and shook his head, "They were so different from this, Akane. More like materialistic! Not like here."
Akane bended her knees closer to her chest as she asked him, "Hmmm, how do you feel here?"
Ranma smirked and looked up at the sky. He spared his legs a bit and bent backwards by placing his hands on backwards, then he said with a whispered tone, "It's surrounded by nature. So pure, so beautiful.. just like my Sensai.."
Akane blushed hearing that; she giggled and shook her head as they both silently gaze up at the sky; each lost in each other's thoughts. Then after some time Akane whispered in a soft tone,
"I come here every night. At least for a few minutes! This place calmes me so much, Ranma. Life is hectic, you know.."
"Yeah.. I can understand why.. You Know what? I actually envy you.."
She rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Oh really?"
Ranma chuckled and laid on the roof tile and said, "I would love to switch my life with yours.. I hate my place.."
The venom she heard from his voice, made her look at him with wonder. She sighed and said to him,
"Ranma,... you never know.. you can always change your life if you want to.."
Ranma looked at her with an expression so confusing to her. He gave a shaky breath and said,
"I wish , Kane.. I really wish…"
After that they silently sat there, not knowing what to say anymore. Then to change the mood, Akane said with a playful tone,
"Did you see how my sweet oneechan got angry at us tonight? It's a rare thing to witness, you are lucky.."
Akane's silly giggle made him smirking as well. He then remembered something; he sat up and asked her,
"Akane, can I ask you something?"
Akane looked at him and nodded, "Ask me.."
"What is the relationship between Kasumi Oneechan and Dr Tofu?"
"Huh?! Them!? They are just.."
"What are you guys doing up there?" Suddenly Akio walked up the stairs and poked his head up to look at them.
Akane shook her head and motioned him to join them. He carefully walked beside them and took a seat beside Akane and asked, "What are you doing? Won't you guys have to wake up early tomorrow for training?"
Akane shurgged her shoulder while smiling and said, "Oh, we were just talking.. Anyway, Ranma.." She turned towards him and said, "To answer your earlier question, all I know is Onecchan and Dr Tofu were schoolmates. He was her senior. But both of them shared a good friendship before.."
Akio Joined the conversation and added, "Not to mention, he also used to act kind of crazy infront of oneechan. You remember Akane, how he used to dance with betty in his hand sometimes?" He finished smirking.
Akane giggled and nodded, "Oh my God! It was so funny.."
"Who is betty!" Ranma asked confused.
They looked at him as Akio said, "One skeleton model. For some reason he started carrying it since he started his Dr carrier. He was crazy!"
"Then what happened?" Ranma asked, becoming more curious.
Akane and Akio looked at each other, getting perplexed as Akane told him, "That's it, Ranma. This is all about them.."
Ranma shook his head and said, "No.. That can't be.. There must be something else between them.."
Akane gave him a funny look; she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Things seemed pretty normal between them before! I don't think there was anything else between them.."
Akio scratched his head and asked, "Umm.. I am not sure, Akane! I think I saw Oneechan crying when I went to grab a water bottle from the kitchen.."
"What! Kasumi is crying! I have to go to her.." Akane was about to get up, but Ranma held her arm and said,
"Dont go, Akane!"
She gave him a nervous look, "But Ranma! She is crying.."
Ranma shook his head and said, "If you go to her now she would think that we know something. She is trying to hide a secret from both of you! Can't you understand that?"
Akio and Akane looked at each other and said simultaneously, "A secret?!"
Ranma looked at them and said, " I am not sure but I am assuming it! I think there must be something in between Kasumi and Dr Tofu.."
"What!! But this can't be..!" Akio said in a harsh whispered tone.
Ranma looked at Akane and said, "The way I saw both of them acting while mentioning each other; I don't think it's normal.. You did see how Oneechan reacted when she heard about Dr Tofu, right?"
Akane got silent, she shook her head and said, "I am confused about what you are saying. Why would Oneechan be angry at Dr Tofu?"
"Exactly! That's what I wanna find out, Akane..!" Ranma said in an excited tone.
Akane moaned and looked down in deep thought as she said, "I am not sure.. you are right in some way, Ranma. Come to think of it, before Oneechan got married, everything was alright between them. Then after oneechan got married, Dr Tofu also disappeared after that.. He just returned to Nerima a few months ago.."
Ranma became impatient as he asked, "Is there anyone who Oneechan is close with? Maybe they could tell us something about them.."
Akio looked at Ranma and said, "There is only one person who was very close to Oneechan".
"Who?" Ranma asked.
"Nabiki…" Akio and Akane answered at the same time…
A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading it! It's becoming so hard to write this AU fic now that the original serieses has started again! I am so down into the new series that its making this fic a hard challenge for me. But nevertheless, I won't give up !! Because I believe this fic will make many readers happy; I have big faith in this fic.
Anyway, if I divide this fic into three phases.
1st phase would be from - Chap 1 - 20
2nd phase would be from - Chap 21 - more coming (maybe 3/4 chapters)
3rd phase woud be the start of the beginning of the ending section. It would take little time; but I am I won't make my readers bore :)..
Please help me finish this fic with you support and encouraging words. Sometimes we really need to hear it from readers how much they are into the fic! So, please don't forget to review :).. I will see you guys soon :)..