Chapter 19
[Ucchan's, Afternoon]
(A somewhat tired Ranma-chan enters the empty restaurant.
She's covered with cat scratches)
Ranma-chan: *Boy, Shampoo's as persistent as ever... I wonder
what I would have done if Mousse hadn't been there*
(Frowning, pouring some hot water over herself)
*What am I going to do about Akane, though? I bet she's super
ticked off* (Glancing at the phone) *I do owe her an apology...*
(Cut to the Tendo Hallway)
Akane: (Storming in, hearing the phone ring, and picks it up)
Mosh moshi?
(Half the screen shows Akane, the other half has Ranma)
Ranma: (Nervously) A-Akane?...
Akane: (Recognizing the voice, and starting to hang up) Leave me
alone.
Ranma: (Frantically) No, no no! Listen, please!
Akane: (Surprised enough by 'please' to listen) Ok, you have two
seconds to tell me why you stood me up.
Ranma: (Sighs) I tried to get there bu-
Akane: Shut up.
(Tries to hang up. At this point Ukyou and Nodoka have entered
the hallway and are watching Akane with some interest)
Nodoka: Wh-
Ukyou: (Index finger to mouth) Shh.
Ranma: FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, LEMME EXPLAIN!
Akane: (Turning red from anger) Oh, so now you scream at me.
Ranma: What do you expect! You're just being unreasonable!
Akane: Why should I be reasonable with you?! All you've ever done
since you've arrived is be mean to me!
Ranma: You honestly think anyone would bother to be nice
to a uncute, impatient tomboy like you? Get real!
Akane: (Holding the receiver, staring at in anger) Ranma.....
I HATE YOU!!!
(Throws the receiver into the wall, and runs upstairs)
Ranma: Akane? Oh, shit! Akane, don't ha-
Nodoka: (Picking up the receiver) Ranma?
Ranma: (Going into shock) MOM?!
Nodoka: (Surprised) You know my voice? Oh well, that doesn't
really matter right now; where are you?
Ranma: *Oh great!* I'm calling from out of town, heh heh.
Nodoka: (Sadly) Is that so? (Becomes more serious) Ranma, what's
wrong with you and Akane?
Ranma: Me and Akane?-
Nodoka: (Correcting her) Akane and I. *Strange, didn't Ranko make
that same mistake earlier today?*
Ranma: Yeah, that's it. Anyway, you could say we're having a fight.
Nodoka: Oh, my. Would you like me to get her back on the phone?
Ranma: (Relieved) Oh please do.
Nodoka: I'll be back.
(Nodoka walks up to Akane's closed bedroom door, and knocks)
Akane?
Akane: What is it?
Nodoka: Ranma wants to speak to you on the phone.
Akane: (Sourly) Tell him to go jump into a pit of cats. (Shouting)
And tell him I hope the cats tear all of his limbs off!
Nodoka: Oh oh. (Goes back to the phone) I'm sorry Ranma,
she doesn't want to see you right now.
Nabiki: (The screen splits into three, showing Ranma, Nodoka
and Nabiki) Actually Ranma, to be more specific she told you
to jump into a pit of cats, and wishes you the best of luck in
having all of your limbs torn off.
Nodoka: Nabiki! How did you get on?
Nabiki: I have my own phone.
Ranma: (Turning pale) She said that?
Nabiki: Oh yeah, after Auntie left she corrected herself by saying
that she's rather do the job of tearing you apart.
Ranma: (Shaking slightly) If that's what she said, then tell her that
being her fiancee is THE LAST THING I WANT!
(Slams to receiver onto the base of the phone)
(Ranma dispears from the screen, leaving only Nodoka and Nabiki)
Nodoka: Nabiki! What do you think you're doing?!
Nabiki: Don't worry, Auntie. Those two are at their best when
fighting.
Nodoka: But...
Nabiki: Trust me. Before you know it, they'll be fighting again just
like before!
Nodoka: (Sweat drop going down the side of her face) Just... like...
before...?
Nabiki: Oh, yeah. Ranma and Akane fight all the time.
Nodoka: They do?... (The two go on talking)
(Cut to Upstairs Hallway)
Kasumi: (Knocking on Akane's door, holding a tray with a
snack) Akane, may I come in?
Akane: (Muffled) Please don't.
Kasumi: You can tell me to leave at anytime, just please
let me in.
Akane: .... All right. (Kasumi enters. The room has bokkens,
weights and the like thrown all over the floor. Akane's eyes
are puffy)
Kasumi: (Holding the tray out) Would you like a snack?
Akane: ... Sure.
Kasumi: (Take a seat on the bed, putting the tray on it) Akane,
I've been watching you and Ranma for a while now, and I thought
it might be better if I just let you sort things out on your own. But
lately, things have been getting worse and worse between you two.
Akane: (Hanging her head) And...
Kasumi: And so I thought I should ask you this: Akane, do you
love Ranma?
Akane: (Her head snaps up) Do I what?!
Kasumi: You don't have to tell me Akane, but until you find out you'll
never go anywhere. If you do, Akane, tell him, but if you don't let him
go. It'd be better for the both of you in the long run.
Akane: (Playing with her fingers) Well....
Kasumi: (Putting her hand on Akane's shoulder, getting up) Don't tell me.
Tell Ranma.
Akane: (Grabbing Kasumi's hand) Please, wait!
Kasumi: Yes?
Akane: How do I do this? (Blushes) I mean, I've been trying for
the past seven months to find out, and I still don't know...
Kasumi: (Sighs) Well, maybe love is too strong a word. But see
if you care about him enough to remain engaged.
Akane: (Thinking) ....
Kasumi: Take your time, Akane. It's an important decision, not
one to be made in two seconds and when you're angry; think
it over, and sleep on it.
Akane: (Still thinking) ... (Kasumi is opening the door) Sis?
Kasumi: Hm?
Akane: (Weak smile) Arigato.
Kasumi: (Smiling back) Anytime.
[Ucchan's, Late afternoon]
(Ukyou is cleaning up her restaurant; at the counter is Ranma, who's
resting his whole upper body on the counter. Ukyou pokes him to
see if he'll move; when he doesn't, she lifts up an arm, wipes the
spot underneath it, then drops his arm carelessly)
Ranma: (Holding his arm to his chest) Hey, watch it! That hurt!
Ukyou: That was the point! Ever since that phone call you had
with Akane three days ago, you've done nothing but mope even more.
You haven't even moved for the past 12 hours.
Ranma: (Turning around) Aw, shuddap.
Ukyou: (Annoyed) Would you quit with the hell-with-it attitude?
It's really getting to me; I can't take care of this restaurant, go to
school AND look after a human blob.
Ranma: Who are you calling a blob?
Ukyou: You. (Begins to push Ranma off the stool he's sitting on)
Ranma: Uh, whatcha doin'?
Ukyou: Trying to get you off this depression.
(Pushes him to the door, opens it) Have a fight with Ryoga. Jump
into Kuno's arms. Just do something to get out of this blue funk.
Ranma: Fine, fine!
(Is about to walk out when the phone rings. He runs to it and picks it up)
Ucchan's. Whaddya want.
Voice: I wanna talk to my daughter.
Ranma: (Blinks) Nani?
Voice: Ukyou! Just lemme speak to Ukyou!
Ranma: Oh. (Hands the phone to Ukyou) Thinks it's your pop.
Ukyou: Thanks. (Takes the phone, and motions to the door. Ranma
gets the clue and walks toward it) Dad, could you hold on a sec',
someone's on the line.
(Ukyou presses a button, listens for a second and her face falls.
She holds the phone to Ranma)
Ranma: (Taking the phone) Yeah? (His face lights up) Akane!
How's ya doin- I mean, what do you want.
Akane: Don't get so aggressive with me, Ranma.
Ranma: When aren't I?
Akane: Just shut up and listen before we get into another fight, ok?
I uh, need to tell you something. Can you meet me at the park fountain,
the place we were meant to meet a few days ago?
Ranma: Hey, I went the-
Akane: Will you be there or not?!
Ranma: Huh? Oh, sure. (Tries to sound calm) Since I'm not doin'
anything' and all, I guess I COULD meet you-
Akane: I haven't said when yet. (Ranma turns red) Does in
an hour sound good to you?
Ranma: I suppose.
Akane: Good. (Barely audible) I'll be glad to see you. (Hangs up)
Ukyou: (Trying to control her disappointment) Can I have the
phone back?
Ranma: (Not noticing Ukyou, and throws it to Ukyou) Catch.
(Skips out of Ucchan's whistling)
Ukyou: (Watching Ranma leave) ....
Voice: Ukyou? You still there?
Ukyou: (Shutting her eyes, and slowly curling up) I somehow
wish I wasn't.
[Nameless street, Late Afternoon]
Ranma: *Yeah, I'm the man.*
(Starts doing some cartwheels, but then stops) *Woah, calm down!
It's only Akane!* (He bursts into a grin) *Aw, who cares?* (Laughs)
Voice: I fail to see the humor. (Ranma opens his eyes and sees Kuno)
Ranma: (Cheerfully) Hey, haven't seen ya in a while, Kuno. How's ya
been doin' these days?
Kuno: They have been most pleasing, for I have not had to see your
hideous face.
Ranma: Missed you too.
Kuno: I do not recall ever citing that your absence has given me any
grief.
Ranma: Ain't you ever heard of sarcasm?
Kuno: (Holding his bokken at Ranma's nose) You mock me?
Ranma: (Holding his hands up) Hell, not now Kuno. Don't wanna
waste my time fighting whimps before seein' Akane.
Kuno: (Rushing forward, bokken raised high) You dare call I, the
mighty Kuno a wi-
Ranma: (Kicking Kuno into LEO) Like I said, I don't wanna waste
my time. (After watching Kuno soar above his head with satisfaction,
Ranma jumps on some rooftops to get to the park)
(Cut to Park fountain)
Ranma: (Looking around) *Feh, must've arrived early again. But
this time nothin' is gonna make me le-
(Ranma stops in mid-thought, the victim of a cold blast of air. The
world around him turns into ice, snow falling around him and
snowmen start to do their happy little jig)
(Ranma sees P-Ran kissing Akane. To be more specific, Akane and
P-Ran are lying on the ground, Akane on top of P-Ran. Their lips
are barely touching each other's, but it's close enough. Both have
their eyes closed shut, faces scarlet red)
Ranma: (Monotone) Hey. (P-Ran and Akane turn to Ranma)
Akane: (Blushing even harder) Ranma, it's not-
Ranma: Just don't rub it in by invitin' me to the wedding. 'k?
(Turns around, and trudges away)
Akane: Ranma!
Ranma: *Abayo** Akane.*
[The scene fades]
Chapter 21
[Under the Bridge, Late Afternoon]
(Ranma is sitting on a rock, staring straight forward. He's in
a daze, not even thinking straight. He just keep getting
images of him laughing, thinking he's the greatest, and then
seeing Akane kissing P-Ran. He seems to be... crying)
(A boat passes by, splashing Ranma with water; she doesn't
even notice)
Voice: Ranma? Ranma, are you all right? (The person waves their
hand in front of Ranma-chan's face) Ranma, what's wrong?
(The person shakes her)
Ranma-chan: (Pushing the person away) Leave me alone.
(Ranma-chan turns to glare at the person, but gulps instead. It's her
mom) Mo- Auntie! W-why are you c-calling me Ranma?
Nodoka: (Smiling) You can stop pretending now, Ranma. I know
your curse; you told me yesterday, remember? (Looks at Ranma-chan's
face) Ranma! You're crying!
Ranma-chan: (Not hearing the last part) I did what?!
Nodoka: (Patiently) You explained me the whole thing yesterday,
everything from how your father took you to Juusenkyo to all of your
engagements. Now tell me what has made you so upset.
Ranma-chan: (Boiling when she realizes what happened) P-Ran.
Nodoka: (Confused) Huh?
Ranma-chan: (Screaming on the top of her lungs) DAMN YOU, P-RAN!
IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT YOU... you...
(Ranma-chan lowers her head miserably, and runs off)
Nodoka: (Raising her arm in the direction Ranma-chan went) Ranma!
Ranma-chan: *God, how I hate you, P-Ran.*
[Ucchan's, Night]
(Ranma is rummaging through Ukyou's house, picking up a few things
here and there that belong to him; he stuffs all the stuff into his backpack.
Finally, he grabs a pen and a piece of paper and begins to write. It reads:)
( 'Ucchan,
Things haven't been going well for me these past few days
and there are just too many memories here for me to stay. I'll be
going back to China; I don't know if I'll ever see you again, so I'll
wish you the best of luck. And thanks for everything, you lived up
to be a better friend than I could ever be. I'm sorry to leave you like
this, but I have to.
Your best friend,
Ran-chan)
(Ranma looks it over, and folds it into thrice. Carefully, he sneaks
into Ukyou's room, puts the letter on her bed table, and leaves)
(Cut to a nameless street)
(Ranma is carrying his backpack, and mentally preparing himself for
a long trip. He looks up at the sky, and stares at the full moon; another
image pops up in front of him, this one of Akane smiling, eyes shinning
and holding a flower Ranma had just given her)
Ranma: *Akane... Did you know the only thing keeping me in this crazy
town was you? Do you know how many times I looked at myself as a
female in the mirror, and thought to myself
'I'm going back to Juusenkyo today', and then changed my mind the
next time I saw you?* (Squeezes his eyes shut, and makes a fist)
Ranma: *You know how pain this curse brought me, Akane? The humiliation,
anger and sadness? But just the thought of not being near you for less
than three weeks was nothing compared to than remaining half a girl
for the rest of my life. I pushed all my grief aside, because Akane...
oh, Akane... if only you knew.*
(Cut to Akane's bedroom)
(Akane, who is unable to sleep, keeps tossing and turning in her bed.
She keeps remembering the events of that afternoon....)
Flashback
Akane: (Happily) Ranma and will finally straighten things out! (Smiles)
Thanks for convincing me to make that phone call, P-Ran.
P-Ran: (Sullenly) Yeah. (In Akane's happy state, she doesn't
notice P-Ran's emotions at the moment) See ya...
Akane: Bye, P-Ran. (P-Ran's about to walk off) Just one more
thing, P-Ran.
P-Ran: Huh?
Akane: (Hugs him) Thanks again for everything, P-Ran.
P-Ran: (Stammering) A-Akane...
Akane: (Kindly) Hm?
P-Ran: (A look of wanting flashes in his eyes) N-no... I can't.
(He turns around rapidly, Akane's arms still around him. Not expecting
this, Akane trips, and P-Ran quickly puts her on top of him so that she
won't take the impact of hitting cement. As it runs out, when Akane falls
on top of P-Ran so does her face onto his, giving the impression that
they're kissing. The two, in shock, remain for a second like that. When
Akane is about to get up...)
Voice: Hey. (Akane looks up and sees Ranma) Just don't rub it in by
invitin' me to the wedding, ok?
Akane: Ranma, matte yo! It's not what it looks like!
Ranma: (Walking away slowly) Abayo, Akane...
End Flashback
Akane: (Staring up at the ceiling) *Baka baka baka baka baka baka
baka x10. Why can't you ever listen, Ranma? Just two seconds, and
you would have understood... Oh, great, I can't go to sleep because
of the jerk.* (Gets up) *I'll get a glass of milk...*
(Akane goes down to the kitchen. On the kitchen table is a folded letter,
addressed to her) *Odd... when did this get here?* (She opens the card,
her eyes widen and turns VERY pale at the contents) *Ranma, no!*
(She runs out the kitchen, leaving the letter flutter onto the ground.
It reads simply:)
( 'Good-bye, Akane')
[The scene fades]
Chapter 22
[Outskirts of Nerima, Night]
Ranma: *Am... am I really going? Just because some jerk is taking
over my life? Is that all it takes to make me leave?.... I... I just can't
believe it. That I'll never see Akane again...*
Voice: Ran-chan, wait! (Ranma turns around hopefully, only to have
a huge dog jump on him)
Woman: (Trying to pull the dog back) I'm sorry, Ran-chan here loves
nightly strolls, and people too...
Ranma: (Staring at the dog) (Disappointed beyond words) ....
Woman: (Looking at Ranma) Did Ran-chan hurt you? I'm sorry, he
can be so vio-
Ranma: (Shaking his head, getting up) No, it wasn't the dog that hurt me.
Woman: (Confused) Do you need to go to the hospital? I could call an
ambulance or-
Ranma: It's not that type of pain.
Woman: (Realizing what he's talking about) (Blushing) Oh! I never know
when to keep quiet, I didn't mean to offend-
Ranma: It's all right. Bye. (Walks off)
Woman: *That has got to be the saddest boy I've ever seen....*
(Cut to where Akane is)
(Akane is in a different part of the outskirts of Nerima; she's riding a
skateboard, and looks extremely worried)
Akane: *If I know Ranma, he's going to go to China; and as much as I
want to explain things, there's no way I could find a way to get there*
(Stops to take a rest) *So it's either I find him now or never see him
again* (Looks at skateboard) *I'm so tired... I can't possibly go any
further. I'm sorry Ranma... I tried, I really did.*
(Lowers her head, and closes her eyes)
(Cut to Ranma)
Ranma: (Looking from side to side) *Geez, I'm startin' to feel like
Ryoga; I could swear I was here two seconds ago. Next thing I'll know
I'm back in Ne-*
(Ranma stops dead in his tracks when he sees Akane just lying in the
middle of the road. After recovering, he walks to her back)
Ranma: Um, Akane, what're you doin' here?...
Akane: (Turning around) Ra-Ranma...
(It hits her that she's found him) Ranma!
Ranma: (Blushing) It's dangerous to go at night Akane; go back home
or somethin'.
Akane: (Getting up) And how come you can go out and I can't?
Ranma: (Miserably) What do you care, anyway?
Akane: What do _I_ care?... If you would just listen to me-
Ranma: Please, Akane, don't make this any harder for me than it all
ready is.
Akane: I'm making this hard for you?! (Clenches her fist, her eyes watering)
You just don't get it, do you?
Ranma: (Nervous) Hey, don't need to cry, I-
Akane: (Bursting into tears) I WANT you to come back! I'm WORRIED
about you! Why can't you see that?
Ranma: (Shocked) You-you what? B-but why? I mean, what about P-Ran...
Akane: What's your favorite excuse, Ranma?
Ranma: 'It's not what it looks like...'? (Akane nods) What were you
two doing then?
Akane: Believe me, it was an accident.
Ranma: (He looks at her for a second, but then painfully turns around)
I'm sorry Akane...
Akane: Huh?
Ranma: As much as I'd like to... I can't go back.
Akane: 'You can't'?... What do you mean?
Ranma: Akane... P-Ran is as good as me. Remember it was a tie when
we fought together? (Akane nods) If he couldn't protect you... then
how can I? And besides, he's much more open about his feelings than
I am...
Akane: Ranma.
(Puts her hands on his shoulders, and turns him to face her) Is that all
you think of me?
Ranma: Hm?
Akane: Why do you think I've stuck around so long?
Ranma: I... I dunno.
Akane: I can tell you one thing, it's not because I think you make a
good bodyguard.
Ranma: (Blushing) Wh-what are you saying?...
Akane: Even if you were able to use only one muscle in your whole body,
I wouldn't want you to go.
Ranma: W-why?
Akane: Take a wild guess.
Ranma: I'm no good at guessing.
Akane: Fine then, I'll tell you. I care. About you.
Ranma: (Incredulously) R-really?
Akane: Well... no... (Ranma clutches at his heart) It's a stronger feeling
than that. (Ranma's expression's lightens up)
Ranma: (Taking one of Akane's hands) Akane... I...
Akane: I know, Ranma. I know.
(The two just stand awhile like that, each looking at the other. Ranma
suddenly hugs Akane tightly)
Ranma: Oh, thank you, Akane...
[The two tightly embrace each other, without any needs for words. The
scene faces]
Chapter 23
[Street in front of Nekohanten]
P-Ran: (Holding a bucket of water) *Lesse... I know Mousse has been
locked up as a duck again, Cologne if off visiting one of her friends...
which means Shampoo is all alone* (Starts cracking his knuckles)
Which also means Shampoo can scream as loudly as she likes, and no
one will help her...
(Splashes the bucket of water over herself, and then breaks
down the door to Nekohanten. she finds Shampoo in the
dinning area)
Shampoo: What funny thing, I was about go fight you.
P-Ran-chan: (Smiling maliciously) So let's just fight here,
Shampoo.
Shampoo: (Getting into a fighting position) I agree.
(Shampoo runs to P-Ran-chan, who's all ready in a defense
position. Before Shampoo can deliver the kick she had been
planning to, P-Ran-chan grabs Shampoo's arm and throws
her onto the floor hard. Shampoo's stunned, she's never really
been faced to P-Ran-chan's full strength, up to now she's only
tried to strangle Shampoo)
(Shampoo gets back up to her feet, ignoring her smarting
back, and attempts to punch her opponent, who ducks. P-Ran-chan
takes advantage of the less-than-stable Shampoo to a round of
Tenshin-Amaguriken. Shampoo tries to restrain herself from
screaming, but can't help from running backwards, and into
the kitchen)
Shampoo: (Panting, her face bruised and bleeding in a few spots)
*What Shampoo do? She not know girl-type Ranma so strong!
What I do?*
P-Ran-chan: (Bursting into the kitchen) What's wrong Shampoo,
scared? (Her grin growing wider and scarier)
But I've only just begun!
(Shampoo forces herself up, which proves to be a great mistake as
P-Ran-chan throws her full body weight on her. Shampoo falls to the
ground again, air knocked out her. Trying to regain her breath,
Shampoo rolls over, putting P-Ran-chan on the bottom. Giving a
simple blow to her face to distract P-Ran-chan, she staggers up and
frantically searches for something)
P-Ran-chan: (Wiping away a trail of blood from her nose) You son
of a bitch.
(P-Ran-chan gets up, running to Shampoo's back. Shampoo turns
around at the last minute, holding a knife in her hand. P-Ran-chan
stops before she runs her stomach right into the sharp blade, but
Shampoo still manages to lodge it into her left arm)
(P-Ran-chan's furious now. Now longer smiling, slowly she pulls the
knife out of her arm, not even wincing at the pain. P-Ran-chan's
beyond that; all that mattered to her was to see Shampoo no longer
breathing, her purple hair a tangled mess and in a mess of her own
blood)
P-Ran-chan: (Holding the knife up, in a sing-song voice) Oh, Shampoo...
(Shampoo takes a hold of her elbow, so that she can't move it.
P-Ran-chan kicks Shampoo in her stomach, weakening Shampoo's
grasp on her elbow. She pushes Shampoo onto the floor on her
back, and sits on her stomach, not letting Shampoo get up. She
hold both of Shampoo's arms in her left arm, and the blood-stained
knife in her right hand, two feet away from Shampoo's trembling
chest)
P-Ran-chan: (The horrifying smile returning to her lips) Now,
Shampoo. (A Glint appearing in her eyes) Now I get you back for
every piece of pain you've caused me.
(Brining the knife closer to Shampoo) And for everything you've
done to hurt Akane.
(Shampoo opens her mouth, and lets out the loudest scream she's
ever given in her whole entire life, a scream filled with fear. This
doesn't stop P-Ran-chan, in fact it makes her smile broaden.
P-Ran-chan quickly brings the knife, and Shampoo closes her eyes)
[Darkness]
Chapter 24
(A clatter of something hitting the ground can be heard. Shampoo
opens her eyes to see P-Ran-chan up and her back facing Shampoo,
having a hard time controlling herself)
Shampoo: (Blinking, confused) W-what?...
P-Ran-chan: I can't. (Runs through a wall, leaving the restaurant)
Shampoo: (Grasping her heart, slowly getting up, looking
at the new hole) Why she no kill Shampoo?...
P-Ran-chan: (On a roof, staring at her hands) *Why didn't
I kill her? When I finally had her in my hands, I let her go.
But why?*
(Cut to Tendo dinning room)
Kasumi: (Passing dishes around) It's so nice to see you
again, Ranma.
Nabiki: (Picking up her bowl) Yeah, we missed having to pay
all those bills. So, why aren't you guys fighting again?
Kasumi: You two have been awfully quiet this morning.
Akane: I don't know about Ranma, but for now I want some
peace.
Ranma: Ditto. (Begins to eat)
Nabiki: (Elbowing Akane gently) So spill it. What happened
last night? (Ranma and Akane shoot her angry looks) Did I say
something wrong?
Akane: Nabiki, first of all, it's private and none of your
business-
P-Ran-chan: (Entering the room) Tadai- (Stands there,
speechless)
Akane: Hi, P-Ran.
P-Ran-chan: (Without emotion) You're back.
Ranma: (Glaring at P-Ran-chan) You don't have to make me
feel so welcome.
P-Ran-chan: I... I just didn't expect it. (Again, stands there silently.
A look of pain flashes across her face)
Akane: (Concerned) P-Ran? Are you ok?
P-Ran-chan: (In a low voice) I know now what I have
to do.
(P-Ran-chan sinks next to Akane, taking her hands in her own.
Ranma frowns at P-Ran-chan, and is about to do something
when Akane shakes her head at him, no. P-Ran-chan looks at
Akane for a while, not saying anything, and Akane could swear
that P-Ran-chan's eyes are glistening from tears)
P-Ran-chan: (Softly) Good bye Akane... I'll never see you again.
Please Akane, always remember me... just like I promised to
you.
Akane: (Dumbfounded) W-what are you talking about? Where
are you going to go?
P-Ran-chan: (Claps Akane's hands tighter) That doesn't matter.
Please, just do it, even if I never meant anything to you.
Akane: ...
P-Ran-chan: (Hurt) Oh... it's ok, I understand... I'm a jerk, I
don't deserve it. (Takes a cup of tea on the table and pours it
over herself. P-Ran then gets up to leave)
Akane: Wait! (P-Ran turns) I... I'll promise. I'll always
remember you, P-Ran.
P-Ran: Akane...
(Can't resist wrapping his arms around her, tightly)
(Barely audible) Arigato, Akane...
(Ranma at this point is using all his control not to rip apart
P-Ran, and sighs with relief when P-Ran lets go of Akane)
P-Ran: (Giving the room one last, lingering look) Good bye,
all of you. The while I spent with you guys were the happiest
of my life. (Looks directly at Ranma) I hope you realize how
lucky you are. (Leaves the room)
Kasumi: Oh my...
Nabiki: Where do you think he's going? (Akane's frozen in
position, clasping her hands to her chest)
Ranma: (Looking in the direction P-Ran left, and catches up
with P-Ran) Hey, wait, P-Ran! Why and where are you going?
P-Ran: I... I wouldn't be able to stand seeing you and Akane
together... and also, for Akane's sake.
Ranma: (Blinking) Akane's sake?
P-Ran: I'm going to make a deal with Shampoo.
Ranma: What's the deal?
P-Ran: (Looking miserable) I'll marry her if we leave Japan and
she promises to never touch Akane again.
Ranma: But you don't have to... I mean, after all, she's going to
try to kill your girl half, and just because Shampoo did 'that'
where you cam from.
P-Ran: I am not going to take that chance. I'll tell her that I
separated into two for a while, but that messed up so I'm back
together, and normal again. And I'll do anything to protect
Akane, even spend the rest of my life with the woman I hate
most.
Ranma: (Awed) *That... that could have been me, if P-Ran
never came here*
P-Ran: (Forced) You know, Ranma, for a while there, I had
hoped that maybe, just maybe... (Voice cracks) I could have
had a happy ending with Akane after all. (Walks away)
[End]
Isabel Arantes