[fanfic] Chrono Trigger 1/2 Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Confessions

(Next week, at Guardia Castle)
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Marle paced back and forth in her chambers. Despite the confident statement she made to Lucca, she wasn't at all confident that she would be able to pull her vow off. Marle turned and watched the report from Lucca's RX-9 probe again. Lucca had graciously offered to install another receiver system on the grounds that everything in the castle should be modernized as soon as possible. Frankly, Marle didn't care whether the Castle's style was futuristic or Gothic. The castle was a boring place, and she just wanted to stay away from it whenever she could. At any rate, it did help Marle to observe Ranma and Akane's life when she was forced to return home. "Kawaikunee tomboy!" Ranma's shouts came through the screen mounted on the wall. It appeared that Akane punting Ranma sky high for insulting her for the 10th million time today. She sighed. Everything appeared so routine. Ranma and Akane were always bickering over the slightest issue and freely insulting and hurting each other, physically and emotionally. Marle could see now why Lucca was insisting that they weren't in love. Even she began to doubt her judgment. Somehow, she knew that there must be love there. It was... something beyond Marle's comprehension, but she knew it. With a small click, Marle shut the system off. Enough preparation. Now would be the time for action. Maybe she could write fake love letter to get Ranma and Akane on a date? No, that wouldn't work. Marle knew that she wouldn't appreciate lies to put her with someone even if she loved the person. Use a permanent version of Poyozo Dance that will get Akane or Ranma to come of his shyness? After all, it worked before. No, that wouldn't work either. Marle couldn't imagine that anyone would want to fall in love under magical influences. It would be just as bad, if not worse, than if Marle tried to use some kind of love potion. Force them to get together with threats? Marle immediately dismissed that thought. Neither Akane nor Ranma was the type to give in to anything. On something this important, they might well never admit a thing if they were forced to do so. Marle was confused and frustrated. She might have said that this was going to be easy, but she knew it wasn't. Finally, Marle reached a conclusion. <I'll found out just how much Akane loves Ranma,> she decided, <Then I'll be able to figure just how much effort I should put in. She may not love him as much as I first believe, but there is still definitely love there. I'll just talk to her, and that's all. I won't try anything stupid like trying to kill one of them and see how they would react. I just need some additional information before making my move.>

Note: Explanation for the Poyozo Dance - The Poyozo Dance is a technique which confuses the victim. In Akane's case, in would make her come out of her shyness and also make her forget how she always hide her feelings so that she would be able to admit her love for Ranma.

(Moments later, at Tendo home)

"Akane, can I talk to you for a second?" asked Marle, "There's something really important that I need to talk to you about."

"Sure," replied Akane.

Marle had thought about this. She could try to probe her, but that wouldn't work. Lucca tried that already, and she didn't show anything until Lucca left. Marle realized that Akane wasn't stupid. If she tried to probe Akane like Lucca has done before Akane would realize what she was trying to do. Then, Akane in her ever-lasting self-denial would definitely answer no to whether she loved Ranma or not. Therefore, Marle decided that she might as well be upfront about this as this would surprise her and preventing Akane from thinking of an evasive response to this question. "Akane, do you love Ranma?" asked Marle.

"Um..." that question obviously caught Akane unprepared, "I... I don't know..."

"You must know, Akane," insisted Marle, "How can you not? I know you're not stupid. Tell me."

<Why is she so interested?> thought Akane, <Why... unless... she loves Ranma also! As if having three other fiancees isn't bad enough already, here comes a new one! This time it's another pretty girl from apparently nowhere that had a crush on Ranma! She's patient, pretty, nice, and a great fighter. Everything I'm not! So now there's even more competition! What to do?>

Akane was completely jealous and confused. It was only natural for Akane to think that way, since all her life she had been seeing one fiancees after another popping up from nowhere and claiming that Ranma was hers. Marle quickly caught Akane's looks of confusion and jealousy. <Why? Why the jealousy?> she thought. Then she got it. "Akane, you think I'm in love with Ranma, right? Are you afraid I'm going to take him away from you?" asked Marle.

"Um... no... I... I don't care!" blurted Akane, "I'm don't care if Ranma has another million fiancees! I don't care! I don't care! Leave me alone!"

Marle was intrigued. Akane obviously loved Ranma just as Marle thought she did. Otherwise, she wouldn't be so quick to try to convince Marle otherwise. However, she must have a great deal to overcome before she could successfully admitting her love. And just what Akane did mean by another million fiancees? "Akane, Akane, Akane," smiled Marle, "There's no way I'll take Ranma from you. He's insensitive and has a lot of faults, that's true. But even if he was the most perfect man on Earth, I wouldn't want him. I'm already... engaged to Crono. We're going to get married... very soon."

Akane was ashamed. She should have trusted Marle, but she didn't. It was just that she couldn't seem to trust anyone anymore. She definitely couldn't trust Ranma. She loved him with all her heart, but he was just too rude and insensitive. She couldn't trust Nabiki, or Dad, or just about anyone else. Even Kasumi, the nicest person on planet, might share Akane's secrets with all too overzealous parents and friends. With so much chaos and confusion going on in Nerima, it seemed as if everyone out there was either going to take Ranma away from her or forcing her to get married to Ranma. "Sorry... I...." apologized Akane, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I should have known. I... I'm jealous..."

"That's okay, Akane," continued Marle, "Now, what did you mean by 'another million fiancees'? You mean Ranma has more than one fiancee?"

"Four, including me," replied Akane, "Even though Kodachi doesn't really count. So that would be three, I guess. Shampoo, Ukyou, and me."

Marle was furious. Three fiancees? "Akane, you haven't break up with him yet? He doesn't deserve you. If you're too shy to do this I'll go tell him that you don't want to be his fiancee anymore. You don't have to bother with that jerk. Just dump him and I'm sure you will be able to find better man," suggested Marle.

"No, it's okay. I... I'm used to it," responded Akane weakly, "It's kind of hard at the beginning... but... it's okay now."

"Still!" gasped Marle, "How can you live with someone who has at least 2 other fiancees? I see now why you were suspicious. I would be too if I were in your shoes! What do you see in him, anyway?"

"I don't know!" replied Akane, frustrated, "I don't know what I see in him. I... I'm stupid I guess. I suppose I'm really just a violent kawaikunai tomboy. Maybe Ranma's all along. I don't know... I'm so confused..."

"Don't you dare to believe that!" warned Marle, "He is not right all along. In fact, he is completely wrong! The fact that he insults you all the time and you haven't done anything worse than hitting him back shows that you're not violent! What makes you think you're uncute? Doesn't Ranma know that he should be nice to his fiancee?"

"Well, I... I insult and hit him back..." defended Akane.

"That is no excuse!" pressured Marle, "What more could he want besides having you? You're nice, cute, and beautiful. Ranma is an idiot, I'm telling you. Why don't you just get rid of him? Why bother to put up with him? I'm sure there will be plenty of other fine man that loves you."

"There are... but I don't like them," answered Akane shyly, "I don't know. I used to hate boys so much, but Ranma changed that. Maybe I'm just a useless tomboy. I don't know. I can't seem to live without him, though. It's strange... I think I hate him, but..."

That convinced Marle just how much Akane loved Ranma. <She's in love much more than I thought!> she thought, <Her love can easily rival mine for Crono. Must be love that allow her to tolerate Ranma! Why did she kept on calling herself a tomboy as if she believes it, though? I better try to help her.> Marle said, "All right, Akane. Now, why did you always sound like you believe you're a tomboy?"

"Everybody say that!" sobbed Akane, "It's not fair! No one cares for me! I like martial arts. I like sports and I like a lot of things boys like. I hate boys! During the beginning of the school countless boys pestered me everyone because they think if they beat me they can go on a date with me. Boys... I hate them! Why is it okay for them to one thing and wrong for girls to do the same! It's not fair! I'm not a tomboy! It is not fair!"

"You're being accused for being a tomboy for that?" Marle couldn't stop giggling, "For that? Um... sorry... but... Maybe I better tell you my story, first."

"Hai," agreed Akane.

"Okay, Akane," she began, "I'm Princess Nadia from Guardia Castle in 1000 AD. Now, don't look so surprised. You follow so far?"

"Yes," nodded Akane. Princess? She already knew more than enough princes for the average girl, but she hadn't meet any princesses yet.

"I know what you're probably thinking. 'Marle doesn't behave like a princess', right? I don't! I hate the royal life and I ran away from home. I went out to adventure and I joined Crono on our town's millennial fair. I joined him and together we set out to adventure to all kinds of places you won't believe. Traveling through time, we did all kinds of fun stuff. Fighting monsters, changing the past, reviving the dead, saving the world. You name it, we have done it. Now, don't you think according to your definition I will be a much worse tomboy than you? There are people who make fun of me by calling me a tomboy, but I don't care about what they say. I knew they were wrong, and that was all it mattered. If what I do really does classify me as one, then I don't care either. Akane, believe in what you want, and never let what others decide for you."

"So you're saying it is all right?" asked Akane, "I don't have to change myself? I don't have to let what others decide? I can just ignore what others say?"

"Exactly," answered Marle.

"I can't!" replied Akane in frustration, "There's one person I can't ignore! I can pretty much ignore anyone else, but not Ranma! He always makes me so angry! I don't know what to do in front of him! I act like a three-year old in front of him! You wouldn't believe how stupid I can be sometime! He just have to say a word to get me going crazy!"

"That's because he love him, don't you, Akane? Love blinds you, and it makes you act that way," advised Marle, "Please. Tell me the truth. You can trust me. I'll never tell anyone else. Do you love him?"

"I... I... I... yes," admitted Akane. Somehow, avoiding saying the actual three words seemed to make it easier. She trusted Marle.

"Does he love you, then?" continued Marle.

"I don't know!" sobbed Akane again, "He always seems to hate me so much. We always argue. All the other fiancees seems to be a better choice than me. I don't know why we haven't break up yet! I mean, it is not like our parents can really stop us! I don't know... I just don't know!"

<Ranma loves her,> decided Marle, <Otherwise there's no way this relationship is going to work. Hmmm... much more difficult than I thought, but that's the challenge. I'm here to fix up their relationship, and I'll do everything I can. No one is going to break this couple up while I'm around! Not even themselves!>

"Thanks, Marle," continued Akane, "It somehow... feels better to say this. I... I trust you, I guess. It's nice to confess my true feelings. Promise me you won't tell anyone else, okay?"

"Right, Akane," promised Marle, "I'll never tell anyone else, I promise you that."