[fanfic] Chrono Trigger 1/2 Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Promises

(The next day, on Death Peak)

Akane yawned sleepily as she got up. She looked around and saw the snowy grounds of Death Peak. Yes, so what happened last night wasn't a dream after all. Akane blushed as she remembered that she asked Ranma to stay close to her last night. She wanted to check to see if Ranma listened to her, but she already knew the answer. She could feel Ranma's presence. Without even looking, Akane knew Ranma was sleeping by her. Normally she would have screamed 'hentai' and proceeded to boot Ranma into somewhere far away, but not today. Akane sighed. It was nice that she was finally at peace with Ranma. She supposed that this must be some kind of honeymoon to celebrate the fact she was brought back from the dead. Well, honeymoon or no honeymoon, it was nice just to be able to close to Ranma. Then, something caught her attention. A slip of paper was attached to a tree nearby. Akane quickly picked it up and it read:

"Akane, we're so glad that you two are finally getting along. Keep trying! You can do it! We'll be waiting for you two by the lab next to Death Peak. Trust us! We won't spy on you anymore... at least not right now! You two can have some privacy. No one will disturb you here! Later!"

Your friend,
Marle and Lucca

Akane sighed. So they were watching after all, weren't they? Just when you think you've found somewhere no one could have spied on you it turned out that Marle and Lucca decided to join the spy-Ranma-and-Akane club. At least unlike Dad and others they didn't ruin their special moments. She could live with spying, but not how Dad and the others always managed to ruin the rare moments when Ranma and she got along. "Wake up, Ranma," she called, "It is time to go home."

"Um..." Ranma stretched sleepily as he got up, "Oh... good morning, Akane."

"Yes, good morning," smiled Akane, "You did listen! I shouldn't have said that... I knew a hentai like you wouldn't be able to refuse!"

Akane expected Ranma to deny that, but he didn't. "How can I not accept?" asked Ranma, "You're so cute and everything. Of course a hentai like me can't refuse that opportunity!"

"Ranma you..." Akane was ready to hit Ranma back when she noticed just what Ranma had said. "WHAT!" she shouted, "You... you didn't... didn't... do anything... did you?"

"Like I said, Akane," answered Ranma, "You're... um... too irresistible..."

Akane couldn't believe what she heard. "I... I can't believe this!" sobbed Akane, "I trusted you... trusted you... to protect me... and you... and you... you... you... hentai!"

Ranma sighed happily as he confirmed his theory that Akane needed him to protect her, although his method was definitely not smooth. Ranma realized that he was dangerously close to ruining everything and decided that he best apologize immediately. Akane was taking this VERY seriously. "I'm just joking, okay?" he explained, "Nothing happened last night, Akane. Trust me."

"Trust you!" asked Akane, "I trusted you last night and you... you... Why should I trust you know?"

Ranma realized that he was in a no-win situation. Thanks to his stupidity, Ranma had convinced Akane that something did happened last night. Of course, Ranma could use his usual reply such as "Of course I wouldn't even think about touching a tomboy like you!" Yes, that would convince Akane that nothing happened last night. The upshot of this, obviously, was that this would earn him a slap in the face and ruin everything. The alternative, trying to reason with Akane when she wouldn't listen, was not much better than the first plan. "Look," said Ranma, "I know you won't listen no matter what I try to explain. I know why you can't trust me. But... just trust me once more, okay? Please? Nothing happened last night. I just wanted to scare you a little bit, that's all."

"I... I... all right," conceded Akane, "I... I... I will trust you... just one more time. You got to have some really GOOD explanation as to exactly why you try to scare me like that! Don't you have anything better to do to make up lies and have me worried? I should have known that you would never feel that way about me! Don't scare me like that! You can at least wait until we are married! IF we do get married."

"Akane, I don't really have any explanation why I do these things," sighed Ranma, "It is like you hitting me on the slightest provocation. We're just that way... always wanting to scare or hurt each other. I wanted to find out whether you just wanted me to protect you last night. My method was very... inappropriate, I suppose. And... it really wasn't a lie... not the part about you."

"What is that supposed to mean," asked Akane nervously, "You mean..."

"No!" Ranma replied immediately, "Nothing happened! You were... you were... kawaii! But that was all! Nothing else happened!"

Akane stared at him. "Me? Cute?" asked Akane, "That is the last thing I expect you to say! If this is suppose to be some attempt to cheer me up just because I got killed yesterday, you can stop it now."

"Akane... I'm just trying to be nice, okay?" argued Ranma. Normally he would never say something like this. However, after last night, Ranma felt that he should try to at least act a little bit nicer to Akane. Indeed, he wanted to have some memories to remember her by in case something happened to her in the future. "Yesterday, I was watching you for a long time after you fell asleep," explained Ranma, "And you looked... um... so... kawaii."

Akane was beginning to blush, but she didn't stop Ranma.

"At first you were yelling for help probably because of a nightmare," continued Ranma, "I just wanted to help. I stayed close to you and waited until you calmed down."

Akane blushed even more. Yes, she remembered having a nightmare. So it was Ranma that made her fear disappear? "Thank you, Ranma," whispered Akane, "That is very sweet."

"Okay, as I was saying," Ranma continued, "Suddenly you got a hold of me and you were saying how much you needed me. I... I was nervous, Akane. You were so... like I said... kawaii."

Akane turned her face around so Ranma wouldn't see her scarlet cheek. She dreamed about that last night. She dreamed that she was just holding onto Ranma and that they were just being close to each other. So it was more than just a dream? "And... then... then what?" asked Akane timidly, her voice barely audible.

"Then... I realized many things. You were so peaceful and kawaii. I finally realized that you just wanted to be close to me. After that, everything was easy. I just let you hold me until you finally let go, and that was what happened last night," answered Ranma.

Joy and happiness filled Akane. She tried to search for something to show how happy she was, but she couldn't. Instead, she simply hugged Ranma. For once, Ranma wasn't turning red for being so close to Akane. "Yes," he smiled, "It was like this last night too. You're so kawaii, Akane."

After a long moment they broke their hug. "Ranma... um... just curious... but... when am I... um... you know... kawaii?" asked Akane shyly.

That was an easy question to answer. "When you are not a tomboy, of course!" teased Ranma.

"Oh..." acknowledged Akane as she tried to act cute, "Like this?"

"Um... not really, I suppose," answered Ranma, "When you are more natural and also when you're not a tomboy, Akane. How do I explain this? It is like when you hugged me, Akane. I don't really know how to explain this, Akane. All I know is that you were very kawaii just moments ago and last night."

"Hai," acknowledged Akane. <But I do know what you're trying to explain, Ranma,> she thought as she recalled Robo's words. 'Just trust your true feelings'. Yes, she knew what they meant now. The time she expressed how she really felt about Ranma, that was when Ranma found her 'kawaii'. Indeed, she was herself yesterday and just moments ago. She finally let go of that I-hate-Ranma shield she used to hide herself in, and showed that she cared for Ranma. <This is so good,> she thought, <I wish this can last forever.> "Maybe I should think whatever that thing was that 'killed' me!" she suggested, "Without its help we would have never been like this! I never know how gentle you can be, Ranma!"

"No! Don't you ever think about that!" replied Ranma immediately, "I would rather have us arguing and fighting all the time then having you getting killed! We're lucky that this time there is the Chrono Trigger to save you! Akane, I would rather fight you everyday and not get along with you then having you worry me like that! I don't care if our relationship doesn't work out too well regularly! I mean, I just want you to be safe. If that means we don't get along, then that's okay. You're so lucky this time, Akane. What if I wasn't able to bring you back?"

"You're right..." agreed Akane, "I'm sorry, Ranma. Sorry for scaring you like that. You lost your chance to get cured... it is my all my fault."

"No, it is not," urged Ranma, "It is... it is no one's fault, Akane. No one knew that thing was hiding out there! You were trying to save me, and you got yourself killed in the process. I don't mind the curse... not anymore... as long as you're alive. Akane, promise me that you will take care of yourself. Promise me that you will never ever die like that again! I don't think I can take it again! I would rather give my life to save you!"

"I promise you, Ranma," vowed Akane. <And you think I can take it if you died?> thought Akane, <Oh... no... I forgot... Ranma is going to die! More than a month has already passed! That means... Ranma has less than 5 months to live! Now... let me see... he is supposed to get kill in some kind of martial arts combat. This may be my best time to try to talk him out of it!> "On one condition, though," added Akane.

"Which is?" puzzled Ranma.

"You have to promise me the same thing. Promise me that you will take care of yourself and never let me worry about you. Promise me to do whatever it takes to live... so that we can share our future together... as a couple or otherwise. I don't think I can afford to lose you, either."

"I promise you that, Akane," agreed Ranma, "I will do whatever I can so that you won't worry about me getting killed. Even if it means I have to back out on a fight, I will do it... for you."

<Yes!> rejoiced Akane, <That was what I want him to promise. Maybe now... maybe now the future will be changed!> The thought that Ranma might survive overwhelmed Akane with joy. "Ranma..." she whispered, "Thank you... the promise... I'm glad..."

"Whoa!" exclaimed Ranma, "You're acting as if I'm going to die any moment! I'll be just fine, Akane. I promised you that! I'll live for you! Come on, let's get going. We need to go home!"

<You will die soon, you baka,> thought Akane, <But maybe not anymore. If you can remember our promise... remember to survive... then you won't get killed in that martial arts challenge in the future! You must survive, Ranma. You must!>