This is the poem from Ranma's perspective.  

"A Gift for Akane" = Ryoga
"Unspoken Words" = Akane
"The Path Not Taken" = Ranma

The Path not Taken  - WebDragon  (relates to "A Gift for Akane"     
                                  and "Unspoken Words")
--------------------

Akane's alarm clock rings in the next room
And I groggily get up in bed, my head
Full of spinning stars.

And I promptly fall back to nap again
My hands supporting my chin, oblivious to the din
Being caused in the hallway.

Finally, I stand up and look at the clock.
Instantly galvanized, I'm surprised
That I managed to change in one minute flat.

I burst out of my room fully dressed and ready to go.
No time for a shower, look at the hour!
If I don't hurry right now, I'll be sorry!

I rush down the stairs in my headlong flight,
Akane staring at me.  I don't even see
What had caught her attention as I gulp down my food.

Then there is no time to think as the two of us sprint
All out like never before, the threat of punishment and more
Hanging over our heads and spurring us on.

Then, with mere seconds to spare,
We shot into the classroom, escaping the doom
Miss Hinako had promised to give us next time we were late.

Classes end and we start to walk back home.
A casual leap brings me onto a roof, further proof
Of my martial arts prowess.

"Get down from there!", yells Akane at me.
"People are watching!".  Then, snatching
Up a mallet, she throws it at me.

With a smirk, I leapt over the projectile
And alight on the fence, and I tense
Myself for her next attack.

Strained minutes passed and Akane just stares at me.
Then she looks up in the sky.  I was just wondering why
When a bicycle lands on my back, knocking me flat.

Without a word, I'm suddenly being embraced by 
A swirl of lavender hair, earning me a glare
>From Akane.  It is Shampoo.

I begin to stutter a greeting, fully aware of the
Buxom beauty wrapped around me.  Yet, I could also see
Furious Akane, with a stare that could kill.

I almost apologized to her then but
I have Shampoo, stuck like glue
onto me.  It's not wise to anger an Amazon!

"Ranma, what do you think you're doing!?", she yells
As her hands crumple her school bag.  I lag
In my response for far too long.

A demented laugh slices the frozen air in twain
And black rose petals swirl, and whirl
About me and Shampoo.

Then a shape in a dark leotard appears
And latches onto me with an audible `glomp'.  I hear a stomp
And suddenly the fence tips sideways - into the river.

The sudden baptism turns me female,
My male chest, exchanged for breast,
Even as I decreased in weight and height.

My black hair turns red
And my male body, becomes curvy
With my hips rounding outwards.

With a small cry I break the river's surface
As if reborn with a new life, free of strife.
I only wish it could be so...

Kodachi shoots out of the water, searching for `me'.
And then....the cat.  Then...that
horrible thing suddenly clings to my shoulders, like velcro!!

A primal scream of terror issues from my throat
And I shoot out of the water like a cannonball, all
My efforts directed at running away from...the cat!!

But of course I can't, for it is wrapped around me
Like a noose!  I just can't lose
The...the....cat!!

Tearing down the streets, I scream out loud
And wave my arms in terror, horror
Infusing every inch of my being!

I don't remember much but I felt myself
Run into a wall, then all
Of my world, thankfully, was darkness and pain.

When I came around, I found that I was outside the Dojo.
My first action was that, of looking around for the...cat,
But I don't see it.  I heave a sigh of relief.

In a short while I was in the bathroom
And having a hot shower, the power
Of the stream of water burning away my female body.

I finish up and head downstairs, dressed in a shirt and pants.
My face twisted in a scowl, and I almost growl
To see Akane supping quietly at the table.

That tomboy!  Does she think that I'm made of stone?!
I wanted to yell my feelings at her, but the
Words just would not come.

Akane, I wanted to shout, do you enjoy tormenting me so?
Who is to blame?  The same
Thing happens day in, day out.

Do you see me accepting their advances?
Have you ever seen me willingly kissing?  It is the one thing missing
In our relationship.  Perhaps you are just jealous.

That must be it.  I'm so popular with those who know me.
Immediately I regret thinking that.  Under the mat
I sweep those thoughts, happy I didn't say it out loud.

Still the angry expression kept being plastered on my face.
I take my place beside her, my hand a blur
As I grabbed my chopsticks and began to eat.

She looks over at me with a expression of...concern?
With particular detail, like I'm an item of retail,
Akane peers at my head, full of bumps and bruises.

Suddenly angered again by her scrutiny, I blurt
"It's all your fault that I keep running into walls".  It galls 
Me to hear myself speak so to Akane.

"If you didn't keep your beloved FIANCEES hanging..."
She left the words in the air.  Dare I challenge a tigress in her lair?
She seemed to await my answer.

I open my mouth slightly, to explain to her, 
To tell her my point of view but, I shut
My mouth, seeing that it'll only be useless.

The tension mounts with each passing minute
As she wolfed down food, her mood
And mine stretching to the breaking point.

At last, in an attempt to defuse the situation, I say
"Is it my fault?  I can't put a halt
To *their* attentions."

A sudden pain flared on my head and I fell into darkness.
The realm of cool pain.  Here I was with nothing to gain
But another bump on my........

Akane and I were kissing.
Her firm body beneath my grip, her hip
Pressed close to my own.

Her eyes were closed in rapt ecstasy, I saw.
I savored the sensation, feeling emotion
Well up inside of me. 

Then she pulled back and slapped me.
Hard across the cheek, putting a streak
Of red across my face.

Why, I asked her.  Why did you hit me?
Because you haven't chosen a path, a sinister laugh
Issuing from her throat.

I was confused and I reached out to touch her
But she faded away, like the spray 
Of a red sea against the rocks.

Choose a path, Ranma, she taunted.
Shall it be with your fiancees?, says
The cruel wind over the red sea.

Or shall it be with me?
Shall we see?  What will be
Of you, pitiless, two-timing Ranma!

You should take the path not taken, foolish
Ranma Saotome.  It will be the day
You reject me, your fiancee. 

No!, yelled I.  I will never leave you!
I screamed into the darkness, lest
It overwhelm and engulf me.

The cruel wind dies down and the red sea beckons.
Will you jump in, with a grin?
Will you join with Akane Tendo?

I hesitated no longer.  
With a leap, I prepare to dive deep
Into the cool waters of the red sea....

And awaken, sputtering, into a world of air and light.
I see Ryoga and I curse him for a fool, a veritable pool
Of water around my female form.

He laughs in contempt and I moved to threaten him.
I *almost* had Akane!  I'll make him pay
For ruining my attempt.

A mallet appears in Akane's hand and she raises it threateningly.
I back off and grumble curses.  Unconsciously my hand nurses
The top of my head even as I begin to doff my shirt.

"Thank you, as always, Ryoga", says Akane.
My shirt is wrung as dry as a bone, her tone
Of voice inspiring jealous voices in me.

Akane likes Ryoga better than she does you!
What are you but half-girl?  A swirl
Of half-man and girl mixed together in one body!

Then Ryoga shot to his feet and agreed to something.
Akane had probably asked him to delay, for one day,
To have dinner with us.

Akane leaves the room and I glare at Ryoga.
Then I put my shirt back on, and get up anon
To have dinner with the family.

Ryoga sits next to Akane and jealousy stabs my heart.
Without a second thought, revenge was what I sought
I squeezed in between Ryoga and Akane.

And I took a small part of my vengeance.
Throughout the dinner, whenever
Possible, I interfered with Ryoga's attempts to woo Akane.

Tit for tat, I thought.
You screwed me, and I screw you see?
Anger seemed to rise in clouds of steam from Ryoga.

Then dinner ended and we three head
Back to the living room, a bit of gloom
Settled about my shoulders and grew heavier the longer Ryoga stayed.

I threw myself angrily on the couch, heedless 
Of what Ryoga thinks of me.  I flick on the TV
And watch a wrestling program.

Akane said something and Ryoga grinned.
And smiled from ear to ear.  I fear
The words Akane had said, but I know I should trust her more.

With narrowed eyes, and soured disposition,
I turned back to the TV set, waiting for Akane to get
Back from wherever she had went to.

She comes back and hands Ryoga a paper bag.
Inside is a scarf, and I let out a foolish laugh
and said "That's not a scarf, it's a net!"

For it did indeed look like a fishing net,
With all its holes and squares, it bares
The wearer to the elements.

My hard laughter was cut short
When Akane's mallet whacks, and probably cracks
My skull....

I surge back to consciousness when Akane asked
Ryoga to dally a while.  A smile 
Worked its way on his face.

Isn't it enough to hug Akane as P-chan?
Must you take every advantage, and the centre stage
Of this drama between a girl and two guys?

I grit my teeth, in pain and 
Anger, as we play poker
To pass the time.

Midway through the game, quite
Suddenly, the darkness swallows me
And I felt my head thump on the....

I was standing before a red sea
Framed by the rising sun.  I shun
The blackness beneath me and speak to the wind.

Tell me, Akane Tendo, what should I do?
The wind is silent as it wails, and sails
Out over the red sea, into the rising sun.

Yet, the rising sun wouldn't rise
No matter how long I waited.  A promise baited
Before me, hanging in the shivering air.

The red sea beckoned to me.
With a leap, I dive deep
Into the crimson waters.

Then, inexplicably, I was back in Akane's arms
Sharing a kiss of passion, no aggression
In her face or posture.

Why, I ask the cool wind.  What is the meaning?
Then it stopped and teased, as if pleased
With the way things turned out.

Foolish Ranma, it said.
You have chosen a path, it starts to laugh
But the laughter was pleasant and carefree.

A path not taken, yet travelled.
One step at at time, the sublime
Sensation of beginning the journey of a thousand, thousand miles.

I break my kiss with Akane and look into her face.
"Akane...." said I, my eye
Searching out her own.

"What?!", she retorted,
A hint of the Akane I know, starts to show
Beneath the facade.

"Kawaikunee....", I joked.
My hand grasping hers with fervour, like...like a lover
Does with....his love.

She holds the grip, for once not shying.
For once I may, hear the words she had longed to say
straight from her inner heart.  Those three special words.

I love you.

I love you too, Akane.
-----------------------------

     -By WebDragon.  Comments on it are more than welcome.  :)