"It's Too Late Now" (Revised Once)
Ranma Fanfiction
Jonathan Ng
Ranma 1/2 and its respective characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi
Publishing Rights go to Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo, Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
and Viz Inc. for Japan, H.K. and North America, respectively.
Created June 20, 1998
Revised June 21-22, 1998
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Five years.
Five years after acquiring my ill-fated curse, and meeting Akane,
Shampoo, and Ukyou for the first time.
That's what's going through my head as I step into the cold shower.
That and the familiar change I receive every time I touch cold water.
I'm used to it by now. I untie my pigtail, letting my soft red hair
flow free. So much has changed in these years, yet some things still
remain the same. Why do I still think of them as fiancees now?
I still visit them sometimes - they're good friends with me. But
they're just that - friends. They aren't my fiancees anymore. They
aren't. They aren't my fiancees.
Akane's pregant with Ryouga's baby now - they told me about it three
months ago, and they sounded really excited. Strangely enough,
Ryouga's the only one who can actually stomach Akane's cooking.
Ukyou's business is finally taking off, and she and Konatsu are
expanding Ucchan's to a new location. We've kept contact - she says
the schedule is hectic, but she seems happy.
Shampoo finally returned Mousse's undying love - and Mousse got some
laser corrective surgery, so he fights much better now - but still
not as good as me. Shampoo still treats him like dirt, but he
doesn't seem to mind.
So why do I feel so empty?
I like my former fiancees, sure, but them not liking me isn't a big
deal. I'll get over it.
Who am I kidding?
I don't even have to time to soak, my schedule's so tight. I've
decided to pursue my dream of being the best martial artist in the
world. I constantly spar, constantly go to new places, find new
challenges, learn new tricks.
But at what price?
Ha! I've been alone for ten years, and another five after that.
What difference would it make now?
All the difference in the world, another voice calls out to me. I
attempt to shut that voice out in my head, but it refuses to obey.
They did try to set me up with Akane again two months later... but
it was ill-fated, as Akane stood me up on the altar. *She stood me
up*! She told me I was a jerk, a cross-dressing preverted
sex-changer, then she splashed me and slapped me right across the
face, sending me into the other side of the room.
It took them five hours to recover me from the shock. After that,
both my mom and pop disowned me, because I wasn't "manly enough" for
Akane.
I cried the entire night. It didn't matter anymore. I had nobody
to be strong for.
I went over to Ucchan's, and Ukyou was there. But she too had fallen
out of love with me. Besides, I couldn't think of Ukyou as a lover -
just as a friend.
Shampoo was at the Nekohanten as usual. After a few days with her,
we both decided that it wouldn't work for us. We had gotten into
more fights and arguments in a day than Akane and I would have had
in a _week_!
I now stare down at my body, lithe and graceful, and the flowing
locks of red that ran down past my face. What girl would want a
body like this? This is a girl's body I'm staring at! Nobody can
love me with this curse. And I can't bear to hurt any girl with
the fact that I change genders quite regularly. I just can't do
that.
But I miss the love that my former fiancees gave me. Just because
I realized I can't love them doesn't mean I don't want love; I miss
small moments with Akane; the okonomiyaki I get regularly from Ukyou;
heck, even Shampoo's glomping would be nice right now. But I can have
none of these things; not anymore.
Not even being the best martial artist in the world can compensate for
that.
I'm all alone now, and nobody's there for me.
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Author's Notes:
Really, not much to say. I liked it, maybe a bit rough around the
edges, but still okay nonetheless. Now maybe I can get back to writing
some of my regular series (not so regular...)
C&C Extremely welcome (almost needed; in any way, shape or form except
flames (which will be fed to the lake monster at first notice))
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Jonathan Ng
jonathan@worldy.com
alternate address: jonathan_ng@my-dejanews.com
"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!" King Lear, III, ii, 1
"I am a man more sinned against than sinning." King Lear, III, ii, 62-63