* * * * * *
Ryouga looked around in the dojo, for the fifth time that night. The last several hours had been consumed by the whole families cooperative search for Ranma, since they had heard that blood curdling scream.
*This is hopeless.... damn Ranma, getting lost when he needs help the most...* Ryouga thought for a moment, then amended his mental comment, removing the cursing of Ranma.... no matter how much Ranma had put Ryouga through hell, Ryouga could not purposely hate Ranma when Ranma was hurting.
*I just hope he�s okay, the idiot...* Ryouga couldn�t deny how worried he was, now.... Ranma was his friend, his rival.. his comrade. He didn�t have many friends, and none that could match him in a Martial Arts challenge.
He looked around at the barren Dojo, hoping that somehow Ranma would drop down from the ceiling and taunt him with that cocky, arrogant, self assured way he always had.
He didn�t...
Ryouga sighed and shook his head, making a silent prayer to the gods to watch over Ranma that night. Opening the dojo door, he began to walk out, and was blocked by a petite redhead.. with very puffy eyes, ruined makeup, who looked like she�d been through hell.
"...h-heya.. P-chan.." Ranma said in a broken, forlorn manner. She was shivering, and very cold, Ryouga noticed as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ranma!" Ryouga squeezed the girl in a bear hug, so relieved to see that she was allright.
"..I...can�t..breathe.." Ranma wheezed, gasping for air in Ryouga�s strong as steel embrace.
"Oh geeze, I�m sorry... we�ve all been.. well, *I* have been worried about you... geeze, what a turn. Everyone else has been looking for you because-" Ryouga watched Ranma walk into the dojo with a very tired, shuffling gate to her steps.
"Yeah... because they want to scold me so�s that I don�t go and fall for some idiot man... idiot..." She wasn�t drunk.. she just didn�t seem to care about how well the words came out now.
Ryouga frowned, looking back at the house.. wondering if he should tell them first, or if he should...
He closed the door, turning and looking at Ranma, who was now on her knee�s, crying her eyes out.. yet again for the night.
"Ranma... are you ok??" Ryouga asked, walking a little closer. He didn�t like the severe stain of dark ki on Ranma�s aura.. this was on his level of depression. Maybe even worse.
"Am I pretty, Ryouga??" She asked suddenly, wiping tears from her eyes.
Ryouga blinked, a confused expression plain on his face, "What, Ranma??" It wasn�t every day that the resident expert martial artist in Nerima asked if he was pretty.
"They all say I�m pretty.. I.. I hate.. I hate this curse... being female... or at least I did," She didn�t sound sure, by the way she was talking. There was a time when her hate for her curse was a vehement one.
Ryouga frowned, kneeling down beside Ranma, "I don�t understand, Ranma... what does this have to do with Hiroshi???"
"Kiss me, Ryouga..." She blurted out, a desperate, panicked look in her eyes. She looked like some wild animal that was being chased by something it couldn�t escape.
Ryouga facefaulted, "Wh-what?!"
Ranma held a hand to her heart, pain written clearly on her face, "I have to know.. I have to know if.. if.. if I am like.. like.. if I like guys... or.. or if it�s just him, just my Hiro-chan....," The last word was strangled out in no little amount of pain.
"Hiro-chan??" Ryouga�s expression softened slightly. "You love him, don�t you?"
"SHHHH!!!" She hissed violently, then her expression returned to it�s dour, depressing state... "..I... I can�t.... it�s... I�m a man..."
"Answer the question, Ranma," Ryouga said calmly, levelly.
Her eyes shifted, looking all around her as if she was suddenly trapped.. anywhere but Ryouga.
"Ranma, you need to be honest with yourself," Ryouga said once again, wondering why out of all the people he could help, he was helping the person who he once thought he hated.
Ranma looked at Ryouga, pain clear on her face as her mouth moved, but didn�t seem to be working for a long moment... "Yes." She breathed out, as if it was the hardest thing she had ever said in her whole life.
Maybe it was.
Ryouga sighed... "Engaged to Akane... and you love her too," there was a solemn nod in response to his observation.
"Now you know how I feel about Akarii and Akane... I promised myself to Akane, silently.. then met Akarii.... it isn�t easy, Ranma-" Ryouga was cut short by her slap.
"Don�t ever compare me.... you.. there.. there is something different... Ryouga..." She turned away, looking at the hand she had slapped him with in confusion. "Beyond what you and Akarii have..."
Ryouga growled, opening his mouth to give a venomous retort to Ranma�s arrogan assumption.
"Kiss me... please," She said again, looking up at him.. her eyes puffy and red as she pleaded.
"Ranma, you are my friend... I... It wouldn�t be right," He stammered, feeling more than a little off balance at the request.
"Dammit, Ryouga... I have to know!!!" She shook with anger, and confusion, and depression. "I have to.. one favor.. one favor, dammit..." She rocked back and forth hugging herself.. "..it hurts.. it hurts.. I can�t breathe sometimes..."
Ryouga felt a part of him melt slightly at her words, felt a familiar twinge in his glass heart... compassion, he thought it was.. something that had been rarely shown to him in his life... a life of a lonely wanderer who was none to welcome most of the time.
"If... If I kissed you... would it help any???" Ryouga asked, mentally kicking himself for giving in, but not about to go back now.
Ranma wipes her eyes again, nodding slowly for a long moment.. "...a little.. not much.. but.. but it would help me.. figure out some of this mess," She sniffed, brushing some of her hair out of her face.. her beautiful hair in a disarray.
"Okay.. this means NOTHING... okay, Ranma?? Remember that, I don�t feel a thing for you," He didn�t know why, but he felt that he had to make himself DEAD CLEAR on the subject... maybe he was just paranoid. *Likely* he noted to himself.
Ranma crawled somewhat closer to Ryouga, looking up at him expectantly. She didn�t relish the idea of kissing Ryouga, but she had to know if she felt a constant attraction to all men.. or just to Hiroshi specifically.
There was several moments of awkwardness as the two stared at eachother, Ryouga noting how run down Ranma looked from the redhead he had seen at the prom. Happiness seemed to have left her eyes.
A moment later Ryouga slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to Ranma. They both responded to the kiss for a moment, then Ranma pulled away, shaking her head and making a sour face.
"...that.. that felt.. disgusting," She wiped her lips, as if trying to wipe the feeling off... it had felt NOTHING like what she had felt when she had kissed Hiroshi. There was nothing she found appealing about being kissed by Ryouga... strangely, that made her feel a little better.
"I�m glad you could flatter me with your opinion," Ryouga commented snidely, yet in a joking manner. A large part of him was also relieved... at least Ranma had stopped crying. Even if Ranma wasn�t a real girl, Ryouga hated seeing him cry.
Ranma sat silently, her arms wrapped around her legs as she hugged her knee�s against her chest. She rocked back and forth, trying to make some sense of the immense pain she wsa feeling...
She felt pain, throughout her whole body, as if something had been torn out of her... her heart, maybe, or her soul. Various times in the past several hours she had gone unconcious from being unable to breathe from the pain.
She loved him... the only explanation for the torturous feelings she had been having since running away from him. But she was promised to Akane, another person she loved... but.. but did she love Akane as much??? When Akane had almost died, she had felt that immense absense... that hurtful tearing inside... but.. she could breathe... she could live, if she had to.
Who did she love the most??? Perhaps it was only the shock of the revelation that had caused Ranma such pain... even though she tried to convince herself of that, she couldn�t seem to make the pain go away, or the feeling to lessen in any extent.
"You�re trying to figure it out, aren�t you," it was more a statement than a question, but Ranma nodded anyways.
"I.. I don�t know anymore, Ryouga... I am feeling very real... very bad physical pain because... because I know I can�t be with Hiroshi. I am promised to Akane... and I love Akane too... it is just all too much pain for me, I.. I don�t know if I can deal with it right now..."
Ryouga shook his head solemnly, "No good, Ranma.. all of them are inside, waiting for you to come back... everyone knows. Your Mother brought everyone together and announced what she and Nabiki had talked about before the Prom-"
"What?" Ranma asked silently, looking up at Ryouga as if she had been stabbed... "..everyone... everyone knew but me?!" She felt anger, and an even deeper depression fall in on her.. everyone had known but her, she had blinded herself to the truth, to Hiroshi�s love.
Ryouga sighed, rubbing his hand across his forehead, and the bandanna... "Ranma, only Nabiki knew... Kasumi suspected, and everyone else was clueless until tonight. Don�t sell yourself short, we�ve all had our naivetes," Ryouga found two arms wrapped around him tightly, a trembling red head embracing him.
"...Ryouga... thank you for.. for.. for helping me... I don�t know why you would even want to, you�ve hated me for so long," Ranma trembled almost like a frightened child.
Ryouga was again caught off balance by the sudden change of subject, then he regained himself, "... Ranma.. I�ve never really hated you, I�ve hated some of the things you�ve done.. the things you do sometimes, but you? Overall?" He shook his head, "No, I don�t hate you."
Ranma relaxed, and stopped trembling after a moment, "..what am I going to do... Ryouga.. god, I.." Ranma gasped for breath again, and Ryouga noted she was trembling again, but this time she didn�t seem able to breathe.
He shook her, "Ranma.. concentrate, control your breathing..." He slapped her on the back several times, which emitted coughing, some more gasps, and eventually a long, slow breath.
"..s..see... I feel like I am empty, a shell... when.. when I think about him, I have trouble breathing, thinking about.. about how i left him!" She burst into sobbing again, holding her face in her hands to hide her tears from Ryouga.
Ryouga held her as she cried, feeling somewhat awkward while doing so... here, one of his best friends was crying in his arms.. one of the strongest men he knew.
Ryouga didn�t know what to say to Ranma as she cried... Ranma seemed trapped in one of the worst possible situations, a choice between two people she loved more than life itself.
One person he loved.. one person he longed to be with, but knew it couldn�t be. A person whom he would sacrifice so long as she would be happy... a part of him was tempted to use Ranma�s weakness to his advantage... but he would never do such a thing, not about THIS, one subject that he was all too familiar and intimate with.
"..wh..what...what am I going to do..." She asked him through muffled sobs against his shoulder.
Ryouga patted her back gently, relaxing a bit.. a friend needed him, and he was strong enough to be a friend to someone, he had always been strong enough for that. "You live, Ranma... you live."
It was all he could think to say. All he could muster to tell Ranma... strangely, it seemed to be enough.
The small redhead drifted off to sleep in his arms... he lifted her, looking down at how haggard and tired she looked... *I never wished this, Ranma.* He told himself silently.
*I may have been jealous... but I never wished this.*
* * * * * *
"I do not want him seeing the boy anymore. Part of this is my fault, and I accept that responsibility, but I do not want Hiroshi coming here anymore.... not after what happened to my child tonight," Nodoka sipped her tea, noting that it was a bit more bitter than was Kasumi�s usual style, but then the eldest Tendou girl seemed very agitated and shamed by the whole night�s proceedings.
Nabiki slapped her hand down on the table, glaring at the Saotome Matriarch, who simply stared down into her tea with a passive, calm heir, "Dammit, Nodoka, YOU have NO idea what Ranma feels for Hiroshi, for god�s sake, Ryouga just told you she couldn�t BREATHE when she thought of how she�d hurt him!!!! Is that not enough pain for someone to go through without TAKING something so precious away from them!?!?"
Everyone got very silent after Nabiki had spoken.. not that all of them were paying attention.
Akane was leaning up against the door frame, looking out at the Koi pond as she listened to her sister and aunt have it out.
Her thoughts were full of Ranma... of how very worn and tired she looked when Ryouga had brought her in, even in her sleep she seemed troubled.
Soun was sitting beside Kasumi trying to calm the elder sister from her agitated state. Seeing what had happened to Ranma had not done well for Kasumi�s emotional state, since she felt it was mostly HER fault for not being firmer with Ranma in their previous discussion about her feelings.
After all, she had had a chance to help Ranma come to the realization that Hiroshi felt more than just friendship.. she had dropped her belief because of Ranma�s vehement denial of her own emotions.
Ryouga was quietly eating his rice, trying to avoid any more involvement for the night.
He didn�t know WHAT to think about Ranma�s situation... it was so similar to his own, yet so subtely different. He wasn�t promised to anyone by birth.. he wasn�t trapped in an arranged marriage, regardless if he loved the person or not.
Thinking about it, Ryouga realized that Ranma DID feel trapped... because in a way she was.
Genma was carefully watching everyone with a slightly detached attitude, he had a silent, very troubled look on his face, as if he were carefully weighing something that was very important.
Nodoka looked up at Nabiki in response to her harsh words with a cold, level gaze, "You will call me Aunty, or Miss Saotome. I never want to hear you use my first name ever again, young lady," She set the tea down carefully on the tray in a nonchalant manner, as if what Nabiki had said was as common as saying you had mown the lawn.
"You are not my fucking Mother, NODOKA," Nabiki spat, Standing up, fists at her side, "And I may be one cold calculating bitch most of the time, but I don�t go out of my fucking way to hurt my family members... if I had a child like Ranma, I wouldn�t have screwed with his mind in the first place!" Nabiki knew she was yelling, but didn�t care.
"N-Nabiki!? How dare you speak to your Aunty Saotome like that, young lady! I raised you better than that!" Soun was in a shocked rage at his daughters foul mouth. Kasumi looked up at her sister in equal shock, Nabiki had never been so.. vengeful in her words.
"Screw off, Daddy, KASUMI raised us while you wept your little FITS all over the place. If it wasn�t for US you�d be in a HOME by now!" Nabiki didn�t care anymore, she was going to smash the truth into someone�s face before the night was over.
"That is enough, young Lady," Nodoka said in a level, firm tone as she sipped her tea again.
Akane sneered as she turned, looking at her sister, "You are so full of it, Nabiki.. you�ve never given a damn about any of us in your life... it�s all been about your money.. cold is too nice a word," She said it in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone that really got on Nabiki�s nerves, the kind Nabiki usually used with simple minded people.
"Oh really, Akane??? Only money?? I don�t see YOU making money, I don�t see KASUMI owning a regular job to keep the damn house over our HEADS... sure, Daddy has his classes, but that�s never been enough to pull the weight.. especially since there�s only 2 classes, and half the students don�t usually show up," Nabiki glared fire at her sister for even accusing her of not caring.
Akane walked closer to Nabiki, "You disgust me sometimes, Nabiki... how you exploit anything and everyONE for the fast buck... that is sickening and perverse, so don�t you suddenly start acting so noble when you are a two faced mercenary domineering-"
Nabiki slapped Akane, "Shut your mouth, or I WILL shut it for you. You aren�t any better, Miss macho tomboy... I think it�s pretty damn sick that until HIROSHI came you were beating the crap out of Ranma any chance you got. THAT is pretty damn messed up, SIS," She pushed Akane back with one hand, her sister giving her an outraged look.
Akane had had enough for the night, she lashed out in a punch, catching Nabiki firm in the gut.
Nabiki doubled over, coughing...
"Oh.. oh... oh my, Akane.. you.. you shouldn�t, Oh my.." Kasumi babbled, unsure WHAT was going on anymore.
Nabiki coughed a moment more, then laughed, "It�s your fault, Akane... little miss coward..." The comment almost earned Nabiki another attack from her sister.
Nodoka stood up, yelling, "STOP!" quite loudly so that it carried well out of the house.
Akane looked at Nodoka, glaring at her for a moment, then sniffed, shrugging and turning back to lean on the doorframe.
"You have ALL gotten carried away tonight, and I am ashamed at how you have all acted. I am Ranma�s Mother, so I have final say over what will happen in his life until he is an adult. I am saying that Hiroshi is not welcome to be around my son any longer, no matter the circumstance, and that is final," Nodoka looked at Akane, who didn�t even seem to be paying attention anymore, then at Nabiki, who was straightening herself and glaring at her �Aunty�.
"I bet your son hates his parents, �Aunty� Saotome," That brought a slap from Nodoka, and a somewhat crestfallen expression from Genma, who otherwise had given no other comment.
"I have had enough of your foul mouth Nabiki dear. I don�t want to see you for the rest of the night," She said in a level, calm, and orderly tone.
"You are NOT my-" Nabiki was cut off by her Father�s angry look.
Soun stood up slowly, and spoke in a slow and very precise manner, "Go to your room, Nabiki... and I do mean now, young lady."
Nabiki�s expression suddenly changed to one of angry confusion, "But daddy-"
"Go to your room," He said in the exact same manner.
Nabiki glared at Nodoka as she rose, then at her father. She walked up the stairs, a silent storm boiling inside her gut.
"Your middle daughter has a problem with authority, Soun," Nodoka sat quietly again, sipping her tea in a very fastidious manner. Nodoka did not like being confronted by headstrong young girls who knew nothing about what life really was like, least of all by those arrogant enough to discount she had lived a hard life since Genma had left.
Soun sketched a semi-formal bow, "You must forgive Nabiki, Saotome-san.. she is trying to deal with this in her own way, and it has never been a good way I am afraid. Please, be patient with her," Soun didn�t really know why Nabiki was acting the way she was. He had never seen her so verbal with anyone before.
"There is no need to ask, Soun.. I have patience in very large degrees, one headstrong little girl isn�t going to offend me, I am sure Nabiki will be more rational when she has had time to think," Nodoka set her empty tea cup down.
"Kasumi, could you fetch us some more tea?? My cup seems to be empty," She said in a level tone, then turned to look at Akane who was doing her best to ignore the people sitting at the table.
Kasumi was bustling off as Nodoka began speaking gently, "Akane dear, I know that this must upset you deeply by the events of the night-"
"I don�t want to see him again... I don�t EVER want to see that.. that bastard again, acting like a friend, someone to be trusted, and then stabbing me in the back like this," Akane�s anger was barely suppressed... just barely. It could be heard in her words, if you knew what to listen for.
Nodoka frowned slightly, "I have already told you that I will not be allowing him to hang around my son, Akane. That should be sufficient enough to remedy the problem," She knew that Akane was thinking about something, something bad. She wished that she knew what the girl was thinking... wished she could understand Akane better.
"Hiroshi was my friend... Friends don�t try and steal someone away from you," Akane stared out at the koi pond, her fists clenched tightly. She couldn�t get the idea of Ranma kissing Hiroshi out of her mind.
She didn�t know for sure that Ranma had been kissed... but Ryouga had told about what had happened in the dojo, although she knew he had held some things back so as not to embarrass Ranma, but the way that Ryouga had spoken, it sounded like he was very sure what had happened to Ranma.
She felt that slow boiling fury, that immense heated anger building up inside of her... she had wanted to hurt Nabiki for saying what she did.. it wasn�t HER fault that Hiroshi was such a backstabbing, selfish, manipulating weasel.
*How dare he.. how dare he play with Ranma like that, use him like a toy... how dare he hurt Ranma so badly. How dare he fool me into thinking he cared about Ranma and I.. it was Ranma the whole time.*
She couldn�t imagine what she would do if she would see him again.. most likely try and kill him, he had toyed around with her emotions. Something that she had NEVER let anyone do.
"I understand how upset you must be, Akane, all I can do is promise that I will do everything I can to make sure this... problem... gets resolved," Nodoka looked at the stairs as she heard someone walking slowly down them.
Ryouga looked up at Ranma... dressed in the standard red chinese vest and slacks, hair once more bound back. She looked back, then around at everyone else. He noticed that she looked somewhat better than when he last saw her, hours before.... but there was something of defeat in the way she walked.
Kasumi stood in the kitchen entreeway holding the kettle of tea that Nodoka had requested. She stared at Ranma as the girl locked eyes with her, then looked at Ryouga.
"I forgot I hadn�t had dinner," She said.. still very female. "Maybe I could get something??" It was a normal request, a quiet one... her voice very meek in the asking.
Akane heard Ranma�s voice, turning around with a very worried expression. She wondered what Ranma was feeling at that moment... wondered why there was no comment, no mention of the night�s events.
Kasumi smiled her best bright smile, which didn�t succeed very well, "Of course, Ranma-k... Ranma," Ranma stared at her when she paused in adressing her properly. It was an almost accusing stare.
Kasumi quickly put the tea kettle on the table and hurried back into the kitchen, perhaps a bit too fast.
"Ranma?" Akane walked closer to the redhead, "Ranma..are.. are you okay?"
Ranma shrugged, "I�m fine... just hungry," He avoided looking at Akane.. who noticed her apprehension.
"Ranma, there are some things that I think we need to talk about, Dear," Nodoka said, pouring herself another cup of tea. It would never do to let her son�s problem go without attempting to remedy it, she was his Mother and was responsible for his well being.
"Not interested," Ranma said quietly, very quietly. She fiddled with her own tea cup for a moment, then carefully poured herself some tea. She stared at the tea for a very long moment, watching the warm steam rise from the rich colored tea.. she watched her reflection, so feminine, so beautiful.
Nodoka looked directly at her child, blinking a bit when Ranma refused to look at her, instead staring intently into her teacup. Nodoka spoke in any case, "I didn�t ask if you were interested, Young man, I TOLD you that we needed to talk."
Ranma looked Nodoka straight in the eyes and answered in the same nonchalant, yet somehow threatening manner, "I am not interested, Mom," She softened her tone, "So please.. just.. just leave me be, Mother," She didn�t want to think about it.. thinking of it hurt too much. Ached too much...
She could almost imagine now Hiroshi crying his heart out, as she ran away from him... she swallowed. *I will not cry.. not.. not right now.* She silently promised to let herself cry later.
Akane sat down by Ranma, taking one of the redhead�s hands, whispering to her, "..I�m sorry for what Hiroshi did, Ranma.. I swear I didn�t know at all.... He had no right to do what he did to you-"
Ranma raised her voice, anger very clear in her words, "HE HAD EVERY RIGHT!" She yelled directly into Akane�s face. Then she turned, sipping her tea as Akane stared shocked at Ranma.
Ranma had often yelled at Akane, but usually it was some phantom insult used to cover up his true feelings.. the redhead in front of her had just yelled in anger, in frustration.
Ranma bowed lightly, "I am.. sorry for my outburst. It was inappropriate and rude.... I told you, I didn�t want to talk right now, and... and I would like it if you respected my wishes, please?" She tailed the request with the kindest voice she could muster.
Ryouga set down his bowl carefully, smiling and turning to Ranma. "Last time I visited Akarii, we went to a fair.. she had a competition for one of her prize pigs. I managed not to get lost for a whole day," Ranma seemed suddenly to relax, and smiled genuinely at Ryouga.
It was a smile full of thanks, of graciousness.. it was a smile of a friend who was in pain, in need.. and you had somehow helped, even the tiniest bit.
"Really??? That�s pretty impressive, Ryouga. Did you have any fun while you were there?? I haven�t been to many fairs in my life," Ranma whispered a silent thanks to Ryouga, for being a friend for just a single moment.
"Ranma.. I think we should really talk, I.. I don�t think I understood what you meant," Akane said in an unsure, almost frightened and angry voice.
What did she mean, he had every right??? Hiroshi had no right to hurt Ranma like that, in his selfish self serving way. *NO right whatsoever* She told herself, *Ranma isn�t his, he�s an idiot to think he could own him.*
"Sure, Akarii and I went on the ferris wheel.. it was something like romantic for a while. Until it started to Rain," Ryouga growled at the last part.
Ranma laughed, even though the laugh was slightly hollow, "I�ll bet... got real wet, didn�tcha???" She ignored Akane�s plea, concentrating on speaking with Ryouga. She didn�t want to think right then, not about him.. not about how she had left him. He needed her.
"It wasn�t the BEST night of my life, Ranma... but it was pretty enjoyable, we had something called Pizza for lunch that day, you should try it some time.. it�s good," Ryouga smirked, picking up a large chunk of rice from his bowl and shovelling it into his mouth.
"Right, Pizza.. I�ll have to remember that.. so, have you been anywhere interesting recently?? Paris?? Zimbabwe?? Saskatoon?" Ranma asked, ignoring Akane as once again she begged to just have a moment to talk about HIM.
"Ranma dear.. your fiancee and I both think that we need to talk about what happened tonight... with Hiroshi," As Nodoka spoke that last word, Ranma�s face contorted in pain, she closed her eyes and carefully controlled her breathing for several moments.
She had left him when he likely needed her the most, when he likely needed her and ONLY her... she had run away from him, when he had always been there for her.. to hold her, to tell her it would all be okay, to tuck her gently in bed after carving in the vault... she tried to hold back the tears.. no use crying, she had run away.
Both Nodoka and Akane blinked, staring at Ranma quietly. Ranma opened her eyes and looked intently into her teacup. She spoke in an even meeker, more silent voice, "I will ask again that you please.. please.. for the LOVE of KAMI do not talk to me about this right now. This I ask of you, a simple thing, it�s a simple thing isn�t it Ryouga?"
Ryouga nodded his assent, sadly looking between Akane and Nodoka. What they were doing was in no way good for Ranma, even he could tell that she was on edge.. that pushing was only going to make her worse.
"See?! Very easy, maybe I should speak louder all the time," Ranma had to stop and concentrate on her breathing for several minutes.
Would she ever see him again?? Did she want to?? *That�s silly.. of course I do..* She sadly realized that the feeling was only getting stronger. She loved him, and she didn�t know why she couldn�t just forget that revelation, she wished that it were that easy.
Akane was becoming angry at Ranma�s attitude, "What�s wrong with you?! I am worried about you, and am afraid for how.. how.. How HE hurt you, and you just.. you just ignore me!" Akane had been worrying for most of the night about Ranma. Her nerves had had enough stress for the night, and she wanted to get this over with so everything would be okay again.
Ranma turned to Akane with a pleading look on her face, "Akane.. please.. I know that you care for me, but right now I just can�t talk about it. I am asking... do I have to keep asking again and again? Why can�t anyone but Hiroshi listen when I need them to?" Ranma said in a depressed, anguished tone of voice.
She didn�t want to hurt Akane, that was always the last thing she wanted to do... she just seemed to do it all the time. She hated the fact that she kept saying the wrong thing, she wished that somehow Akane would just see why she couldn�t talk about.. him.. at that time.
Akane shook her head, "Why can�t YOU listen, Ranma??? This is important to me just as much as it is to you, because it involves US.... and *I* Think we need to talk about it," She slapped her hand on the table as there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked around at eachother.
"I�ll get it!!! Dinner�s cooking, Ranma...," Kasumi said as she bustled to the door.
After Kasumi had disappeared to get the door, Soun turned to Ranma. "Ranma, son, I think it would be wisest if we married you and Akane very soon.. within the next week if at all possible. Your Mother and I have been speaking about the arrangements, and feel that soon would be better for all parties involved."
Nodoka nodded quietly to Soun, "Yes.. one of the things we need to talk about. After all, you were promised to Akane at birth, and it is only honorable to uphold the family�s promise. If you both were still sixteen, I would say you were too young, but since you�re both seventeen now-"
Ranma felt tears welling up in her eyes again, "You all have to.. have to control me, don�t you??? I don�t have any life outside of what you all choose for me, is that it?? I should nod my head and smile when you pick out the perfect tuxedo for me, I should pretend to be happy the whole time while you plan and map every single goddamn thing in my entire life?!"
Ryouga looked at Nodoka, "Maybe you should... just leave off for a while, all respect due, Mrs. Saotome-"
Ranma held up a hand, "No.. no, let�s talk about this right now!! Where am I going to make a choice?? I have to fight you tooth and nail before I even have a CHANCE at a life... I hated your training from the beginning, but I went along with it because you are my MOTHER. I pleaded, begged you so many times, and it took the worst arguments to get you to change your mind.. so tell me, Mom, tell me when I can be grown up enough to run my own life, huh? NEVER?"
Akane put a hand on Ranma�s shoulder, "Ranma.. I don�t think that you need to be so harsh, your Mother is only trying to do what�s best for you," She spoke firmly, trying to calm Ranma down and make the redhead see that the people here were trying to help her.
They loved Ranma... they all cared for him, and were all very unsure how to handle what had happened that night. Why couldn�t Ranma see that??
"Best for me?!?! BEST FOR ME!??!?! FOR GOD�S SAKE I HAVE NO FREE WILL!!!! I love you Akane, and I love you dearly... but I will not be controlled.. I am not going to be everyone�s toy, turn off, turn on, speak, sit, stand, OBEY...." Ranma was shaking Akane, her eyes afraid, like a trapped animals eyes... trapped without a way to escape.
"Ranma, as soon as you are married you can have free reign of your life.. this was planned YEARS ago, and you have known about it for a year now, you�ve had ample time to prepare for it, so I do not see any rational reason why you should be overreacting about this particular subject," Nodoka sipped her tea.. Ranma reached over, snatching the cup out of Nodoka�s hand and throwing it to shatter against the wall.
"I JUST HAD MY HEART RIPPED OUT AND YOU WANT ME TO MARRY AKANE, ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!?!???!" Nodoka stared in complete and utter bafflement at her child as the redhead yelled at the top of her lungs, then turned to stare at the figure standing at the threshhold of the dining room, dressed completely in white.
Akane, Ryouga, Soun, and Genma all looked, then Ranma realized their attention was elsewhere... she turned, and looked into the eyes of the man who had stolen her heart.
Hiroshi calmly looked around the room, his eyes sad. He was the cause for all of this tension, this... panic. He was the cause of the hateful look in Akane�s eyes, the uncaring glare that Nodoka cast at him.
He looked at Ranma, seeing the painful longing in her eyes... longing unfulfilled. He was the cause of that too... all his fault. Yet.. there was love there too... was he the cause of that?
"Hey," He said, smiling that regal smile... dressed fully in his genji outfit, a backpack on his back as if he was going somewhere.
"Hey," She said quietly, unsure of what to say.. she suddenly felt guilty, somehow, for changing back into the most masculine outfit she could find. Guilty that in this tiny way she was still running away from him.
Akane stood up suddenly, looking with unmitigated anger at Hiroshi, "How dare you come here, after what you did," There was bile thick in her voice.
Hiroshi looked at her calmly, a sad, almost lost look in his eyes, "I suppose so.. I am sorry, Akane," He said quietly.. patiently.
Ranma stepped closer, "..are...are..," She held back her tears, and forced a smile, "..hey, so, uhm.. what�s with the pack??? Going camping for the weekend??"
Akane felt her anger Rising with a vengeance, her aura on a slow burn for the moment as she tried to be patient. She noticed how Ranma was speaking with Hiroshi... the way that her eyes looked at his longingly. *So I�m not the only one.... how typical of Ranma.*
Hiroshi shook his head, looking at Ranma and only Ranma, "I am going.. leaving really. For a while.. I don�t know how long," he took one of Ranma�s hands, holding it in his, "I�ll miss you... while I�m gone."
Ranma pulled her hand from his. It wasn�t right.. she couldn�t love him. She so wanted to, but it wasn�t right. She saw the hurt in his eyes then... she couldn�t afford loving him, but it was already too late.
Akane stepped forwards, pushing him away from Ranma, "How dare you.. how dare you pretend to be our friend then go and hurt Ranma like you did, how dare you even THINK of him like that, you sicko!!!"
Ranma looked in horror at Akane, "Akane!!" She should have known, should have known that Akane would overreact to Hiroshi... she should have known that this sort of situation would be bad.
Akane kept on, pushing Hiroshi back farther, Hiroshi just bowed his head, taking the shoves and the occasional slap, "You sicko, you PERVERT... thinking of what you did is so disgusting!! I can�t look at you without feeling my stomach turning you demented freak!!"
Hiroshi only nodded, sadly as he was slapped again and again by Akane... All things he had told himself before, things he had feared hearing spoken aloud by anyone else.
Ranma tried pulling Akane back from Hiroshi, "Akane!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!" She yelled, Akane�s words ringing in her ears, each insult stinging her to her core.
Ryouga sprang up, trying to help Ranma pull Akane back, both having a tough time of it, She turned around and punched Ranma off of her, then threw Ryouga over her shoulder into a wall as she kept up her viscious litany.
Nodoka stared on impassively, trying to decide if she should intervene or not... Soun was very adverse to getting in between his Daughter and ANYTHING.
"Nodoka," Genma said quietly, causing his wife to blink in surprise and look at him. He stared sadly back at her, "Nodoka, it isn�t right," He said quietly under his breath.
Nodoka gave him a thinlipped smile, "Since when do you know what is right, Genma???"
"You don�t have a CHANCE with him, do you got it, you freak?? You twisted little bastard?!?!?! He is MINE... and he doesn�t like men that way, so why don�t you dry up and die you piece of crap!!!" She punched Hiroshi hard in the gut, causing him to cough, but not to fold like Nabiki had.
Ranma was hers.. her love, her one and only. Her man among men, her handsome protector.
Ranma stepped suddenly in between Akane and Hiroshi, "STOP IT AKANE!!! Please!! Don�t DO this!!! I love him!!!" The words were a shock, something she hadn�t meant to say..
Akane was no longer listening.. she knew only one thing, Hiroshi was trying to take away the man she loved.
"Get out of the way, Ranma, so I can deal with this scum... this.. this... disgusting slime who gets his kicks out of seducing other men... who tried taking you away from me, who hurt you so deeply," She was waving her mallet, and smashed Ranma on the side of the head, causing her to fold, clutching her head as it Rang.
She brought it down on Hiroshi, causing him to fall to his knee�s in pain, clutching his shoulder, and she was about to bring it down again-
"FOR GOD�S SAKE STOP IT!!!" Ranma, eyes flashing with tears suddenly stood again, and in one swift, lightning fast motion, her hand snapped back, and then in a violent crack like lightning it collided with Akane�s cheek, sending the girl flying back through the air.
The moment seemed to slow down, distill into that black and white snapshot of Akane flying through the air, for a moment Ranma thought everything had frozen, Akane seemed to hover in place in her vision, a red trickle of blood from a cut on her cheek gleaming through the black and white.. Ranma could hear her own heart again.
It was beating in her mind... it was padding a steady, loud rhythm in her skull... then it all unfroze and Akane fell harshly to the floor, holding her cheek as everyone stared in graphic horror at her. *I never hit girls.* She heard that male voice from a long time ago say.
Everyone continued staring at her.. Ryouga included, in complete and utter AMAZEMENT and HORROR.
She stared at her hand, mortified and terrified at the same time. What had she done??? She had never EVER been that controlled by her emotions before.
A moment later, Akane burst into tears, and ran upstairs. Everyone continued staring at Ranma, but now there was a look of shame on their faces, all except Genma who nodded very sadly for some reason.
She wailed an almost sob, and turned, putting her hand on Hiroshi�s chest... "..I.. I.. I have to.."
"No." he said, with a firm finality.
"But why?" She asked, her tears brimming.
Hiroshi held Ranma in his arms, drawing her close and resting her head on his chest. "Because a promise is a promise.... Ranma. You love her, even after this you do... and you must find your own path, I can�t make you choose by taking you from where you are now..."
"I have to.. I can�t.. I can�t live like this anymore," She began to cry. The tears hurt him, hurt him deeply, more deeply than she could have ever imagined.
He brought a hand up, lifting her chin, "...It�s never easy, Ranma. That�s why the results are so precious and worth while... remember...," He smiled softly to her, brushing tears from her face.
"..where.. where are you going??" She asked, wanting to at least know that much.
Hiroshi smiled that bright, caring smile of his.. regal..., "A place called Everland... I promise to write to you every day, and find some way to get those messages to you."
She smiled, the tears starting again, "..I.. I would like that..."
"Ranma, promise me something?" He said in a low voice, noticing that Soun and Nodoka were talking quietly, Genma and Ryouga having vanished somewhere.
Ranma nodded, "The world, or anything you want Hiroshi...."
He smiled, thumbing her chin for a moment, "Promise me you will try with Akane, try your hardest and fiercest.... because a promise is a promise," His eyes were sad... they were full of longing and loss.
Ranma�s tears continued flowing as she felt that hurt, she didn�t know how she could promise that to him. She didn�t know what she was going to do, trapped in this family life that wanted to do nothing but control her every thought and whim.
She didn�t know how she was going to do it, but she found herself silently nodding.... Hiroshi asked it of her, so she would do it no matter WHAT the cost was.
He smiled, "Good.. good. I would like you to.. to visit Kaehmi while I�m gone... and to watch out for Daisuke... he needs all the help he can get," He knew he was stalling, finding anything and everything to postpone the inevitable. He knew Kuno was likely waiting at the docks for him at that very minute.
"Yes.. yes, of course.. I will, I swear I will...," She didn�t want him to go.. she knew what he was doing, trying to give her a few last minutes with him... she knew he didn�t want to leave either.
"And Ranma??" His voice was low, quiet, it wavered slightly as his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Yes, Hiro-chan??" She wasn�t afraid of saying that anymore.. her Hiro-chan, the man she couldn�t be with.. the man who was leaving because she was promised to another.
"I love you, Ranma." It was a statement, one of the truest that anyone could say... something that was full of so much more than words. Something more than a promise, more than a guarantee... something priceless, ageless, deathless.
"I love you too, Hiro-chan..." She said softly, sadly, another promise.. another guarantee... another thing that had no death. "I love you and.. and.. I understand..."
They kissed, then, in the twilight... the stars playing gleefully over head. They kissed, and for a moment... the world dreamed of what may be. Of what could be.. the world dreamed...
And it hoped.
Then, like a dream.... it ended.. and he smiled... she watched him go. She stood there on the doorstep, watched him vanish around the corner, her hands carefully playing across her lips as she sighed deeply.
"I�ll see you.. when.. when you come back," Her words were quiet.... and full of longing.
The wind stirred her hair... and a part of her dared to dream, and wonder.
* * * * * *
<<"Yo, Ranma Here.... I bet you're wondering what's going to happen next, with Hiroshi gone and everything far from okay... Shimitsu Kaoru would like to thank all of you faithful fans for a great first two seasons, so stay tuned, because Volume 3 is coming up... In the next volume, we'll meet some an important new character!!! The next episode, come see me as I zone out and my loved ones have to save my butt... See ya then!!">>
<Ending song is "Equal Romance" With different scrapbook pictures of Hiroshi and Ranma together, starting with...
Ranma Picture, opposite Ranma-Chan
Akane, Kasumi, Nabiki picture
Ryouga and P-chan picture (Opposite) Genma and Panda Picture
Nodoka and Soun Picture (Opposite) Kuno and Hiroshi Picture
Cologne and Happosai Picture (Opposite) Shimitsu and Kaoru Picture
Kaehmi and Memeko Picture (Opposite) Yuka and Sayuri picture
Episode 1 pictures: Ranma in Hiroshi's arms, Ranma speaking with Hiroshi in the vault, Ranma being chased by Shampoo/Mousse/Ryouga/Kuno/Kodachi, Ranma smashing Tsubasa, Hiroshi talking to Ukyou, Hiroshi talking to Shampoo, Onna-Hiroshi and Ranma looking at eachother, Onna-Hiroshi scolding Ranma after the attack from Kuno, Hiroshi standing between Ranma and Cologne.
.Episode 2 pictures: Onna-Ranma/Onna-Hiroshi/Akane/Shampoo/Ukyou all singing at the beach, Ranma malleting Ryouga after his glomp, Hiroshi defending Ranma from Nodoka, Hiroshi/Nabiki/Kasumi all laughing at Ranma and Akane in the hallway after Nodoka and Genma's Argument, Hiroshi and Aquarius in the back yard,Ranma and Kaehmi, Ranma in her room as Nodoka shows her how to apply makeup, Ranma and Daisuke in school hallway, Ranma hauling ass from Aquarius, Ranma in her gym outfit, Ranma running with neko-shampoo on her head, Ranma running with neko-shampoo on HIS head, Mob/Ranma/Happosai, Big Aquarius, Hiroshi fighting in Genjii garb, Hiroshi/Ranma/Akane/Kuno talking with Aquarius after the battle
Episode 3 pictures: Ranma getting hammered by Akane, Ranma talking with Hiroshi, Ranma playing with Kaehmi, Ranma Reading to Kaehmi, Akane with astounded look, Ukyou with Astounded look, Shampoo with astounded look, Ranma arguing with Nodoka, Ranma cooking, Akane cooking, Hiroshi and Ranma playing chess, Ranma and Hiroshi back to back, Ranma with Hiroshi at the contest, Ryouga smashing through the wall at the contest, Hiroshi with his "Here we go again" face (Along with everyone else)
FINAL PICTURE: Ranma and Hiroshi, the sun Rising behind them as they stare at eachother on the back porch at Hiroshi's house.>