Warning: Cliche plot ahead used in a way that has rarely been done
to often- seriously.
This story is sad and dark at times.
*****************
Loss of Innocence
*****************
Part 2
By Lord Archive
---------------------------------
Nabiki glared at her father and Genma as they sat down to yet another
game of shogi. "What did you think you were doing?" she asked them
coldly.
"What do you mean?" Genma asked.
"I already told you why I brought Akane back home. She needs time to
cope."
"What happened was because she was drugged. It's not like she was raped.
She just didn't have control of her body. She's been through that
before," Soun said, looking confused as he repeated what Kasumi had
explained to him what happened to Akane.
Nabiki couldn't believe what she heard; sure she had gotten Kasumi to
soften the blow for their father but this was wrong. "Dad, she was
raped! The drug mentally and emotionally raped her. Sure, Akane has
experienced similar things before, but this time something bad happened
because of it. She lost her virginity to someone she'd sooner kill than
kiss, all because of a drug. If that's not rape, I don't know what is."
"But her body tried to kill Ranma when she was possessed by that doll,
that wasn't bad?" Soun asked, not wanting to see what had happened the
way Nabiki was.
"It was bad, but nothing bad permanently happened as a result. Even
then, you saw how upset Akane was about that. How scared she was. Ranma
went as far as purposely getting her angry to help her forget what she
went through."
"Why isn't he trying to do that this time?" Soun asked.
Nabiki sighed. "Because he might lose her if he did. If he got Akane
angry now, she'd feel that he doesn't love her, and never will. She'd
give up on marrying him. He has to let her know that it wasn't her fault
and that he doesn't feel less for her because of it." <If Akane is
pushed too far we might all lose her.>
---------------------------------
Kuno ran to the Tendo home after waking up in the all-to-familiar-to-him
nurses' station at Furinkan High. Once he arrived there, he met the icy
glare of Nabiki.
"Tendo Nabiki, I wish to see your fair sister and help free her again of
the cursed Saotome," Kuno said.
"You have some nerve coming here after what you did to her, Kuno-san."
Nabiki heard a strange cracking sound to her left.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean coming here after completely destroying her honor."
The strange cracking occurred again, but to Nabiki's right.
"How have I done that? What transpired between the beauteous Tendo Akane
and me was pure and just. No dishonor could possibly result from it."
Again the cracking sound was heard, this time further away and behind
Kuno. Nabiki grinned slightly, figuring out what that sound was.
"Kuno-san, she is engaged by giri to marry Ranma."
"I do not recognize such an awful thing."
"It doesn't matter if YOU recognize it, the Saotome and Tendo clans
recognize it. That is all that matters in terms of her honor."
"How can honor be damaged by expressing love?"
Several cracking sounds were heard from somewhere on the Tendo roof.
"Tell me, haven't some of your ancestors married because their marriage
was arranged?"
"Yes, but what does this matter?"
"Is it not likely that they were forced to marry despite loving someone
else?"
"Sad, but probably true."
"So, you wouldn't be here if love superseded honor. And even *IF* Akane
loves you, which she does *NOT,* she *MUST* marry Ranma. Any
interference damages your honor, and now you have smeared her honor as
well because of what you have done."
More cracking noised occurred, just on the other side of the wall fence.
"That is not so! Our love is honorable in itself! There was nothing
wrong with us expressing it!"
"What she did with you was because of a drug. It was not an expression
of love in the slightest."
Kuno blinked. "So, Saotome drugs Akane to keep her away from me!"
Nabiki slapped him. "NO! Akane was drugged *yesterday* and only did that
with you because of the drug that Amazon bimbo feed her."
The cracking noises were now accompanied by an evil growl.
"Tis more likely the Amazon freed Akane. I must thank her."
"You'd be thanking a cat now. The drug she feed Akane is considered rape
by her own people, and as punishment she is now permanently a cat."
The cracking noises and the growling stopped cold.
"That is not so! It was *NOT* rape! She went to my arms willingly!"
"Because of the drug, you delusional idiot. She only had sex with you
because of the drug."
"KUNO!!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!!" an angry shout was heard.
Nabiki turned and started to walk away. "Ryoga, do try to keep him from
screaming. We don't want to disturb Akane right now."
Ryouga answered her by punching Kuno's jaw with all his might.
Nabiki shut the door as muffled sounds of pain barely made it through
the door. She went to the phone to call an ambulance.
---------------------------------
Kasumi knocked at the door and entered when she heard Akane say, "Come
in."
The eldest Tendo girl smiled at Akane who was sitting in Ranma's lap.
"Akane, look who I found," she said holding up a small black piglet.
"P-Chan! Where have you been?" Akane asked, taking the little pig into a
tight hug.
"Bwee?!" P-Chan questioned in shock.
Ranma bit back his 'answer.'
"How are you feeling?" Kasumi asked, concerned.
"Fine... I guess," Akane relied, glancing at Ranma. "I'm feeling a lot
better now than I was since th... this started."
"Why don't I give some ya time alone with your pet," Ranma said.
"Ah, okay," Akane replied; her voice shook a little.
"If you need me, just call out and I'll be here."
Akane nodded, and reluctantly moved off his lap.
Ranma got up and walked toward the door. He looked at her once more
before leaving, followed by Kasumi.
"Oh, P-Chan my life has completely been sent through the blender again,"
Akane began with tears starting to form in her eyes. "Yesterday, I was
drugged and had s-sex with Kuno. Why did this have to happen to me?"
"Bukweep." P-Chan shrugged sadly.
"I wanted him to be my first and that stupid cat took that away. I don't
know how he can love me now." Akane began to cry.
"Bwee bukwee." <I'll always love you.>
"I expected him to yell at me, hate me, or something...."
<I'd never do that.>
"But he...he told me he loves me." Akane smiled through her tears.
"Well, he said he thinks he loves me."
<But-but I didn't say that....>
"For Ranma, that's like admitting undying love. I-I don't know if I
should marry him, though. I betrayed him. I know I didn't have any
control, but I still betrayed him."
"Bukuweep?" <Do you love him?>
"But it is his choice now if he wants to marry me. I won't stop him if
he doesn't want to. I guess I won't stop him if he wants to marry me
either. I don't feel I have the right to decide that anymore. If I just
accepted the stupid engagement, none of this might have happened." Akane
sighed, and lay down on her bed.
<Do you love Ranma?> the pig wanted to ask her, but he couldn't leave
the death grip hug he was in.
"I wish I had *SOME* control of my life," Akane said sadly.
---------------------------------
"No... No... Someone stop me... Oh, that felt good- NO! This is
disgusting... Oh, Kuno... Why am I doing this... Yes, Kuno make me a
woman... Please, someone stop me... I don't want to do this... Oh,
YES!... Don't do that... You are truly manly... Stop me... Ranma,
I'm sorry... Oh, Kuno, you feel so good in me... No... Stop this...
Faster... Why me... Oh, oh, ooooooooohhh!... Please stop me... please...
Kuuuunooooooooo!!!!!"
P-Chan stared sadly while Akane tossed and turned in her bed, mumbling
incoherently. Her words either spoken with despair or lust. Despite the
disjointed words, he realized that his first love was reliving her rape
in her nightmares. He wanted to do something to help her. He had
already sent Kuno to the hospital, and now thought maybe he had been
right in wanting to send Ranma to an early grave. If the womanizer had
treated Akane properly and dealt with the other fiancees, this would've
never happened. <Ranma, this is all your fault!> He left to track down
his quarry, failing to notice that someone was at Akane's window.
After the pig had left the room and Akane's nightmares stopped for the
moment, the figure at the window approached her. "I'm sorry, Akane. I'm
so sorry." Tears fell onto her blanket. "I'll try to make it up to you."
He left through the window, the moonlight casting a shadow of a
pig-tailed martial artist on the wall.
Hours later, Akane woke to her empty room. She started crying because of
her pain and because she was afraid she'd always wake up to a room empty
except for herself.
---------------------------------
Ukyou walked, unsure of how to respond to the information she got from
Nabiki. Shampoo and Kuno technically raped Akane. She had hoped it was
consensual, but had doubted that. It still didn't change anything
though, Akane was no longer 'pure' and thus couldn't marry Ranma now.
Ukyou heard some gossip as she approached her classroom.
"Man, Akane was messed up yesterday morning." "Yeah, but can you imagine
trying to have sex with that blowhard, Kuno?" "I hear she was raped."
"Of course it was rape, she hated him." "But what does that mean for her
engagement to Ranma, though?" "Most likely she won't marry him now. His
mom is supposed to be highly traditional and someone like that won't
allow him to marry anyone who wasn't pure."
"Did you hear that Akane was drugged by Shampoo?" "Please, I was at the
park and saw her drag Kuno back to his house. I didn't see Shampoo
anywhere." "Akane has probably been screwing him for a while, it's only
now that she has been caught." "Besides, if it was rape, then why is
Ranma so pissed? He sent a half dozen students and a teacher to the
nurses station!" "Yeah, if it was, he'd only be upset at Kuno and
Shampoo." "Mmm-hmm, and notice that both Akane and Kuno aren't in today.
Wonder where they are?"
Ukyou entered the classroom, noticing that Ranma was already there and
Akane was nowhere in sight. She decided to talk to him, and entered the
two meter vacant area around him. "Hi, Ranchan. How's Akane doing?" she
asked tentatively. She wasn't entirely sure if she believed
Nabiki's story right now.
Ranma sighed. "She's not doing too good. The only thing that helped was
when I told her that I'll still marry her."
Ukyou's eyebrow twitched. "Now, Ranchan, that might've helped Akane now,
but she'll only be hurt more when you marry me."
Ranma shook his head. "Sorry, Ucchan, but I am going to marry Akane
eventually."
Ukyou was NOT liking what she heard, and retorted angrily, "What do you
mean you're going to marry her?! Ranma she isn't 'clean,' she is no
longer a virgin, she isn't an acceptable wife for someone like you. What
would your mother say about you marrying a girl that wasn't pure?"
Ranma, being angry at life in general, replied to Ukyou in kind, "Oh,
about the same she would to a cross-dresser, a foreign slut, or a
psychopath. And, unless you've forgotten, if I don't marry Akane, Mom
will force me to marry Kasumi or Nabiki."
"But Ranma, you're engaged to ME!"
"No, I'm engaged to a Tendo."
"Your dad took my yattai."
"That was stolen by Pop, it was NOT taken as part of the agreement since
I did NOT agree to it then. And guess what, Ukyou, I still don't agree
to it."
"You.. YOU JACKASS!!"
Ranma blocked the combat spatula. "I'm sorry for what Pop did to you,
but it in NO way makes you my fiancee."
"This isn't over yet, Ranma. Honor demands you marry me!" Ukyou waved
her weapon threateningly.
"All you ever was to me was a friend. Hell, Akane was a closer friend to
you than I was, but all you can see that your precious trophy husband
that you need to restore your honor isn't going to marry you."
Ukyou hit Ranma with her weapon of choice. "How dare you say that?"
"Because it's the truth. You couldn't hack killing me so when you saw
there was a chance to marry me instead you jumped at it. And here Akane
is home, recovering from being raped, and you're arguing over who I'm
going to marry. Some friend you are to her."
"This isn't about her, it's about us."
"Isn't it? I love Akane and I will marry her despite what has happened,
and you're trying to convince me to marry you instead. You're using the
worst part of your friend's life in an attempt to steal the man she
loves from her."
"How can you love the violent, 'uncute,' impure gorilla?"
Ranma slapped Ukyou. "Because she treats her enemies better than you
treat your friends. Leave me and Akane alone Ukyou-san, I can do without
a friend like you."
Ukyou raised her hand to her cheek, and ran out of the room crying. She
did not return to class that day.
---------------------------------
Nabiki was frazzled and it was only lunch hour. Sure today had been
profitable, but the sheer number of requests were drowning her. What was
worse was that several students had the audacity to say she was lying.
She might withhold information, but she never lied about it.
Nabiki smiled weakly, handing a kendo club member a packet of
information regarding Kuno. Her smile grew remembering the doctor's
report stated the samurai fool would be laid up in the hospital for at
least two weeks. She frowned, though, when she saw Ranma practice a
kata. While she didn't know them very well, she knew enough to see Ranma
was making mistakes. She could imagine where his mind was, and it had
nothing to do with martial arts.
---------------------------------
Ranma tried to do a kata again, but he could not do it right. It should
be a simple for him to do, but he just couldn't do it correctly. Peace
of mind would not come and soothe his thoughts. He hadn't gotten it all
during lunch and he still wasn't getting while practicing in the dojo.
Ryoga growled, finally finding his prey. "Ranma! I'll make you pay for
not protecting Akane!" The lost boy launched his attack at his opponent,
and then stopped cold and blinked. He watched dumbly as the punch he
threw had somehow connected with Ranma sending him flying across the
dojo.
The young Saotome got up from where he landed, head drooped and
shoulders slumped. After a moment in which neither of them moved, he
asked, "Ryoga, why aren't you attacking me?"
Ryoga wasn't sure how to react. Ranma was just standing there asking to
be pounded into the ground. The lost boy decided to try something, "Shi
Shi Hokodan!"
The chi blast washed over Ranma, only the air pressure caused him to
move back a little. "Can't you do better than that!? Charge up the
blast, damn it!"
"I'm not going to punish you," Ryoga replied.
"Why not? It's my fault Akane was raped! I failed her! If I had just
told the others I'm going to eventually marry Akane, then this wouldn't
have happened." Ranma fell to his knees, tears fighting to be free from
his eyes.
"The physical punishment I'd give you is nothing compared to what you
are doing to yourself." Ryoga sighed.
"Aren't you always saying how you want to punish me for not be good to
Akane? Why aren't you doing that now when I've failed her in an
unbelievable manner?"
"That's almost exactly what Akane said..." Ryoga's words stabbed at
Ranma painfully. "She blames herself for what happened."
"It wasn't her fault!"
"I know. Shampoo is the guilty one, but Akane feels she's as much to
blame about this as you blame yourself."
"But if I had...."
"Ranma, you can't change what happened. Just be there for her. And if
you can, help her forget."
"How could I do that?"
Ryoga shrugged. "Make love to her, I guess."
Ranma's mouth hung loosely as he watched Ryoga walk away. In way it
sounded stupid. If Akane feared a man's touch, that'd be the last thing
she would want, but Cologne had said Akane probably didn't and Akane had
tried to seduce him already. He shook his head trying to clear it.
"Ranma," Soun called from the door. "If what that Hibiki-boy said is
true, maybe you should have sex with my little girl."
"Mr. Tendo...." Ranma stared at him with wide eyes.
"I won't force you to get married to her; just be with her, and keep
your promise that you will marry her someday. Please help her." Soun was
now watering the grass with his tears.
Ranma once again stood motionless as he was left alone in the dojo. He
wondered if he should do as they said even though he wasn't ready for
that and did know how long it would be until he was.
---------------------------------
Ranma gulped nervously as he prepared to knock on the door. Nabiki was
laying odds that he would be spending the night in this room, and his
dad was a sucker for bets even if he wanted this outcome. Well, he'd
been here for the past half-hour; he might as well knock.
"Come in, Ranma," Akane called.
He opened the door, the knob rattling in his hand. His heart beat faster
seeing her sitting in her bed, almost as if she was waiting for him.
"Hi. Um, I, ah, think we should talk."
Akane looked at him nervously. "About what?"
Ranma found his fingers very interesting to look at. "Um, well... it's
been suggested that we should makelovetoeachother."
Akane blinked. "What?"
Now why can't he seem to get his fingers to move the way he wanted to.
"Well your dad seems to think if we slept together that it might help
you forget about what happened."
Akane shook her head. "Trust me, Ranma, I don't think I'll ever forget
that no matter how many times we're together."
"Oh...." Ranma sighed, disappointedly.
Akane blushed deep red. "But we can if you want."
"Ack!" He began to sweat. "Um, well... I only considered it because they
thought it might help you, but you said it wouldn't and I'm not really
ready. Part of me wants ta. But I really think we should wait. What do
you think?"
"I think you're babbling. But you don't have to do this Ranma. If you're
not ready, you're not. I'm not even sure I'm ready, but I want to do
it." Akane sighed.
"You sure you don't need to do it?" Ranma asked.
"I'm sure."
Ranma nodded and turned to leave.
"Um, Ranma... while we don't have to make love, um, I would like it if
you'd stay with me tonight. I don't like being alone right now."
Ranma gulped and nodded. "O-okay."
Akane moved over to give Ranma some room in her bed. He carefully joined
her. He was too nervous to fall asleep, but she fell into peaceful
slumber rather quickly in his arms.
---------------------------------
Epilogue: Seven Weeks later.
"Hello, brother," Kodachi said.
"Get me out of this foul place. It is not right for one of my stature to
be in such surroundings," Kuno ranted, wearing a tight white shirt with
wrap-around sleeves.
"But you need to be here to get better. After all, the hospital did find
you of questionable mental state."
"Lies and you know it."
"No, brother, the liar is you. Until you face facts, you won't ever be
free again."
"If I belong here, then you and father do as well."
Kodachi laughed slightly. "Oh they did decide to keep father and me for
observation after committing you. They placed Father down the hall, and
as for myself- they found me lacking in social skills and have issues to
resolve with my family, including you. Therapy and drugs will help me,
but they do not believe I belong here."
The scowl Kuno was wearing deepened. "You do delight in tormenting me."
"Of course, that's what siblings are for." Kodachi smiled evilly.
"Anyway, I've come with news of your 'love' Akane."
"No doubt she attempts at this very minute to free me from my wrongful
imprisonment."
"On the contrary, it seems Ranma's mother caught him in her bed a
fortnight ago and demanded that they wed immediately. They gave token
resistance, but the ceremony was nice. Though I could tell the servant
girl, Ukyou, did not find the bridesmaid dress to her liking, but few
would. Glad they didn't ask me to wear that foul thing."
"You lie!" Kuno snarled.
"According to Dr. Tsukuru, the medication I'm taking makes it hard for
me to tell fallacies or to even get angry."
Kuno began to rant, but Kodachi tuned him out. He was in his own world
again.
"Ms. Kuno, visitation hours are over," an orderly told her.
Kodachi nodded and left pondering something she heard Ranma's mother say
at the wedding. Something about him being manly even as a girl. It
didn't make sense, maybe she needed help as well.
----------------
Author's notes:
Thanks to Free Mage and Michael Chase for going pre-reading this part.
Some of you may remember this was originally refered to as Momment 1,
Possibility 1. This story was part of a concept where I'd take one
moment and alter it and see just how drastic the changes would be. The
momment number refered to who ate it: momment 1, Akane and momment 2,
Ranma (and if I really felt twisted: momment 3, female Ranma). The
possibilities are what happens after the person ate the drugged food.
_IF_ I ever decide to write another version, that part would be Momment
1, Possibility 1 and this story would be M1, Possibility 2- since that
part would include Shampoo's reasoning for doing what she did, Akane
eating the questionable ramen, not to mention Akane seducing poor Ryoga.