Subject: [FFML] [FFML][RANMA] A Second Too Late: Part One
From: Ranchan@puckoff.com
Date: 11/17/1999, 6:22 AM
To: FFML@fanfic.com


	A Second Too Late
	Part 1
	by: P-R-P-Chan and Ranchan
	
	Note: Prp and I started writing this about a year ago and never got around
to finishing it, so I decided that I should get cracking so to speak. But
when I tried to continue where we left off at chapter 8 I felt that I had
lost sight of what my goal was so I am re-posting my revised Versions of
1-8 over the next little while as I go through them and add what needs to
be added to each one. as always C&C is greatly apreciated and can be sent
to Ranchan@puckoff.com  



Morning breaks on the Tendou dojo as Ranma slowly rolls off of his futon.

"Man is it morning already?" Ranma groans as he tries to get up off the
floor "last time I try to teach five classes in a day."After a quick
strech, the sore and sleepy Saotome wanders down the hall to the bathroom
but is stopped by Nabiki.
	
"Ohayo Nabiki."
"Well well well Ranma, sleeping in again I see." 
Ranma attempts to roll his eyes at Nabiki's comment but in his sleepy state
only looks stupid in the process.
	
"Anyways Ranma, does your mother know you're here?"
"Yeah, she knew that I was working late yesterday."
"Considering that Akane is away at school and you two haven't gotten 
 married yet, I should really deduct lodging from your pay, seeing as that
you have your own home with your mother.""That's only because she thinks
pop is a bad influence on me, you know with the whole changing sexes thing.."
"Well.... I suppose I can he leniant" With that, Nabiki steps aside and
waves Ranma towards the bathroom. Ranma accepting the invitation enters the
bathroom, but just as the door closes he can hear Nabiki's voice "But of
course, if you use more than five minutes worth of hot water.... I'll have
to charge you." 	   
	
					*	*	*


	Nodoka worked away busily chopping vegetables for the morning breakfast
when her pace was interrupted by the phone's ring. Putting down her knife
and wiping her hands Nodoka answered the phone.

"Moshi Moshi?"

"Ohayo Saotome-san, is Ranma home?

"Oh! Akane, no I'm sorry dear he stayed at work last night. he works so
hard sometimes." 

"I'm sure...."

"What was that dear?"
	
"Um nothing, well I guess I'll be going."
	
"Wait a moment dear, I Need to talk to you."
	
"Huh?  umm.. ok what is it?"
	
"Don't be so hard on Ranma dear, he tries so hard.... try to remember that
ok?"

"Hai.. well I've got an early class so I had better go."
	
"Allright then, good bye dear."

	The sound of the click resonated in Akane's ear as she slowly placed the
phone down on it's base. Akane would have sat there deep in thought had a
voice not broken the silence.
	
"He wasn't home was he?"
	
Akane turned around to see her roommate drag herself to the fridge.

"Oh Yohko! I didn't wake you did I?" Yohko pathetically waved her hand in a
'no problem' kind of way. "You miss him don't you?" Akane kind of shrugs at
her roomate's comment. "I guess so.. I mean, it would be nice if he would
take the time to call" Yohko, having finally found what she was looking for
in the fridge sits down at the table and places the spoils of her search in
front of her: a large bowl of cold mushu pork from last nights supper.
"He's a man Akane, men have trouble with that sort of thing.. give him
time" Yohko having given her advice, picked up a pair of chopsticks and dug
in to her breakfast. "Hai! i guess you're right Yohko-san, Ranma never was
much of a talker. But it woulden't hurt the baka to at least try once in a
while. "Hearing Nodoka's words in her head, Akane wondered if Ranma
actually did try. Looking at Yohko's choice of breakfast grimaced slightly
as she shook off her thoughts and made her way to the fridge.

					*	*	*
	
	Ranma had just dismissed his first class when a familiar face poked her
head into the dojo. "Ohayo Ran-chan!" Ranma looked up and saw Ukyou,
dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Noticing her attire, Ranma smiled. "Not
working today Ucchan?" Ukyou came in and sat down. "No I have the help
running the Utchan today, I was kinda hoping that we could go out for an
early lunch and.. maybe a walk?" "Well.. I have another class to teach, but
stick around and we can go after that." "Ok!" Ukyou hugged Ranma and went
to sit across the dojo to wait. Soon enough Ranma's students trickled in
and the class began. Ukyou watched from across the room as Ranma ran his
students through exercises and thought about how she was going to tell him
about what's been on her mind lately. "Ucchan?" Ukyou's thoughts were
interrupted by Ranma's voice "Are you ready to go?" Snapping out of it,
Ukyou looked up to find all of Ranma's students had left. "Huh? um sure
let's go!"
	 
Ukyou smiled. As the two friends were just going out the door, the phone rang.
Ranma stopped in mid stride and picked up the phone.    
	
"Moshi Moshi?"
	
"Hi can I speak to Ranma?"
	
"Speaking."
	
"Ranma.. It's Akane."
	
"A.. Akane.. What'd you want?"
	
"RANMA NO BAKA!!!"

<CLICK>

Ranma looking quite stunned hung up the phone. "Kawikune...."
				
					*	*	*
	
	Ranma walked Ukyou up to her door and opened his mouth to speak but she
beat him to the punch. "You've been awfuly quiet all afternoon... what's
the matter?" Ranma concidered making something up but somehow he knew that
it wouldent fly with Ucchan.. "Remember when the phone rang before we
left?" Ukyou nodded asent "It was Akane.." Ukyou looked Dumbfounded. "Wow..
It's been a while since you've heard from her has'nt it?" "Yeah... well..
anyways I should be getting home, you know how mom gets testy when I'm late
for dinner." Ukyou nods once again and hugs Ranma before she runs inside.
 	
					*	*	*
	
	Ranma walked into his room and flopped himself down on the futon, he had
just begun to nod off whne the phone rang 

"Moshi Moshi?"
	
"Ranma? .... I'm sorry..."
	
"It's ok.. so what do ya want anyways?"
	
"Do you always have to be so inconsiderate?!?!?"
	
"Well.. yeah.. I mean.. you know.. it's been 6 months since you last
called... I thought maybe something important came up.."
	
"No.. I just need someone to talk.. school's been pretty stressful lately.."
	
"How many people did you call before me?"
	
"Just Kasumi, Yuka, Sayuri, Dad, and..."
	
"So I'm always the last person you call?"
	
"Now I remember why I didn't!"
	
<CLICK>

	
 	Hanging up the Phone and shaking his head, Ranma left his room, moving to
the kitchen where Nodoka is cooking dinner.

"Hello, Ranma! Who was that on the phone?"
"Umm.. it was.. Akane.."
"Oh. That's so nice of her to call. So how are things going with her?"
"Great.. just great.. umm.. I gotta go.."
"Don't go far, dinner will be ready soon"

With that Ranma wandered into the famliy room, leaving his mother somewhat
startled, but she quickly breaks out of her stupor when she notices supper
burning.

						*	*	*
	
	Having eaten dinner, Ranma decided to return to his room to catch up on
that nap he had been trying to have earlier. But as luck would have it the
phone rang once again.
	
"Moshi Moshi!"
	
"Hi.. Ranma?"
	
"Oh.. hi.. you gonna hang up on me again?"
	
"No.. things have just been tough lately."
	
"That's ok I guess."
	
"So..."
	
"So..?"
	
"Well....What's going on?"
	
"I just failed my cooking mideterm.."
	
"Did you expect anything else?"
	
"and my roommate well She's sweet but she doesn't understand.. I've got no
one to talk to.. and everythings going wrong.."
	
The sounds of Akane's sobs coming through the phone cause Ranma to grimace.
	
"Will you stop that? You know I hate it when you cry!"
	
"See what I mean! .. I've got no one to talk too.."
	
Ranma decided he wasn't going to take much more of this and promised
himself that he'd hang up if she did it again.
	
"....Ranma? ... Ranma?.. Hello?"
	
"That hurt..."
	
"Now don't take this the wrong way.. but.. I'm glad.."
	
"WHAT?!?!"
	
"Don't hang up! Don't hang up.. please?"
	
"You have a minute."
	
"Can't you see? This how you make me feel."
	
The cold silence on Ranma's end of the phone seemed to soften.
	
"Look Akane... I'm.."
	
"No Ranma let me finish, you don't seem to understand. I.. I just.. I ca.."
	
"What'd you say Akane? You what?"
	
"Nothing.. nevermind."
	
"No. You were going to say something, tell me."
	
"No it's not important, forget it."
	
"Well if it wasn't important why did you start?"
	
"Look can we just change the subject?"
	
"No. I'm not gonna let this drop."
	
"Please can we just drop this?"
	
"Akane, just tell me what you were going to say!"
	
"I'll tell you about it later ok? I've gotta go.."
	
"Ok..Bye."
	
<CLICK>

	Akane sat alone in her appartment hesitating before hanging up the 
reciever, Although all there was to hear her was the dial tone, she felt
compelled to finish her thought aloud. "I..I miss you."   

	END PART 1

P.s; I'd also appreciate any ideas on hot to properly format my fics.
Please answer in privmsg thanks!



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