Please send all comments to stiffanie@mail.com
****
Hello, people.
Okay, this took a long time in coming, I know. I had the *hardest* time
writing
chapters 9-10. But behold, mother of all miracles, I got my muse back over
the
weekend! Finished WFY in one long, extended breath. I hope you won't be
too
disappointed.
Tell me what you think!
Stiffanie
Get previous chapters of WFY at
http://www.angelfire.com/sd/Ranmafanfic/index.html.
In fact, I *forbid* you to read this chapter without reading the previous
chapters of WFY first. Okay? ^_^
****
Disclaimer : Ranma 1/2 and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. This
fanfic is written for enjoyment and self-fulfillment purposes only.
Waiting For You
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By Stiffanie Flores
Chapter 9
Changes
Ranma was a part of my life I never wanted to forget. And yet, somehow, I
had.
Bit by bit every passing day, the memory of him slowly faded away.
I remember, it used to drive me crazy. It was bad enough that the days went
by
so quickly when he was here, alive and beautiful, so quickly that I hardly
had
enough time to enjoy being with him, loving him, before he was taken away
from
me forever.
The memory of him was the only thing I had left - was that going to be taken
away from me as well?
Now, two years after, I can only look back and laugh at my foolishness. I
tried
so hard to hold on to the memory of Ranma. I was so afraid that I would
forget
him completely that I lost sight of everything else around me.
But that's not true. Now, two years later, after the time has washed away
the
pain and the regrets... only the happiness remains. The memory of what it
felt
like, to have him with me... when we would get along, and the way his smile
would make my knees go weak. The memory of what it was like to love him.
I would never forget Ranma - I know that now. I may not remember the exact
features of his face, or the way he smiled, he spoke, he moved... but I will
never forget that I loved him, and that he loved me. And I suppose, that is
what's most important.
So much has changed, these last two years. And to think that it all started
with a stupid blue brooch, and my own carelessness. If only I'd been more
careful, if only I hadn't been so eager to try on that damned dress. If
only,
if only. Ranma wouldn't have died, we'd probably be married by now, going
to
college together...
Dreams. Foolish, hopeless dreams. Two years ago, when I would lurch awake
drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, those dreams were the anchor that
kept
me from teetering over the brink of despair. Now, it is with a mixture of
regret and relief that I admit I have no need for them anymore.
We never heard anything about Shampoo. But I often find myself hoping she
didn't get punished too harshly. She tried to kill me, true, but I like to
think her true crime was in loving Ranma too much. She'd loved him so much
that
she thought she had to kill me to win his love, just like I'd loved Ranma so
much I tried to kill myself, thinking that I could never live without him.
Getting through the first few months was the worst ordeal. Everywhere I
looked,
there was a reminder of him, and good or bad the memory was, it would make
me
think of him, and I'd miss him so much, it hurt.
I'd count the days as they went by, trying not to think about how empty
tomorrow
would be like, and all the tomorrows after that. I tried to settle in life's
normal routines, trying to feel happiness again in the things that had
brought
me such joy, before Ranma came and redefined happiness for me.
And a few months later, I realized that I'd stopped counting the days, and I
hadn't done so for a while. As bad as that made me feel at first, that I was
finally getting used to being without Ranma, a part of me was happy, that I
was
settling back into my life again.
School had settled back to normal, after a while. Talk about Ranma began to
die
down a few weeks after his funeral. And soon, life returned to normal, the
way
it was before Ranma came and brought all that insanity into our lives.
Shinnosuke came down from Ryugenzawa permanently. It turned out that a
distant
aunt of his lived in Tokyo, and he and his grandfather both came down to
live
with her. Certainly living in the middle of the woods wasn't helping his
grandfather's health any. The village had managed to put together a group
for
dealing with the giant animals in the forest, with volunteers from dojos
coming
to represent their families. He'd still go and help out, every once in a
while.
He comes to visit very often, something which my sisters find very
entertaining,
although I've told them repeatedly that Shinnosuke and I are just friends.
We've
become very good friends, though, over the years.
Sometimes, it amazes me that Shinnosuke's memory has become so good. When he
came to Nerima two years ago, I was too absorbed in my own grief to pay much
attention to the other people around me. I suppose the Orochi moss cured
his
memory, as well as his physical wounds. That's what his grandfather says,
anyway.
Shinnosuke... he and I became very close friends. I'm not sure either what
brought us together. But I thought, perhaps it was because of our shared
history with Ranma. Everyone who has been part of our lives (Ranma's and
mine)
has left for good. Shampoo, Ryouga, Ukyou, Mousse... Shinnosuke's the only
person left. The only one who's known and witnessed the real truth of my
feelings for Ranma.
He doesn't look at me with pity in his eyes, while trying to hide it with a
facade of false cheer. He's seen just how much I've struggled to put my life
back on track again. He witnessed my agony when Uncle Genma brought Ranma's
body back, and he was here when I tried to kill myself that same night.
Somehow, it makes me feel better knowing that I am with someone who knows
how
very much I loved Ranma, and just how much I went through, without him in my
life anymore.
Sometimes it's almost hard to imagine Ranma ever existed in Nerima. After he
died, and all the others left town, I threw myself into training with
renewed
vigor - because it was the only thing I had left. Lost in the exercises, I
would forget everything - the pain of loss, the aching loneliness that
filled
every day of my life, the despair burning deep in my heart.
And soon I regained the title of the best martial artist in Nerima. But
somehow, it feels different. An empty victory, almost. It's funny, really.
It
was the one thing I wanted, to be the best, and I resented Ranma and the
others
for their superior skill in the Art. Now *I* am the best. But the price I
had
to pay for it... Be careful what you wish for. I suppose that's true, after
all.
Whatever... I do enjoy being a martial artist again - a *real* martial
artist.
I had neglected my training way too much, and it was time I remedied that
anyway. I practiced by myself, going through the katas Dad taught me so
many
years ago. And Shinnosuke... he helped as well. Our sparring sessions
helped
me improve a lot. Heh. Wouldn't Ranma be surprised. I'm not as good as he
was, but I'm sure I could give him a good fight.
Things are going along smoothly, though. I'll be graduating in a few weeks,
and
then, I'm off to college. I suppose I should study something which would
help my
future career as a dojo instructor - after all, I'm still inheriting the
dojo.
I had dreams then, two years ago, about Ranma and I getting married and
raising
our children in this house, while we taught classes and passed on the Art to
our
students.
But now... Ranma's dead, but I can't let my dreams die with him. He won't
want
me to do that. And every time I practice the Art, when I'm lost in a
complex
kata... he's still there. I'd stop and close my eyes, and for a little
while, I
can almost feel him. I'll make our dreams come true. And in my heart, he
will
live forever.
****
"Akane!"
She turned, schoolbag slapping against her hips, as Yuka ran up to her,
clapping
her on the shoulder.
Yuka smiled at her. "Good morning!"
Akane smiled back. "Had a nice weekend?"
"Yeah. The best. Me and Hajime went to this great place downtown, and they
serve the best dimsum in town! You oughta try it sometime."
"Don't forget finals are next week, Yuka."
"Ugh. Finals. You just *had* to remind me." She shivered dramatically.
"Last
chance you ever get if you want to make it out of Furinkan this year."
She glanced sideways at Akane. "I bet you don't got anything to worry about,
though," she said admiringly. "You're at the top of our class, your grades
are
great, you're captain of the volleyball team..."
Akane smiled, shaking her head. "You can do it too, if you'd spend more time
on
homework."
Yuka sighed dramatically. "You don't know how busy a girl's life can get,
Akane," she said teasingly. "A boyfriend takes up so much of your time,
there's
hardly any left for such insignificant things like homework."
"So how are things with Hajime?"
"Fine." Yuka smirked. "He brought me a box of chocolates and the nicest
flowers
he could find, to make up for breaking our date last week."
"Yuka..."
"Akane..." Yuka matched Akane's exasperated tone. "A guy needs to be shown
his
place, every once in a while." She winked. "Why, if I let him off so easily,
he
might start making a habit out of breaking dates. What good is a boyfriend
without dates?"
Akane laughed, running her free hand through her hair - she still wore it
short,
even after two years. "I wouldn't know," she joked. "I've never had one."
Yuka shrugged. "You could have a boyfriend if you like, Akane. There are
plenty
of great guys in school. They'd be lining up right outside your front door,
if
only you'd let them know you're interested."
"I'm not," Akane said firmly. "Not yet."
"Ranma?" There was a note of uncertainty in Yuka's voice.
Akane shook her head. "You know me better than that, Yuka." Her friend
nodded.
"I'm just not interested. That's all."
Yuka's expression turned sly. "Not even that Shinnosuke guy?"
"I told you, we're just friends," Akane replied, laughing.
"Well, then, can I have him?"
"Yuka!"
"He's cute!"
Akane laughed and swatted her friend playfully. "Stop it. We're almost in
school," she said, nodding towards the school gates looming ahead of them.
Yuka sighed. "School. What gets me out of bed each morning is the thought
that
we'd be out of this dump soon."
"Come on, Yuka," Akane teased. "Where's your school spirit?"
"Didn't bring it with me," she muttered.
Akane smiled. "Furinkan holds too many memories for me, that thinking of it
invokes a feeling of... well, almost fondness, actually," she admitted. "And
thinking of leaving it for good makes me feel sad, almost. Like I'm leaving
a
part of me behind."
"Well, I'm sure I'll be missing all the cute girls around," a voice piped up
from behind them.
Akane smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure you will, Hiroshi," she remarked.
Hiroshi grinned as he fell into step beside them. "Had fun last weekend,
girls?"
he asked, smiling at Akane.
Akane didn't reply, instead just favored him with a small smile. Yuka
glanced at
him, her eyes glinting. "Ready for finals, Hiroshi?"
As she expected, he groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead. "Don't say
that
word, please! It gives me the shudders." Yuka laughed.
"Well, you guys had better be ready, 'cause it's next week," Akane told them
as
they stepped into the familiar hallways of Furinkan. It hasn't changed a
bit,
not in the last two years, Akane mused inwardly. It's almost funny, really,
that
so much in her life had changed, but good old Furinkan remained the same...
"She's such a spoilsport," Yuka complained to Hiroshi, bringing Akane out of
her
thoughts.
He nodded sagely. "Yeah. A slavedriver, even. Just 'cause she has good
grades,
she expects *everyone* to have good grades. Just 'cause she doesn't have
fun,
anyone else isn't... hey!" He leapt away from Akane's reach in time to avoid
the
schoolbag aimed for his head.
"No fair, Akane," he complained. "You're better, stronger, faster... what
are ya
trying to do, maim me before I get out of high school?"
Akane snorted. "Get off it, Hiro. I trained you better than that, and you
know
it."
Hiroshi grinned. "Yeah, you did."
After school had ended the year Ranma died, Soun had taken up teaching the
Art
again, with a lot of support from his daughters. Nabiki drew up plans and
schedules for the lessons, and Kasumi was a constant source of gentle
encouragement for her father. And Akane... she had agreed to teach the
beginner's classes along with her father. At the time, it had seemed like a
good way to pass the time, and keep herself in shape. But she'd genuinely
enjoyed it, and now she handled some classes by herself, during summer
vacation
after school let out.
They took the stairs up to their classroom. Yuka elbowed Hiroshi. "Aww,
admit
it. You and Daisuke only took the classes so that you'd have a chance with
Akane-chan."
He winked at Akane. "She's right. So, have my efforts paid off?" He flexed
an
arm in front of her. "Am I strong enough for you? Or do I have to beat ya
before
you'd go out with me?"
Akane snorted indelicately. "If I'm going to date anyone, it's because I
want
to, not because of any other stupid reason, and you damn well know it."
Yuka frowned. "But *why* is it that you never meet anyone you like?" she
persisted.
Akane shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just not interested."
"Ranma?"
"I told you, it isn't because of him. Jeez, it's been two years, you think
I'd
still be..."
Yuka shook her head. "That's not what I mean, Akane." She grabbed her
friend's
hand and pulled her inside the classroom.
Akane put her schoolbag on her desk and sat down. "What?"
Yuka took a seat beside her. "I have to ask, Akane. Is it because -"
"- you can't find another person who measures up to Ranma?" Hiroshi
finished, as
sat down in front of Akane, twisting around in his seat to look at her.
"That's why you aren't dating anyone, right?" Yuka asked. "Because you've
been
comparing every guy to Ranma, and they don't measure up. Right?"
Akane blinked. "What's this, the third degree?"
Hiroshi shrugged. "It's not too hard to imagine, you know," he said,
continuing
on as if she'd never said anything. "Ranma's... special. If you're looking
for
someone like him, that's a pretty tall order."
Akane shook her head. "No, that's not it at all. I'm not comparing anyone to
anybody. I'm not going to do that - it wouldn't be fair to anyone."
She propped her chin on her elbow and smiled. "Like they say, love isn't
planned
- it just happens. The day I first met Ranma, I hated him on sight. The last
thing I expected was to fall in love with him. And yet I did."
She shook her head. "I'm not going to plan falling for anyone else. I guess
right now I'm... *waiting*... for love to happen. It'll have to come,
someday.
But if it doesn't, I'll be content enough to have loved - and been loved -
at
least once."
"Akane! Don't say that. You..."
"No, listen to me. I met Ranma when I was sixteen. I loved him, and he loved
me.
How many people spend their entire lives wishing for the exact same thing,
and
never get it?" She smiled. "Well, I had it, even for just a while. And I
don't
regret a moment of it."
Her friends gawked. "Akane..."
"You - you've really thought about this, haven't you?" Hiroshi asked.
"Better that than spend the rest of my life blaming myself for all the lost
time
and opportunities, right?"
"But you still think about it," Hiroshi said. "I can tell when you do. You
get
this distant look in your eyes, like you're remembering something." He
shrugged.
"You'd do that sometimes while we're in training."
"Well, yeah, I still think about it. I'd be lying if I said I've put it all
behind me, or I didn't have any regrets... I do, and sometimes I'd think
about
it, about what might have been, if he hadn't died, if he'd just told me he
loved
me before it was too late..."
She smiled. "Then I'd just remind myself that he did love me, even if he'd
never
said it. That everything he did and said told me exactly that, and if I
hadn't
seen it before, I see it now. I'd remind myself that he loved *me*, above
all
the other girls who would have him. And I'd feel better."
She leaned back and titled her head to stare at the ceiling. "That's why I
said
I'd miss Furinkan," she remarked softly. "Ranma and I... we spent so much
time
here together. It's so much a part of our lives, how could I ever forget
it?"
"Well, like you said, we're graduating soon," Yuka told her. "And it's on to
college. Bigger and better things."
Akane smiled. "Right. As much as I'd miss Furinkan, it isn't like I can
spend
the rest of my life in high school," she joked. "I'm moving on. Like you
said,
Yuka, bigger and better things. But Ranma..."
She laid a hand on her chest, right over her heart. "He'll always be here
with
me," she said, smiling. "When I do meet someone else and fall in love again,
the
memory of Ranma will take a backseat to him, but as long as I don't forget,
he'll always be here."
Yuka sighed dreamily. "That's so romantic."
Akane smiled. "Curiosity satisfied, I hope? 'Cause even if it isn't..."
Just
then, the morning bell buzzed, signaling the start of classes. Students
began
drifting back to their seats. Akane glanced at her friends meaningfully.
Hiroshi grinned and pushed himself to his feet. "Nope. But there's always
recess. And lunch break."
Akane laughed as she took out her books and prepared for class.
****
"I'm home!"
Akane glanced at the empty hall, not really surprised that there wasn't
anyone
to greet her. With Nabiki gone off to college, only the three of them lived
at
home - Kasumi, Soun, and Akane. And during this time of the day, Kasumi was
usually in the kitchen getting ready to prepare dinner, and Soun was resting
in
his room after his afternoon classes.
As usual, she headed straight to the kitchen for an afternoon snack, idly
slapping her bag against her thigh as she walked.
"Akane?" called her sister's voice, even before she reached the kitchen.
"Is
that you?"
Akane smiled. "Yup, it's me," she called back. "Got anything to eat?"
She paused at the doorway to see Kasumi's smiling face. "Just tea and
cookies,"
she replied. "But if you're looking for a treat, Shinnosuke's got a
surprise
for you."
Akane's eyes brightened at the mention of Shinnosuke's name. "He's here
already?"
"He's in the dojo working out," Kasumi replied.
As Akane darted out of the room, Kasumi called after her, "Bring him in for
some
tea and snacks when you're done sparring!"
****
Shinnosuke paused after completing a kata, sliding out of a form he'd
assumed.
He took a deep breath and straightened, raising an arm to wipe the
perspiration
from his brow.
He'd learned a lot since he came to live in Nerima, he mused. He'd always
been
good in the art, what with living in the forest and keeping the huge animals
from attacking the villages. But he'd never had any formal training until
then.
He hadn't known anything about katas and forms, before he'd met Akane.
It was a burden released from his shoulders, to be able to come down to the
city
and live a peaceful life, without having to worry about giant animals
rampaging
around and destroying people's houses. The volunteer group took care of
that.
He'd taken the beginner's course at the Tendo dojo the summer two years ago.
Akane had taught the class, with her father watching over and guiding them
when
necessary. It was a good experience for Akane, he knew. She was the heir
to
the Tendo dojo - she still planned to take over the school after she
graduated
from college.
It was a good experience for Shinnosuke, too. He easily adapted most of the
forms and teachings of the Tendo school, incorporating them into his own
style
of fighting. He still fought best with a weapon, but he'd also learned to
fight
well in unarmed combat.
The doors slid open with a soft swish, flooding the room with sunlight. He
looked up, startled out of his thoughts, and his eyes squinted in the light.
She stood silhouetted in the doorway, the late afternoon sun catching the
highlights in her short blue-black hair. She smiled at him, a smile that
lifted
his spirits and made his heart pound against his chest, as she stepped
forward,
further inside the room. And he could see that her eyes were sparkling as
well.
He stepped towards her, a smile spreading across his face. It wasn't hard -
the
mere sight of her filled him with so much joy that he could keep smiling for
an
entire day.
"Shinnosuke," she called, still smiling, and the sound of her voice was like
music to his ears.
He smiled. "Hello, Akane."
She grinned and stepped in front of him, dropping into a ready stance. It
was
sort of a tradition between them - sparring first, conversation later.
"Whenever you're ready."
He frowned as he glanced at her blue school uniform. "Aren't you even going
to
change?"
She shrugged. "I can fight as well in this. I do it all the time," she
boasted.
He laughed. "Not in two years, you haven't."
"Well, still good enough to beat you," she replied, her eyes sparkling.
"Your
move."
Shinnosuke decided it was pointless to argue. He took a few seconds to
scrutinize her stance, and quickly decided on an offensive attack. He
launched
himself at her, aiming for a kick to her side.
Instead of dodging it as he'd expected, she jumped and countered his kick in
midair, throwing him back a few inches as they landed back on the floor.
She
wasted no time, her hands a flurry of punches as she advanced on him.
Shinnosuke held up his arms to parry, his feet sliding across the smooth,
polished floor. She was forcing him into the corner, he knew. He'd better
come
up with something fast.
The punches stopped, and she leapt, aiming her right foot for a kick to his
shoulder. Shinnosuke swiveled out of the way, just a split second before
the
kick connected, and brought his arm up to land a blow on her leg, just above
her
ankle.
It was actually a little more than a light tap. Shinnosuke wasn't as
adamant
about not fighting girls as Ranma had been. That was what made him a great
sparring partner, in Akane's view. But he still refused to hit her, thus
the
feather-light blows he preferred when sparring with Akane.
Akane landed lightly on her feet, raising a hand to brush her bangs from her
eyes. "Good move," she remarked. "Compensating nicely after a surprise
maneuver."
He grinned. "High praise from you, sensei."
Akane snorted. "I don't got what it takes to be a sensei yet." She smiled.
"When I get my degree and take over the dojo, it'll be an honor to have my
students call me sensei."
She did a short leap and her foot flashed out in a flurry of kicks. "You're
early today," she remarked.
Shinnosuke turned and smiled. "Not really," he said. "There was nothing to
do
at home, so I came over a few minutes early. I hope it's okay."
"Of course it's okay. I'm always eager for a good training partner." She
grinned and flexed an arm. "Keeps me in shape."
"I bet."
"Hey." Akane turned and glanced at him. "Kasumi said you had a surprise.
What
is it?" She grinned and extended an arm. "Come on, gimme."
Shinnosuke nodded. "I brought some sakura mochi for tea. I passed by them
on
my way home from shopping, and they looked good." He smiled. "I bought
more
than enough, so I thought I'd bring some over."
Akane's eyes brightened. "Why didn't you say that earlier? Come on, I'm
hungry. I haven't eaten anything all afternoon." She turned and sprinted
out
of the dojo.
Shinnosuke laughed as he ran after her. "What was that about keeping your
figure?"
****
"Tea, Shinnosuke?"
He smiled and held up his cup. "Yes, thank you."
"My, so polite," Akane teased.
Shinnosuke grinned. "Like Kasumi says, a guest is a guest." He patted his
stomach. "I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but Kasumi's cooking is one
of
the things I look forward to the most, whenever I come to visit."
Akane whapped him lightly on the arm. "Rub it in, why don'tcha."
He laughed. "You'll get better with practice, Akane. Hey, your cooking is
a
lot better now than it was two years ago." He laughed harder and ducked
when
Akane threw her chopsticks at him.
Kasumi smiled benevolently at them. "I'm happy to know that you enjoy my
cooking, Shinnosuke. And you're always welcome in our home."
"Still, I hope I'm not overstaying my welcome," Shinnosuke remarked.
"Oh no," Kasumi assured him. "It's always a pleasure to have Akane's
friends
over." She smiled. "I'll go bring dinner out."
As soon as Kasumi was out of earshot, Akane leaned over and whispered, "If
you
ask me, I think she just likes showing off her excellent culinary skills to
other people."
Shinnosuke stifled a bark of laughter, as Soun came into the room.
"Now, Akane, that isn't very funny," Soun admonished her.
Akane bit her lip, but her eyes were sparkling with laughter. "Gomen,
Daddy."
Soun nodded. "So, how's school coming along, Akane?"
She shrugged. "Okay. Everyone's busy studying for finals."
Shinnosuke elbowed her. "I bet you don't have any problems, ace student."
Akane snorted. "You flatter me too much." She smiled. "Finals are a
killer,
and the entrance exams are even worse. It isn't going to be a breeze,
Shinnosuke."
"Whatever." He smiled. "You can do it."
"Sure I will," she boasted. "Do you think Nabiki hogged all the brains from
the
gene pool?"
"Whoa," Shinnosuke laughed. "Is it my imagination, or is your head getting
bigger everyday?"
"What can I say? Ranma rubbed off on me," she joked. "I don't have his
martial
arts skills, so I had to find something to compensate." She rolled her
eyes.
"And boy, was he an *awful* student."
"Akane," came Kasumi's admonishing voice. She leaned down to put a couple
of
plates on the table. "It's not good to speak ill of the dead."
"But he *was*," Akane protested. "I mean, he was brilliant - only in
martial
arts. But he didn't do very well in school. He *could* have, but he
didn't."
"He could have?" Shinnosuke echoed.
"You'd have to had seen it for yourself. Ranma could learn *anything*, if
he
just put his mind to it." She grinned. "He's a sore loser. But he's got
an
iron will and determination like you wouldn't believe."
Shinnosuke smiled. "Actually, I do," he remarked, remembering how Ranma had
fought the Orochi in Ryugenzawa.
"Ranma was a remarkable boy," Kasumi said firmly, as she took her place at
the
table and started filling their bowls with rice. "And in this family, he'll
always be remembered with infinite fondness and gratitude," she added,
smiling
at Akane.
Akane smiled back, reaching out to take the bowl of rice Kasumi held out.
****
*I love you...*
She glanced up, tears of happiness brimming in her eyes. He stood in front
of
her, his beautiful eyes lighting up in a warm smile.
*I love you...*
She jerked her head in a quick nod. "I know," she said softly, choking back
a
sob.
His smile grew broader. *How?*
"I just know." She closed the distance between them in a couple of steps,
and
glanced up at him, her face a few inches away from his chest.
"Because," she said achingly, as the tears threatened to choke her voice, "I
love you, too."
He reached out and drew her in a tight embrace, burying his face in the silk
of
her hair. She wrapped both arms tightly around him, laying her head on his
chest, feeling the soft silk of his shirt rustle against her face.
The tears came again, and this time, she didn't try to stop them.
*Oh gods.* His voice came out soft and muffled. *I've waited so long for
you...
so long...*
She said nothing, as she closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of him, his
scent, his presence, his voice, and the love overflowing in her heart...
*Will you come?*
She jerked her head back. "What?"
He stared at her, his eyes beseeching. *Come with me?*
"I...I..." She blinked, not understanding the confusion in her heart. Why
was
she hesitating?
*I've waited for you...*
She felt a soft tingle run through her body, and suddenly, the arms around
her
waist began to loosen their grip...
*So long...*
She stared the body in front of her as it began to fade. She glanced up, and
he
was looking at her, his eyes sad.
*So very long...*
"W-wait!" she cried, reaching out, but her arm passed uselessly through the
illusion of him. "No, please... I'm sor.... no, don't..."
His eyes sad, staring at her, until he faded away into etherealness, leaving
nothing but a cool night air against her skin.
"...don't leave me..."
****
*Don't leave...*
"Akane?"
*No, please...*
Bam. Bam. Bam. "Akane? Are you awake?"
*No...*
More banging. "Akane? Wake up, it's a school day."
"Ugh..."
Her head rolled to the side, and she groaned, cracking an eye open. Morning
already? Her head felt so heavy...
"Akane?" The knocking ceased. "I'm coming in..."
She yawned and stretched her arms, as the door swung open, and Kasumi
stepped
inside.
"Morning, sis," Akane mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry I overslept."
Kasumi sat down on her bed. "Didn't you set your alarm last night?"
Akane propped herself up on her elbows and glanced at the clock beside her
bed.
Sure enough, the button was pressed down. "I guess not." She yawned.
Kasumi frowned. "What's wrong, Akane?" she asked. "You don't look so good."
She waved an arm in front of her. "I'm okay. Just sleepy, that's all."
"Didn't you get a good sleep?" Kasumi laid a hand on Akane's forehead and
felt
for a fever.
"Just okay. I just had a dream." She frowned. "Good dream, bad dream, I
don't
even remember. Just that..."
She laid a hand over her heart. "Just that my heart was racing real fast,
and I
was..." She shook her head. "I don't remember."
"That's alright." Kasumi stood up. "Can you go to school?"
She looked up. "Of course." She flashed a reassuring smile at her sister.
"I'm
fine, Kasumi. I'll go wash up and be down for breakfast in a jiff."
"All right." Kasumi started to back out of the room. "I'll have your bento
ready
in the kitchen."
"Thanks, sis." Akane waited until Kasumi was out of her room. She listened
to
her sister's receding footsteps as she walked down the hall.
*What _was_ that?* she thought, grimacing. It was the third time this month
she'd had this dream, and she never remembered anything after waking up.
Just
that she woke up with her heart beating so fast she felt like she'd run a
ten-
mile dash, and that she was filled with an immense guilt, and
apprehension...
uncertainty... doubt...
Sighing, she stood up and grabbed her pail of toiletries. She'd be late if
she
didn't hurry.
As she grabbed the towel draped over her desk chair, her eyes fell on the
open
book lying on her desk, and her forehead creased in a small frown.
*Ugh. That's right. It's finals week.*
She was a good student, but that didn't mean she didn't have to study hard
for
good grades. And with finals coming up, and college looming ahead of her,
she'd
have to study extra hard.
Akane quickly put the dream out of her mind, for the time being. There
would be
more time to think about it later.
****
"How about a movie, Akane?"
"I'd rather go get that milkshake like we said we would." Akane smiled.
"Besides, we still have finals tomorrow, Yuka."
The other girl sighed. "But we just finished one today," she said. "We're
entitled to spoil ourselves every now and then, Akane."
"That's why I'm splurging on this milkshake." She shrugged. "Tell you
what.
Let's go out for dinner and a movie *after* finals. Okay?"
Yuka's eyes brightened. "A double-date?"
Akane shook her head. "I was thinking more like, girls' night out?"
"Aww, Akane," her friend complained. "You're no fun. You haven't gone out
in
*ages*."
Akane laughed. "I'm not an old maid yet, Yuka," she replied. "And I've
been
busy, okay?"
"So it's time to relax and have some fun. Come on, Akane, we'll have a
great
time."
She sighed. "Where on earth will I find a date?"
Yuka smirked. "We can pass the word around school, if you like. You'll get
a
date in no time."
Akane snorted. "No thanks." She sighed again. "Yuka, I really don't feel
like-"
"Akane, please." Yuka softened her voice, and she reached out for Akane's
hand.
"I was kidding about finding you a date. But it'll be fun, just like the
old
times. Please?"
Akane sighed. "I'll... get back to you on that, okay?"
She shrugged. "I'll take that for now. But I expect a decision soon,
okay?"
She waggled her brows at her. "And I won't take no for an answer."
Akane rolled her eyes. "Oh jeez, cut that out. You're going to give me
nightmares."
Yuka laughed and linked her arm through Akane's. "So let's get a soda like
we
planned, so we can head home and you can bury your head in your books all
you
want, spoilsport."
Akane smiled back and started to reply, when she suddenly paused and her
brows
knitted together in a frown. Yuka lurched to a stop beside her.
"Jeez, Akane, don't do that," she complained. "You're going to drag me to
the..." She trailed off, staring at Akane. "What's wrong?"
She followed Akane's eyes, and her face assumed a similar frown, as she
struggled with old memories. "Hey, isn't that... what's his name again?"
she
asked. "Ranma's rival?"
Ahead of them, winding his way through the crowd, was a tall boy wearing a
bandanna, carrying a huge backpack on his back. He paused, looking around
him,
a lost look in his eyes. He turned around and started to walk back the way
he
came.
"Hey," Yuka exclaimed. "I remember. Isn't he the guy who had trouble with
directions?" She rolled her eyes. "Isn't that the stupidest thing you ever
-"
"Excuse me, Yuka," Akane said absently, pulling away from her friend. Yuka
watched as Akane quickly caught up to the guy and put a hand on his arm.
Ryouga turned, surprised. His eyes widened with a look of recognition as he
stared at her. "Akane...san?"
Akane smiled, and her hand fell to her side. "It *is* you," she exclaimed.
"It's been a long time, Ryouga."
He blinked. "But... what are you doing in...?" He scratched his head. "Oh
wait. This is Tokyo, I guess."
"That's right. Where else would I be?" She smiled. "Boy, you haven't
changed
a bit. Still having trouble with directions?"
Ryouga smiled back, timidly. "Until the day I die, I'm afraid."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Just then, Yuka caught up to them, laying a hand
on
Akane's shoulder.
"It is him, isn't it?" she asked in a loud whisper.
Akane rolled her eyes. "Ryouga, you probably don't remember Yuka, but she
remembers you."
Yuka blew out a breath. "Rude introduction, Akane."
"Err... hi?" Ryouga scratched his head self-consciously. "I'm afraid I
didn't
know anyone in Nerima, except Ranma and the Tendos."
"Well, I only know you by reputation." Yuka smiled. "Nice to meet you."
"Ahh... same here, I guess." He glanced at Akane. "I should... ah... get
going. Nice to see you, Ak-kane."
He started to turn around, until Akane called his name. He turned back to
look
at her, slowly.
"Akane-san?"
"You got someplace to go?"
He blinked. "Err... nowhere?"
Yuka snickered, and Akane shot her a dirty look. She turned back to look at
Ryouga, smiling. "Are you in a hurry to get to this...um... *nowhere*?"
"I... guess not..."
"Then could I invite you for dinner, at least? Kasumi would be happy to see
you. Daddy, too."
"Oh no... I'd already... I wouldn't want to..."
"It'll be our pleasure, Ryouga." She smiled. "Two years is a long time.
We
haven't heard from you or Ukyou since you left."
His eyes held a hopeful look that he tried unsuccessfully to hide. "Are you
sure, Akane-san?"
"Of course." She turned to her friend. "How about you, Yuka?"
"I'd love to, but my mom expects me home for dinner." She glanced at Akane.
"So I guess we're on for sundaes tomorrow, instead?"
"You bet."
"Your treat?"
"In your dreams, pal."
Yuka shrugged. "Okay, no prob. At least I tried." She grinned. "Gotta go
now. See ya, Ryouga." She waved and walked away, leaving Akane alone with
Ryouga.
"So." Akane smiled at him. "Shall we go?"
"Okay."
****
They all retired in the living room after dinner.
"I hope dinner has suited your appetite, Ryouga-kun," Kasumi said brightly,
coming to sit down beside her father.
"Oh yes, Kasumi-san," Ryouga replied. "Your cooking is as good as I
remember
it."
"It must be hard on you, to be on the road all the time," Kasumi said
sympathetically.
"Yeah, well, I'm used to it, I guess."
"Still, we're surprised that you didn't run into us sooner, Ryouga," Akane
remarked. "You used to drop by every few weeks, at least."
It came as no surprise to Ryouga, though, as he'd tried his best to stay
away
from Tokyo in general. Still, with his sense of direction, all he could do
was
hope his feet would drag him in the direction of China.
"It is good to see you again, Akane-san," he said out loud. "And everyone,
too."
"How have you been, Ryouga?"
"As well as I could be, thank you."
"How's Akari?" Akane asked brightly.
Ryouga lowered his eyes. "I...er... I haven't seen her in more than a
year."
Akane looked surprised. "How come?"
*Because I was too ashamed of myself that I couldn't face her, even though
she
said she didn't mind.* Out loud, he said, "It didn't work out between us.
We... didn't have enough things in common."
"Oh, Ryouga, you shouldn't let that stop you," Akane told him. "I mean,
Ranma
and I didn't have much in common, did we?"
Ryouga shook his head. "No. You - you were..." He drew a deep breath.
"You
were a couple meant to be, if he... he..." He broke off. "Akari and I - we
just
weren't..."
Akane bit her lip. "Oh, I'm sorry, Ryouga. I didn't mean to dredge up
your..."
She trailed off as Ryouga shook his head at her. "It's alright, Akane-san,"
he
told her. He tried to smile. "How have you been?"
"I'm okay." She smiled. "I'm graduating in a couple of weeks."
"That's good to hear."
A moment of awkward silence passed. Ryouga looked down at the floor,
suddenly
wishing it would open and swallow him up whole, so he wouldn't have to feel
this
terrible aching in his heart...
Akane fumbled for a topic of conversation. "Ukyou's doing great. Did you
know
that?"
Ryouga looked up. "No, I didn't. How is she?"
Akane shrugged. "She doesn't write very often. But I know she's also
graduating this year, and she's probably not going to college. She's still
planning to be a great okonomiyaki chef." She smiled. "She will be, one
day."
"She already is," Ryouga said.
"You're right." She paused. "And Mousse sent a postcard a few months ago."
"Really? How is he?" Ryouga asked with genuine concern. The poor guy,
probably
still heartbroken over -
"He says he's fine." Akane shrugged. "He only wrote that one time. He
said
he's travelling all over Japan, visiting training grounds, honing his
martial
arts skills."
"It'll be good to see everyone again," Ryouga said out loud. "It's been a
long
time."
Akane smiled. "That it is."
"How about... everyone else?"
Akane blew out a breath. "Well, if you're asking about the Kunos... They
dragged Kodachi out of the country for some special treatment in
Switzerland...
she went ballistic after Ranma died. As for Kuno - he gave us some trouble
at
first, but it wasn't something we couldn't handle. He's off in college now,
flunking all his courses. At least that's what Nabiki says." She smiled.
"Everybody else is pretty much the same, though."
Ryouga was silent for a moment, and Akane asked, "How about you, Ryouga?
How
are you?"
He looked up. "I'm okay," he said, managing a weak smile. "I guess I'm...
back
to wandering. It isn't so bad. I get to see nice places, meet nice people,
learn new things..."
"Ryouga." He fell silent at the solemn tone in her voice. "You don't have
to
pretend for me."
He shook his head. "No, really. I've learned to live with my sense of
direction, so it isn't so bad anymore. And it really takes a load off my
mind,
now that I'm not bearing any grudges against anyone. I'm just a wanderer,
until
I find a place to settle down. I'm not so different from Mousse."
"Do you suppose he'll ever go back to his village?"
"I don't know." He paused. "Have you heard anything about Shampoo?"
Akane shook her head. "No, nothing. Nabiki offered to find out, but I
refused."
"Why?"
"What good would that do?" Akane managed a smile. "I'm not crazy about
her,
sure, and what she did was wrong, but..." She sighed. "I'm not interested
in
revenge, or anything like that. I refuse to get any cruel satisfaction in
knowing whatever plight has befallen her." She shrugged. "Sometimes, there
are
some things that are better not knowing."
"You're right, of course."
"How about you, Ryouga? You're not still... angry at Ranma... are you?"
There
was a note of uncertainty in Akane's voice.
"Of course not." Ryouga's eyes stared ahead, not meeting Akane's gaze.
"More
often, I marvel at the twists of fate. When he was alive, I hated the sight
of
him, I'd curse him to the Hells for ... for everything he's done, and I've
lost
count of how many times I wished him dead..."
There was a faraway look in his eyes as he continued, "But now, he's dead.
I
finally got what I wanted... and I often find myself wishing I didn't." He
laughed shortly. "Does that make any sense?"
Akane closed her eyes. "Yes."
Ryouga seemed lost in his thoughts. "I tried so hard to beat him, to be
better
than him... I never got my chance, he died before I could beat him...
before...
before I admitted to myself, he was my friend all along... before I could
tell
him I was sorry... for everything..."
Akane watched as he broke off, rubbing his palm against his closed eyes.
Her
heart felt heavy - regrets always came too late, she thought sadly. For
everyone.
Ryouga grunted and stood up, still not looking at her. "I'm sorry," he
said.
"I shouldn't have come. I... I'll be going now."
"Ryouga." She stood up and put a hand on his arm. "It's okay. I'm sure
Ranma
knows. He... he wasn't the type to hold a grudge."
He turned and looked at her, and there was a ghost of a smile in his
shadowed
eyes. "I know," he said simply.
She smiled. "I'm glad." She touched his arm. "Ryouga? Remember what I
told
you before you left, two years ago?"
He frowned. "What?"
"I asked you to be happy, remember?"
He nodded. "Oh, yeah. I remember."
"Are you?"
"Happy?" He shrugged. "I don't know."
"Ryouga." She shook her head at him. "There's no point in dwelling on the
past. What's done is done. What good is there in tearing yourself up with
grief over something you cannot change?"
"I know." He brushed the hair from his eyes, and his gaze seemed faraway.
"It's just that, sometimes, the memories just keep coming back."
"I understand. But I meant what I said, Ryouga. Be happy, please." She
gestured around her, smiling. "It's hard for everyone, but we do the best
we
can. And if we live our lives in regret, what good a life is that?"
Ryouga looked at her, smiling. "You've changed a lot, Akane-san."
She laughed. "Well, some things in life do that to you."
"I do the best I can," Ryouga said. "I only hope that, someday, it will be
good
enough."
"It will be. I'm sure."
He looked at her. "It was good to see you again, Akane-san."
She frowned. "What, you're going already?"
He nodded. "Thank you for dinner."
"You could at least spend the -" She trailed off when he shook his head at
her.
"Have you ever noticed, Akane-san, how many people you've sheltered under
your
roof, at one time or another?"
She frowned. "What?"
He held up his hand and started counting. "Ranma, Ranma's father, me,
Ukyou,
Happosai..."
"I don't understand."
"It's because your house provides such a sense of... of *home*. To all of
us
who haven't had a real home in a long time." He smiled. "We've found a
home
here with you. But it isn't ours. Soon, we'd have to head out, to find
where
we really belong. But staying here only weakens that resolve, because the
temptation is too great, so much that we'd want to stay here forever."
He gestured to himself. "I've fallen into that trap too many times in the
past.
I have to find a place for myself, someplace I can call mine forever. I
guess
that's what I'm doing now." He cast a wistful look around the place. "And
that's why I can't stay."
She smiled back. "I understand. I won't keep you then."
Ryouga lifted his huge pack and slung the straps around his shoulders. He
followed Akane to the gate, where she paused, turning to smile at him.
"You're always welcome to visit again, Ryouga," she told him warmly.
He nodded. "I, too, look forward to seeing you again, Akane."
"Take care."
"You too."
He lifted his hand in a small wave as he walked out, going down the street.
Akane watched him until he turned the corner, and was gone from her sight
again.
*Well, Ranma,* she thought. *Two years was a long time, but everyone's been
doing well. You'd be glad to hear that, wouldn't you?*
She cast a look at the dojo, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.
This
was *home*. Her home. The place she'd lived in for the past eighteen
years.
The place where she'd met Ranma, her first love... where they'd spent so
many
happy months together, before his life was cut short...
In a few more weeks, she, too, would be leaving. Leaving behind the warm
comfort of her own house, to venture out into a new world outside Nerima.
Two
years ago, she'd thought she'd be making this transition with Ranma. But
now,
there was no one.
Akane smiled sadly to herself as she turned to walk back inside the house.
She'd never felt so alone.
****
Author's words:
In this chapter, all I wanted to show was the passage of time, and
how
it's affected Akane, Ryouga, and the rest of the cast. You can all it a
bridge,
sort of, between where WFY left off at chapter 8, and the conclusion.
I've tried to do it as best as I can, but I must admit there are a
few
things about this that I would like to change, but I am out of ideas. ^_^
Tell me what you think! ^_^ Email me at stiffanie@mail.com.