Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Ranma 1/2 - A Different Life ❯ Part Two ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A Different Life

Written by: Gyran

Author's Note 12/06/2002:

Okay, I know that I said I was back to writing, but a whole bunch of crap came
up and I ended up getting busy with preparing for school. I just started
attending a new one this fall, which is costing me a lot. Hopefully it will be
worth it. I managed to find some time this last weekend to get some more
writing done, and so here is the revised second part of A Different Life.

Now we come to the usual disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its characters are property
of Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any profit off of this story so please
don't sue me. I'm but a poor student. Any characters that I make up belong to
me, if you wish to use any of them, which I highly doubt anyone would, but if
you do, please ask permission first and give credit to their creator, namely me.
On with the show!

“Dialogue”
*Emphasis*
<Thoughts>

Part Two: Adjustments

Ranma couldn't sleep.

It was not just because of his father's snoring, which would keep most
people up anyway, but it was also the fact that he was trying to sleep in a new
home for the very first time. He lay in the futon that was set up for him,
staring up at the ceiling and listening to the snoring of his father.

<So what do I do now?> he asked himself. He tossed and turned for a bit,
trying to get used to his surroundings so that he could fall asleep.

After a while he sat up. <Maybe I can sleep downstairs,> he mused,
thinking back to his tour of the house. <There was a sofa in the living room
that I can use.>

Making a decision Ranma got up and grabbed his blanket and pillow.
Slowly, he crept out the bedroom door and slipped out of the room. He went down
the hallway, then down the stairs and into the living room. He spied the sofa
immediately. He walked around to the front of it and was prepared to climb on
top when he suddenly stopped.

The sofa was already occupied by someone.

Akane Tendou lay sound asleep upon Ranma's intended bed. Startled to see
her out in the living room instead of her own bedroom, he just stared at the
sleeping girl. Recovering from his initial shock, he slowly walked towards her
with a curious look on his face.

Ranma never really hung around girls before. Actually, in his four years
of life, he hadn't been around many people at all. Sure, when his mother took
him out to play at the park he would play with the boys. But he never played
with them for very long. In fact, the group of boys he played with always
seemed to keep changing, so he never developed any real friendships.

He never attempted to even talk with the girls. All the boys told him, no
matter which group he was in at the time, that girls don't play with boys. So
Ranma was very curious about Akane Tendou.

He thought back to the tour of the Tendou home. The girls pointed out the
different rooms to him. They took him through the living room and the kitchen.
They showed him where the bathroom was, and then the different bedrooms. They
finished the tour with the dojo, which Ranma thought was really neat.

He didn't really say so, though. In fact, throughout the entire tour he
hardly said anything at all. He just nodded or shook his head at their
questions. Or sometimes he'd actually say the words 'yes' or 'no'.

The only other words he spoke was at the end of the tour. Kasumi had
turned to him and asked him, "What do you think?"

"It's nice," he had replied.

So Ranma did not really get to know any of the girls at that time. He
wanted to though. He really did want to be friends. Unfortunately he lacked
experience in making real friends. Then there was the problem of having next to
no experience with girls.

He walked closer to the sofa and approached the sleeping Akane. He tried
to think of something he could say to her, but he wasn't sure what. Besides, he
wasn't sure he should wake her up. She might get mad at him like she had when
they were first introduced.

In the end, Ranma decided to let her sleep. With the sofa being more than
big enough for the two four-year-olds, he was able to set himself up on the
opposite end. He placed his pillow down, lay back on the arm of the sofa, and
pulled his blanket over him. He shut his eyes and tried to fall asleep.

It wasn't working.

He tossed and turned for a bit trying as hard as he could to get to sleep,
but it was no use. He sat up and leaned up against the sofa's arm and stared at
the girl sleeping on the other end.

<How does she do it?> thought the disgruntled boy. <I've been trying, but
I can't get to sleep. Maybe it's the sofa> He punched the cushion he was
laying on, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it.

He looked back at Akane. <Well, she doesn't seem to have a problem with
it. I wonder why she's even down here. I remember she has her own room. I saw
the door when they showed me the house.>

He drew his knees up to his chin and continued to watch the sleeping girl.
He began to get chilly so he drew his blanket around himself and continued his
staring. He concentrated on looking at every one of Akane's features. Her
short, black hair. Her eyelids twitching as she dreamed. Her mouth, slightly
open as she breathed in and out. Soon, Ranma found his eyelids becoming heavy
and he had to fight to keep them open.

Eventually they shut and he fell asleep, head on his knees and his arms
clutching his blanket around himself.

****

Akane automatically awoke an hour before dawn. She had been sleeping in
the living room for quite a while now that she could wake up with enough time to
return to her room before anyone else woke up. She yawned and stretched out her
arms. She grabbed her pillow and blanket and was about to head upstairs when
she noticed that she had company.

Startled she stared at Ranma sleeping across from her.

<What's he doing down here?> she wondered.

She continued to stare at him not certain about what she should do. She
decided to nudge him a bit with her foot. Ranma gave a little twitch and kept
on sleeping.

<Boy, he's really deep into his sleeping.> Akane giggled as Ranma began
to snore softly. <I wonder if I should wake him up.>

Before she could ponder the dilemma any further, Akane's decision was made
for her as Ranma snorted a bit and woke up. He rubbed his eyes to clear them
and found himself staring into another pair of eyes.

Akane was giggling again. "Good morning," she whispered to him.

"Uh...g-g-good m-m-morning." Ranma was flustered. <What am I supposed to
say!?> he thought frantically. "Umm...did you...uh...sleep okay?"

Akane nodded. "How about you?"

<Well, that one turned out ok,> he congratulated himself.

"I c-couldn't sleep in the b-bedroom," he said to Akane. "My pop's
snoring is pretty loud. I guess I wasn't used to s-s-sleeping there either."

"Oh." Akane felt sorry for Ranma. He had to get used to a new home after
losing his old one.

<But at least he still has his mother!> she thought in a sudden flash of
anger. <He still has *his*!> Akane's anger began to overwhelm her. She still
hadn't gotten over the death of her mother, so she lashed out at the nearest
target...Ranma.

"Well at least you have your mother!" Akane whispered harshly her eyes
flashing with rage.

Ranma was taken aback. <Oh no! She's mad! I said something wrong!> He
didn't know what to say now. All he could manage was a brief stutter.

"I-I-I..." He saw Akane's eyes narrow and he panicked. "I'm sorry! I d-
didn't know!" He scooted back against the sofa arm trying to keep distance
between him and Akane.

Akane, meanwhile, was trying to get her anger under control. <Why am I
angry?> she asked herself. <It isn't his fault.> She looked back to Ranma who
was crammed against the sofa's arm, knees to his chest and his head bent down.
He was visibly shaking.

<I...What am I doing? I shouldn’t be crying.> Ranma was trying hard to
get back in control. <I gotta stop crying. What would pops say? Boys don't
cry!>

But it was to no avail because the tears started pouring forth. He cried
the tears he had been holding back since the moment after his home had been
reduced to cinders.

Then he felt a hand touch his shoulder and he looked up.

Akane was there in front of him, her own tears streaming down
uncontrolled. "I'm sorry," she said. Ranma was speechless for a moment. Then
he clung to her in a hug even as she hugged him back, both of them in tears.
After a few moments they separated and continued to look at each other.

Ranma gave a watery chuckle. "Sorry about th-that. I just miss my home a
lot."

Akane wiped her eyes and gave him an understanding smile. "Yeah, I guess
that would make me cry too." She looked down as she twisted her hands around
each other. "I'm sorry I got mad at you," she apologized again. "It's just
that I miss my mother." Her face grew sad once more.

"It's okay," he said to her.

He looked around uncomfortably. "I guess we should get back to our r-
rooms now."

"Yeah," she said in agreement. "Before anyone wakes up and catches us."

Together, the two four-year-olds gathered their things and began climbing
the stairs.

<Talk to her!> Ranma told himself.

"So...uh..." he began. "Umm...how come you s-sleep downstairs instead of
in your room." He had been curious as to why Akane sleeping in the living room
and it sounded like a good question.

"Oh," Akane said, her voice trying not to become too sad. "Ever since my
mother died I've taken to sleeping down there," she told him. "That's the room
she and I would play in. I guess I just sleep there so I don't forget her."

"Oh...." <Great. Maybe I shouldn’t talk to her. Now she's sad again.>

The two continued walking down the hall in silence. They came to the room
Ranma was supposed to be sharing with his parents. Stopping in front of it,
they looked at each other.

"Well...uh...I guess this is where I go." He said, pointing at the door.

He didn't really want to go in, though. He just knew he wouldn't be able
to get to sleep in there. <But I have to,> he thought miserably. <I can't go
back to the living room. Mom and Pop wouldn't like it.>

"Umm..." he said, ducking his head. "I guess I'll see you l-later."

"Yeah." Akane gave Ranma a smile and started walking to her room. When
she got there she was about to go in when she noticed he was still in the hall.
He was standing in front of the bedroom door, just staring at it. She sighed
and walked back to him.

"Hey, Ranma?"

Startled, Ranma looked to see Akane was back. "Umm...what is it A-Akane?"

Her head tilted slightly to one side. "Do you wanna stay in my room? My
bed is big enough for the both of us."

He looked even more startled. "Are you s-sure, Akane?"

"Yeah, why not? C'mon."

So the two of them went over to Akane's room. Ranma noticed a little
wooden duck on the door as they entered. It had writing on it that he figured
was Akane's name. Inside the room there was her bed that had a few stuffed
animals. There was a small desk in the corner that had some pieces of paper and
crayons scattered on it. In front of the desk was a window looking out into the
yard.

"So...uh...what do you think?" Akane asked nervously. She was hoping he
would like her room.

"It's great. It's a lot better than my room. Umm..." His face fell. "I
mean my o-old room."

She looked at him with a sad expression. "C'mon," she said finally.
"Let's get some sleep before they come to wake us tomorrow."

"Yeah."

So the two of them climbed into the bed and went back to sleep.

****

"RANMA!"

Ranma and Akane were jolted awake. Bleary eyed they looked around
wondering what woke them.

"RANMA! WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"That's my pop." Ranma mumbled, wiping sleep from his eyes.

"What's he yelling for you about?" Akane asked, also trying to wake up.

"I dunno." His face was scrunched with confusion. "Think we should g-go
check?"

"I guess so."

So the two climbed out of bed and walked out the bedroom, making their way
downstairs.

Earlier that morning, Genma and Nodoka awoke to find that their son was
gone. They ransacked the room trying to see if he was hiding somewhere in
there.

He wasn't.

They woke Soun and looked around downstairs in the kitchen and living
room. He wasn't found there either. Soon they began to panic, calling out
Ranma's name, fearing the worst had happened.

Maybe he was hurt. Maybe he ran away. Maybe he was kidnapped by some
secret cult to be raised as a secret weapon so that their organization could
take over the world! ...well, maybe not that, but they were still worried.

Ranma and Akane reached the first floor of the Tendou home and found
Kasumi and Nabiki had beaten them there.

"What's going on?" Akane asked her sisters.

"We don't know, we just got here." Nabiki was looking outside at the
yard. "We just woke up and heard Dad and the Saotomes yelling for Ranma."

The three Tendou girls all turned to look at Ranma who merely scratched
his head and shrugged. He decided to go and ask what the fuss was about. He
walked out onto the deck and found his parents and Mr. Tendou searching around
the yard calling out Ranma's name.

"Uh...Mom? Pop? What's goin' o..." he began, but never finished. All of
a sudden he was tackled by his two parents and nearly hugged to death.

"Ranma! Where were you!? We were so worried!" His mother was
practically in tears.

"Yes, boy! Where did you go!?" Genma's tone was a mixture of anger and
relief. "We've spent most of the morning looking for you! Well!? Let's have
it! Where were you!?"

"Uh...well I was just...umm...in Akane's room and..."

"Akane's room!" His parents looked shocked. "What were you doing in
there!?"

"Well, I couldn't get to sleep last night and so I went out of the room
and..."

"And he found me in the bathroom!" Akane almost shouted, jumping into the
conversation in a rush. "Yeah, he found me in the bathroom and he told me he
couldn't sleep. I told him he could stay in my room if he wanted."

"Err...yeah." Ranma was, for some reason, getting the idea that Akane
didn't want anyone to know where she had been sleeping at night. "So I said
okay and we shared her bed."

Soun had heard the whole story and was looking as bewildered as the
Saotomes.

"Well then, son," he said, placing his hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Were
you able to sleep well in Akane's room?"

"Yes Mr. Tendou. I didn't have any trouble getting to sleep in there."

"Alright then," Mr. Tendou said with a nod. "I guess you and Akane can
share her room for now." He looked at his youngest daughter. "Is that alright
with you, Akane?"

"Sure dad! I don't mind." Akane thought it'd be neat to share her room
with someone else.

"Saotome, Nodoka, is it all right with you two?"

Nodoka looked hesitant but Genma acknowledged that it would be fine.

"So, how does that sound to you, Ranma?"

Ranma was elated. Not only would he be able to get some sleep, he would
be able to spend more time with his new friend. "It sounds great Mr. Tendou!"

"Then it's settled. For now, you and Akane will share a room." Mr.
Tendou realized what time it was. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get Kasumi
and Nabiki ready for school and make their lunches."

"Oh please, let me make their lunches, Soun," Nodoka almost begged,
looking eager to help out.

"Very well, Nodoka," he told her with a grateful smile. "I'll get the
girls ready and you can make the lunches. I'm sure the girls will like your
cooking better than my own."

"Good. Genma, come and help me in the kitchen."

"But Nodoka, I was just about to..."

"Yes, I know what you were about to do, and it isn't going to keep you
from helping me. Understand?"

"Yes dear."

With that, Genma followed Nodoka to the kitchen while Soun took Kasumi and
Nabiki upstairs to prepare for school. Ranma and Akane were left on the deck.

"I guess we're staying together now," Akane said to Ranma with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess s-so," he said with a smile back. "So uh..." His voice
dropped to a whisper. "How come you d-didn't want anyone to know you're s-
sleeping downstairs?"

Akane slumped a little and sat down on the deck. He sat down next to her
as she answered. "I don't want them to know because I don't want them to stop
me from doing it. I'm afraid if they make me stop, I'm gonna forget all about
my mother." She began to sniffle a bit. "You're not gonna tell are you?"

He put his arm around her shoulders. "I won't tell anybody A-Akane, if
that's what you want."

She looked at him and smiled. "Thanks, Ranma."

He smiled back. "No problem, Akane."

****

Later on that day Genma and Soun were in deep discussion. They were
sitting in a corner, quietly making plans that may or may not make some people
very happy.

"It's perfect, Tendou!" Genma told his friend excitedly. "Ranma and Akane
are getting along so very well!"

"I agree, Saotome!" he replied, looking just as giddy. "By engaging them
to each other, Ranma and Akane will unite our two schools! The Anything Goes
School of Martial Arts will continue even stronger with those two as our heirs!"

"You two had better not do anything rash," a stern voice interjected.

The two men flinched and looked up to find Nodoka glaring down at them.

"Now Nodoka dear..."

"Don't start, Genma!"

"Yes dear."

"I will not have you two engaging those little ones until they are ready
to make their own decision about it. Do I make myself clear?" Her eyes
narrowed, daring them to argue with her.

Genma recognized the look, but risked it anyway. "But Nodoka, have you
seen Ranma? Look at him!"

He pointed out to the yard where Ranma and Akane were chasing each other
around, laughing all the while.

"See? I have never seen Ranma so happy with anyone. Even with those boys
he would play with in the park. Have you?"

Nodoka watched her son. Very soon tears began welling up in her eyes.
Her husband was right, amazingly enough. Her son was happier than she had ever
seen him. She had never seen him like that before.

"Very well," she said, turning back to the two men. "I will approve of
the engagement when you have explained it to Ranma and Akane. Once you've done
that, the two of them have to agree to it. If they do not, then their decision
is final and there will be no more talk of engagement."

"Yes dear."

"Yes Nodoka."

The two men watched her as she left wondering how they were ever going to
explain to their children.

****

That afternoon, Genma and Soun took Ranma and Akane into the living room
and sat them down on the sofa. Nodoka was watching close by, which made the two
men rather nervous.

"You wanted to talk to us Mr. Tendou?"

"Yes we did Ranma, Akane."

"Why?" Akane wanted to go out and play some more with Ranma before it got
too dark.

"Err, because we wanted to ask you something, something very important."

"C'mon pop, hurry up. We wanna go play."

Genma sighed. "Very well Ranma, my boy. We wanted to know how you and
Akane would feel about being engaged."

"Engaged?" Akane and Ranma looked at each other with a confused look on
their faces. "What d'ya mean engaged, dad?"

"Akane, to be engaged to each other means that one day you two will be
married."

"Married? What's that?" Ranma had never heard the term before.

"Just like your mother and me, Ranma."

Ranma was still confused. "You mean me and Akane have to argue all the
time?"

Soun choked back a laugh as Nodoka and Genma glared at him.

"No Ranma." Mr. Tendou began to explain. "Being married means that you
two will uh..." he just wasn't sure *how* to explain. "Well, it means that you
two will share your lives with each other."

Akane and Ranma looked at each other again. They didn't seem to find
anything wrong with that. "I guess that's okay. Is that okay with you, Ranma?"

"I guess so. We can get not engaged later, right?"

"Yeah, we can do that, right dad?"

"Of course you can, dears," Nodoka answered before the two men could.

"Okay. I guess we're engaged now Akane."

"Okay. Can we go play now?"

"Go right ahead, dears."

Akane and Ranma ran out the door and continued playing while the three
adults watched them. Ranma and Akane began to run around again, having fun and
laughing together.

****

Days passed in a flash. Ranma began his martial arts training with his
father while Akane began her training with her own father. Genma and Soun
taught both of them the basics of how to stand and how to fall. Then they moved
on to basic defense and attacks. However, after a while, Genma began teaching
Ranma how to leap into the air and then moved on to how to attack while
airborne. Soun, on the other hand, began to teach Akane how to focus her
strength into powerful attacks.

In-between training Akane and Ranma would spend time with each other.
Kasumi and Nabiki joined them after they returned home from school. Ranma and
Akane listened as the two older children told stories about their day. Nabiki
would always have the funniest ones about her classmate who would bring his
wooden sword to school to try and impress everybody. Unfortunately the boy
would always end up hitting himself in the head. Then Nabiki would begin
complaining about how she was always the one who had to take him to the Nurse's
Office.

The days flashed by again and soon Akane and Ranma were about to begin
their first day at school.

They were going to be attending the same school as Kasumi and Nabiki. So,
after Akane and Ranma returned to their room early in the morning, they were
unable to go back to sleep. They sat up and looked over all the new stuff they
had received from their parents. There were backpacks, pencils, paper, and a
couple of binders for them. There were their school uniforms, which Ranma
disliked from the start. Soon the sun was coming up and the two of them started
getting ready, both looking forward to start the day. When Nodoka came to wake
them up they were both set and ready to go.

"You know you don't leave for another couple of hours don't you?" Nodoka
asked with an amused expression.

"We know, Auntie," Akane replied. "But we were too excited to sleep any
longer."

"When's breakfast mom?" Ranma was a heavy eater for a five-year-old boy.

"It's almost ready Ranma. I was expecting you two to need time to get
ready. I'll go and finish it right now while you two gather your things
together, alright?"

"Yes mom."

Nodoka left the room, woke up Nabiki and Kasumi, and then returned to the
kitchen to finish making breakfast.

Ranma and Akane gathered their things and crammed them into their
backpacks. Then they hoisted them onto their shoulders and went downstairs.
They ate their breakfast that was laid out for them. After a while Nabiki and
Kasumi joined them and began eating as well. After they were done, Nodoka
brought out their lunches.

"Alright, here you go. Ranma this one is yours."

She handed Ranma a larger package than the others. He blushed at how much
bigger it was and muttered a thank you.

"Are you all finished? Then you'd best be off." Nodoka was rushing them
off on their way.

"Good-bye kids! Have fun!" Soun was in tears as he waved to his
departing children and Ranma.

"Good luck Ranma! Don't disappoint me boy!" Genma was his usual self as
well.

Ranma and Akane looked back and waved goodbye to their parents. Then they
followed Kasumi and Nabiki to school.

****

Akane stomped into the house that afternoon. She had an angry expression
on her face and tears in her eyes. Ranma came running in after her.

"Akane! Wait!"

"No! I'm not talking to you, Ranma! Leave me alone!"

"But Akane..."

He didn't get farther than that as she slammed their bedroom door on him.
He slumped and walked back downstairs to the stares of the parents.

"What did you do, Ranma!?" Nodoka did not look very happy.

"What did you do to my little girl, Ranma!?" Soun was in tears.

"What happened boy!?" Genma had a stern expression on his face.

"It wasn't *my* fault!" Ranma began to explain what had happened.

****

The school day had gone great. Ranma and Akane were having a good time,
but the best part of the day was PE. Ranma and Akane were clearly the best in
the class when it came to athletics. However, the third best in the class did
not like being third best, especially behind a girl. He did not mind losing to
Ranma; Ranma was a boy. But to lose to Akane was something he could not take.
At the end of the day, the boy decided to make his feelings known, and deal with
Akane Tendou.

"You there! Akane Tendou!"

Akane turned around from where she was walking with Ranma and her sisters.
She and Ranma were excited to tell their parents about their first day at school
and wanted to get home fast.

"Yes? I'm Akane." She looked at the boy who had called out her name. He
had black hair and black eyes and was dressed in a school uniform. She
recognized him as the boy who came in behind her and Ranma after running a lap
for PE. "Oh! I remember you. You were the boy who came after Ranma and me in
PE. You were really good, you know?"

"Shut up!"

Akane was taken aback. "What? What did I..."

"I said shut up! You made a fool out of me today, Akane Tendou! I won't
be beaten by a girl, you hear me!? I, Hiro Tanaka, am gonna teach you a lesson
right now!" And with those words, Hiro charged Akane.

Akane immediately took a defensive stance. Hiro was a bit bigger than she
was, but she was confident she could take him. He was almost upon her, his fist
held back in preparation for a punch. She was ready to block when someone
stepped in front of her.

It was Ranma. He stood calmly as Hiro threw his punch. Ranma deftly
blocked and countered with a punch of his own. Hiro went down immediately, his
left eye was already beginning to swell up. Ranma smirked down upon the boy who
sat up groggily. "Never mess with Akane. You got that, Hiro? You do and you
have to deal with me." Ranma turned back to Akane with a grin on his face.

His grin faded as he saw the look on Akane's face. She was angry, very
angry. "Ranma! How could you do that to me!?"

"What?" Ranma was confused. All he did was defend her from that Hiro
goon.

"He was mine! I could have taken him easy! Why did you have to get in
the way!?"

"Akane! He's bigger than you are! I didn't want you getting hurt!"

"He's bigger than you too, Ranma! Why did you...how could you...?" Akane
could not find the words as tears started to form in her eyes. With no warning,
she turned and started running towards home.

"Akane! Akane come back!" Ranma ran after her.

Kasumi and Nabiki looked at each other and started after them at a slower
pace. They didn't want to be there when Ranma had to explain to the adults.

****

"Then we got home and she ran upstairs. That's it."

The three parents looked at each other, none of them knowing what to say.
Finally, Soun looked at Ranma and asked, "So you defended my daughter from this
Hiro boy, Ranma?"

Ranma nodded.

"And why did you do that, Ranma?"

"Well, Mr. Tendou," Ranma gulped a little as Soun stared at him. "I just
didn't want her to get hurt."

"Oh happy, happy day!" Soun had fresh tears coursing from his eyes.
"Ranma cares so much for my baby girl!" Ranma was crushed as Mr. Tendou gave
him a fierce hug. His parents were smiling at him.

"But Ranma." His father spoke to him with a serious look. "You shouldn't
have gotten in Akane's way. She's been training like you have. She would have
been able to take care of herself."

"I guess so," said Ranma who was scuffing his shoe on the floor. "But I
couldn't help it. Hiro looked like he was going to kill her!"

"Even so, Ranma, try to let her fight her own battles from now on, okay?"

"Okay pop."

****

That night Ranma asked if it was okay if he slept in the living room for
the evening. He explained that he didn't want to upset Akane more by being
around her when she was still angry. Mr. Tendou and his parents agreed. So
Ranma sat on the couch waiting for Akane to come down like she always did.

When she did enter the living room she still had an angry look on her
face. Ranma attempted a half smile and waved at her. She ignored him and set
up on the other side of the sofa. Ranma winced at how she was treating him.

"A-Akane."

She ignored him.

"Akane. I'm sorry."

Akane turned to look at him. He had one of the saddest expressions on his
face that she had ever seen. She looked away and sighed. She couldn't stay
angry with him. It was difficult trying to ignore him during dinner, and she
had missed spending time with him even though they were only apart for a few
hours. She looked back at him and smiled.

Ranma couldn't believe it. She was smiling at him. He began to smile
back and was unaware when her pillow hit him square in the face. He pulled the
pillow away and glared at her as she giggled. Then she scooted over to his side
and gave him a hug, which he returned. Then she bopped him on the head.

"Don't do that to me again."

Ranma looked uncomfortable. "I'll try not to Akane, b-but I want you to
know that I'm g-g-going to protect you no matter w-what."

Akane looked a little miffed, but at the same time, flattered. It was
nice to know that he cared so much about her. She cared about him too.

"Alright, Ranma."

The two of them hugged each other again and went to sleep.

****

The next day, in the afternoon, Akane came stomping into the house,
angry...again.

"He did it *again*!" And she ran upstairs as Ranma walked in with a
dejected look on his face.

The adults were looking at him...again.

"I couldn't help it!"

****

The days flashed by once more. Akane would stomp home everyday, angry
with Ranma while he walked in looking depressed. The days turned into months
and soon Genma was watching Ranma's skill carefully. He was approaching a
decision he had been considering for some time now. Ranma was ready, he felt.
So he decided to have a talk with his wife.

"Nodoka, it is time."

"Time for what, Genma?" She was deliberately avoiding his gaze.

"You know what for, dear. It has been a year. Ranma's skill is growing.
He needs to go on this journey to grow even better, even faster."

Nodoka sighed. She had known this was coming. She saw it growing in her
husband for weeks now. Every time she saw him watching Ranma, she could see the
eager gleam in his eyes. She had told him a year or two. Apparently he was too
eager to wait one more year. She had to admit, though, Ranma's skill was
growing. He was going to need to go out in the world to become even better.
Reluctantly, she nodded.

"But you are going to be the one who has to tell him."

Genma winced a little, but then he, too, nodded.

****

"NO! I won't go!"

Ranma wasn't taking the news well at all.

"Now you listen here, boy, this trip will be good for you. Going on this
journey will make you the best martial artist you can possibly be. Don't you
want to be a great martial artist?"

Ranma considered his father's words. He knew he was good for his age, but
from what his father said, he could be even better. Did he want to be a great
martial artist? He liked it well enough, and he felt great when he practiced.
Maybe he should consider going.

"How long is this going to last, pop?"

"I...I don't know Ranma. Probably years. It will take as long as it
takes."

Ranma was definitely having doubts now. He didn't want to be gone a long
time. Although, now that he thought about it, he hadn't been getting along with
Akane lately. He remembered her words from the other day.

"Don't talk to me Ranma! Why can't you just leave me alone!?"

Maybe this trip would make Akane happy. He would be gone long enough to
leave her alone.

"Alright pop, I'll go. When do we leave?"

"That's the spirit, my boy! We'll leave this weekend. We need to inform
your school that you'll be gone for a while. We also need to get some things
together. So this Saturday, boy, you and I are going on a journey that will
change your life forever!"

****

Akane was furious. Day after day Ranma kept fighting her battles for her
and it was pissing her off. <Why can't he just let me fight for myself? Why
does he always have to be in the way?> Akane, sitting on her and Ranma's bed,
stared at the wall, trying to understand. <I know he worries about me, but he
shouldn't have to fight for me every single day!> Feeling the frustration
building Akane lay down and thought some more. <Sometimes I wish that he wasn't
around. Then when I think about what it would be like without him I...> She
couldn't even finish the thought. It was too painful to think about. But a few
days later, she didn't have to think about it anymore.

"What do you mean he's leaving!?"

Soun had gathered his daughters to tell them the news about Ranma leaving
with his father. Akane was not taking it well.

"Now Akane, Ranma's father decided that Ranma needed to go on this trip to
improve his martial arts abilities. Ranma was reluctant to go, but decided in
the end that his father knew what was best."

"But, he can't go! He just can't! What am I going to do without him!?"
Akane was frantic and she wondered why she had this ache in her chest.

Kasumi and Nabiki watched in silence not knowing what to say. They would
miss Ranma a great deal, but there was nothing they could do about it.

Akane thought about what she had said to Ranma the other day; how she told
him to leave her alone. Now she was getting what she had asked for. Tears
welled up in her eyes and she ran to her room and collapsed on the bed crying
with guilt.

****

Saturday. Early in the morning. Ranma and his father were almost ready.
Their things were packed and they were dressed for the road. The only thing
left to do was the goodbyes. Ranma knew they weren't going to be pretty. He
and his father walked out to the path that led out of the Tendou Training Hall.
Standing at the gate were his mother, Mr. Tendou, Kasumi, and Nabiki. Akane was
nowhere in sight. He felt a stab in his chest that puzzled him.

<What did I expect?> he asked himself. <She wanted me to leave her alone
after all.>

He went up to Kasumi and Nabiki first. They both gave him a hug goodbye.

"Bye Ranma. We'll miss you."

"I'll miss you guys too, Kasumi."

"See ya Ranma."

"See ya Nabiki."

Then Ranma moved on to Mr. Tendou.

"Well then Ranma, I expect that you'll be a fine martial artist when you
return." Mr. Tendou's eyes were, naturally, weeping. Ranma realized he was
going to miss seeing those tears.

"I hope so Mr. Tendou." He gave Mr. Tendou a hug and moved on to his
mother.

Ranma didn't know what to say. His mother was one of the most important
people in his life. She had always been there for him as long as he could
remember. How was he going to get by without her?

"Well, my son, I have been dreading this day for such a long time now."
There were tears in Nodoka's eyes as she gazed at her son. "I will miss you so
much!" She grabbed her son and gave him a fierce hug and a kiss on the
forehead. "You take care of yourself, you hear me?" Ranma nodded. Nodoka then
turned her attention to her husband. "You'd better take care of our son,
Genma."

"I will, Nodoka."

"And...take care of yourself as well?"

Genma smiled and embraced his wife. "I always do." He gave her a kiss
goodbye and then turned to Ranma. "Well, boy? Are you ready to go?"

Ranma was staring back at the house, hoping for one last goodbye, but
there was no sign of it coming out. He sighed, turned to his father, and
nodded. Genma pushed open the gate and began walking. Ranma hugged his mother
one last time and turned to follow his father out.

"WAIT! RANMA! WAIT!"

Ranma spun around and felt his heart leap as he saw Akane running out of
the house. He dropped his pack and met her halfway. Akane stood facing him,
eyes glistening.

"I...I'm gonna miss you, Ranma."

"I...I'll m-miss you too, Akane."

"Will you write me?"

"Every chance I g-get. I'll n-need my pop to h-help me, but I'll write to
you."

"Good. I don't want you forgetting about me." Akane gave him a teary
smile.

"I'll never forget about you, Akane." Then he gave her a hug, which she
returned. When he pulled away she held his right cheek and gave him a kiss on
his left one. Then she took his hand and pressed something into it.

"Goodbye, Ranma."

Ranma, eyes wide with astonishment could only say, "Goodbye Akane."

Then he turned back towards the gate where he saw everyone there was now
crying. He picked up his pack, shouldered it and joined his father outside the
gate. He turned back one last time and waved to everyone who waved back. He
turned towards the road he and his father were taking and began walking the
first steps of his journey.

Every-so-often his left hand would move up to touch his cheek as he stared
at the lock of black hair, tied with a yellow ribbon, in his right.

****

End Part Two:

Well, that's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it. I really hope it
was better than the first chapter. Once again, please send questions and
comments to rplanas@pacbell.net. No flames please 'cause I won't pay them any
attention. Thanks.

Gyran