Digimon Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A NEW DESTINY - Book 0: Final Decisions ❯ Prelude To a Death ( Chapter 1 )

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

Prelude to a Death
The Final Days of Ranma Saotome


Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the character called Rob. All other characters are the rightful property of Viz, Marvel, Funimation, etc.



They tell me that I should be happy now? That I should forget about my life and move on in this afterlife? No. I don't want to forget about my life down there. I don't want to forget my friends, my family…

My fiancée…

Akane. Why did it have to end like this? Why did we have to hurt each other so much until one of us died?! Why… why did I have to lose you?

I can still hear her shouting at me… the night that changed our lives forever. It had been a decent day for me. Cell had helped me avoid any confrontations with Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi; and I got word that TK was coming down the next day for a visit. Maybe Akane and I could take him to the park together, and resolve our differences in the process without fighting.

Sadly, it wasn't to be.

I came home that evening, and everyone was waiting for me in the Dojo: mom and pop, Mr. Tendo, Kasumi, Nabiki, and especially Ryoga and Akane. Looks like he found his way back and without changing into his cursed form at that… or so I thought. Akane looked at me with anger in her eyes. No, not anger. It was pure hate, but I didn't realize it right away.

I ask her what had happened, and she got up, and slapped my face with all her strength. "How could you," she said, venom dripping from her lips that I longed to kiss. "How could you do this to me for two years?!"

Putting a hand to my cheek, which hurts like hell, I look at her, confused. This wasn't about the fiancées, unless pop had me engaged to another girl. I shoot him a look, but he quickly shakes his head at me as if he knows what I'm thinking. I notice mom's giving me a sad look. "Akane, what are you talking about?"

What she said next shocked me. "You knew that Ryoga was P-chan all the time and you tricked me into taking him in as my pet, you bastard!! THAT'S what this is all about!"

She found out. That explained why Ryoga was silent all this time. Akane knew about his curse… and was taking it out on me. "But Akane-!"

Another slap to the face stopped me from finishing. "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR LIES ANYMORE! You've gone too far, you perverted asshole! I've been patient with you, but now I see that was all a waste of my time. As far as I'm concerned, you are no longer my fiancée. For what you've done to Ryoga, I'm going to marry him instead."

My voice joins in a chorus of everyone's voices in the room. "WHAT?!" Even Ryoga was shocked. I couldn't believe this was happening. Akane was going to marry the guy who pretended to be her pet despite that he did it? "Akane, you don't understand! I wanted to tell you about him, but I made a dumb promise to him that I wouldn't say a word about his curse. How was I to know you'd make him your pet?!"

"You can't lie your way out of it this time, Ranma! You were the one who threw him into the Spring of Drowned Pig, so it's all your fault!"

Ryoga finally stood up. "Akane, I'm as much to blame as Ranma is. I never told you my secret, either, and I kept Ranma from dropping hints so you wouldn't know."

This day is getting crazier every minute. Ryoga's finally gotten Akane, and he's sticking up for me?! I watch as Akane looks over at him, her facial features softening. "It's nice that you're covering up for him, Ryoga… but he's not worth it. Trust me, I know." She looks back at me, and her anger reappears. "You can't stop me. My mind is made up, so you can now go and marry one of those other fiancées of yours."

"But, Akane… I love you…"

Her bitter laugh makes my heart ache, as does her next words. "You love me? HA! That's a concept you don't even have a clue about! For the last time, Ranma Saotome, I do NOT love you, never did and never will! I don't want to marry you, and I don't even want to KNOW you! Ever since you came into my life, you've caused nothing but trouble for me and my family. Well, no more, because that stupid engagement made by our fathers means absolutely nothing to me. You can die for all I care. Ranma, I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE YOU!!!"

I absorb her words carefully. She hates me, and I can't change her mind. "I understand, Akane," I finally say after a moment of silence. Moving past her, I go up to Ryoga and hold out my hand. "Congratulations, Ryoga. The best man won in the end after all."

He's silent, but he shakes my hand and smiles. I look back at Akane. "I'm happy for you, Akane. I really am." Letting go of Ryoga, I make my way to the door and exit, heading for my room. My vision gets blurry as I exit, and the tears finally begin to fall from my eyes. I had lost the only girl I had ever truly loved; the one I wanted to marry, arranged marriage or not.

After entering my room, I sit at my desk, fold my arms and lean onto my desk, sobbing quietly. I was heartbroken. Akane hated me, and I could only blame myself. I hear someone come into my room, but I don't look to see whom. The footsteps are enough to tell me it's my dad. He probably wants me to fight for Akane still.

"Ranma," I hear him start, but I cut him off. "Just go away." He doesn't say anything for a bit, then he heads for the door and I think he looks back at me. "I'm so sorry, son," he whispers before exiting, closing the door after him. Thank Kami he understands. There's no point in fighting or arguing anymore. Akane's made her choice.

Finally, I get up and lock my door before pulling out my journal and writing my entry for the day before turning out the light and sulked into bed, still dressed. With mom now living with us, I was able to get my own room at last. And I needed the loneliness at that moment. I looked at the digital clock, which said 7:09PM. It was too early to sleep, but I didn't care. All I could think of was Akane's words. Four important words haunted my mind: I absolutely despise you.

It was some time later than my mom knocked on my door, asking to be let in, and for me to come down for dinner. I just laid there, in the dark, still crying. I could feel my heart shattering each time I replayed what happened earlier in the Dojo. My world ha been destroyed, and there would be no bouncing back this time.

Sometime in the evening, I fell into a dreamless sleep, which was soothing. Yet, when I woke up early that morning, around 5, the pain came back twice as hard. Quietly, I slipped downstairs to make myself breakfast. I couldn't face everyone after last night, and Kasumi wouldn't be up just yet so I could fix myself something quick and take it back to my room to eat. Surprisingly, I wasn't that hungry, even though I had skipped dinner last night. I just fixed up some toast and a small egg with juice before I cleaned up and went back upstairs.

Kasumi saw me enter my room with the tray and said, "Oh, Ranma, are you sure that's all you want to eat?" I close the door and lock it again before she could reach me. Setting the tray on my desk, I sat down to eat. However, I had just forced down 3 or 4 bites of egg and 2 of toast before I stopped. Maybe I wasn't hungry at all, or maybe it was the salt from my tears that fell onto my food. Whatever it was, I couldn't eat anymore.

I cooked my own breakfast. Akane tried to make me food, but she wasn't that skilled in cooking so I refused to eat her food. It was one of the reasons she hated me.

At that moment, I realized I couldn't go on living. Without Akane, I was better off dead. Pop once told me that he made a vow to mom that if he failed to make me a "man among men," he would commit seppuku for his failure. But he wasn't the one who failed… I was. My honor had been destroyed, and suicide was the only way to redeem myself.

Deciding to snap my own neck, I slowly started to stand up. Suddenly, my eyes fell upon a picture taken about 2 years ago. It was of me, TK, Cell, Rob, Amy, Rusty, and my other friends in the Mega Avengers. TK was on my shoulders, and I was next to Cell, who had his arm around me like a proud father with his son.

My friends… my cousin, whom I loved more as a brother… I would miss them all. If only I could be stronger like them. Rob was like this once, but he carried on and eventually he and Amy got back together. They even planned for their wedding to be next year, after graduation…

I couldn't die just yet. Not without saying goodbye to my friends and family. My mind made up, I placed my tray and unfinished breakfast outside my door before locking it again. I then pulled out some paper and envelopes before making a list of everyone I wanted to write a final letter to. Mom, Pop, Matt, Cell, and TK were at the top of my list. So were Rob, Amy, Rusty, and the Tendos. There was also Shampoo, Ukyo, Ryoga, and Akane. Though I doubt either of them would read anything I sent them, it would be the right thing to do by saying goodbye.

I start with Akane and Ryoga, separately. Keeping the letters short and simple, I move onto one letter for my folks next. The others go by quickly, until I come to the letters for Cell and TK. These two would be the hardest to write for, because they've been so much like close family to me. Cell was like a second father, more of a father than my own. He taught me the Kaio-ken and the Kamehameha Wave, and he tried to help me when he knew I needed help. TK… he was like the kid brother I always wanted; so full of hope and innocence. I can only pray that his life will be nothing like mine was. That girl he hangs with… Kari… I can sense that she and he have something special between them. Maybe they'll end up more than friends… I wish I could see that happen.

I write Cell's letter first before moving onto TK's. After I seal his envelope, I look at my journal thoughtfully. TK was just 10. Maybe even with the letter he wouldn't fully understand why I would kill myself, or what had happened between Akane and me. My journal has everything he would need to know about it. Making up my mind, I got out some packaging paper and then wrote down a final entry to my journal, and put a small message on the inside cover for TK to read. Then, I wrap up the journal and use a rubber band to tie it together with TK's letter.

Rummaging under my bed, I pulled out a box with a lid on it from last Christmas. I placed the letters in the box and then put the lid on it. Then I put a note on top that said "Do not open until after midnight." My eyes fell on the clock. It was four in the afternoon. Writing the letters took longer than I had thought. I unlocked the door, but then sneaked out the window to the gate unnoticed. After taking one last look at the Tendo home, I began to wander around town.

My travels took me to Furinkan High School, where I stopped to look over the place one last time. Memories of Akane and I coming here came to me, and I couldn't help but think what might have been.

Suddenly, I'm splashed with cold water, and I'm a girl again. But this time, I don't even notice until an old woman speaks to me. "So sorry, young woman," she says. "I was just watering the sidewalk and didn't even see you there."

I look at her, and shrug. "Didn't even feel it, ma'am." I continue on my way, heading for the bridge I would always hide under seeking comfort and seclusion. I hadn't been here since the time Akane and I had to team up to take on two girls who claimed that Mr. Tendo was their father. Because of a fight, I almost let Akane fight alone, but TK begged me to help her. He didn't want to see us fight and be enemies.

Slowly walking under the bridge, I find one of my spare teapots and then light a fire to heat some water. I pull out my harmonica; the one Matt liked hearing me play, and hummed a tune or two before I began playing a song from one of TK's favorite movies. I think it was from "the Muppet Movie," where Kermit and the others were stuck out in the desert, and Gonzo was singing while Rowlf played the harmonica. I played it softly, wishing I could change things.

The pot finally whistles. I stop playing and reach for the handle, then pour the hot contents over myself. It burned, but I couldn't feel it. I was numb. I didn't even notice that I dropped both the harmonica and the pot. Realizing it was getting dark, I decide to head for the Mega Mansion for the last time, to see the place before I left this world behind forever. I made sure I took a route that kept me away from Ukyo's or Shampoo's. I didn't want to face them or be forcibly married to them right away. Akane would always have my heart, even if she didn't know it.

I stop right at the mansion's steps. More memories came to me, but I held back my tears. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my identicard. It had been a present from Cell when I turned 18, making me a full member of the MA. Deciding to return it quickly, I entered the mansion for what I knew would be the last time.

And I was right. I indeed died, but not the way I had intended. A monster named Friezor attacked and it took a hit meant for TK. It killed me slowly, but not before I used all my strength into a Kaio-Kamehameha combo to cripple Friezor. The last thing I remember was TK, Rob, Amy, Puppetmon, and Cell surrounding me. I begged TK to promise me he wouldn't seek vengeance on Akane and the others, and asked with my dying breath that Akane be told I loved her.

It's difficult to accept that I'll never see them all again until they die. All I can do now is wait… and train under King Kai's tutelage. I also pray… for TK to live a better life than what my life had been. One filled with love, and understanding from the girl he spends his life with.

…A life that I had been denied…



Goodbye, Ranma. We'll miss you…