Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Love Pills ❯ Chp 5: A New Tomorrow ( Chapter 5 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]
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Love Pills
Chp 5: A New Tomorrow

Start: 5-22-2001
Finish: 5-27-2001

Normal disclaimer applies {Sorry for taking so long, too much work, not enough time
or brainpower at that -_-}

< > = Thought
> < = Sound
[ ] = Panda sign
" " = Spoken
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"Akane... Akane... AKANNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE!" Ranma sprung into a sitting
position. His hand fell over his chest. His breath was short and fast. Gently he
wiped the sweat from his forehead. That was the millionth time he had woken up
during his sleep. He'd been doing that a lot lately. After the incident. He got out
of bed and walked out into the hallway, eventually ending up in front of Akane's
room. He stood there for a moment, pressing his ear against the door.

"Akane..." He whispered. She hadn't been out of her room since. She had
refused to talk to anyone, that was except for Kasumi, who brought her food and
tried to talk to her. But Akane didn't really respond. The food Kasumi left would
sit for hours before being touched. Occasional, Ranma would climb on the roof and
try to look into Akane's room through her window, but her curtains were drawn.
Ranma tempted himself with the idea of knocking on her door, but decided against
it. It was late; besides what would he say to her? He didn't quite understand what
was happening himself. But he had remembered her eyes. The way they shattered as
he spoke. The emotion that filled them until they became locked and no longer
accepted the outside world. He sighed as he turned back and went to bed.

Akane sat in the corner of her bed tightly squeezing a pillow. Dry tears
were cemented onto her face. She was asleep, her back leaning against the wall. Her
skin had goose bumps from being exposed to the cold. She stirred as she heard
footsteps come near her door. She stopped breathing. She wanted more than anything
for Ranma not to open the door and she sighed in relief as she heard his receding
footsteps. Slowly and carefully she stood up and peered at herself in the mirror.
She looked ratty and sleep deprived. <So long... I've waited so long...> She rubbed
her eyes a little and quietly opened the door of her room. Silently she tiptoed to
take a long need bath. She tossed off her clothes and proceeded to the tub, filling
it with warm water. Once filled she slide in. The water spilled out a little as her
body took over its place. She slid down some more, allowing her head to fully dunk
into the water, and then sat up again. The water embraced her body, slushing
against her curves. She moaned as she felt the tingle of the heat run up her spine.
<So much warmth...>

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be engulfed in the sensation. Her
mind slowly drifting, drifting... She began to think about when 'She' was alive.

---

"Mommy?" said a young child.

"Yes dear?" replied a woman. She bent over the tub and put her hand in to
test the water. She lifted up the young girl and slowly placed her in the water and
soon after stepped in as well. The two sat opposite from each other.

The girl giggled as she splashed the water around. She was no old than
five. The woman winced a bit and held up her hands in order to stop the water from
getting into her eyes.

"Now Akane, that's not how we take a bath." The girl slowly stopped and
glanced at her mother. "Just relax..." her mother cooed. Akane followed the steps
of her mother and closed her eyes and sunk down into the water a little.

"Ah... now doesn't that feel good?" Akane glanced at her mother and nodded.

"Mommy?" Her mother gave a 'mmm' in reply. "How come the water has to be
warm?" A small smile formed from her mother's lips.

"Because it feels nice."

"How come it feels nice?"

"Well Akane, everyone needs to be warm."

"What about when it's cold outside, like in winter?" Her mother smiled
again.

"It doesn't matter, warmth comes from you heart and as long as there is
love, you'll always be warm."

"Really mommy?"

"Of course dear."

"What happens if your heart is not warm?"

"Don't worry Akane, there will always be warmth. You got your family all
around you. You've got me and daddy and Kasumi and Nabiki. And you know what, one
day you'll fall in love with someone and you both can give each other warmth."
Young Akane giggled again as she let out a final slash.

"I love you mommy." Her mother smiled gently and slid down into the water.

---

The water became cold after sitting in it for so long. She stood up and
stepped out of the tub. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body.

Akane walked back to her room and opened her closet. <Tomorrow... Tomorrow
will be a new day...> She pulled out a light blue dress and placed it on her desk.
<Tomorrow will be a new day...>

-------

When Ranma woke up that morning, Akane had left the house. It was Sunday.
Kasumi hummed softly in the kitchen as the chopped the vegetables. Nabiki sat
reading the newspaper. Sunday's were never really that big of a selling day,
especially if there was no special fight going on. Ranma walked down the stairs and
into the kitchen.

"Hey Kasumi, where's Akane?"

"She's out."

"She is?" Kasumi nodded and turned back to her work.

"Yes she left the house rather early."

"Oh..." Ranma frowned at missing a chance to see Akane. He hadn't really
seen her in awhile. <Well at least she's getting out of the house.> He still hadn't
figured it out. Why... Why was Akane so mad? What had he done? He honestly could
not remember what had happened. Perhaps he should ask Nabiki. But Nabiki seemed
rather cold towards him lately too. Well maybe it was in his head. He agreed with
that idea and walked over to Nabiki, parking himself across the table from her.

>Cough Cough< Ranma had his hand up to his mouth and pretended to cough in
order to get Nabiki's attention. Nabiki didn't look up from her paper.

>Cough COUGH< Again Ranma coughed a little louder, but still Nabiki didn't
look up.

>COUGH COUGH COU...<

"Ranma." Nabiki snapped, "If you want to talk to me, you can try by saying
my name."

"Ahh... Ha Ha Ha" He attempted to laugh. Nabiki sighed at the site.

"What do you want Ranma?"

"Well...Ah... ya see..." Nabiki impatiently tapped her finger.

"Ranma...Shut up..." Ranma stopped and looked at Nabiki confused. "I know
what you're going to ask."

"Y-You do?"

"Just wait. By the end of the day I'll have something for you."

"Oh... OK..."

--------

Akane walked down the busy streets of Nermia. Her light blue sundress
nicely hugged her figure. She walked slowly, her hands folded in front of her and
her head down. She let out a soft breath and lifted her head to peer into the
window in front of her. She stood in front of all flower shop. The flowers blazed
with ornate colors, spurting out of the vases like fountains. Inside the shop a
couple stood gazing at some flowers. The girl giggled as she pointed to one of the
bouquet. The man with her picked it up and handed it to her. She smiled and wrapped
one arm around the bunch while the other extended to grab hold of the man with her.

"A-Akane?"

"Huh?" Akane gracefully turned around to see a fidgeting Ryoga. "Ryoga!"
She smiled and walked towards him. "How are you doing?"

"I-I'm doing fine. What about you?" Akane looked down only for a moment
before her smile reappeared.

"I'm doing fine as well." The two stood rather motionless for a while. The
wind shifted and blew tassels of hair onto Akane's face. She pushed her hair to the
side and straitened out her dress a bit.

"So Ryoga... do you want to go have some coffee with me or something?"

"Y-Yeah s-sure."

--------

Ranma walked around aimlessly, hoisting his head up with his hands. He
didn't have much to do. He passed the stores and shops, it seemed like everyone
stay inside, or was hiding, either way not that many people were out.

"Where is that stupid girl anyways?" Ranma continued to walk without care.
He passed a candy store, a bookstore, a flower shop, a cafe... Ranma stopped in
front of the cafe a peered inside. His hands and face were pressed against the
window.

"Akane..."

The sound of laugh filled the air. Akane had her elbows leaned against the
table with her hands cupped together in front of her.

"So tell me Ryoga, how was your last trip?"

"Well it was alright... Kyoto is rather chilly this time of year."

"Is it?" Ryoga nodded and took a rather large bit of his food causing
crumbs to stick to his mouth. Akane giggled as he chewed.

"Silly, you've got some crumbs, here let me wipe it off." She picked up a
napkin and leaned over the table. She moved her face close to Ryoga's and cupped
his head with one hand while the other wiped away the crumbs. Ryoga squinted his
eyes and shook his head. He put his hands on Akane's shoulders and pushed her back
a little.

"Ah, Akane, it's ok I can wipe it on my own." Akane pulled back and sat
down in here chair.

"I was just trying to help." She said, faking a child like tone.

"Aw, but Akane, I'm a big boy, I promise." He said as he put his hand over
hers. Akane smiled and stood up, grabbing holding of Ryoga's hand on the way.

"Come on lets go." She gently pulled Ryoga away from the table.

Outside a fuming Ranma stood. <...I can't believe her! Here I am worryin
about her and she's all over Ryoga. She even tried to kiss Ryoga!!!! Thank god he
pushed away or I don't know what I would have done. GRRRR- Stupid Akane... I can
have my own fun too ya know!!!! Humph> Ranma quickly turned around and stomped off
towards a certain Okonomiyaki shop.

----------

The theater was dark and only the flashing light from the movie revealed
the cringes on her face. Akane leaned her head on her hand and watched with less
than half interest. Even though the movie wasn't catching her attention, she
appreciated the dark atmosphere. A small frown rounded on her lips. Being happy is
a tough job, especially when your heart is sinking. As much as she enjoyed being
with Ryoga, she just didn't feel that way about him. She knew there was only one
person in her heart, but it was too late. He had rejected her, she had to move on.
Three days of thinking and then it finally hit her. That she had to get beyond
Ranma. She let out a soft moan. Oh how her heart hurt, how it squeezed, how it was
being suffocated by reality. How she enjoyed the dark. How it covers and engulfs.
How it wraps around her, separating her from the world. The darkness brought her
peace. It was her haven. She looked over to Ryoga from the corner of her eye and
found him staring at her. Akane sighed. <Maybe I can learn to love him...> She put
her hand on top of his and leaned over resting her head on his stiffening shoulder.

>CrAcK< From a few rows behind Ranma was drenching the life from a now torn
up cup. Ukyo looked at him oddly as the sound of his grinding teeth increased.

"What's wrong Ranchan? It's only a movie." she whispered, but Ranma was
oblivious to her comment and continued to sulk.

----------

"W-wasn't that a good movie?" Ryoga asked as he looked down towards their
holding hands. Akane just mumbled something and kept on walking, not noting where
she was going.

Not to far behind, a certain pigtailed boy followed.

"Ranchan, what are we doing?" Ukyo asked as she calmly walked in the
general direction Ranma was going. Ranma continued to hop from one hiding place to
another. He grunted at Ukyo's response and said nothing more.

"You know Ranchan, if you're going to invite me to go out, you could at
least walk next to me." But Ranma missed that comment and continued to stalk the
pair in front of them. Ukyo sighed. She had been so happy when Ranma asked her to
go with him. But she thought that they'd do something at least somewhat intimate.
She pouted as she continued watching Ranma. <He so absorbed in something else. What
about me?>

"Ranchan!" she called, "Ranchan!.... RANMA!"

"Huh?" Ranma looked over in Ukyo's direction, "What is it?" he said
occasionally switching his focus from Ukyo to the other couple. Ukyo walked towards
him.

"Ranma." She said somewhat fierce fully. She grabbed his hand. "Ranma, lets
go somewhere." Ranma fidgeted and his face contorted. <Man, I'm gonna lose Akane if
I keep standing here...> He looked over to where the couple was only to find them
gone. <Damn!> He looked around a bit and as he turned he saw a couple starring at
them from only a couple feet away.

"A-Akane?" Akane looked at him then back to the ground.

"Oh... hi ranma..." she whispered, "What are you doing here?"

"Ah..."

"Were on a date, Akane." Ukyo said. Ranma gulped and looked over to Akane,
who stiffened notably.

"Oh..." Ukyo smiled as she weaved her arm around Ranma's, causing him to
gulp again. Ryoga looked down at Akane and saw that she had her fists clenched
tightly. Slowly he put his arm on Akane shoulders to help her support herself.
Akane turned away from Ranma.

"Well we better get going. Have fun." She began to walk quickly away and
then broke into a run.

"Oi!" Shouted Ryoga, who turned to quickly and ended up run away from her.
Ranma stood biting the bottom of his lip. He removed his arm from Ukyo's grasp.

"I'm sorry... Ukyo..." He said as he ran after Akane.

"Ranma wait!" she shouted, her arm out and reaching to signify her call.

Akane continued to run. She wasn't ready yet. She wasn't ready yet... The
clouds above began to circle together; drops of rain began to fall. The sun's rays
were blocked from the clouds as they slowly came together, forming dark clouds. The
streetlights turned on and the rain continued to fall, this time hard than before.
She stopped and leaned herself onto a streetlight. She breathed hard. The rain
began to soak her hair and her dress. Her hair hung in clumps and dangled from her
head. The light blue dress she wore now was spotted with dark blue. She wrapped her
arms around the streetlight as if holding onto it for her life.

The streets were bathed in shadows as Ranma-chan ran after Akane.

"Akane!" she shouted. <Over there...> "Akane!" she shouted again as her ran
closer to the figure clutched to the street light. She stopped about 5 feet away.

"Akane..." Akane didn't move. "Akane..." Akane slowly pulled away from the
light, still not looking at Ranma.

"Akane, you're going to catch a cold..." Ranma-chan said as she reached out
to grab Akane's hand. Akane slapped the hand down.

"Why do you do this to me? Why do you continue to do this to me? WHY CAN'T
YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Akane..."

"Do you find enjoyment in torturing me? Do you find me amusing?" She faced
Ranma, but did not look at her. Her head hung down and her fists clutched.
Ranma-chan just stood there, not sure what to say.

"That's what I thought." Akane turned to walk away, but was stopped as
Ranma grabbed her wrists. Akane pulled away, but to no avail.

"Akane... what are you talking about?"

"Let me go!" She pulled again successfully being released from his grip.
She ran off again.

"Akane!" she shouted, but she didn't follow. Instead she went back home.

----------

It was already pretty late by the time Ranma got back. As she walked in she
found a videotape on the table. On it was a small note.

'For Ranma'

"It must be from Nabiki." She put down the tape and walked into the kitchen
to heat up some water. When she was down turning into a boy, he went back to the
tape. He quickly popped it into the VCR and plopped his heavy body down.

"Play"

The scene showed Akane and Ranma talking. It zoomed in only Ranma's face as
he spoke.

"Well aren't we a sleepy head today?" Ranma walks in, putting down a tray
of breakfast on Akane's desk. Akane gets up and puts her hand on his head to check
his temperature. The scene forwards a bit.

"This is what lovers do isn't it?" Ranma says. The scene forwards again.

"We are in love aren't we?" >Forward<

"I love you..." >Forward Forward Forward<

"You know Akane, you are beautiful..." >Forward<

"Give me a chance...to show you the love I have for you..." >Forward<

"I DO love Akane, with all my heart..." >Forward<

The scene is now of the two sitting in the dojo. Ranma's head rest in
Akane's lap. It zooms into Akane's face. She's smiling.

Another scene the two are eating lunch together.

Another scene the two are at a carnival together.

Another scene the two are rest on a tree together.

Another scene... Ranma holds Akane tightly in the dark of night. Akane's
eyes shut. As do Ranma's. Slowly they move in and there lips meet.

Another scene the two are at the movies

Another scene, Ranma is on his knee.

"Akane...Akane, will you marry me?"

"Please say you'll be my wife..."

"I...I..."

"I will..."

"Will what?"

"Marry you..."

"What?" The camera focuses on Akane's face.

"Marry you..."

"Why would I want to marry a tomboy like you..." Akane's face flinches.
Ranma's voice continues in the background. The water in Akane's eyes could be seen
filling up. She look so hurt. >Forward<

Akane is running away, while Ranma just stands there, watching her run.

The TV beings to fuzz. Ranma holds the controller up and presses rewind. He
goes back to the previous scene.

"Marry you..."

"Why would I want to marry a tomboy like you..." >Pause<

Ranma paused the tape there. <Akane's...crying...> He stopped the tape.

"...Akane..."

She didn't come home that night...

----------
Notes: Gah... I was going to finish it sooner, but as I wrote, this popped up,
so... yeah... well sorry for taking so long to write... Fear not Akane & Ranma
fans, it's not the end till the fat lady sings... That's the saying right? Ok
anyways... thanks for reading.

p.s. I know there are some loose strings, but they will connect later! promise.
Ja-ne