Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Ranma: Lifehouse ❯ Everything ( Chapter 1 )

[ A - All Readers ]

Everything
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
by Allie Zorn

Disclaimer: Plot and characters of Ranma 1/2 are created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi and are
used here without permission. The lyrics to "Everything" belong to Lifehouse, also used without
permission.

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Akane laughed quietly with her friends, their laughter echoing the sadness that they felt.
Soon, she would be parted from them all and whisked away into the chaos that had become her
life. She didn't really expect to see them after their graduation in a few months, at least not until
the reunions began. She didn't want the night of normalcy to end; all she wanted was to dance,
drink, and laugh like any normal senior at their high school prom. Glancing at her watch, she
concluded there would be only a few more songs before the dance was over. It was 11:50.
Ranma shifted his weight slightly so he would have a better view of Akane. They had
danced together a few times, but not to any slow songs. It had been a big enough step for the two
of them to attend the prom together without having been forced to. How Kasumi had pulled that
off Ranma still didn't understand.
His attention was once again brought back to Akane. She looked absolutely beautiful. He
had always known she was attractive, but tonight, whenever he had been near, he had felt the need
to just thank her for being near him. Tonight, of all nights, he felt that she deserved much better
than him. Her sky blue satin dress hugged her figure flatteringly, but while the entire body of
male seniors couldn't tear their eyes off her curves, Ranma's eyes never left her face, especially
her eyes. He was lost in the serenity of her presence as much as he had despaired as her life had
been slipping away at Jusendou.
Ukyou sighed as she watched Ranma stare at Akane from across the room. The boy was
so dense sometimes. Just for his stupidity and blatant disregard for her feelings she shouldn't help
him out. But the fleeting, although often glances that Akane sent his way was enough to show
Ukyou that the two of them loved each other, and she never had a chance. True, she did love
Ranma, but she loved him enough to know when the war was over. Shampoo didn't love him;
she loved the dream of the victory of winning Ranma against such impossible odds. And Akane
had shown the most love; she didn't fight in the war. She knew it wasn't a war from the
beginning, it was only Ranma's choice. He had made his choice.
She made her way over to the disc jockey, receiving plenty of appreciative glances of her
way. She whispered something to the man, who nodded his head with a smile. A quick glance at
the clock on the gym wall confirmed the nearing end of the dance.
"Now for the last song, everybody. Grab your dates and make your way to the dance
floor, 'cause here's one last slow one to wrap it up," the d.j. said into the microphone. Couples
began to pair off and soon both Ranma and Akane stood by themselves.
With a confidence-boosting breath, Ranma started towards his date, but froze mid-step.
He carefully looked around for any bandanna-, hidden weapon-, bokkon-, spatula-, bonbori-, or
poison rose-swinging crazies. Seeing none, at least none that were threatening, he continued with
his step and soon arrived behind Akane.

Find me here
Speak to me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you

"May I have this dance?" he asked her quietly. She spun around, having not heard him
approach. When she saw who it was, a smile lit her face, filling Ranma with joy. She gently took
his pro-offered hand and stepped onto the floor. Hesitantly, their arms encircled one another and
they began to sway softly to the music.

You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where
I find peace again

Akane rested her head against Ranma's chest and closed her eyes. A small smile adorned
Ranma's face at her action. He was perfectly content with the woman he loved in his arms. Yes,
he could finally admit he loved her. He was no longer uncertain that she would stand by him or
leave him like so many others. He had failed her so many times but she didn't care. She just
wanted him near her. She gave him another reason, a more fulfilling one, to live. The Art was his
reason for living for so many years, but there was nothing he could do with it. He found peace in
his Art, but he was tired of having to use it to protect himself and fight others. Protecting and
loving Akane, however, was a purpose that he would never grow tired of. Without her there was
nothing for him to look forward to each day, no reason for him to continue to grow in his Art, no
reason for him to continue an honorable life. That was why he would throw his life away in place
of hers in an instant; because without her he lost his purpose, his motivation to live. She
constantly made him want to better himself so he would better deserve to love her.

You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything

Feeling Ranma's heart beat under her cheek was fascinating to Akane. It was so easy to
forget that he was human at times because of the amazing things he could accomplish. His battle
against Saffron still astounded her, not only because he won, but because he had challenged and
triumphed over a god just for her. Surely that placed him in the league of the immortal and away
from the transients of the human world. But here was his heart, beating so close to her own.
He was such an enigma to her. Every time she thought she had figured him out, a new
layer of his personality exposed itself. As unpredictable as he was, she would always know he
would be right behind her to catch her as she fell. There was a time when she didn't trust any
other boy to the point she would never be caught alone with one. But Ranma she had always
trusted not to hurt her like that. They had fought for years, sure, but were they fighting each other
or themselves? She hadn't met a well-intentioned male, with a few exceptions like Tofu, for
years. Then here comes a beautiful, strong man with permission to do practically whatever he
wanted with her. And while she was distrustful of only males, Ranma didn't trust anyone at that
time. He was still insecure with what had happened to him, and didn't know how others would
react. Not to mention that almost everyone he had come in contact with for the last ten years had
fought or betrayed him in some way. The fact that he, as Ranma-onna, had gone to spar with her
one that first day was surprising. They both had to do something they weren't used to if they were
ever to get along: they would have to trust one another.

And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

As these thoughts flew through their minds, preceded by some, followed by others, they
both unconsciously tightened their grip on one another, as if they feared the other would disappear
into the air around them. Around them people looked on with longing, jealousy, happiness, and
awe. Some couldn't believe what they saw, others had known all along, and a few were paying
up for the bet they made against Nabiki's successor's that Ranma and Akane wouldn't get
together.

You calm the storms
You give me rest
You hold me in you hands
You won't let me fall
You still my heart
And you take my breath away
Would you take me in
Would you take me deeper now

Akane lifted her head off Ranma's chest and looked up at his face. Feeling her move,
Ranma looked down at her. Their eyes met and their gazes locked. Ranma once again tightened
his arms around her small waist and she let go of the breath she had been holding as a smile
brightened her face. When Ranma saw that she was happy, he once again lost himself in her eyes.
Her kind and accepting eyes calmed his stormy blue-grey ones. Slowly, he bent his head down
until his lips were mere centimeters from her, both of their eyes half closed. Noting his hesitation,
she stretched up just a hair until their lips met in a soft yet passionate kiss. The lights dimmed to a
soft blue as the seniors of Furinkan High finished their first and last normal event before new
roads would be forged out of the memories of the old days when a simple life of love and be loved
was but a dream in the minds of all.

'Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything



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Author's notes:
Well, I hope everyone liked that. I had just bought the new Lifehouse cd No Name Face
and was listening to the song "Everything" and it just practically screamed Ranma and Akane.
This is the first of a series I'm going to start based on the songs off this album because, as
coincidental as it is, they all fit somewhere in the Ranma universe. Please send me comments and
constructive criticism to sailor_soul_99@yahoo.com. If you like pop/rock that has really sweet
lyrics, get this cd. And if you are a late teens good looking male that can think up something as
sweet as this song my number is....