Disclaimer:
Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi.  A very talented and
RICH person...so I'm pretty sure she won't sue me for using her
characters for this fanfic.  That's all for the disclaimer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some Things Were Just Meant to Be
Chapter II - Akane

By Kaiki Houjun


	It's been three hours since I last saw Ranma Saotome.
And I have to wait another hour until he arrives to my family's
celebration of our first annual Martial Arts Championship.  Ever
since I first saw him battle, I just knew that he would win, I
also knew that he had a very different fighting style from any
I've ever seen.  Maybe I even like him a little...or maybe it's
just admiration from afar.  I mean, he is pretty good-looking
and all.  I don't even know why I'm thinking about him.  He
probably has girls crawling all over him, especially since he's
gained popularity from winning this competition.

	My friends were there and they were talking about how 
cute he was, and when they asked me if I thought he was cute, I 
just said I thought he was okay with very little interest.  Then
they started teasing me.  They knew that if I showed very little
interest in something that has to do with martial arts, it means
I'm hiding something.  And now it's after the competition my
best friend Ayu is still teasing me about him.

	"You like him don't you?"  Ayu asked while grinning that
silly grin of hers.

	"What??  N...no way!  I hardly even know him, besides,
you know how I hate boys."  It's true.  I do hate boys.  Not in
the way that makes me a lesbian though.  It's just that ever
since high school I've been chased by boys every morning.  And
every time I would have to beat them up.  Everyday it's the same
thing, yet they never quit.  So I guess that's why I never
stopped and "searched" for a guy to be with.

	"Well, you'll get to know him later!  Come on Akane, I
think that he's perfect for you!  He's strong, he's a real great
martial artist, he's good-looking...he even looks good with that
braided pigtail!  Can you imagine any of our old high school male
classmates with a pigtail?"  Ayu laughs at the thought of guys
from our high school having a pigtail, and after a while she 
starts to stare into space as she remembers watching Ranma in 
today's competition.  "And did you notice he wasn't even 
gloating a LITTLE?  Most guys would do some sort of victory
dance, you know."

	Ayu was right.  It was like he didn't care that he had
won, but I knew he did because I could see the pride in his
eyes.  He was so modest.  He just smiled and thanked everyone 
who congratulated him.  Most of the guys I knew would be
boastful about almost anything.  But Ranma was different.

	"Hey...hey, Akane.  You alive?"  Ayu snapped her fingers
in front of my face to wake me up from my thoughts.  I shook the
thoughts of him out of my head and tried to think of something
else to talk about.  I never did feel comfortable talking about
guys with anyone, not even Ayu.  I suppose it's the fear of
rumors and the horrible experiences I've had with guys, but I 
guess I should start.  Everyone needs someone they can trust to
talk about relationships.  And Ayu always kept her word.

	"Umm...yeah, let's talk about something else, ok?  Hey,
you're coming to the dinner, right?"  I asked Ayu in hopes that
she would give up on talking about Ranma.  It seemed like every
female in town was talking about the "young, good-looking guy
who won the Martial Arts Championship."

	"Of course!  Wouldn't miss it for the world."  As she
said that, I sighed.  That's exactly what Ranma said.  Stop
thinking about him, Akane!  Get a hold of yourself!  You don't
even know him!  "And I'll make sure that Ranma talks to you the
most, ok?"

	I looked at Ayu suspiciously and lifted an eyebrow.  
"And just how are you going to do that?"

	Ayu giggled, "Well...there are several ways!  Like...I
could get a conversation going about martial arts, and I know
that you could never keep quiet in a conversation like that."
Ayu put her index finger on her chin and looked up, thinking.
"Or...I could..." Ayu paused, and then spoke quickly, "tell him
that you like him."

	My face started to burn up and turn red at the thought
of him knowing that I MIGHT have some sort of crush on him.  I
screamed, "AYU!  DON'T YOU DARE!"  Ayu started running away, 
laughing.  I ran after her and found myself playing a game of
tag.  I saw her run around a corner and I followed her.  After
I did, I noticed two hallways, I didn't know which way to go so
I just randomly chose the right side.  I ran as fast as I could
and while I did I heard a voice from behind me.

	"Akane!  I'm right here!"  Ayu yelled and waved at me as
I kept running while looking back.  I didn't realize, however,
that there was somebody in front of me.  I collided into that
person and fell backwards.  I stood up immediately and dusted
myself off and reached my hand out to help the person I crashed
into.  

	"I'm so sorry!  I wasn't watching where I was going and-"
I gasped when I realized who it was.  Ranma.  He was wearing a
red Chinese shirt made of silk and some dark blue pants.  I've
never seen anyone wear them around here.

	"R-Ranma!  I'm sorry!  I didn't-"  I exclaimed in a
panicking voice, I didn't want him to think I was a total klutz.

	"...see where you were going.  I know, you already said
that.  It's-It's okay.  Really."  Ranma said in a calm voice
as he smiled warmly while attempting to stand up.  "What are you
doing, Miss Tendou, playing a game of tag?"

	I blushed, thinking that I probably look so childish in
his eyes.  "Well...my friend Ayu said something to me and it
led to this chase.  Oh, and please don't call me 'Miss'
anything, that's way too formal.  Just call me Akane.  So
anyway, what are you doing here?"

	Ranma looked surprise and replied, "Well...I thought I 
was invited to dinner, Akane."

	"Y...you are.  But...you're about half an hour early."
I loved the way my name sounded when he said it.

	Ranma shrugged and put his hands inside his pockets.  
"Well yeah, I know.  But I didn't have anything better to do, 
I'm kinda new around here.  Don't know much about what type of 
fun stuff you guys have here."

	"You're new in town?"  Argh, you moron.  Of COURSE he's
new in town.  He just said so!!  But...other than that...YES!!
I could use this excuse to take him around town and look at new
places!  "Would you like me to show you around sometime?"

	Ranma smiled again and caused my heart to stop beating,
"Hey, that'd be great.  I mean, if it's not too much trouble.
I'd really like to give you something in return, though.  That's
just the type of guy I am."

	I thought for a minute.  I knew exactly what I wanted
from him at this point.  "Teach me some of your martial arts!"

	"Alright, no problem!  It's a deal."  He put out his
hand and I shook it.  His hands were rough, but then again, why
wouldn't they be?  They're probably considered lethal weapons
around here.

	"Ahem."  I heard a familiar sound from behind me.  I
turned around and saw Ayu, waiting for some attention.

	"Oh!  I'm sorry!"  I turned to Ranma and said to him, 
"Ranma, this is my best friend in the whole world, Ayu Kisawa."

	Ranma shook Ayu's hand and said, "Hello, Ayu.  Nice to
meet you."

	Ayu nodded and responded, "You too, Ranma."  Ayu turned
to me and whispered, "Hey, we better go get ready.  It's almost
time for the dinner."

	My eyes widened up as she told me that.  I have to go
change!!  I tried to convince myself that it wasn't because
Ranma was there, but I guess you can't lie to yourself, can you?
I turned to Ranma and tried to speed up this farewell for now.
"Ranma, I have to go now.  Dinner will almost be ready and I
have to get changed."

	"I think you look fine the way you do now,"  Ranma
commented.  I wanted to scream.  How could I NOT like him??
Ever since we first met he has been nothing but nice!  Even when
I crashed into him he acted like it never happened.

	I blushed and looked down while trying to think of an
excuse.  "Umm...well...since I'm the emperor's daughter,
everyone expects me to dress all fancy."  It's not completely
false.  People DO expect me to dress like a "lady," or so they
say.

	Ranma nodded, and I could tell that he understood what I
have to go through.  "Hmm...okay then, so I'll see you later, 
Akane.  Ja ne!"

	I turned and ran away like I did during the last few
minutes of the Martial Arts Championship.  I stopped, turned
around and waved, "Ja ne!"  Then I started running again.

********

In my room...

	"Ayu, what do you think of this?"  I held up in front of
me a sleeveless, sparkling blue dress that came a little past my
ankles and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

	"So you DO like him!  I knew it!"  Ayu exclaimed, 
jumping out of my bed.  "Hmm...that dress looks so...fancy.  And
besides, why do you have to look all pretty, anyway?  It's not
like he's wearing a tuxedo or anything."

	"H-Hey!  I'm not wearing this for him!"  I could feel my
face burning up again.  Ayu always knew what I was thinking.

	Ayu rolled her eyes at me, "Yeah, sure, Akane.  Just
admit it, you like him."

	I looked down at the floor, away from my reflection. 
"Well, maybe a little.  I guess I can't hide anything from you,
can I, Ayu?"

	"Of course not!  I know everything about you!  That's 
why I'm your best friend!"  Ayu jumped into my closet and 
started searching for a something appropriate for the evening.
"I don't think you should wear anything fancy, just a nice,
kimono will do fine."

	"Well...I don't know.  You know I've never been much of
a fashion person, Ayu."  Maybe I should start, I thought.  Ayu 
knows just about everything about style and fashion, maybe 
that's why she's so popular.  Then again, I've never worn 
anything that's "in," and I'm still being chased by guys.  I 
wonder if I start dressing more like a girl that it'll make this
whole fiasco with the guys worse.  Thank heavens I'm done with
school.

	"Just wear one of those kimonos that you received as
gifts.  The good thing about them is that they don't show much
skin, but you look real nice in them."

	She's right.  No one would ever dare insult the daughter
of the emperor by giving a gift that was too revealing.  "Sigh.
Well, thanks.  But I have so many of them I don't know which one
I should choose!  If only people didn't give me so much clothes
life would be so much easier."  I flopped on the bed with a
despairingly look on my face.

	"Sometimes you annoy me, Akane.  What is so HARD about
this?  Okay, look.  I know what.  I'll pick out the best looking
kimonos, and you just randomly select one from the chosen ones.
Okay?"

	I nodded and stood up, "Okay.  Thanks, Ayu."

	Ayu walked towards me and started shoving me out the
door.  "Good.  Now get out of here and let the pro work.  Go
clean up or something.  By the time you get out I'll have
everything done."

	I walked into the bathroom across the hall of my room,
which was in between Kasumi and Nabiki's room.  I walked in the
changing room and discarded all of my clothes into the clothes
hamper.  I walked into the actual bathroom and took my shower.
I didn't rush because I had a feeling that Ayu would take a
while with the decision, even if she IS a fashion guru.  After
about what seemed like twenty minutes, I had already finished
rinsing myself off.  I wrapped my towel around my body and while
I dried my hair with another towel, I called out to Ayu, "Ayu!  
Are you done yet?"

	Ayu called back with the same loudness.  "Yeah!  Come on!
I got a great selection you can pick out of!"

	Great.  I just KNOW I'll never be able to choose one.  I
walked out of the bathroom and into the changing room while I
stilled tried to dry my hair.  I kind of wished I had my short
hair again, like when I was in elementary school.  It was so
easy with short hair.  It wasn't a hassle and pretty much always
looked the same.  I can't seem to remember the reason why I let
it grow long in the first place.  Maybe I should cut it again.
But of course I'd always ask Ayu for her opinion first.  I put on
my panties, bra, and t-shirt and headed to my room.  I was
surprised when I only saw three kimonos lying on my bed.  All
beautiful.

	"Wow!  Ayu...you actually broke it down to three??  I
thought you would have ten for me to pick!"  I walked towards
the bed and examined each kimono, its design and color.

	Ayu smiled and nodded, "Yup!  I'm good, aren't I?"

	"Wow...you sure are."  Each kimono was blue, only 
different shades of that color.  They all had a shiny silver or
gold outline of a flower design on it.  They all looked pretty
similar to me and I couldn't make my final decision until the one
in the middle caught my attention.  I looked at it and memories
flooded back into my mind.  I picked it up and just stared at it
while Ayu waited for my decision.

	"Hey...good choice!  I was hoping you'd pick that one!
You're not so bad with fashion after all..."  Then she realized
my facial expression hadn't changed at all.  "Hey, Akane?
Why're you so quiet all of a sudden?"  She looked at the kimono
that I was holding in confusion.  "Is something wrong?"

	"This...this was my mother's."  I could feel my eyes
swelling up with tears.  I thought of my mother every day for
two years when she passed away five years ago when I was only
thirteen.  After that, I didn't think of her as much anymore.
But whenever I did, I would always get this pain in my heart
that I thought could never be healed.

	"Oh...I'm sorry, Akane.  I-I didn't know..."  I could
hear the guilt in her voice.  As if she thought that it was her
fault I was crying.

	I shook my head.  "That's okay...I hadn't thought about
her for a long time, and I was always afraid to.  She was a real
great person, you know."  I sat down on my bed and held the
kimono close to my heart.  I thought of my family walking along
the beach during sunset, how beautiful it was to see the sky in
different shades of orange, yellow, and purple.

	Ayu followed suit and sat down beside me and put her arm
around my shoulders to comfort me.  "Yeah...I know.  Even though
it was five years ago...I still remember her."

	I smiled a little smile and thought about how good of a
friend Ayu was.  She had always comforted me whenever I was
depressed, especially if it had something to do with a memory of
my mother.  I promised myself that I would do the same if
anything like this should happen to her.  I wiped away a tear
with my fingers and stood up.  "I think I'll wear this one."  I
held out my mother's kimono and faced the mirror.  I took off my
t-shirt and put the kimono on.  It was so beautiful.  I tied the
ribbon that held the kimono together around my waist and looked
at my reflection in the mirror.

	Ayu smiled and nodded.  "It looks good on you."

	I smiled also and replied to her compliment. "Thanks."

	Ayu stood up and looked through my clothes again.  "Hey
Akane, can I borrow something of yours for tonight?  I really
don't feel like running home right now."

	I looked at her and nodded.  "Yeah sure, go ahead.  Take
whatever you want."

	As she looked through my clothes again, I realized why
I kept avoiding guys during school.  I remembered how my father
had been when my mother passed away with that rare flu.  He was
constantly depressed that no one could help him.  Not even his
own family.  For months he would eat and sleep less.  After
about a year, he finally started changing for the better.  Even
though he became healthier by eating more, I could still see the
pain in his eyes.  This is why I tried not to get involved with
anyone.  I was afraid that I would get close to someone for once
in my life, and that person would leave me for whatever reason.
I didn't want to be in the same depression my father had.  I
didn't want to cry.  I didn't want to be vulnerable.  This was
the reason I kept trying to deny even the hint of possibility
that I might like Ranma.  Maybe if I told myself that I didn't
like him long enough, I would believe it.  But I can't lie to
myself.  I don't want to be lonely anymore.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Notes:

Haha...ok what did you think about THAT chapter?  If you've read
this far...then you're probably not tired of it yet!  I'm glad,
I'm glad.  I don't write stories much, so please forgive me if
I keep dragging on and on about the same problem.  ^_^;

Okay...the first chapter was told by Ranma.  And this chapter
was told my Akane...so guess who's gonna be the next chapter?
I'll give you a hint:  Ranma and Akane will be the only two
characters telling this story...and the third chapter isn't told
by Akane.  Well gee...who else would it be?  The lovable Ranma
of course!  Please e-mail me your comments about my fic so far
at Azncloud8@aol.com!

~Kaiki Houjun, 6/12/00

A.K.A. Stephanie