The Two Akanes: A Bittersweet Love Story
By Shikoku
*******************************************************NOTE: All characters are not mine! They are Rumiko Takahashi's! Got it? ANOTHER NOTE: This story takes place after The Two Akanes, Ranma Look at ME! but before Akari (Sorry, Akari fans)
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Akane hugged Ranma, and gazed up at him with her big, brown eyes. He looked down at her, feeling very uncomfortable. This was not the Akane he knew.
He was right. This Akane was actually an evil spirit, which had taken over Akane's body. The real Akane was trapped inside the doll, which served as the spirit's habitat. Akane could do nothing, but watch as the spirit (using Akane's body) choked Ranma to death. After making sure he wasn't breathing, the spirit turned on Akane, an evil smile on her face.
Akane tried to escape, but she was too slow. The spirit made sure Akane would never regain her body. The evil Akane smiled and turned away, leaving the broken doll to lie there , until the end........
Akane woke up with a start, her heart racing. "It was a dream," she thought. "Just another bad dream!" She had been having a lot of those, lately. Ever since the nightmare that had happened when her family went to a rural hotel, which was famous for its cursed doll. There Ranma, her "fiance" , upset the doll, which trys to kill anyone who is disrespectful in its presence. The doll used Akane's body to do this. It was a horrible experience for Akane, not to mention Ranma, but now it was over. "Thank God, it's over!" She sighed, lying back down.
But she was wrong. IT WASN'T OVER. It had just begun.....
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The Cursed Doll Inn. Akane's worse nightmare. Home of the cursed doll. This curse was what made this hotel into a good vacation resort, not to mention the hot springs and free kamonos, but the cursed doll was becoming a problem. Too many people were upsetting the doll, and too many people were not coming back after a walk.
The managers of the hotel began to confer among themselves about what to do with their problem. They made sure to be far away from the doll for their meeting.
"We have to do something about this menace. The doll is too dangerous to be here anymore!" cried the head manager.
"Why don't we just put up more signs, saying to be nice to the doll?" suggested one of his lackeys. "That never works," cried another, "Nobody likes to be told how to behave! Especially on their vacation!"
"Well, we'll have to think of something!" the head manager cried. "The dead tourists are starting to become bad publicity!" The three managers put their heads together and thought some more.
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Ryoga was lost again. He was wondering aimlessly around a forest. It was funny, the forest looked vaugly familiar. He came up to a sream, and knew for sure he'd been here before. This didn't encourage him. He could have been in his backyard for all he knew. Ryoga had no sense of direction. This was a disability that had plagued him for his entire life. He grew up alone, because both of his parents had no sense of direction either. Most of his life was spent lost and alone.
Only two people really had an effect on his life, Ranma, his rival and the chief cause of Ryoga's problems, and Akane, the girl Ryoga loved and the only person who seemed to care about him.
Ryoga hated Ranma because Ranma was always picking on him.Then one day, Ryoga challanged him to a fight, but Ryoga got lost on the way over to the place of the fight. (The vacant lot behind Ryoga's house) When Ryoga had finally found the place, Ranma had all ready left and gone off to China with his father. Ryoga followed and ended up in Jusenkyo, the cursed springs. There Ryoga was kicked off the cliff where he had stood and fell into the spring of the drowned pig. From then on, when Ryoga was splashed with cold water, he turned into a little black piglet.
Ryoga hated this curse, but it had its advantages. As the pig, Akane had adopted him and named him "P-chan". She loved him, and for the first time Ryoga felt loved. Ryoga's greatest fear was that one day, Akane would find out he was P-chan. So far-although with MANY close calls- Ryoga had managed to keep his secret,but he knew he couldn't keep this a secret forever.
As he walked, these thoughts flowed through his head. He shook his head, as if to shake out the disturbing thoughts, which tormented him.
In truth, Ryoga's future happiness with Akane looked bleak. He would never have her. She was promised to Ranma, and although they both bicker and argue, constantly, they really loved each other. Feeling depressed, he walked out of the forest and on to the grounds of a hotel.
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Inside the managers had finally come up with a plan.
"Okay, we NICELY GIVE the doll to the next sucker that comes along, right?"
"Right!" the others chorused.
"Now, we just need to find that sucker..."
One happened to look out the window, just as Ryoga passed by.
"Hey, boss, I think I found one."
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Ryoga just stood there, wondering who put a hotel in the middle of a forest. Suddenly, three men, who looked like managers came up to him. One was carrying a doll.
"Congradulations, young man!" the leader cried, shaking the stunned Ryoga's hand.
"Huh?" Ryoga gasped, confused.
"You are the millionth customer of our humble hotel....So you win the prize. Here." He shoved the doll into Ryoga's arms.
"Wait, but- I'm not a -I mean" Ryoga stammered. "I'm not a customer!"
"Oh, we're terribly sorry, sir. To show our apology, keep the doll......bye!" Before he can say anything, the three managers ran off towards the hotel, leaving the doll in the stunned Ryoga's hands.
Ryoga watched them disappear into the hotel building, before he looked down at his new doll. "It kind of looks like Akane," he thought. It did. It's head was made from wood painted prettily with big, brown eyes, and a wig of shiny, black hair. The only difference between the two was that the doll wore a pink ribbon in its hair. This helped give the doll away when she possesed someone. That was when Ryoga remembered where he saw her before. "You're that vengefull spirit doll, that possesed Akane and tried to murder Ranma!" He held the doll, which had the potential of evil within it, but Ryoga couldn't see it. He saw a fragile doll that was obviously without a home in the hotel. Not really knowing why, Ryoga took the doll with him when he left.
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Ryoga thought he was going crazy. He was talking to a doll! Traveling for a long time with no company, he had told her his life story. He talked about his love for Akane, and his hatrid, but deep respect for Ranma. How he had grown up alone without family and friends. His embarrasing moments and his moments of triumph. This wasn't too bad. Sometimes, Ryoga talked to himself, just to hear his own voice. The weird thing was, he felt the doll was listening to him!
He was right. The doll was listening to him. The spirit heard all that he said, waiting for him to slip and give her a reason to take its revenge on him. But Ryoga treated the doll with care, thinking of it as his Akane.( Probably, the closest He'll ever have of her.) The doll was confused. Others treated her with fear and contempt, but this boy treated her with love. She decided to stay and observe further. As the days flew by, she began to feel a strong need to be with this boy in a way she had never wanted to be with someone before. Finally one day a month or two later, Ryoga, who was losing hope that he would ever see civilization again, looked up and realized he was in the middle of a city, Nerima, Tokyo, Akane's home town.
"I-I- finally made it!" he gasped. "And I wasn't even trying to get here!" He wondered off, looking for Akane.
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A couple of hours later....Ryoga glanced up and realized he was back where he started from. Fortunately, he was still in Tokyo.....at least he thought he was. He was about to turn left to find someone to ask directions, when he heard a scream.
Being the martial artist that he was, Ryoga immediately ran towards the voice, prepared to do whatever it took to help. Luckly, he didn't get lost along the way and found his way to the girl, who had screamed.
It was a small girl, about six or seven. She was watching two fugs trying to mug her older sister. The girl knew some martial artists but was greatly overpowered. Ryoga took one look at the situation, then intervened. Without a word, he knocked one jerk unconscious, then turned to the other guy, who had grabbed the girl. This jerk was intellegent; he saw how easily Ryoga had taken out his buddy. He knew that he can be just as easily taken out. That was why he took extra precautions before coming. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ryoga. "Don't move our you'll be breathing your last breath." he snarled.
Ryoga stopped.
The thug with the gun, smirked.
A ball of energy was forming in Ryoga's hand; he drew it out and just as he thought, the thug was so amazed at the sight of Ryoga's battle aura, he had dropped the gun and released the girl. Ryoga's battle aura was beginning to swirl around his whole body now. He felt the energy crackle, as it grew. Smiling a quiet smile, he finally let it loose. The energy blasted the thug like a bulldoser , throwing him into the building, he had been standing in front of, and right through it.
Ryoga caught a hold of himself before he could fall down from the sheer force of his attack. Using his chi techniqe always drained him a little. Neverless, he smiled in satisfaction at his deed.
The woman he had helped slowly got up, and thanked him. She then turned to her sister, who was still crying, scared from the attack on her sister. The woman tried to comfort her, but it did no good.
Ryoga watched, not sure what he should do now. He played the role of the martial artist, a protecter and warrier. Other times, he was a traveler-although he did not always choose to be. Comforter was something that he was not neccesarly good at. True, he comforts Akane, when he was P-chan, but this was different. So Ryoga just stood there, kind of wanting to do something to help further, but not knowing what to do, thats when he remembered the doll.
The doll had been watching the whole scene with interest. By this time, she knew Ryoga well. She knew his past and his hopes for a brighter future, his likes, his dislikes, and yes, that he turns into a pig. She felt almost pride, watching him stop those crooks from hurting the girl. She felt almost pleasure as she felt him pick her up.
He looked at the doll, that had been his companion, these last few months. She looked at the man, who treated her, not as a doll, but as if she were human.
He struggled for a minite, between what he wanted to do and what he felt he needed to do. He stopped as a side seemed to win. Slowly, he gave the little girl his only companion. The girl looked up with him with big, tearfull eyes. Her smile grew as he handed the doll to her. Joyfully, she hugged the unexpected martial artist, and with a "thank you" they left.
Ryoga had made a little girl very happy, but he, himself felt somehow empty inside. "It was just a stupid doll," he muttered. But he knew in his heart that she wasn't. Slowly, he began to walk in a direction he thought might lead him to Akane.
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Clutching her new doll, the girl skipped merrily along with her sister.She was happy, her bad memorys gone. The doll, however, was confused.
"He left me! How can he give me to somebody else? The girl is happy, but what about me? What about him? This can't be the end of our time together, can it?" She felt an emptiness inside of her, one that has always been there. She knew now that it had existed, and Ryoga had filled it. She must get back to him. Somehow, they must be together, again. "But how?" The doll searched for possabilities. Then walking towards her, she found the answer.
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Akane was walking home after another long day of school. It had been a normal day. Kuno had challanged Ranma. Ranma had beaten him up. Then, somehow, he had gotten splashed with cold water and changed into his girl-form. Kuno had then chased him/her around the school, crying "Come to me, my love!" Later, Ranma made another nasty remark about her being "uncute."Then she had chased him around the school. Until Shampoo showed up and gave Ranma a lunch from her restaurant. Akane then had to chase Shampoo around the school for the nasty remark about Akane's cooking. Yep, a typical day.
But,she was glad to finally get to go home for the day. She had a feeling something was about to happen..... She noticed a girl from her school. Akane decided to say "hello".
The girl looked up and seeing Akane smiled. She was holding the hand of her little sister."Akane, you will not believe what I've just been through! Two stupid guys had tried to mug me!"
"What?! You're kidding me? Did you beat them up?" Akane knew that Yukiko was a very good martial artist, although not as good as herself.
"No...Actually, they were better than me. They would have done something horrible to me if it wasn't for the boy. He has, probably, saved my life!"
"Boy?"
"Yeah, he was a very good martial artist. He beat up one of those guys without even trying, and the other one--Woah!"
The older girls continued chit-chatting as the younger girl stood there clutching her doll and staring up at Akane.
"Wanna see my dolly?" she asked Akane out loud. The girl held up her doll, so Akane could see it.
Akane stared at the doll in ock. "That doll! It's her!" Suddenly, the doll's began to glow. Akane tried to defend herself, but it was no use. She screamed, as she felt herself being wripped apart. Slowly, she sank to her knees before blacking out.
When Akane opened her eyes, Yukiko was still talking to her, as if nothing had happened......But wait! Yukiko was talking to Akane, but she wasn't talking to her! Akane was being held by Yukiko's sister, once again in the doll's body. The vengefull spirit doll had taken over her body again!
Impatiently, the doll inside Akane's body listened to this human talk to her. She all ready knew how good a fighter Ryoga was or how cute he is. All she wanted to know was where he went, but the spirit thought she might allready know the answer to that question. Finally, she interrupted the human. "Where is the Tendo Dojo?"
Yukiko stopped talking, suprised, not at Akane's sudden rudeness, but at her question. "Are you okay, Akane? You know where the dojo is, live there!"
The doll was beginning to loose her patience, but nicely she asked again."Where is the Tendo dojo?" Yukiko shrugged and pointed at the direction. "I must find him," the doll said before turning and walking towards the dojo.
"Oh, no!" Akane thought to herself. "She must be going after Ranma, again! I've got to stop her, but how?"
Yukiko looked down at her sister. "Time to go home, Ti," she said,pulling her along. "Okay, sissy," Ti replied, taking Akane further from her home.
"How am I going to get back to Ranma?" Akane sadly thought, to herself.
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The doll passed by many shops and stores along the way to the dojo. She was making good time considering her new body. She stopped and gazed around before asking directions.
"Hey Akane, Where's Ranma-honey?" she asked.
"I don't care about Ranma anymore. Ryoga Hibiki is who I want. Where is he?"
Hope glistened in Ukyo's heart, as she realized she had lost one of her competiters for Ranma's love. Ranma, although he claimed he didn't like girls, had managed to gain three fiances and one would-be suitor. Each girl considered herself Ranma's true fiance fought over him constantly.
Ukyo awoke from her thoughts and considered Akane's question. "Where is Ryoga? Sorry, but that guys hard to track down. He could be anywhere."
The doll paused, thinking over this information. "He is looking for the dojo. Where is the Tendo dojo?"
Ukyo stared at her in shock, for a moment before pointing out the way. As Akane left, Ukyo thought about what just happened.
Her thoughts were interupted as the door to Uchanns opened. A tired and worn out Ryoga greeted her. "Wher is the Tendo dojo?" he gasped.
"Ohh Ryoga!" Ukyo greeted him a bit too warmly. "Just the guy I wanted to see. Come in and have some okinomiyaki." A confused Ryoga let her lead him to a stool. He sat down and glanced at her suspiciously.
Ukyo began to prepare him his usual,(Everything except pork products).
She glanced up at him and smiled.
She was about to tell him, when another customer came in. She took his order, then turned back to Ryoga. But it was too late, Ryoga was gone again, lost as usual. "You stupid, Jackass," she muttered, cleaning up the table where he had sat.
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It was almost dinner at the Tendo dojo. Ranma and Genma were trying to kill each other. Kasumi smiled, as she watched Ranma kick his father into the carp pond. "Dinner will be ready soon" Kasumi called to them. Humming to herself, she continued her cooking.
Ranma and Genma try to kill each other everyday.
In the carp pond, a wet panda arose. He glared at at Ranma, lazily, as he crawled out of his predicament and shook himself off.
Ranma impatiently waited for him. "Come on, Pop. We don't got all day!"
The panda lunged at him, and Ranma jumped over him. Unfortunately, Ranma didn't watch where he was going and he landed in the carp pond, himself.
"Ah geez," he muttered-or should I say "she"- as she looked down at her transformed body.
The panda pulled out a sign(His only means of communication in this form) that said: A TRUE MARTIAL ARTIST WATCHES WHERE HE'S GOING!
Ranma growled and lunged at her pop. She was about to strangle him, when she felt somebody watching her. She looked up and saw Akane, glaring at him.
"Oh, Hi, Akane," Ranma noticed the expression on her face."What-you going to hit me again, or somethin'?"
"I am done with you," She turned and entered the dojo.
Ranma stared after her, confused. Genma pulled out a sign that said: NOW, WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?! Ranma just shook his head.
The doll glanced around at the dojo, this body called her home. She wondered where Ryoga would be, when a girl with brown hair tied with a ribbon, walked in.
"Oh, Hello, Akane, don't forget, you promised to make dessert for us, tonight!" With that, she left to set the table.
The doll pondered what to do next, then decided to pretend to be Akane until Ryoga arrived.Now to make this "dessert", she entered the kitchen and glanced around until she found a cookbook. She opened it and turned to a page that gave the recipe for an upside-down cake. The spirit was a little rusty in her cooking, being stuck in a doll for a long time between victoms, but she thought she could handle it. How hard can it be?
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Akane sighed, as the girl clutched her. Her thoughts were sad, as she thought about what might happen to Ranma.
She looked at her suroundings and realized she was in front of Dr.Tofu's shop. Now would be the time to act. Akane struggled with the stiff doll's body and managed to move it.
Ti stopped in suprise. Her sister looked back at her. "What's wrong?"
"Dolly just moved," Ti said more suprised than scared.
"Don't be silly, dolls don't move unless they come with batterys."
Akane moved the doll again, this time more obviously.
Yukiko screamed. Ti dropped the doll. Akane managed to stand up. Yukiko and Ti stared at her as she began to warm up for the long walk back to the dojo.
"Come on, Ti!" Yukiko cried. She could handle an attempted mugging, but a doll that was doing sumo exercises was too much. She grabbed her sister and began to run away.
Akane watched them leave. Her plan worked, but she now had a long way to walk. Suddenly, the door to Dr. Tofu's shop opened, and the proprieter stepped out. Today was Genma's day off, so Dr. Tofu was going to do the daily sweeping of the front walk. He happened to glance down and notice the doll."Hmm this looks interesting. How did you get here?" He picked Akane up. "You're a nice doll," He said to her. "It's too bad someone abandoned you.. Wait, I know, I'll give you to Kasumi....tomorrow."
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The Tendos and the Saotomes had just finished their dinner. It was delicious as usual, for Kasumi was a good cook. The family looked at each other uncertainly for they knew Akane had cooked dessert. This would probably be a good time to tell you: AKANE CANNOT COOK! Sha manages to ruin any meal she is trying to make, from confusing vineger for white wine in a curry to making cookies that are indestructable. This is bad enough, but if you complain about her cooking, she'd lose her temper and you wouldn't be eating again...ever! So it shouldn't suprise you that the Tendos and Saotomes were dreading this dessert.
Akane stepped out of the kitchen, carrying her concation. The spirit was worn out. Cooking had been harder than she thought. Her upside-down cake managed to come about, but it didn't really look very good. But having never even seen an upside-down cake before, she didn't know what one looked like. So she thought it looked normal. The Tendos and the Saotomes, on the other hand, looked at the cake as if it were a sword that Akane was about to use to cut off their heads.
She began to cut the cake and hand out the pieces. Ranma took his with a sick expression on his face. He looked at the cake.
Kasumi ever polite, was the first to try it. She took a bite and began to chew. The others stared at her as if trying to determine their own fate. They were shocked whenKasumi merely smiled and said with true feeling, "Why Akane! I do believe this is the best cake I've ever earen!" This was NOT a typical way of describing Akane's cooking. Ranma looked down at his, and shrugged.
"This is great, Akane!" Ranma cried, "You agree, Pop?" Genma was too busy gobbling down his cake to answer, a look of pure happiness on his face.
Soun was crying tears of happiness. "I'm so happy. That's my daughter!" Kasumi smiled. "I knew you'd get it, Akane!"
Nabiki studied her slice. "Hmmm this didn't come from a box. I'm impressed."
The spirit just stood at the head of the table. A small smile on her face.
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Ryoga had been walking for a long time. He had accidentally left Uchanns and imediately had gotten lost.
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Ranma was seated at the table, still. His father was sitting next to to him eating the rest of the cake. Ranma was still puzzled over Akane's new cooking skills. He knew that Akane had been acting weird, but he had no idea why or how. And when did she start wearing a ribbon in her hair? His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Ryoga.
"I *pant* *pant* finally made it! *pant*" He gasped. He had spent the last fifteen minites wondering around the Tendo's backyard before finally finding the door.
"Hey Ryoga, What are you doing here and not P-chan?" Ranma was used to Ryoga's constant appearances in this house both as himself and as his pig alter ego.
"Shut up!" Ryoga cried, punching at Ranma. "Who're you calling P-chan!?!"
"Geesh, man, I was jus' joking." "Do I look like I'm laughing?!" Ryoga cried. Ranma was such a jerk sometimes.
Suddenly, they felt a presence. They stopped their arguing and looked up. Akane stood at the doorway. Both boys gasped. Akane didn't look like the Akane they knew. She was dressed in one of her kamonos, which she only wore on special occasions. Her face shown with a touch of makeup. A pink ribbon was tied on her head.
Akane looked at both of them. Ranma felt her eyes on him. He couldn't believe how beautiful they were. He basked in their glow, feeling deprived, when she shifted her gaze to Ryoga. A small, sweet smile lit her face as she looked at him. "Ryoga," she said, softly and began to walk towards him.
Ryoga froze, too shocked to move. Ranma too was shocked. He became more so, when Akane put her arms around Ryoga and gave him a friendly
As for Ryoga he had died and gone to Heavon.
Slowly, Akane released him from her embrace. "Forgive me, you must be hungry. I'll go get you some dinner." She began to walk away, but stopped and turned. "Now don't get lost."
Ryoga couldn't take it anymore. He fainted, with a stream of blood.
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Ryoga awoke to find himself lying on a futon in the room Ranma and Genma shared. He felt extremely exhausted, not having slept on a real bed for days. He was thinking about rolling over and going back to sleep, when he realized somebody was sitting next to him. Slowly, he raised his head and saw Akane. His heart skipped a beat."A-A-A-kane?!"
She smiled. "Go back to sleep. You need the sleep." She began to to massage his back. The rythmic motion lulled him back to sleep. "You'll never be alone again," Akane promised him as he drifted into slumber.
Smiling, she stood up and began to leave the room. Ranma was waiting for her outside. "What was that all about?!" He cried.
"Ryoga needs me." She stated and went into her room.
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"This story for real?!" A shocked and dazed Shampoo asked, after Ukyo told her the events of Akane's new love.
"Yes, Akane loves Ryoga. That means Ranma-honey will have to choose between you and me."
"Shampoo ready to fight," Shampoo said, initiating the challange.
"Anytime, sugar!" Ukyo smiled accepting the challange. It was time to determine who is Ranma's fiance, once and for all!
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Having watched and listened to the two girl's conversation outside the Nekohanten, Sasuke quietly left his hiding place and went to tell the news to his mistress.
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"What?! That wicked girl Akane loves that Ryoga guy?!" Kodachi cried after hearing Sasuke's report."Her loss. As for me, Ranma-darling is my one and only. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Tatewaki Kuno stood in the shadows, listening. "Ah my sweat Akane, How can you break a heart such as mine? I shall mourn your loss forever, my love........Curse you, Ryoga Hibiki! I, Tatewaki Kuno, shall smite thee and reclaim the fair Akane!" He left the house and went to school.
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Gossip moved fast in Furinkan. "Hey, Did you hear about Akane and that Ryoga guy?"
"Looks like Ranma can't keep track of his fiances very well, huh?"
"I knew Akane would ditch him sometime!"
"He was asking for it." "I think they make a cute couple."
"She always finds the cute guys."
"No, Ranma is way cuter than that Ryoga guy."
"When did this happen?"
"I will not accept this. I, Tatewaki Kuno, am Akane's one true love!"
"Yeah, right."
"I would stick with that pig-tail girl if I were you."
"She's a babe!"
"I wonder if this means the engagements off."
"I would think so!"
"Hey, He's been cheating on her from the start. It's about time, she gave him a taste of his own medicine!"
Ranma dragged himself to school, trying to ignore all of the remarks, but each struck him like one of Ryoga's punches. At least some of the boys were symphetic to him, each giving him a comforting statement: "Don't worry, You got three other fiances."
"You just lost the most violent one!"
"Yeah it's Shampoo I'd like to date!"
"How 'bout that Ukyo?"
But none of their words made Ranma feel better. Now that he realized he loved, the other girls made poor substitutes.
Akane, on her part, walked silently bside him, ignoring Ranma. It was hard for her to part from Ryoga, after she had found him again, but she had to leave him at the dojo. If she wanted to be Akane, she would have to do all that Akane does, including school. Still that dosn't mean she had to socialize with all of the other humans.
Suddenly, arms circled her into a hug from behind with a voice crying: "Ooh Akane, say it isn't so my love!" The spirit grabbed the arm and slammmed Kuno to the ground. Kuno jumped up, "Where is that villain, Ryoga!? I, Tatewaki Kuno, shall destroy him and free you from his evil bonds!"
"You will not touch him," Akane said in a calm, low voice. A blue aura encircled her.
"My love?" Kuno gasped. He had never seen Akane like this before.
Ranma didn't like the look of this. He backed away slowly from Akane and Kuno, but he didn't leave. Beating up Kuno was one of Ferinkin High's entertainment. Watching someone else beat him up was also entertaining.
Kuno never fought his hardest when fighting a girl. But if he had of, he still would have been badly beaten. Akane moved faster, fought stronger with an almost inhuman skill, that even Ranma felt envious of. Kuno didn't know what hit him, and the school nurse hadn't seen such a badly beaten body in all of her career as a high school nurse. Needless to say, nobody else came near Akane the rest of the day!
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Dr. Tofu adjusted his glasses, before knocking on the door of the Tendo dojo. In his arms, he carried a bag with special medicine always needed at the dojo by someone or other (Especially Ranma after he insulted Akane), and the doll he had found. As he said earlier, Dr. Tofu entended to give the doll to Kasumi, but the minite he saw her, he dropped the bag on the table (forgetting it completely) and followed her into the kitchen.
Slowley Akane crawled out of the bag. "Oh thank goodness! I'm here! Now I need to find Ranma.....and me!"
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Ryoga awoke to find himself in the Tendo dojo, more specifically Ranma's room. Suddenly, all that had happened yesterday flooded his thoughts. "Akane?" Was that Akane who had treated him so kindly, spoke kind words, loved him? "It must've been a dream." He had alot to think about.
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Akane finally managed to get the doll's body to stand. The doll was as stiff and awkward as she had last remembered and just as hard to control. She took some cautious steps forward, but she still managed to trip over the bag.
"Owe!" she cried, hitting the floor. There she laid for a minite before she tried to get up again. Suddenely, a foot landed in front of her. She looked up and saw that it belonged to Ryoga.
Ryoga looked down and saw the familiar doll."Hey!" He cried smiling,as he picked her up. "Am I glad to see you! How on earth did you get here!?"
Akane was level with his face. She clearly saw the toothy grin of his. He looked genuinely glad to see her, which confused her.
He looked up as Ranma entered the room. Ranma looked like he had gone threw hell. It got so bad at school, that he had to leave early or he would have gone crazy! He stared at the source of his pain. "Ryoga." All of his anger in manifested in that one word.
Ryoga looked up at him with a confused expression on his face. He was holding a doll that would have been familiar looking if Ranma was actually looking at it. "Ranma?"
Akane looked at him through the doll's eyes.
"I've just gone through hell, and it's all your fault!" Ranma continued,just as darkly.
"What are you talking about?"
Ranma balled his hands into fists. Ryoga knew very well what he did to him! He was there when Akane chose him over Ranma! "Let me tell you just one thing, Ryoga! Akane is my fiance! I'm not letting you take her from me without a fight!"
Akane was confused.
Ryoga bowed his head.
Ranma felt like exploding. "Ryoga! She's mine!" He lunged at the happy, love-struck boy, fist aimed for his head. Ryoga reached out and caught it. "What's the matter, Ranma? You're always complaining about being stuck with her. You never treated her kindly, always calling her 'uncute' and 'stubborn'. Complaining about her cooking. Then you turn around and got three other fiances and you enjoyed every minite of making Akane jeolous. The truth is ,Ranma......You don't deserve a fiance like Akane. You never wanted her, but now that she might actually want to move on with her life, you want her back. Why?"
Ranma bowed his head. He was angry, depressed, confused, but he knew Ryoga spoke truth. He seriously considered his question before answering. "Because... I love her." He said softly.
Ryoga shook his head, sadly. "You should have told her that from the beginning, Ranma, but now it is too late...."
"Akane loves me now, and I love her. I've always loved her."
"No!" Ranma cried. It couldn't be too late.
"I'm sorry, Ranma." Ryoga said.
"Ryoga," 'Akane' appeared at the door, again dressed in the kamono. She held out her hand to him. Ranma felt his heart break as he took took it. The new couple left together....leaving the doll behind.
Ranma fell to his knees in defeat. Akane felt helpless.
But Ranma didn't look up.
He didn't want anybody to see his tears.
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Ranma sat that way for a unknown period of time. It could have been a couple of minites; it could have been a hour. Time didn't matter to Ranma, anymore. Suddenely, he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, Ranma-honey!"
Ukyo. Quickly, Ranma cleared the last of his tears. He couldn't appear weak, even to his best friend. He stood up and prepared himself for this encounter.
"Oh there uou are Ranchan!" Ukyo said, walking in. She held an okinomiyaki. "I heard what that hussy did to you, running off with Ryoga. I hope this okinomiyaki makes you feel better."
"Uh- Thanks, Uchan." Ranma stammered, hoping, for once, she was here as his friend instead of his fiance.
No such luck.
"You know, now that Akane's gone, you can spend more time with me! Like- a romantic get-away!"
"Uh- well- Uh-" Ranma stammered, how was he going to tell her the truth?
Both Ukyo and Akane(The one inside the doll) waited for his answer. Ranma was about to answer, when a banging thundered on the wall. It burst in, and Shampoo walked through carrying Nekohanten delivery boxes.
"Nihao! Beautiful wife bring husband delicious cooking. Shampoo won't leave you like stupid, violent girl Akane did," She dropped the ramen and hugged the unexpected Ranma. "Wo-ai-ni!"
Ukyo glared at Shampoo, while Akane silently fumed. Ranma tried to peel Shampoo off of him."
"Try cooking, Ranma!" Shampoo said.
"No, he's here to try my okinomiyaki!" Ukyo cut in.
"No, he not, stupid girl!"
"Yes, he is, you hussy!"
Ranma watched the argument and sighed. Could it possibly get any worse than this?
Yes, it can. Kodachi came in bearing a covered dish, an intoxicating aroma of French cooking filled the room, adding to the smells of Chinese ramen and okinomiyaki. "I brought you a meal in your hour of need, my love."
"Take a number," Ranma muttered.
Kodachi noticed Ukyo and Shampoo, who were still arguing. "What are those harletons doing here!?"
"Feeding me ramen and okinomiyaki."
"I can't allow that," Kodachi declared, snapping her ribbon. She joined the fight, which by this time had become physical instead of verbal.
Akane watched the scene with uncertainty.
Ranma was too busy trying to figure out how to tell them the truth, than to watch the fight or look at the doll.
Shampoo's bombaris were starting to overpower Ukyo's spatula. Ukyo had to think of something else, quick. She threw her throwing spatulas at her, to distract the Amazon. Then Ukyo picked up a bucket of water and poured it on Shampoo. Shampoo changed into a cat. "Meyow!" She cried, furiously glaring at her.
"Hmmph, who would want a fiance that changed into an animal?!" Ukyo declared, triumphantly, before turning to fight Kodachi.
"That's it!" Ranma exclaimed. "Sorry, Ryoga, but this means war!"
He ran off to look for a bucket of water, leaving the doll lying there alone.
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Ryoga was stunned, as he sat at the table. One thing, All of his dreams about Akane had come true. The other, He was eating Akane's cooking and it was good. Akane sat across from him, just silently watching him. Normally, Ryoga would have felt nervous, but somehow this felt right. For the first time in his life, he felt comfortable with Akane as a man, instead of as P-chan.
The spirit noticed he was done eating his meal. She picked up his plate and stood up. "I have prepared you a special dessert."
"Can't wait," He said, grinning.
"Akane's mine, Ryoga," He replied, grabbing another bucket of water. "She's my fiance and she belongs to me!" He charged at Ryoga, trying to pour the water and video tape Ryoga at the same time. It would have been easier to do this if he had accepted Nabiki's offer to tape it for him, but he was broke.
Fortunately for Ryoga, he managed to kick the tape recorder out of Ranma's hands, but he left himself open for Ranma to kick him square into the carp pond. Ryoga felt the change of his body that always accompanied the wet feeling. Reluctantly, he resurfaced, planning to give Ranma the bweeing of a lifetime. But he was silenced when he saw 'Akane' standing by the door. She had seen the whole thing!
Ranma was practically hysterical. "See! See! I told you he was P-chan!"
Ryoga felt like running, but he didn't. He couldn't. He merely crawled out of the carp pond and shook the water off. He knew his secret could not be kept forever, now he must accept the consequences. Ranma had won. Both he and Ranma waited for Akane's reaction.
"I knew Ryoga was P-chan," She said, quietly.
"WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"/"BWEEEEEEEEEE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
She smiled. "And I don't care."
That was it. P-chan fainted. Ranma felt like doing that also.
The doll-or to them, Akane-walked to the unconcious pig and carefully picked him up. "Nice try," She said rather coldly to Ranma as she walked by. .
Ranma didn't know what to do, now. Slowly, he walked back into the dojo.
***************************************************************
Inside, Akane had finally gotten the doll's to stand up.
Just then Ranma came in distractedly. He too ignored the bickering girls. Akane and Ryoga were his only concerns. He had questions to get answered. Like:
Akane looked up, hoping he would notice her. But when she saw he was just passing through, she finally lost her patience.........
"LOOK AT ME, YOU STUPID JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Somehere from deep inside Ranma, he heard her. He glanced down and finally saw the doll. All of his questions were answered.
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Ryoga awoke just before Akane dropped him into the bathtub. He felt the warm water return him to his real form. Again, he amerged and saw Akane waiting for him. So many questions ran through his mind, keeping him from thinking about Akane seeing him naked---So he did not faint, again.
"Uh, uh, Akane?"
"Yes, Ryoga?"
"H-how did you know-" "That you turned into a pig? You told me yourself, Ryoga." She began, but fell silent. She didn't know if she wanted Ryoga to know that she wasn't Akane or not. Perhaps, he wouldn't want her anymore...She turned around abruptly. The idea too painfull to even think about.
Grabbing a towel to cover himself with, Ryoga began to get out of the tub. "Uh- I told you?"
The spirit kept her back to him, but remained silent. The subject was beginning to get uncomfortable. She couldn't tell him that she was the doll that Ryoga had been pouring his heart out to.....at least not yet. She needed something to distract him. "Ryoga, let's go for a walk."
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Ranma's eyes grew wide when he recognized the doll. Memories erupted as he remembered the last time Akane had acted really weird, when the vengefull spirit doll had traded places with her and tried to kill him. Akane's acting weird again, and this doll shows up. Coincidence? He didn't think so, that would mean.....
"Akane?" He asked uncertainly, feeling kind of weird, talking to a doll.
"Yes, Ranma!" Akane nodded as best she could.She felt relief and happiness that she was astep closer to getting her body back. She was also glad now that Ranma knew the truth the spirit couldn't hurt him anymore.
"And that evil spirit thingie is in your body! Relief and happiness flooded through him. The Akane that chose Ryoga wasn't really Akane! That means it wasn't too late! He still had a chance! Suddenely, he realized the awful truth about it the more true it sounded. When the spirit doll was after him originally, she had been incredibly nice to him and tried to seduce him, but secretly she was just trying to distract him while finding a way to kill him. Now the doll was trying to do the same to Ryoga. "That stupid jerk, he doesn't expect a thing!" He carefully picked up the doll. "Come on, Akane. We have to stop her!"
He was about to leave, when he felt something holding him back. There was something he had to say to Akane. She had obviously witnessed some events, that he had to clean up and and it might be easier this way.
"Uh-Akane,uh- about earlier..." He closed his eyes in frustration.
"Ranma, does this mean-" The trapped girl asked, silently.
"I love you, Akane. I'm glad you're my fiance."
"Ranma!"
"Ranchan!"
"Ranma-darling!"
Ranma looked up.(Missing the tears of joy flowing from the doll's eyes) He saw Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi gazing at him intently, a touch of curiosity in their eyes.
"Uh, Yeah?" Ranma asked, impatiantly.
"Uh- Ranma, you don't have to answer this, but why on earth are you talking to a doll?" Ukyo asked.
"Yeah, aren't you a tad old for that, Ranma-darling?" Kodachi added.
"Shampoo thought only little girls play with dolls!"
Ranma felt like screaming. Instead, he left hastily with a "Gotta go!", Making sure to take the doll with him.
"Weird, even for him!" Ukyo remarked.
"Maybe curse affecting him, mentally." Shampoo stated.
"But he's still mine!" Kodachi declared.
"No, He's not!" Both Ukyo and Shampoo cried, and their fight started all over again.
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Ranma holding the transformed Akane ran into the living room just as Kasumi and Dr. Tofu had returned from the market. (They had gone after discovering someone had used all of the soy sauce.)
Kasumi smiled pleasantly at Ranma. "If you're looking for Akane, she went on a walk with Ryoga."
"What?! Which way did they go?!" Ranma cried, fearing he was too late.
"We saw them head towards the forest." Dr. Tofu answered, absetmindedly. He was really focusing his attention on Kasumi.
"The forest?! Gotta go!" Ranma ran out still clutching the doll.
"Was that a doll he was carrying?" Kasumi asked the doctor.
"What doll?"
"Oh, never mind. Now, how about that meal I promised?" She said, cheerfully.
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Ryoga followed Akane as she led him deeper into the forest. He never had seen her so eager to walk with him, but he didn't care. Akane had been doing alot of things out of the ordinary lately.
Akane looked back at him and smiled.
Ryoga watched her uncertainly, hoping he wouldn't get lost. He was about to follow her (or try) when somebody grabbed him from behind. He turned abruptly and saw it was Ranma, who was hiding in the bushes, clutching a doll in his hands.
"What do you want now, Ranma?" He asked, impatiantly.
"Ryoga, I now know the truth. That girl you are with...She's not Akane! Ya got to understand-"
"Oh, I understand everything perfectly, Ranma. You're jealous."
"What!? I'm not- That Akane is evil! She's trying to kill you!"
"How can you even say such a thing like that about her!? GRRRR, Ranma!!
Get lost!" With that, Ryoga uppercutted Ranma as hard as he could. "Hmmph- That guy doesn't take rejection very well," Ryoga muttered before leaving to look for Akane.
Meanwhile, the man in question hung on a branch of a tree, high above the ground . "You don't understand-" He groaned.
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Ryoga, all thoughts of Ranma forgotten, continued into the forest in the direction he hoped would take him to Akane.
Suddenely ahead of him, he heard a girl crying. "Akane!?" Ryoga ran through the forest until - by some miracle- he found the source of the crying. It wasn't Akane, but a fair maiden adorned in a beautiful gown, a crown of flowers rested on her flaming red hair, which was tied in a pigtail.
Ryoga didn't say a word and never got the chance. The girl noticed him (Almost as if she was waiting for him) and immediately jumped into her sad, sad story.
"Oh Alas! You must help me, kind sir! I am a poor maiden who is in dire need of service! A strong, handsome man such as yourself should be able to help!"
"Uh- uhm-"
"Oh, thank you! You are so kind! You see I am looking for my fiance. I have never seen him before for our meddlesome, yet well-meaning parants had arranged the marriage. Do you know where I can find him? He's always lost, wears a bandanna, turns into a pig, has cute fangs, and answers to the name: Ryoga Hibiki."
"Uh- uhm-"
"You're him! I'm so happy! Hold me, my love!" The fair maiden then jumped into the incredibly confused Ryoga's arms.
"Take me away! Let us leave this forest and find our future elsewhere!"
"But-" Ryoga managed to finally gasp out.
"I love you!"
"But I love Akane! I'm sorry, but I allready love someone else." He drops the girl and was about to leave when Ranma lost her patiance.
"Can't you see I'm trying to save you, you stupid jerk!?"
Ryoga could recognize that voice anywhere. "Ranma!" He growled, cracking his knuckles. Ranma ,seeing how angry he was, began her cute, helpless act, but Ryoga still pounded her into the ground.
Ryoga then left, but returned a minite later. Laughing nervously, arm behind his head, playing with his bandanna, he asked Ranma which direction Akane had gone. Although still angry and aching from the blow, Ranma pointed out the wrong direction, hoping Ryoga would get lost in this case saving himself. Using his bad direction skills, Ryoga went the opposite direction Ranma pointed out. He was going the right way.
Ranma sighed in frustration.
"Ranma, don't give up, yet!" Akane pleaded with him.
As if he heard her, Ranma stood up, dtermination marking his face. "I'll save you, Ryoga! Whether you like it or not!" He vowed as he ran after the not-so-lost-for-once boy.
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If Ryoga was suprised that he had found Akane so fast, he didn't show it. He found her standing in the middle of a large clearing. With the black kamono and her black hair, being gently blown in the wind, she was beautiful. She turned to Ryoga and smiled.
Nervously, Ryoga walked to her and was rewarded with a hug. After she released him from her embrace, she smiled again and said, "You wouldn't believe how long I've waited for this."
"Me, too." After the hug, Ryoga lost all traces of nervousness. This felt right. He and her were meant to be.
With that, the spirit reached up and touched his lips with hers. The kiss was hesitant at first, but it grew in intinsity as it lasted. Ryoga wrapped his strong arms around the girl that he had loved since the day he met her as P-chan.
For the first time in his life, he was happy.
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In the bushes a couple of feet away, Ranma watched the scene unfold. He was confused.
Akane, who had a good view of the scene from Ranma's arms, caught on faster than her fiance.
Ranma's thoughts were running the same course as Akane's. He had realized the spirit wasn't going to hurt Ryoga, but she sure was hurting Akane. Ranma had to think of a way to get the spirit out without hurting Akane's body. He thought of every possible plan, but only one had a chance of working, at least he hoped it did. It was a strategy that Ranma didn't use that often.....A strategy most men (at least, in this series) didn't know how to use.
He was going to talk to the spirit and ask her to leave Akane's body. He hoped that it would work and not hurt Ryoga too much. For Akane's sake, he was willing to do anything.
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As Ryoga felt Akane's soft lips on his, her arms around his, he couldn't help but fall into a trance. The moment seemed to last forever, but time hurrys on, and the moment was gone. She pulled away, reluctantly, from the kiss. She felt as breathless as he did. He looked deep into her eyes. The eyes he looked into every chance he got, but never felt a part of. Now all doubts earased that this girl wanted him to be a part of her, but there was one thing he needed to clear up.
"You're not Akane, aren't you?" he said, softly. He was not angry.
He was not accusing her of deceiving him. He just wanted to know who the girl he had fallen in love with was. Deep within him, he knew the answer, but the question still needed to be asked.
"No, I'm not." The girl who wasn't Akane looked up at him. Her eyes showing no signs of guilt or fear. She knew just as he did that they were meant to be, and the time for disguises was over. She didn't tell him who she really was, for they were now one. He knew all that she knew, and she knew the same from him. They were both home, and nothing could break them apart.
But they could try. "Ah, Ryoga Hibiki, so this was where you were hiding!" Kuno stepped out from the woods, his boken in his hand. "I, Tatewaki Kuno hath found you at last. And here with you is Akane Tendo. Did you really think you could hide her from me?"
The new couple stared at this inconvenience. Neither felt threatened by Kuno's bravo. They just didn't want to deal with him at the moment.
Kuno drew his sword out and pointed it at Ryoga. "Enough! We fight! Today, we shall determine once and for all, who shall touch the hand of the fair, sweet Akane."
"Right," Ryoga muttered. He took a step forward, cracking his knuckles. The spirit tried to keep him back. She no longer felt like dealing with these mortals. She didn't want Ryoga to fight just for her sake, although she knew he would.
Ryoga turned to her and grinned. "Sorry, I can't refuse a challange. Besides I want to to fight for the girl I love." He turned back and walked towards Kuno, who was smiling, wickedly.
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The spirit stared after them, as they disapeared into the forest. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and found Ranma who was holding a doll, all too familiar to her. At first, she was nervous thinking he'd do anything in his power to return her to her prison. But on a closer look, Ranma looked more confused than angry. She dicided to wait him out to see what he was going to do. "You know," she said, simply.
"I do,...and I don't get it. Why'd you take Akane's body, again? Why do you want Ryoga?"
They were honest questions. "Ryoga showed kindness to me. Nobody has ever treated me so nicely. I love him." Her gaze turned downwards as she felt how true her words were. She was going to stay with Ryoga no matter what. Determined, she looked back up at her only obstacle. "I chose Akane since she was the only way to get close to him."
"Yeah, but that's the problem . That's not fair to Akane! So be a nice spirit and trade places with Akane, so she'd have her body back." He held up the doll, but the spirit only stared at it, uninterested.
If Akane had been expecting a rage, she was disapointed. The spirit just stood there smiling, unfortunitely it was an evil smile.
"If you're expecting me to give up this body, forget it. I'm sorry, but I just can't do it. The last few days have been the best in my long life. I now prefer being human. Akane can keep the doll. I won't be needing it anymore."
This was worse than a rage. Akane began to think the situation hopeless, but Ranma had not given up hope.
"You can't do that!"
"I can, and I will. In fact," She pulled out a huge samurai sword. "I'm willing to fight for it."
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Ryoga wiped the evil grin off of Kuno's face, ten seconds flat. Kuno could never back up his words. Ryoga turned leaving the bleedy upperclassman lying in the dirt.
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The spirit kicked Ranma in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. The fight wasn't going to well for him. Two things were against him:
ONE: The spirit had access to all of Akane's abilitys, her strength, and her martial artist skills. She had also enhanced Akane's body to be able to do some things that were not natural for any human, including Ranma.
TWO: Ranma spent more of his energy to protecting the doll in his arms, than actually fighting. He had to protect Akane, and to do this he couldn't fight the the spirit with all of his strength out of fear of hurting her body.
So in other words, Ranma was losing. Fast!
Ranma laid on the ground, slightly dazed. 'Akane' stood above, sword raised to strike, the evil smile still on her face.
"I shall make sure, you don't interfere."
Her sword came tumbling down on him........
"I'm sorry, Akane..." Ranma apologized to the doll, his love. He had lost.
.........Until it was knocked out out of the spirit's hands by a bombari, Shampoo's mace.
Ranma looked up and saw Shampoo, minus one bombari; Ukyo, with spatula in hand; and Kodachi, a gymnastic ribbon in one hand and a pile of dirty tricks in her mind.
"I don't think so, sugar!" Ukyo cried.
"You won't hurt him, you witch!" Kodachi added.
"Now we know where we saw ribbon and doll before! Akane possesed, again." Shampoo said, filling Ranma in on why his other fiances have shown up to aid him.
For one of the few times, ever, Ranma was glad to see them. He was especially glad that they were here to stop Akane because of the evil spirit within her instead of just the sake to get rid of another competiter for him. At least he knew Ukyo and Shampoo were here for the latter. Kodachi was just here to get rid of "that wicked Akane girl", but he didn't expect more out of her. He knew he was going to have to tell them his true feelings soon, but he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it. Right now, he needed all the help he could get.
The spirit remained calm, although now it was four against one. Indeed, she had the strength and the power to back her up. Ukyo swung at her with her spatula, but she jumped out of the way. Ukyo, accidentally, hit Shampoo instead.
"Hiyah! Stupid, spatula girl pay for that!" Shampoo shouted, angrily. She swung her hammer at Ukyo, who blocked with her spatula. Unfortunately, she couldn't block Shampoo's kick, which caught her square in the jaw. "Augh! Why, you Jackass!"
"Come on, you guys! We're supposed to be fighting Akane!" Ranma yelled at them. He glanced down at Akane, still held protectively in his arms. He sighed, but remained determined. Newly rejuvinated, he was ready to fight again. "Hit her with all you got!" he cried.
Ukyo stared at him in shock.
The spirit felt herself weakening, one of the downfalls of being human. Shampoo hit her with her bombari. Kodachi's ribbon gripped the sword in the spirit's hand and flung the weopon away. Ukyo threw her spatulas, and Ranma kicked his kicks. The spirit was poweful, but even she couldn't withstand attacks from four people, all of which were skilled martial artists. At last weak and a little bruised, she fell to her knees. The only sign of her pain were the tears from her closed eyes. "Ryoga," she said, softly, sadly.
Her victors didn't know what to do next, especially Kodachi, who had never actually beaten anyone before in a fair fight. She just laughed her maniac laugh: "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"What do we do now?" Ukyo asked, wiping the sweat from her brow. "We can't kill her!"
"Why not? Evil spirits meant to be killed," Shampoo asked, using amazon logic.
"We can't kill her..We just gotta get the evil spirit out of Akane's body," Ranma put in.
"How are we gonna do that?" Ukyo asked.
The group was confering so intently, they didn't notice Ryoga finally come out of the woods. He had been wondering ever since he beat up Kuno, but fotunately, he wasn't too lost, or he'd be in another country. He saw the situation:
a hurt crying Akane, and the four warriors each with chosen weapon, talking seriously among themselves. It didn't take him long to figure out what happened. Silently, he moved to the defeated spirit. She looked up at him, the tears still up in her eyes. Anger burned within him.
He heard only two words from the conversation of his "friends".
"Kill her," Ranma had said.
As usual, Ryoga jumped to conclusions.
"RANMA!!!!!!YOU JERK!!!!!!!!!!" He cried, releasing his anger in the aura blast he was known for. It was as strong as the atomic bomb, that was dropped on Pearl Harbor. Each were thrown off their feet, but miraculously remained unhurt. You can say that Ryoga got their attention. In fact he got the attention of everyone in the area. It was kind of hard to ignore an explosion like that. The clearing they stood in had doubled in size, and all grass was history.
Ranma was the only one still conscious, who was hit head on. His first thought was Akane, and he glanced down at the doll he still held, protectively. Fortunately, she was still in one piece. Ranma glanced back up at the boy who had caused all this damage. "Ryoga, that isn't Akane!"
"I know." The lost boy answered, absentmindedly. Like Ranma's concern for Akane, Ryoga was checking on the girl that used to be Akane.
"If you know, then why are you letting Akane suffor like this?" He asked, catching Ryoga's attention.
"Akane?
"Yeah, if that vengeful spirit thingie is in Akane, then Akane would-"
"In the doll." Ryoga gasped. He knew the doll had been different since last he saw her. Just as Akane had been different. For the first time, Ryoga began to doubt his actions. How could he treat Akane like this? He hasn't fought about her once this whole time. He had failed her.
"Ryoga?" the spirit asked, uncertainly. Her big, brown eyes gazing up at him, as if he held her fate in his hands. Ryoga felt himself being pulled in two different directions, his heart and his honor. As usual, Ryoga was lost.
Ranma saw his struggle. Carefully, he placed Akane on the ground. He was sure she was safe. He was close to getting her body back. Ryoga was the key.
"Ryoga, you do love Akane, don't you?"
Ryoga kept on struggling..."Yes, I do...."
"Great, then get the spirit thingie to give Akane's body back!"
"But I love her, too."
Ranma was starting to lose his patience. He took a few steps towards his rival. "Jeeze, Ryoga, what about Akane!? What about her life? You don't want to her to be stuck as a doll forever, don't ya?"
Ryoga continued struggling, but- "What about me?! Why can't I be happy for once, Ranma? She's the only one who's ever loved me. I can't let you take her away from me!" He looked at Ranma with a determined expression, but tears were streaming down his face.
Ranma hated to do this, but he had no choice. "And you call yourself 'honorable'!" You know that- that- spirit thingie shouldn't take somebody's body! It's not right, Ryoga. You're just as bad for helping her!"
Ryoga felt like he was hit with with one of his own punches. But he knew what Ranma said was true. He knew what he had to do, but it was going to be painful for him. The energy of his pain crackled in his hand. He raised it and fed it, until it was a ball the size of a volleyball. Ranma stared at Ryoga, uncertainly, as Ryoga let the ball loose. It flew through the air...straight for the doll which held Akane.
Ranma tried to stop it, but it was too late. The energy blast hit the doll, breaking it into a thousand pieces. Just as Akane's body let out a cry of pain and fell to her knees. Ranma rushed to the remains of the doll, sobbing. "Akane?! Akane?!" But the one who answered was the real Akane. She had returned to her body. "Akane!" Ranma exclaimed, happily, and rushed to her side.
"Ranma, I'm back?" The tears soon followed. She clutched Ranma as if to keep from losing herself again. "I was so scared!"
"It's over, It's finally over," He answered, hugging her back. He planned on never letting go, again.
Akane looked up, remembering Ryoga. He stood apart from the reunited couple, his back to them, his head lowered. "Ryoga,.......I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Akane....I'll be okay," he said, not turning around. "I hope you two will be happy. Farewell," He began to run away.
"Ryoga, wait!" Akane cried after him.
"I think he needs time alone," Ranma said, "He'll be back, when he's ready," But Ranma knew in his heart that Ryoga wouldn't be back.
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A WEEK LATER
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Akane hugged Ranma, and gazed up at him with her big, brown eyes. He looked down at her, feeling completely at ease at last. Ever since that day, Ranma and Akane had been that way. They were a true couple at last. It had been hard to tell all of the other competiters. Some had taken it better than others, but in the end, all things will work out for the best. As for Ranma and Akane, their ending is a happy one.
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Miles away, on a cliff overlooking Tokyo, stood a boy, whose heart had been broken. In one afternoon, he had lost the only two girls he had ever loved. One to his rival, the other by his own hands. He felt more alone, now than he ever had before, because now he knew what he was missing.
"You'll never be alone," A voice softly said behind him. A soft hand landed on his shoulder, comforting him. He turned and saw a girl much like Akane. She wore a black kamono, with a pink ribbon in her black hair. She was very pale and doll-like. As familiar to Ryoga as himself.
Words were not spoken. They didn't need them. Silently, the reunited lovers embraced and softly their lips touched.
Ryoga knew then he would never be alone again. He was filled with love that will last forever and happiness that would last eternity. He was home.
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The story of the cursed doll was soon forgotten. All traces of the doll lost. Even the Cursed Doll Inn earned a new name.
As for Ryoga Hibiki, he was never seen again. All that was left was a memory...
and a bittersweet love story.
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THE END May 12, 1998
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So ends my first fanfiction....Jeeze you never realize how long a story is until you retype it! Well, I hope you liked it, questions? comments?
No really bad ones please, although I will accept light criticism.
Special thanks to:
My friend Loo, the first to read my story. Thanks for liking it and chewing me out for "killing" Ranma. That made my day! Thursday, July 30, 1998
