When Past Was Present 4

by Kiwi Noriega

"You jerk!" a female voice shouted.

-CLANG-

"Owww!!" a male voice answered.

"Serves you right!" another male voice said.

Then again....

Akane sighed as she opened the door to the bathroom. *Some things never change.* She thought. But for the first time, she wasn't really _that_ angry. She just missed hitting him. *I hope he wasn't hurt.* Akane thought. For the past years, she dedicated most of her time to studying the art, and from then on, she knew she was better than she used to be. Her schedule was the same until now, wake up and practice, go to school, kick Kunou's butt. She couldn't understand why Kunou was still chasing after her. His chasing became more aggressive as time passed after Ranma left. And now, she was afraid that when he became a senior in college, he might say another horrible speech that would liberate the student body of boys in her college. *He's hopeless.* After beating Kunou up, she goes straight home and practices. When her father noticed her dedication, he started teaching her new moves and techniques. Her father had said that she was increasing her skill by the minute. She thought it was because there was nothing else here for her. *Not anymore...*

Akane slid into the tub and relaxed. Her thoughts wandered to a certain purple haired Chinese. Shampoo left after Ranma disappeared but she didn't know where she had gone. She just later found out that they sold their restaurant and left without saying anything. Ukyou did the same; but at least she had said goodbye to everyone. She remembered her down trodden face and her halting words when she said that she was leaving Nerima and that she was sorry for ever coming here. Of course Akane had forgiven her then and there. After that, Ukyou and her became really good friends, talking about things, and boys and especially Ranma. Akane bolted up when she remembered something from Ukyou's last letter.

"Oh yeah! Ukyou's visiting this summer! How could I forget!" Akane said out loud. She forgot that her best friend was going to visit her. *Well, it changes nothing.* Akane thought. She just sat there in the water and thought about the past. She kinda found it funny that she somehow waited for either Heishiro or Ranma come in on her while bathing. She thought about how the same the two were in some ways. *Maybe that's how a very good martial artist is. * When she finally thought she was clean enough, she stood up and toweled herself off.

Akane took a quick look at the after dressing up in a floral dress and thought, *So many things have changed, even me.* She smiled and went out of the bathroom, ready for another normal day in college.

* * *

Ranma and Heishiro were waiting outside the dojo for Akane. They were both wearing their normal clothes and each had a backpack. They were a little bit grumpy because it's been a while since they last went to school.

Ranma shouldered his backpack, still thinking if he should go today. *I can't believe I'm actually going to college. The things I do for her.....I have to go, or else Heishiro will have time with Akane for the whole day.* Ranma sighed. He really didn't feel like going anywhere at all today. He thought back at his journeys all over China with Ryouga.

{Ranma hefted his backpack as he and Ryouga walked on the dirt road heading to some local village. They've been travelling for a month now and still haven't found any clue. They went to Jusenkyou first and were really careful not to fall again on another pool. They tried getting water from the pool of drowned man and still every time any one of them gets close, something weird happens. There's sometimes this strong wind or when they try jumping in, there was some kind of barrier there that kept them from the pool. At last, when they were tired, they gave up and asked the guide if he had any clue about the cure. The guide told them about this old Chinese temple to the north and said there were monks staying there that could maybe help them.

He looked sideways at his companion, he seemed to be thinking of something right now. Ryouga mouthed something not audible but Ranma could read his lips. Ryouga was thinking about the same thing he was thinking about. *Akane.* Ranma missed her so much, even though it's been only a month since he left. It had felt like forever. He remembered her soft lips on his on their final goodbye alone. Whenever he felt down or something, he had always thought of that one moment that could make him put his head high and continue his trek for her. Ranma broke the silence and said,

"Hey, Ryouga what are you thinking about?" Ranma asked.

"Huh? Oh, nothing." Ryouga answered.

Ranma looked back on the trail and focused his thoughts on the Chinese temple they were going to. They walked for days and suddenly out of the thick mist, came a temple so old that it looked like it would be blown. Ranma could see the door open and close to the movement of the wind. He blinked when he thought he saw something from the corner of his eye. They both stepped lightly and looked around them when they both felt a certain presence observing them. Ryouga noticed too and they both turned around and saw a shadow under a huge tree. It turned to them and eyes like fire stared---}

Ranma snapped from his thoughts when he heard Akane shouting, "Oh no! We' re gonna be late!" Akane rushed past them and said, "C'mon, follow me." Akane ran out of the dojo followed by the two men.

As they ran, she can't help but notice Ranma and Heishiro running _beside_ her. Ranma used to run on the fence while Heishiro always taunted her to chase him, which she always did.

They slowed down near the entrance of the gate and allowed both men to look around their new school. Akane smiled as she looked at the both of them staring at their new school. *It looks like it's gonna be a beautiful day to--* Akane's thoughts stopped as she heard a voice she's dreaded to hear since she was sixteen.

"Ahh... The beautiful Akane Tendo has graced me with her presence again this morning. I am truly lucky." Kunou smiled at her and stopped when he noticed the two men staring daggers at him.

Kunou grinned cockily and said, "Go away, you mindless peasants."

Ranma laughed inside because he actually felt good seeing this jerk again. *He actually doesn't recognize me.* He thought. Well, Kunou had changed a lot too. His hair was the same but it was not curly, it was straight. He was still wearing his blue and black kendo outfit and carrying the almost identical stick. But one thing had really changed in Kunou, his face was sharper, much older, and it gave the effect of a real samurai especially when he pointed his kendo stick at him and Heishiro.

Ranma smiled and said, "Shut up Kunou."

Kunou's head snapped straight at him and he said, "What is this?! Do I know you from somewhere, peasant?" Kunou approached Ranma and looked him over, and stopped to stare at the pigtail. His eyes bugged open and he said, "You??!!!"

Ranma smiled and said, "Yes it's me."

Kunou held his breath and said, "How dare you?! How dare you wear a stupid pigtail that reminds of the fiend, Saotome?!!!"

Ranma recovers and punches his lights out. Heishiro was now totally clueless of who this Kunou guy was, but he planned to ask Ranma later.

Akane smiled and said, "Good thing I don't have to deal with him today."

Ranma turns to Akane and says, "You mean he's still chasing after you?!" Ranma said, a bit surprised.

Akane was about to say something then the warning bell rang. "Ok, you guys, since you chose the same courses I'm taking, then you'll be following me all day."

Heishiro smiled and said, "I don't mind Akane."

"Neither do I." Ranma added.

Akane just looked at them and sighed. She started to walk to her classes followed by Ranma and Heishiro.

As Akane walked into her first class, English, everyone stared at her and her fianc�s. She sat on a nearby seat, followed by Ranma and Heishiro.

The day followed on as usual, except for a few dreamy looks directed at the two guys. Akane was kinda relieved that the attention was taken off from her for once.

As the bell finally rang for lunch, both guys jumped off their seat, and pulled her into the cafeteria. Akane smiled as she saw their happy faces, while ordering an enormous meal for the three of them. They carried the drinks and the food to a nearby tree and sat down to eat. Akane sighed and said, "You know, I could have cooked us some lunch. The food here is pretty expensive..."

Both guys suddenly choked at Akane's words. They both gave each other sympathetic looks.

Akane continued on, not noticing the brief exchange. "And there are rumors that the food here is poisonous..."

The boys looked at each other as the same thoughts entered their minds.

*Nothing is more poisonous than Akane's cooking.*

They both burst up laughing.

Akane looked at them, totally clueless. "Did I miss something?"

Heishiro looked at her and said, "No, nothing."

"We, uh, just kinda felt like laughing." Ranma said when Akane got a suspicious look in her eyes.

"Well, you'd better be, anyway, the bells gonna be ringing soon, so we better throw are garbage away." Akane said, lifting her lunch.

Both guys did as told and followed Akane into their next class.

* * *

Ryouga sighed as he looked around him. *Why does everything look the same?* Ryouga said as he passed a certain tree. Things have not been good to him lately. "I've been walking for hours, and still, I can't find my way!!! Aaaarggghhh!!" Ryouga said bowing his head in defeat. Ryouga sat down on a rock almost shaped like a chair. *Hmm, strange...why would a rock be shaped like a chair, oh well.* He lifted his head up and thought he heard something. He stood up and walked closer and heard rocks crumbling. He walked to the sound, making sure he won't get lost going to it. He brushed away some branches and saw what looked like a mountain with a big huge whole in it. There was a man there, his hair like fire, wearing all black with bandages on his forearms. The man was wiping sweat from his brow as he looked at the damage he had done. Ryouga approached the man and before he could say anything, the guy spoke.

"Hey there!" He said as he turned to Ryouga, his green eyes staring into Ryouga's brown.

Ryouga smiled and said, "Hi, I'm kinda lost, could you point me to Nerima?"

The guy smiled and said, "The name's Kentaro and Nerima is quite far from where we are now."

"Ryouga Hibiki, nice to meet you. So how far is Nerima?" Ryouga asked.

Kentaro grinned at him and said, "It's kinda far, I traveled for more than four hours to practice and to . . . to clear my mind." Kentaro said trying to cover up as much as possible. He was almost going to say that he was trying to avoid the woman wrestler his mom had asked to meet him. *Where does she find these women?* He said to himself, then turned his attention to the new guy he had just met.

"Nerima's somewhere north from here." Kentaro said gesturing to the forest surrounding them.

Ryouga grinned and said, "Uh, where's north?"

Kentaro smiled at him and said, "It's there." Kentaro said pointing north.

"Oh, okay."

Kentaro watched as the guy walked away. *Somehow, I know we'll meet again.* He sighed and continued his practice.

Ryouga walked through the forest and suddenly said, "Hmm, I've been walking for an hour now and I still don't see anything close to civilization." He sat down on a rock and rested for a while. He suddenly noticed the rock he was sitting on.

Kentaro almost jumped when he suddenly heard someone shouting.

"WHERE AM I NOW??????!!!!"

Kentaro smiled and said, "Nah it couldn't be..." his doubts melted when he saw a familiar guy with a bandanna walking right up to him. Before Ryouga could speak, Kentaro said, "Do you study martial arts?"

Ryouga looked at him surprised at his question and answered, "Uh, yeah, why?"

The red-haired boy smiled and said, "Are you in the mood for a little sparring? I could walk back to Nerima with you, in case you might get lost again."

Ryouga smiled and said, "Sure, why not. It beats having to wander around the forest.

Both boys smiled and started their sparring as the sun slowly started its descent.

* * *

Ranma and Heishiro stood in the dojo discussing something of importance.

Heishiro glared at Ranma as he said, "I am going to fight for Akane no matter what."

Ranma returned the glare and said, "Same here pal. There's only one thing that could end all this."

A brief silence passed and Ranma said, "A man to man duel."

Heishiro nodded and discussed the rules with Ranma.

Akane stared out of her room and wondered where the two were. It's been more than an hour since she last saw them and they barely let the other get closer to her. She sighed looking out the window.

For the past two years, she had put all her attention mainly on her studies and Kempo. *I admit I've become better than I was two years ago, maybe as good as Ranma back then or Shiro.* Akane sighed as she looked at the mallet in her hands that came out of nowhere. Heishiro had taught her that. He himself had almost the same attack back then but with a murasame. He used to show her how he made his sword appear and disappear. She let go of the hammer and looked at the picture Ranma had given her, the Christmas before he left. The whole group was there. *So many people have gone away.* Akane thought remembering her old pals. She smiled as she remembered how fierce Ranma had fought for her against Toma, sacrificing his cure for her sake. Something suddenly clicked in her senses and she thought about how long the two have been gone and how strong each individual was...

Akane leaped from her bed and raced downstairs ignoring her father's questions. Her heart was pounding and she ran to the dojo. *Please...don't do anything stupid...* Akane opened the dojo doors afraid of what she might see. The doors flew open and she shouted, "STOP!!" Akane froze in mid step looking at what happened, she closed her eyes shut and opened them again to see...

Ranma and Heishiro were staring at her with puzzled looks. They both shook their heads and then Heishiro said, "Ok, remember what we talked about."

Ranma nodded and turned to Akane with a huge smile and said, "You know Akane,"

Then Heishiro added, "We're really hungry,"

"Really hungry," Ranma added.?

Akane looked at them and was confused, "And?"

Both Ranma and Heishiro took a big breath and said together,

"We want you to cook lunch for us."

* * *

Ryouga sighed as he and Kentaro packed their things up. They had just finished sparring for about two straight hours. Ryouga admitted that Kentaro was pretty good, *Even as good as I am* Ryouga thought. Kentaro had some techniques that were definitely well developed and Ryouga was sure he was holding back, just like he himself was. Since their two and a half hours stay together, they managed to get to know each other quite well. Kentaro was training out in the forest because his mother was constantly fixing him up with the weirdest girls. *And I thought I had problems. Well, my curse _is_ much worse than his mom...* He snapped out of it and said,

"So, how long will it take us to get home?" he asked.

"About five or six hours, so we'll be probably be home for a late dinner where you live."

Ryouga smiled, he had invited Kentaro to stay and eat dinner in the dojo. He was sure that Kasumi and the other Tendo's wouldn't mind. And anyway, at least he was sure he's not going to get lost going to what he calls his home now.

As the pair silently journeyed through the forest, a pair of icy blue eyes followed their every move as the moon spread its blanket of silence.

* * *

Ranma gulped as he saw Akane humming while mixing something that seemed to come alive in the kitchen. He was pacing and stopped when he saw Heishiro close his eyes and concentrate.

"What the heck are you doing?" asked Ranma.

Heishiro glared at him and said, "I am meditating. I plan to be prepared and whole when we start to eat Akane's, uh, cooking."

"Oh yeah, well by the time you eat her toxic food, there's nothing left for you to be whole." Heishiro looked at him and he was going to say something, but Akane's voice from the kitchen stopped him. "It'll be ready in just a sec, I just have to...urg...get...aargg...the...aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!! Why won't it just get on the plate?????!!!!!!" Akane screamed. After a few moments of loud crashes and plates breaking did Ranma and Heishiro started to edge slowly to the garden. The both of them were already a step away from freedom, but one thing held them there, their agreement. The noises were slowly subsiding and the thought of what Akane had cooked was making both men sweat.

When a strange smell came from the kitchen, both guys looked at each other still hesitant. Out of nowhere, Happosai appeared and went past Ranma and into the kitchen. Ranma was going to warn him at first but then thought again. Ranma grinned as he heard Akane's and Happosai's voices.

"Ah, my dear Akane, is Kasumi cooking something?" Happy asked.

Ranma waited, he was sure Happy would not wait for an answer from Akane and would certainly eat the food without even taking a glance at it.

When they heard someone gasping for air, it proved their doubts. In an instant Ranma and Heishiro were shaking hands, breaking off the deal. They started for the door, and both smiled with relief when their feet felt the grass--then a hand on their arms stopped them dead. They slowly looked back and saw Akane's wide grin.

They hung their heads in defeat went back inside and sat down, awaiting their punishment.

"Happy just left, he said he had um, something else to do! Oh I'm so happy you two are hungry, I cooked a special batch of cookies for you. It's not what it's supposed to look like but hey, I added a few of my own ingredients!"

They both suppressed groans and smiled weakly at Akane. In a few seconds, Akane was back with a plate of---words cannot even describe the mess on the plate. Ranma and Heishiro started to turn green at the blob propped in front of them on the table.

"I got good news for the both of you! Because you insisted on my cooking," Both Ranma and Heishiro were at the edge of their seats, afraid of Akane's following words, "I cooked two more batches for the both of you!"

They both fainted dead away.

"What happened to him?" Ranma asked. He had just woken up from hearing Akane's 'good news'. He looked down at Heishiro's still figure; he still hadn't waked up yet. He didn't know how much Akane's news had affected him. Ranma turned to Akane, worry was evident all over her face and Ranma felt a small stab of jealousy. The samurai stirred a bit and Ranma looked closely, he seemed to be dreaming.

{"Heishiro!! Shiro!!" A young voice called.

Heishiro smiled, he turned and saw the one thing that could make him smile without even trying. He patted the bag on his side and grinned. He had bought something that would certainly make her smile.

"Akane..."

Akane combed back her long hair and smiled up at Heishiro. "I missed you..."
"I was only gone for a week!"

"Well, that was long enough, anyway, I had no one to spar with for a whole week, and daddy's dummy is all tattered and broken." She grinned and said, "Oh yeah, happy birthday!!"

Heishiro smiled back and answered, "My birthday's not till next week!"

"It doesn't matter." Akane said in a pouting but cute way. Heishiro was turning sixteen next week and she was turning fifteen in the next two months.

"Oh yeah, before I forget," Heishiro opened his bag and looked a little hesitant but continued. He brought out a bouquet of beautiful red roses, "Here, this is for you..."

Akane was speechless; this was the first time Heishiro had given her flowers, "Oh Shiro...these are so beautiful..." Akane could feel her cheeks burning like fire. For a moment Akane thought Heishiro sighed in relief.

Heishiro sighed, he was so shy to give Akane the roses but when he saw her blush like hot coal, he was so relieved. He smiled, he just loved it when Akane called him Shiro; it was just the way she says it that makes his heart jump all over.

"Well..." Just then a man tapped Heishiro on his shoulder.

"Hey sir! Would you like a picture taken with your pretty girlfriend?"

Both Akane and Heishiro blushed but neither of them said a single word.

"Uh, um, sure!"

The man grinned and said, "Great! Now just stand there, and I'll do the rest."

Akane awkwardly took Shiro's hand and held the bouquet on her free hand. Holding Heishiro's hand for a picture was much more different than holding him while sparring; she could feel that Heishiro was thinking of the same thing.

The man grinned again and said, "Say cheese!!"

They both smiled and pretended they weren't as bright as the sun. The samurai paid the man for the picture and showed the Polaroid to Akane.

While the Akane was looking at the picture, the photographer nudged him with his elbow and said, "You lucky dog, you! Don't let that one go, she seems to be pretty nice."

Heishiro didn't know what to say and just blushed.

They looked at the polaroid and beamed. They suddenly started to laugh for no reason and kept on holding each other's hand as petals flew from the bouquet. From that day on they felt a sudden warmness in their hearts they wished would be there forever...

"Heishiro? Heishiro?" that sweet voice called.

"Hey wake up!!" a man shouted.

Heishiro bolted upright and stared into the eyes of Ranma,

"Took you long enough to wake up." Ranma said.

"You looked like you were dreaming. What was it about?" Akane asked.

The samurai smiled and looked into Akane's big brown eyes and said, "Oh it was just something I wish was mine right now."

Akane looked confused for a while and just shrugged it off, "Well, there's nothing to worry about, I could heat the cookies again for the both of you!"

Both guys were on their feet and said,

"No, it's okay!"

"There's no need!"

Akane looked at them and said, "And what's wrong with my cooking?!!"

Both Ranma and Heishiro tensed up and felt a rage storm gathering.

As the sun descended with it's glory, sounds that haven't been heard for a long time echoed throughout Nerima.

*Crash*

"Ow!!"

"Ha!"

"Stop it!!"

-Clang-

End Chapter 4

Author's notes:

'murasame' - a type of sword

Hi! Hope you liked it! Sorry for the delay of Chapter 4; I'll try to write faster. Anyway, comments, suggestions, criticisms and everything are welcome at [email protected]
Oh yeah! Thanks to the people who gave me advice about the web page, thanks again! Visit and read some of my other fics at my page at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/9371 I also might write a special series about Akane's past with Heishiro, it depends if a lot of people are against it. Please tell me if I should or shouldn't write it. THANKS! -Kiwi :C)