Disclaimer : Ranma 1/2, and all characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
This fic is written for entertainment and self-fulfillment purposes
only.
Waiting For You
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
by Stiffanie Flores
~4~
Journey
"I'm going," Ranma announced to the Tendos. "The instructions are clear
enough. It shouldn't be too hard to track this man down."
Nabiki leaned back on the couch, frowning. "You're going by yourself,
Ranma? Are you sure?"
He looked over at her. "Worried about me, Nabiki?" he teased her.
Nabiki snorted indelicately. "You can take care of yourself, big boy."
Ranma nodded. "Sure I can. Besides, I don't think there's anyone else
here who's up to it."
"I am."
Ranma turned at the sound of the voice. Ryouga stood on the patio, a
grim smile on his face. "I will be glad to be of service," he said.
Catching the suspicious glint in Nabiki's eyes, he looked at her
apologetically. "I'm sorry, the door was open, and I let myself in to
look for Ak...er, Ranma, and I - uh, overheard your conversation."
Nabiki shook her head. "It's fine, Ryouga. We could use your help."
She raised her brows at Ranma. "If you could put aside your little
rivalry for a few days."
Ranma nodded. "That's fine with me." He glanced at the bandanna-clad
boy. "Thanks, Ryouga."
Ryouga snorted. "I'm doing this for Akane, not you."
"I know." Standing up, he turned to leave the room. "Wait here," he
told him. "I'll go and pack a few clothes, and we'll be on our way."
Ryouga started to sit down, unstrapping his backpack. Ranma's voice
came back to taunt him.
"Oh, and Pig-Boy? When we leave, be sure to hold onto my arm real tight
so you don't get lost, okay?"
Ryouga flushed. "Ranmaaaaa!" He started to stand up, his hand
automatically reaching for his umbrella.
Ranma laughed as he slapped Ryouga on the back. "Just kidding, man," he
said, still smirking.
Glaring at Ranma's retreating back, Ryouga took a deep breath, visibly
struggling to keep his temper in check. He resumed his seat. *Don't
kill him yet,* he told himself. *Your revenge can wait. Think of
Akane.*
"Tea, Ryouga?" Kasumi's musical voice called from beside him. Ryouga
opened his eyes and smiled up at her.
"Thank you, Kasumi-san," he said as she filled his cup.
She shook her head. "We are in your debt, Ryouga-kun. Thank you for
helping us."
Ryouga reddened. "It's okay, really. I'm glad I can help."
"Still," Nabiki drawled, "it would help to have someone go with Ranma.
He hasn't been himself lately, worrying so much over Akane."
Ryouga looked up, his eyes shadowed under dark bangs. "I see." He
stood up abruptly. "Excuse me, I'll look for Ranma."
The sisters watched him leave with varying expressions. Kasumi, with
gentle understanding; Nabiki, a calculating gleam in her eyes.
"He cares for her too, you know," Kasumi said quietly.
Nabiki nodded. "Hopeless guy," she muttered.
"Why is that, Nabiki?"
She almost smiled. "I think it's obvious whom our dear sister's heart
longs for, isn't it?"
Kasumi tilted her head thoughtfully. "True."
The front door of the house slid open. Both girls turned at the sound.
"Hello?" a voice called out. "Ranchan?"
Kasumi got up to greet their unexpected visitor, as Nabiki suppressed
the impulse to groan. *Here we go again...*
********
Ranma sat on the floor in his room, pulling open the bottom drawer of
his dresser. Grabbing a couple of Chinese shirts, he stuffed them into
his backpack. As he pulled out a pair of black pants, a sheet of paper
dropped onto his lap, and he picked it up, his mouth curving into a
small smile.
It was a photograph of Akane, one he'd snatched from Kunou along with
other pictures of Akane and "the pigtailed girl". He'd returned the
other pictures to Akane, but he'd kept this one, not telling her about
it.
In the photograph, Akane was wearing her favorite yellow dress. Totally
unaware she was being spied on, she was looking over her shoulder, her
face wreathed in a warm, unaffected smile, her brown eyes sparkling with
life. Sunlight caught the highlights in her hair as it swayed in the
gentle breeze. Whoever had taken this candid shot, Ranma thought he'd
captured Akane's best on film.
Ranma's smile faded as he gazed into her face. "I want to see you like
this, Akane," he whispered, gently tracing the curve of her lips with
his finger. "I want to see you smile again. I'll do everything I can.
I promise."
The door slid open behind him, and he hurriedly tucked the picture
inside his shirt. "Just a sec, Ryouga," he called without turning
around. "Jeez, don't be so impatient. I'm almost done."
"It's me, Ranchan," a soft voice replied, much to his surprise.
Ranma turned slowly. Ukyou was standing just inside the room, hands
clasped in front of her, looking down at him.
*Oh, man,* he groaned inwardly. *I don't want to deal with this right
now.*
He'd spoken to her only once, the day after the aborted wedding. He'd
been in a terrible mood, after being scorched by Shampoo and Ukyou's
bombs, and having the Nannichuan drunk by Happosai thinking it was sake.
Then Ukyou had come, demanding if he really would marry Akane if they
hadn't interfered. Already in a sour mood, he'd said some pretty harsh
words about how disappointed he was in her that she would stoop to
something normally only Shampoo would do, about how he could ever trust
her again after that...
Ukyou had avoided him after that, and the next day Ranma came by her
shop to see her, Konatsu had informed him that Ukyou wasn't feeling well
so they'd closed the shop. And soon after, Ranma became too preoccupied
with getting a nice present for Akane's birthday that he hadn't paid
much attention to Ukyou. And after that...
"Hey, Ucchan," he answered in an even tone. "What are you doing here?"
"I - um - heard about Akane."
Ranma looked away. He wasn't looking forward to this. "Yeah," he
mumbled, not knowing what else to say.
Ukyou grabbed his right shoulder. "Do you have to do this?" she
demanded.
He winced. "You know I do, Ucchan. Akane needs me." He stood
abruptly. "I have to get going."
Ukyou stepped forward, the concern evident in her eyes. "I'm worried,
Ranchan," she whispered.
"I'll be fine. Ryouga's coming with me. And I'll be back as soon as I
get Akane's cure."
"Always Akane," she said, so softly that Ranma almost didn't hear her.
Almost. She raised her eyes to his. He hurriedly tore his gaze away,
not wishing to see the pain and resentment in her eyes.
"What about me?" she cried tearfully.
"Ucchan..." Ranma struggled to find the right words. "She's my
fiancee."
"What about me?" she repeated. "I'm your fiancee too! Why do I always
have to be second in line?"
"Ucchan, now isn't the -"
"It's true, isn't it?" she insisted. "I'm also your fiancee, just like
her. But *her* claim holds precedence over mine. I don't hit you or
insult you like *she* does, but when it comes down to it, you chose
*her* instead of me."
He turned away from her to grab his backpack. "I already told you, the
wedding wasn't our idea. I didn't even know about it until it was too
late!"
"Then why were you so angry when we tried to stop you from marrying
her?"
He whipped around to face her. "Because, it's *my* choice! No one's
going to tell me what to do. It's still *my* life, and I get to choose
what I want to do with it!"
Her eyes started to fill with tears. "But you were really going to
marry her," she said softly.
She raised her eyes to his. "Why her, Ranchan?" she whispered. "Why
Akane? Why not me?"
Ranma stiffened at the resentment in Ukyou's voice as she spoke Akane's
name. He looked at her a moment before answering. "What's wrong with
Akane, Ucchan?" he asked quietly. "At least she doesn't resort to using
potions and magic to make me marry her. At least she's never tried to
kill me, or blackmail me, or sell me off to someone."
He turned his back to her, leaning down to grab his backpack. With more
care than the task required, he slowly strapped it to his shoulders.
Ukyou slowly got to her feet, staring at him, her mouth agape.
He turned around, boring his gaze into hers. "Did you know that she
agreed to marry me so that her father would give me the Nannichuan
water, so that I'd be cured?"
Ranma watched as she shook her head mutely. A part of his mind told him
to shut up, that he'd said enough. But looking into Ukyou's stricken
face only hardened his resolve.
He'd made up his mind. He'd chosen Akane. Heck, it had always been
Akane, ever since the first day he saw her, when she extended an offer
of friendship to an embarrassed, scared red-haired girl, who'd needed a
friend more than anything else. It had been the first act of kindness
Ranma had received in a long time, and he carried the memory of it until
now. That was the real Akane, he knew. Not the clumsy tomboy, but the
kind, generous, warm-hearted young woman hidden beneath all that violent
energy.
The realization that he was readily willing to let the world know of his
decision filled him with immense joy. There was no shame in admitting
he loved Akane. He'd tried to deny it for far too long already, managing
to hurt so many people in the process...
"Ranchan?" Ukyou said softly. "You...you mean you really..." The
tremor in her voice betrayed her anxiety.
...including one of the people he held most dear in his life, who was
standing before him right now...
Ranma put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't I go over to your place
later, after I come back, and we'll talk about it, Ucchan?" he
suggested gently. "I really don't -"
She grabbed his arm. "You don't love her, you love *me*, don't you,
Ranchan?" she begged, seeming not to have heard his words. "I've been
so nice to you, you've said so yourself. And you said I was cute, and
..."
He looked at her silently, trying not to betray any of the pain he felt.
*I'm sorry, Ucchan,* he thought. *You're my best friend, and I hate it
like hell that I'm hurting you like this...*
His hand moved to cover hers, squeezing it lightly, before he pried her
fingers off his arm. His eyes met hers, and -
She stepped forward, wrapping both arms around him in a hug. Ranma
stiffened.
"...I love you, Ranchan."
He winced inwardly. *Ucchan...*
"Don't you have anything to say to me, Ranchan?" she asked anxiously.
He closed his eyes. *I sure do.* "Yeah, Ucchan, I do. But I'm really
in a hurry," he explained in a rush. "I - I'll see you first thing I
come back, okay?"
"Really, Ranchan?"
"Yeah, for sure." He gently disentangled himself from her embrace,
starting to walk past her towards the door...
"You're doing it again, you see?" she said softly. "Going to her first
before..."
"What do you want me to do, just sit back and watch her die?" he snapped
before he could help himself.
She looked at him, surprised. "No," she whispered. Then she shook her
head. "No," she said firmly. "I'm sorry, Ranchan. I didn't mean
that."
He nodded. "I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to..."
She shook her head. "It's okay, Ranchan."
He smiled his thanks as he brushed past her towards the door. As he put
his hand on the sliding doors, he turned around to look back at her.
Ukyou stood staring at him, hands clasped in front of her. She made a
fetching picture in her cream sweater and dark slacks, her chestnut hair
pulled up in a ponytail. She was a special friend - but even more than
that, she was part of the fond memories of his childhood - a part of his
life he never wanted to forget. The bright smiles and cheery laughter
she reserved just for him lifted his spirits and made him feel...wanted.
Special. Loved. He knew she would love him unconditionally, no matter
what he did to screw it up.
His turbulent relationship with Akane never had such guarantees. He was
never sure how she felt about him. One minute, she would smile at him
in that special way of hers that made his heart tremble in his chest,
and the next minute, she'd hit him over the head for the tiniest little
thing. She could trigger in him a wide array of emotions, each stronger
than the last.
But he loved her. While Ukyou made him feel loved, with Akane he was -
happy. Happier than he'd ever been with anyone else. Whatever she did
or said, being with her had always filled him with a profound sense of
contentment - knowing that this beautiful, proud, headstrong girl was
his, and that he loved her.
And Ukyou - he loved her, too, in his own way. Not the same way he
loved Akane, not the way Ukyou wanted him to love her, but still...
Ranma's eyes softened. He wished there was a way to tell her without
hurting her... he wanted it to be someplace where they could be alone,
with no interruptions, so that he couldn't chicken out... someplace
where no one would be around to hear her angry words and anguished tears
after she heard what he had to say...
*I wish you'll find someone else, Ucchan,* he thought sadly. *Someone
who would love and cherish you forever, like you deserve...Don't love
me, Ucchan, I don't deserve it...You're special to me, too, Ucchan, I
love you like a sister. But not more than that. Never more than
that...*
But now was hardly the time for any of that...
He reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "Thanks for being my friend,
Ucchan," he said simply.
He watched her as she struggled to maintain her smile. "I'm always here
for you, Ranchan. Always."
He smiled. "I know." Turning around, he slid the door open - and found
himself face-to-face with Ryouga.
His rival stared back at him, his expression unreadable. "I was just
about to look for you," Ranma told him. "Ready to go?"
He nodded wordlessly. Ranma walked past him, calling over his shoulder,
"Let's get going, then. I have to make a quick stop at the clinic."
Ryouga's eyes met Ukyou's for a brief moment, before he tore his gaze
away, and hurried after Ranma, his mouth set in a thin line.
********
"You're leaving?"
Ranma stood inside Akane's room, looking down at her, as she lay back on
her sheets, her eyes wide with concern.
Every time he would leave her to go on a journey, he could feel her
anxious eyes focused on him, almost begging him to stay. He couldn't
blame her. After all the dangerous escapades he's been through - Herb,
Saffron - and narrowly escaping death each time, she had enough good
reason to fear for his safety.
He managed a smile for her. "I just stopped to say goodbye. Ryouga's
waiting outside."
He looked down at her, saw the uncertainty, the worry, the unreasoning
terror in her eyes. Longing to reassure her, he dropped down on one
knee, reaching out to clasp her hand tightly. "I'll be back, Akane," he
told her. "Promise me you'll wait for me."
He squeezed her hand warmly. "You'd better hold out until I come back,"
he warned, struggling to maintain his grin. "Or else..."
She stared up at him, her eyes filled with worry. "Be careful," she
whispered.
"I will," he promised. He gave her hand a last reassuring squeeze. "I
have to go," he whispered.
Akane watched as he stood up, adjusting his backpack behind him.
Against her will, she remembered the time Ranma left for China with
Plum, to retrieve the map of Jyusenkyo and rescue Shampoo. She couldn't
bring herself to say goodbye to him formally, because she was ...
afraid. Because she had an awful feeling that something terrible was
going to happen during this journey, and he might not come back alive...
And now, the same awful premonition was coming to haunt her again.
Her hands clenched at her sides. *Please don't go, Ranma. It's okay,
we can find another antidote. If there's none, then ... it's okay too.
I don't care. But please don't go. I'm afraid. I can't stand waiting
here all alone, not knowing if you're alive or dead... Ranma, don't
leave me, please -*
Akane bit her lip, forcing herself to calm down. *He'll never listen to
me, anyway, the stubborn baka,* she tried to convince herself. She
tried to summon the usual pangs of irritation she felt when dealing with
Ranma's thick-headedness, but the stronger voice within her mind refused
to let her do so.
*But I have to tell him,* the voice insisted. *If nothing else, I have
to try, at least... I don't want him to get hurt, I don't want him
to...*
"Ranma?" she called hesitantly. She waited for him to turn around, her
eyes wide with fear. *Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. But don't
go on this journey, please? Maybe we'll find another way...*
Ranma turned at the sound of her voice. He stared at her, saw the
silent plea in her eyes to stay with her. *She's worried about me,* he
realized. He stood motionless for a moment, holding her gaze from
across the room.
*I have to do this,* he thought, his hand tightening on the doorknob. *I
can't let you die. I...I love you.*
He stood still, gripping the doorknob so tightly the cold metal dug into
his palm. The words echoed endlessly in his mind. *I love you...*
The words had come from his heart, without warning, without preamble.
He looked at her, his heart beating wildly. "I love you," he whispered
softly, unaware he'd spoken the words out loud.
Akane stared back at him, struggling with the words uselessly. She was
afraid to tell him because... because she knew he wouldn't agree.
Because she knew he would still set off on his journey, his honor and
sense of duty overriding all her protests...
She saw him open his mouth, saw the stunned expression on his face, and
his mouth moved to form words she couldn't hear. Her lips trembled, as
she continued to rage her internal battle with herself. *Oh Ranma,* she
thought helplessly. *I don't want you to go. I'm afraid...*
Ranma shook himself out of his stupor. *I have a mission,* he thought
decisively. *I have to do this.* He looked at her, a tender light in
his eyes.
"Please don't look so sad," he told her. "I'm doing this for you."
At that moment, looking at her stricken face, he made up his mind.
*I'll tell her,* he decided. *As soon as I get back, I'll tell her I
love her,* he promised himself.
She nodded weakly, her eyes filling with tears.
His resolve started to crumble before his very eyes. He mentally
slapped himself, turning the knob in his hand, as he looked back at her
one last time. "Goodbye, Akane," he said softly, turning to leave.
Akane stared after him, her hand held out in a silent plea. The door
clicked closed behind Ranma, and Akane bowed her head, biting her lip to
keep from crying.
"Ranma..." she whispered softly, burying her face in her hands.
Ranma hurriedly blinked his tears away, as he strode purposefully down
the stairs, to Dr. Tofu's office, where Ryouga was waiting for him.
Behind the closed door, it was just about then when the tears started to
fall.
**********
"Just remember to be back by the day after tomorrow with the antidote,"
Dr. Tofu was saying. "Also, keep an eye on Ranma. You young boys get
into so much trouble together." Tofu smiled. "That's all and well any
day, but not right now. Time is of the essence."
Nabiki nodded. "Don't worry, doctor. Ryouga doesn't have any trouble
following instructions. As long as it doesn't have anything to do with
getting to where he's going." She grinned. "But we have Ranma going
with him to keep him from getting lost, so it's okay."
Ryouga scowled, glaring at Nabiki. "Not funny," he grumbled.
Nabiki smirked. Just then, Ranma came in the room, rubbing his eyes.
Nabiki frowned. "What's wrong?"
Ranma shook his head. "Nothing. Just trying to keep myself awake," he
mumbled. "Man, I'm pooped."
"You can sleep on the train," Nabiki said, standing up. "Remember, go
find the guy, and hurry back as soon as possible. And no fighting on
the road. Doctor's orders." She smiled.
Ranma nodded. "We'd better get going." He turned to Tofu. "Doctor?
You would -"
Tofu smiled. "I'd look after Akane. Don't worry."
He nodded again. "Thanks." Turning around, he looked at Ryouga.
"C'mon, let's go."
Nabiki watched as Ranma headed out of the clinic. "You just be damned
sure you don't come back empty-handed, Saotome," she called.
Ranma turned and grinned. "Have I ever failed you?"
Nabiki opened her mouth to answer, and Ranma scowled. "Forget I asked."
Smirking, Nabiki watched the two guys head out, Ranma starting to tease
Ryouga with his sense of direction, annoying the other boy easily. Out
of the corner of her eye, she saw Tofu come up beside her.
"They'll be back on time," Tofu said. "Don't worry."
"Yeah," Nabiki replied, smiling slightly. "If there's one thing Ranma's
good at, it's coming to Akane's rescue."
**********
Akane wiped impatiently at her eyes, brushing away the tears. *Baka,*
she thought, but without any real anger. *I didn't want you to go!*
Just then, a knock on her door resounded, and Akane hurriedly wiped her
face with the back of her hand, as Nabiki opened the door to come into
her room.
Nabiki's eyes narrowed as she spied Akane's eyes and nose red from
crying. "What's wrong?"
Akane shook her head. "Nothing."
Tofu came up behind Nabiki. "If you're feeling any pain, Akane, you
should tell me. I could give you something to-"
"No," Akane said softly. "I'm fine. Really. I'm just...worried."
Nabiki frowned. "About what?"
She picked nervously at her sheets. "About the note? What - what do
you think about it?"
"To tell the truth, I don't know," Tofu admitted. "I'm still calling
some colleagues. We may turn up something soon. But as of now, the
note is the best lead we've got." Tofu smiled reassuringly at her.
"Don't worry," he told her. "He'll be back."
"I guess..."
Tofu squeezed her shoulder. "If you don't believe me, at least have
more faith in your fiance, Akane. He won't let us down."
Akane glanced up. "Don't think that, doctor," she said. "You've done
so much to help us already. I'm just worried about Ranma..." She trailed
off.
"He'll be back," Nabiki said. "Ranma's good at keeping his word."
Akane bit her lip. "You don't understand Ranma, oneechan," she
whispered. "He's too impatient and headstrong and arrogant. He'll go
jumping into any situation without any care for his own safety. He -"
"Ah...so it's Ranma you're worried about," Nabiki drawled.
"Interesting."
Akane flushed. "That baka," she muttered, more out of habit than any
real ire.
Tofu smiled. "Ranma does have an unnatural ability to get himself into
trouble. But then, I've never met anyone of Ranma's caliber, and he's
always been able to get himself out of scrapes. This time won't be
different, Akane, 'cause he's not just fighting for himself. He won't
let anything happen to you, and he'd be doubly careful to come back to
you safely."
She bit her lip. "You really think so?"
"Sure," Nabiki replied cheerfully. "Just think what Daddy would do to
Ranma if he failed. Ranma won't have a chance."
"Not funny."
Nabiki sat down beside Akane. "Well, you could use a little good humor,
sister. All that worrying won't do you any good."
Akane pulled the blankets tighter around her. "I'm really afraid," she
whispered softly.
Nabiki's eyes softened. "He'll come through okay," she assured her.
"He's a macho jerk, remember? Macho jerks always come through okay,"
she joked.
Akane nodded slightly. "I guess." But it did nothing to assuage the
fear in her heart.
*Ranma,* she thought. *Come back soon. Please. I don't want to...lose
you...*
But, as always, the words came to her too late.
End chapter 4
Author's notes :
I don't know if this is better, but I thought to post this chapter again
and see what you think. I'd prefer to iron out the rough parts in this
chapter before I continue work on chapter 5.
Most of the major changes were in Ranma and Ukyou's scene.
Liked this one better? The first one was better? Both suck big-time?
Tell me!
Any and all C&C are appreciated.