[FFML] [fanfic][ranma][draft] 1st rewrite another chance

Authors Notes:

This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic.

This is the first rewrite of my rough draft. I have
changed a number of items in the story.

The idea for this story came from reading Lord Archive's
"Second Chances" but instead of Akane I chose Ranma.

I am still looking for pre-readers to catch some basic
errors.

C&C welcome. Flames are not.

***********************************************************

 This takes place after manga vol 38 may contain
 some spoilers

***********************************************************

Disclaimer:
 Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video,
etc..., and
are used without permission.

Another Chance.

Volume 1

 The crisp late afternoon air hung heavily over Nerima.
Ranma slowly paced the floor of the guestroom; his fingers
slowly traced the cold metal blade of the kozuka. "It
failed... maybe this will help set things right," Ranma
whispered to the blade. "Why couldn't I say those three
words? If I did this may not have happened." Ranma
stopped his pacing and made his way to the dresser. Gently
placing the kozuka on top he slowly opened the drawer and
moved the clothes back to reveal a well-worn journal.
Ranma slowly turned to the window; the sanctuary of the
roof called to him.

Journal Entry. Feb 25 1996

 The only nice thing to happen all day was a half-hour
ago. It was the simplest thing, a soak in the furo.
 The soak gave me time to sort out some of my feelings. I
don't know if I am ready for marriage yet. Am I too young?
But most of all, I don't know if she loves me, we always
fight. I love her, but I'm scared she may reject me.
 I want to marry Akane - when the time is right. The pain
I felt, when I thought I lost her, was worse than anything
I felt before. I lost my will to live. I don't feel that
way for Ukyo or Shampoo. I guess that is why I can get
into fights with them, but I can't bring myself to even
properly train Akane. If I were to hurt her - I don't know
what I would do. Death would be preferable.
 The day started off well. That was until I barged into
her room. We got into a fight when she asked me if I loved
her. I got defensive and denied it. She was right, I
wanted to say yes.
 The Jusenkyo guide sent a barrel of Nannichuan, to Mr.
Tendo, to thank me for my help. Pops, Ryoga, and Mousse
found out and started to fight over it. That gave the old
freak an opening and he drank the water. I can't believe
he thought it was sake.
 That's not all. Shampoo and Ukyo were throwing bombs at
me. Well actually I heard Shampoo say she was going after
Akane. Akane was not hit, but it will be a long time
before I can forgive them.
 After my soak I wanted to talk to Akane, to tell her that
I want to marry her someday. Not for family honor but
because I love her. Before I entered the kitchen I heard
her called me a baka. I realized my fear was becoming a
reality. I left and did not catch what else she mumbled.
Knowing how I messed up it probably was 'go and die'. I
don't know maybe that will be the only way to make her
happy.

-----

 Ranma rose from the tiled roof and replaced the journal.
 he thought as walked
outside to his meditation rock by the koi pond.

Akane's Diary Entry
Dear Diary: Feb 25 1996

 That jerk just passed me in the hall and didn't say
anything. I know something is wrong; he forced his smile.
If we could just talk and try to work it out.
 Why can't he just say it? I know he loves me. I want to
tell him I feel the same way, but I need to hear him say it
first. I need to see Ranma put love above one his most
important possessions, his pride.
 I can thank Nabiki for ruining the wedding. She invited
everyone from school over to the dojo. His fiancees were
throwing bombs and a fight broke out when Genma and Mousse
heard about the Nannichuan. I never knew that Ryoga cared
that much for Ranma. The way he tried to protect the
Nannichuan for him; it makes me proud we're friends. It's
too bad he failed - Happosai drank the water. When
everything calmed down the dojo was destroyed. Well at
least Nabiki made enough money to pay for the repairs.
 I am still drawn to that smile of his. Was it forced or
is it a smile of relief the wedding failed. This afternoon
he looked so upset when he was told we were to be married,
but when it was all over I couldn't help think he was a
little disappointed. I guess I am too, I love him and I
wanted to be married. I used to hate the sound of that
name before, but after China I liked its sound - Akane
Saotome.

-----

 Akane paused as she heard the door to the furo open.
"Ranma you baka... please talk to me," she whispered after
a few seconds pause. Her heart sunk as Ranma could be
heard going up the steps. "Ranma I know you love me. Why
don't you admit it?" Akane whispered as she paged through
her diary. Akane became lost in thought as she read her
diary. Page after page brought back memories of the prior
year: happiness, anger, sorrow flooded her mind.
 Akane needed a break; she was emotionally exhausted, for
over an hour her eyes never left the pages of the diary.
What was needed most was to get her mind off Ranma; she
left the kitchen to catch the sunset. Her heart broke as
she neared her viewing rock by the koi pond. Distress and
anguish were visible on his face. Her heart told her to go
over and comfort him, but pride won the battle, and she
headed up to her room

------

 Ranma sat on the rock struggling to find his wa. A
battle raged on in his head.
 <How am I going to deal with Ukyo?> Ranma thought, <She
helped ruin the wedding.>
 "And that was a bad thing?" A voice came from nowhere.
 "Who... who's there?" Ranma questioned internally.
 "Me, I am your conscience. Are you sure it was a bad
thing for her to stop the wedding? You said it yourself,
you may not be ready yet."
 "Yes it is. I want to marry Akane, but not until I know
she loves me."
 "All the more reason to keep your other fiancees. You
know Ukyo loves you. What if Akane rejects you? You
should have a fall back plan."
 "No, I know I can never return Ukyo's love. It is not
fair to her. I need to dissolve the engagement. Ukyo
needs to find her *real* love. I know she has very strong
feelings for me, but I doubt it is love."
 "Why do you say that?"
 "I don't know how to explain it. When Ukyo came here it
was because she thought I had abandoned her. She hated me.
To cheer her up I told her she was cute. Now she will not
leave me alone. To go from hate to *love* that quick- I
think she likes me *a lot*, but she is confusing that for
love. She needs to find someone who will love her."
 "What of your other fiancee?"
 "Shampoo? If it wasn't for that Amazon law I doubt she
would have came after me. She is always trying so hard to
please Cologne."
 "What if it is not the law? What if she loves you."
 "Two reasons it will not work. First, same as Ukyo I do
not love her. I enjoy her friendship, but I don't love
her. Second, Shampoo turns into a cat!" Ranma shuddered
at the thought. "I love Akane. I will not let anyone get
in the way..."
 "They got in the way today, and you could not protect
Akane could you? You failed to protect her, and because
you failed, they think you don't love her. They still
think they have a chance. What would you have done if one
of bombs Shampoo or Ukyo made hurt Akane? What will you do
if someone gets in the way?"
 "I... I don't know. I love her so much; I was prepared
to kill for her. I do know that if *anyone* tries
*anything* they will regret it."
 The voice faded as Ranma finally found his wa. He
finally found his true love for Akane.

-----

 The sun had yet to break the morning sky when Kasumi
awoke. Her shades opened to reveal a silhouetted figure by
the koi pond. "Oh my..." she whispered to her reflection
in the window, "he was there went I went to bed last
night." Kasumi turned from the window and made her way to
the kitchen.
 Akane turned over and sat up when the alarm sounded. A
familiar voice announced that breakfast was ready. Horror
descended on Akane as he entered the dinning room; Onna-
Ranma was still meditating by the pond. <He must have been
there all night. All that frost on her body...>
 "Ra... Ranma are you ok?" Concern permeated Akane's
voice as she neared her fiance. Onna-Ranma turned and
looked at Akane. The pain in his gaze was so powerful that
Akane could swear it had a physical presence. Shame washed
over Akane as she broke contact; the pain was too much to
bear. <Why can't we talk?> Akane thought, but her pride
still refused to give in to emotion. All she could do was
sit down at the table.
 "Kasumi, I ain't hungry. I will be in the furo if anyone
needs me," Ranma said as he quietly rose from the rock and
made his way to the bathroom.
 "He looks so sad." Kasumi replied as she looked at Akane.
 "Kasumi," Soun interrupted to break the tension in the
room. "Saotome and I leaving on a training mission this
afternoon. Tell Ranma to take care of my Akane."
"Dad, I can take care of myself!" Akane screamed as she
left the table.

-----

 A half-hour latter Ranma was on his way to school with
Akane. <That smile on her face, can she be that happy the
wedding failed?> Ranma stopped when heard Nabiki call his
name.
 "Yes," anger filled his voice "What do *you* want?"
 "I need to talk to you... in private." Ranma caught
something unusual in Nabiki's eyes.
 "Go ahead Akane, I will catch up with you later." Akane
started to protest but backed down when she saw the hurt in
his eyes. Ranma waited until Akane was out of sight before
he turned to face Nabiki. "Now what do you want?" anger
still filled his voice.
 "Did you like my present?"
 "What present?"
 "The failed wedding of course. You two are *not* ready."
Nabiki gloated.
 "And that's for you to decide!?" Ranma fumed as his
battle aura flared.
 "Ranma, Akane is my little sister, and *I will* do what I
can to make sure she doesn't make a big mistake."
 "And that mistake would be?"
 "You." Nabiki replied with an icy voice.
 Ranma's conversation from the night before filled his
head. Spinning around he wrapped his now white knuckles
around the neck of her shirt lifting her off the ground.
"Mistake? Look at me, I *love* Akane. If you get between
us, I swear sister or not I will *kill* you." Ranma
screamed as he held her head still.
 "Yeah right, you kill me and she will hate you. Oh poor,
poor Ranma can you live with being hated by the one you
love? Even grabbing me like this I could make her despise
you with all her heart." Rage gripped Ranma as he let go
of Nabiki. "Wa... Wait what did you just say?"
 "I said that I would kill you."
 "Be... before that."
 Ranma's mind reeled when he realized what he said.
Sighing deeply Ranma dropped his head. "I said I lo...
love her, I love her." Nabiki looked at Ranma as he
collapsed into the fence. Nabiki was shocked when she
looked at Ranma; his gaze brought back bitter memories.
 Nabiki could feel the armor around her heart break apart.
The last time she saw that much hurt was, when she looked
in a mirror, the day her mother died. "Why didn't you say
it before?" Her voice was etched with concern. "Akane
deserves to know how you feel."
 Pride lost the battle, and he started to speak from the
heart. "I know... I know but I... I am scared. I love her
Nabiki, but... but what if she doesn't love me."
 Nabiki reached out and grabbed Ranma's trembling hand.
 Nabiki thought before
she mentally slapped herself. "Ranma you're right, she may
not love you, but it does not matter. You need to tell
her, she deserves to know. I think you will be surprised
at her response."
 "I... I will tell her soon." Ranma rose from the
sidewalk grabbing her hand. "Why?" confusion entered his
voice.
 "Why what?"
 "Why... why are you being so nice to me? A few minutes
ago you said I was a mistake."
 "I don't know? You've changed Ranma, I don't know what
it is but you *have* changed. I like it. Ranma I am not
going to say I am sorry for stopping the wedding. I now
know you love her, but I *love* her too. Until I know she
loves you I *will* stop any other attempt. I am sorry for
saying you are a mistake, I was angry. I found it unusual
that Akane would change her mind on marriage so soon. When
you to came back from China you two were different. I
thought she may have been blackmailed into the marriage, I
should have asked you two. The only way I could see to
stop it was to invite people that did not want to see you
two married. When I heard about the Nannichuan I guessed
that was how she was blackmailed into marrying you."
 "Ask?" Ranma shook his head. "That wouldn't have
worked, if you asked me if I loved her before the wedding,
I would have denied it. I... I did deny it, to Akane, that
is why we had that fight. I had a long time to think last
night. I realized I loved her, after what happened in
China, I don't want to risk losing her again. She seemed
so happy when I first came in her room. I think she wanted
to go through with the wedding, but because of my stupid
pride I may have done what all my enemies and rivals could
not do... make me lose her. Pride, Mr. P..." Ranma became
lost in thought.
 "What is it you hate about P-chan?" Nabiki interrupted.
 "You don't know?" A shocked Ranma asked "You, the brains
of the family, with all the clues I dropped. *You* do not
know?"
 "No, I don't know why you hate P-chan. You hate him more
than Ryo..." Ranma could see the proverbial light turn on.
"Ryoga is P-chan!! How, how could you. How could not tell
her. Did you *like* having *him* sleep with her. Akane
was right you are perverted." Nabiki could see the hurt
look in his eyes. "I... I am sorry Ranma, but how could
you let him sleep with her.
 "Do you think I like it? I gave my honor I would not
tell anyone his secret. After I gave my word he started to
use P-chan to drive us apart. I couldn't say it outright
so I gave clues. Even that night I sneaked into her room
with hot water to make P-chan leave. I fell on her while
chasing P-chan, she would not let me explain. It hurt
every time she got mad at me. Not because she hit me, but
because she will not trust me. I get angry every time he
smiles and buries his head in her ch... chest. He knows he
can get away with it, because she will never let me explain."
 "That's why you sneaked into her room."
 Ranma nodded in agreement. "I am happy for him, he has
Akari now. But all the trouble he caused in the past, all
the misunderstandings. I wonder, if we may have been
married already." Ranma cocked his head and looked up at
Nabiki. "You have changed too, I like it. You are usually
so cold... no, that's not right. You're not cold but
locked into a business mode. It was nice to talk to you,
like a friend."
 "No one knows about this ok?"
 "Why? They may like the new Nabiki."
 "Ranma, when my mom died it hurt so bad. I locked up all
my feelings; I didn't what to risk being hurt again. When
you looked at me today, I could see you were willing to
bear everything to me. I can't explain the feelings I had;
I just opened up to you. I am not ready yet, maybe in
time." Nabiki turned and had a twinkle in her eye and
laughed. "Besides it's easier to make money as the *Ice
Queen*."
 Ranma laughed as he stood up. Speaking of money, how
fast can you raise it for me?"
 "What?" Nabiki asked as a sly look crossed her face "You
need money from moi?"
 "You are the only one I know that can help me make a lot
of money fast. I don't know how much I will need, but I do
know I wont get that much money on my own. Last night I
realized that I like Ukyo, but only as a friend. Why did
pops have to engage me to her, he knew I was engaged to
your family."
 "Your dad will do anything for free food Ranma." Nabiki
joked. "Let me guess you will need the money to pay back
Ukyo's family, to honorably dissolve the engagement,
right?" Nabiki asked as she tugged Ranma's hand and
started walking to school.
 "Yep, but when can I talk to her. I want to clear things
up fast. I want to ask Akane to marry me."
 "You're going to ask Akane to marry you?"
 "Yes, thanks to last night and our little talk, I know
how much she means to me. I will not risk losing her
again." Ranma sighed "If I haven't already."
 "Ranma, I have a few test before lunch, but nothing
important after that. Shall we skip out and talk to her
then?"
 Ranma nodded unable to speak. "What took you guys so
long?" Akane asked as they entered the school grounds.
 "Not much it was just business." Nabiki responded "We
better get going or we will be late for class."

-----

 As they entered their classroom Akane and Ranma were
ambushed with questions surrounding the failed wedding.
Sensing their plight Hinako-sensei stepped between them
pulling out a 50-yen piece, immediately stopping the
questioning. After that class was uneventful.
"Ranma, would you like to eat lunch with me?" Akane asked
after the lunch bell rang.
 "I'm sorry Akane, I can't."
 <Why Ranma, is there something wrong with me?> Akane
questioned herself.
 "Hey..." Ranma replied as Nabiki walked up to him. "Mind
if I do somethin' before we meet Ukyo?"
 "Depends, what is it?"
 "I would like to buy a rose for Akane, let... let her
know how I feel, before I go see Ukyo. Don't want her to
get the wrong idea when me and Ukyo are gone.
 "OK, I think Akane will like that." Nabiki replied as
they made their way to the flower shop.
 "May I help you?" the florist asked as they entered his
shop.
 "I need a single long stem rose for my fiancee."
 "You have a pretty cute fiancee there." The shop owner
replied as he eyed Nabiki.
 "What? NO, no you got the wrong idea this is *not* my
fiancee."
 "Wou... would it have been that bad if I was your
fiancee?" Nabiki pouted as she wiped the tears from her
eyes.
 "Nab..."
 "Got ya," Nabiki giggled as she watched the relief wash
over Ranma. "He is my sister's fiance." Nabiki stated as
she turned to shop keeper. "What is your most expensive
rose?"
 "1,600 yen."
 "He'll take it." Nabiki replied as she elbowed Ranma in
the ribs.
 As the left the shop Nabiki looked at Ranma. "When did
you realize that you loved her?"
 "Along time ago. I realized I had strong feelings for
her when Ryoga used his curse to get close to her. I never
been that jealous. When I saw her kiss him and cuddle him
to her chest; I... I wanted to explode. I guess it was at
the skating match when I realized that I loved her. They
had us in the *good-bye whirl*. Akane wanted me to let her
go. I could, no, would not let go. When they let us go
all I could think about was taking the blow to protect her.
I call Akane *dumb as a brick* a number of times. Looking
back I was dumber--- if I told her how I felt. I... I know
we were willing to die for each other, but we're not
willing to say I love you."
 When they re-entered the school grounds Ranma and Nabiki
looked around and spotted Akane eating with Yuka and Sayuri
under a tree. They slowly approached the trio and hid
behind the tree.
 "Akane what's wrong?" Yuka asked as she turned and looked
at Akane.
 "Huh?"
 "Yeah, you look depressed. Is it because the wedding
failed?" Sayuri asked.
 "No, are you crazy!"
 "Do you love him?" Yuka asked.
 <Ranma you jerk, I saw you talk to Ukyo after class.
After yesterday how can you go and eat with her? I asked
you to eat with me; I wanted to talk to you. What I'm no
longer good enough?> Akane thought before she turned to
Yuka. "Me, love that perverted baka. No way, I am glad
Nabiki ruined the wedding. Why would I want to be married
to him. The world would be better off if Ranma's mom said
he was not a man."
 "What do you mean not a man?" Yuka and Sayuri asked in
unison.
 "Oh! Nothing, never mind."
 Nabiki paled when she saw Ranma's face. "Ranma..."
Nabiki whispered
 Ranma snapped the rose and let it drop to the ground
before he turned to Nabiki. "Come on, lets go deal with
Ukyo."
 "Lunch is to short." Sayuri replied as the lunch bell
announced the end of lunch. They got up from the tree and
started to walk back to the school.
 "A rose." Akane mused as she passed the tree.
 <Where is Ranma?> Akane thought as she looked at Ranma's
empty seat. Anger started to build in Akane when she saw
Ukyo was still gone too. "That jerk, one day after the
wedding fails what does he do. He runs off with that...
that bimbo." Akane grumbled to herself drawing the stares
of the other students.

-----

 "Ukyo, thanks for meeting me." Ranma replied as they
entered the restaurant.
 "Ran-chan you said it was very important we talk, what is
it?"
 "Why did you ruin the wedding?"
 "Because, I love you Ranma. I love you more than her
sister ever will. I am saving you from making a mistake
you'll regret. You should be with someone who loves you,
me."
 "But I love her," Ranma interrupted "Ukyo I love you too,
but not in the same way. You're a good friend but nothing
more. I don't know if I could ever love you the way I love
Akane."
 "You could learn Ra... Ran-chan. I am your *cute fiancee*
right?" Tears started to run down her face.
 "I... I am sorry I called you that, I was only trying to
make you feel better. Pops had no right to engage me to
you. I was promised to the Tendos. I am sorry *I*
tarnished your honor by stringing you along like this. I
had no right to do it." Moisture started to form in his
eyes as he took a deep bow. "I am sorry, very I am ready
to pay your family back, restore your honor, and release
you from this engagement. Nabiki will help determine how
much I will owe you from the time Pops took the cart to
now. This is the way is has to be I am sorry." Ranma bowed
deeply as he walked away to another booth. He sat down and
watched Nabiki work her magic for close to three hours.
 "You *owe* me Ranma, big time. At least this matter is
now settled. I told her you still want to be friends, but
she is so upset I do not know if that will happen."
 "I hope it does. She was, no, is a good friend," Ranma
paused as he turned to Nabiki. "Do you think it will
work?"
 "I hope so. Now hurry up and pick up the surprise."
Nabiki responded as they parted ways.

-----

 The rest of the day passed slowly for Akane; her anger
prevented her from learning anything. A sigh of relief
left Akane's lips as the last bell sounded. She hurried
home to work out her anger on her practice dummy.
 "Kasumi, is Ranma home yet?" Akane asked as she entered
the house.
 "No, I haven't seen him. Why?"
 "Just wondering." Akane replied as she ran upstairs to
get her gi. "What are you doing in here?" Akane asked as
she walked into her room.
 "We need to talk, Akane." Nabiki replied in her business
tone."
 "What is it?"
 "First, do you love Ranma?"
 "I... I... don... I don't know." Akane stuttered.

-----

 Kasumi turned as the door opened "Ranma, your home."
Ranma did not answer but motioned for Kasumi to be quiet.
He quietly made his way upstairs to Akane's door. 

------

 "Akane, yes or no, not 'I do not know', do you love Ranma
or not?" Nabiki asked.
 "Me love that perverted baka." <It's my sister why can't
I admit I love him.> "We'd be better off if he was dead."
Akane replied with out thinking. When the words
registered in her mind Akane immediately wanted to take
them back. "No I di..."
 A soft knock came from the door, and Ranma peaked his
head in. "Hello Nabiki. Can I talk Tendo-san?" Ranma
asked as he looked directly at Akane.
 <Tendo-san?> Akane thought as her memories shifted to the
afternoon's events. "You have a fun afternoon with your
'cute fiancee'!" Akane screamed as her anger returned. "I
saw how you two skipped school. So have you slept with her
yet?" Tears streamed down her face. "What am I asking? I
should be asking is she pregnant yet!" Akane slapped Ranma
as she tried to close the door.
 "Tendo-san. We need to talk." Ranma sighed, "We really
need to talk. I wish you would *trust* me, allow me to
explain things.
 "Why would I do that. I wanted to talk to you at lunch,
but you wanted to have some fun with Ukyo. Why don't you
go and die?"
 Ranma hung his head down "Nabiki... talk to your dad,
find out how much I owe." Ranma sighed and turned to
Akane. "Tendo-san I have never *slept* with anyone. I
know how you feel about me, and that you do not want to
hear this. Please don't be angry." Ranma sighed "Akane,
I... I love you."
 <Did he just say he loved me?> Akane thought as her
anger cleared as quickly as it flared up. She could swear
her heart skipped. <Why did he think I would be mad? Oh
Kami-sama he heard.> Ran..." Akane tried to respond but
stopped when Ranma held his hand up.
Ranma turned and faced the open door. "I wanted to tell
you how I felt at lunch. It hurt so much when I you told
your friends it would be better if I was dead. I still
wanted to ask you to marry me tonight, but then I heard you
tell your sister the same thing. I could understand when
you told your friends that, but not your sister. You
deserve to be with someone you love, not hate. I now know
that I am the latter. I still love you though." Ranma
walked out the door, dropping the ring. "Enough to let you
go, so you can be happy. Remember I will always love you."
 Akane collapsed to the bed. "Ranma." She cried as she
tried to get up.
 "Let him go." Nabiki replied as she placed a hand on
Akane's shoulder
 "But he thinks I *hate* him." Akane hugged her knees to
her chest. What am I going do? I... I..." Akane broke
down in uncontrollable sobs.
"Do you know how much you hurt him?" Nabiki asked as she
sat down next to her sister. "Not because you slapped
him, but the hurt because you would not trust him. He
could have blocked that, but he didn't, he just took his
punishment. What did he say when he left 'remember I will
always love you.' Akane if you treated me as half as bad
as you treated Ranma, even though we are sisters, I would
not be able to say the same thing. You don't know how
lucky you were to have someone like that."
 "Nabiki what have I done?" Akane cried.
 "You messed up, you would not control your anger and
*listen*. You were right Ranma was with Ukyo this
afternoon. I was with him. He dissolved his engagement
with Ukyo this afternoon. He did this *after* you told
Yuka and Sayuri it would be better if he was dead."
 "Then why did he leave now?"
 "Why? You hurt him. When I talked to him today, he
broke down; we had a heart to heart talk. He told me his
biggest fear would be that you would reject his love."
Nabiki inhaled deeply, "My guess is he thinks you hate him.
How would you feels if the person you loved hates you?"
 "I don't hate him; I *love* him." Akane grabbed and
hugged Nabiki holding onto here as a lifeline. <Why didn't
I tell him before,> Akane thought as she broke into more
tears.
"Well?" Nabiki asked as she separated herself from Akane.
 "Well what?"
 "Why are you waiting here. Go look for him; he needs you
badly."

-----

 Ranma slowly walked the streets of Nerima. His mind was
stuck on a song he heard when Kasumi had him listen to that
musical. 'To broaden your horizons; make you a better
person' Kasumi told him. He resisted at first but now one
stuck in his mind. With a slight modification of Kaho
Shimada's words he made the song fit him. <And now I'm all
*alone* again. Nowhere to turn, no one to go to. Without
a *home*, without a *friend*, without a face to say hello
to. And now the night is near, now I can make believe
she's here...>
 Ranma's thoughts were shattered at the sound of a blowing
horn. Quickly pivoting on his rear foot - Ranma spun
around to see an out of control car barreling down on a
small child.
 Instinct, training took over. In one quick bound Ranma
was three quarters the way to his target. His hand shot
forward pushing the child out of the way.
 Ryoga turned his head as the child screamed. His eyes
narrowed and focused on Ranma pushing the child. <Picking
on a child. Ranma, prepa...> his thoughts were stopped
short by the sickening thud. "Ranma!" Ryoga screamed <Got
to get the car off him.> "Bakisai Tenketsu!" The car's
body shattered as he knelt next to Ranma. A toothy grin appeared as he
joked "Ranma, prepare to die." The response shocked him.


-----

 Soun and Genma returned later that night and were briefed
by Nabiki on what had happened. The Tendo household was
getting worried there had been no sign of Ranma since he
left.
 "I will get the door." Kasumi replied in response to the
knock. "May I help you?"
 "I am Officer Ukime, is Genma Saotome here."
 "Yes... I will get him."
 Genma paled as he entered the kitchen "You need to see me?"
"Mr. Saotome, I am Officer Ukime, I am sorry to inform you
that your son, Ranma, was involved in a bad accident."
 "Is... is he ok." Genma interrupted.
 "I am sorry; all I know is that he has been surgery for
close to three hours. We have been trying to locate you.
I was asked to take you to Kitamachi Hospital."
 "I will wait for Akane," Nabiki replied as she helped her
family out the door.
 Time dragged on for an eternity for Nabiki; she was
thankful when the phone rang. "Hello, Tendo residence."
Nabiki answered.
 "Is Akane home yet?"
 "No, not yet Kasumi. How is Ranma?" Nabiki became
unnerved by the long pause filled the air. "Kasumi?"
 "He just got out of surgery twenty minutes ago. The...
The doctor does not expect him to live more than a few
days. Please get Akane down here as soon as you can."
 "I'll call a cab now. I'll have it wait until she gets
here; I can afford it."
 "Hurry."
 "I will."
 Nabiki sat down at the table after placing the call to
the cab company. <Why couldn't I see that they were in
love? If I just let my heart see what my eye saw, this
might not have happened. What about Akane...> Her thoughts
were broken when, as if on cue, Akane entered the kitchen
door.
 "Nabiki, I could not find him; I'm worried."
 Nabiki got up from the table and hugged her sister.
"Akane they fou... found Ranma. He was in a car accident.
The doc... doctors do not think he will make it." Tears
streamed down her face. "I have a cab waiting let's go."
 "I can't go. He thinks I hate him. Why would he want to
see me?" Akane cried into her sister's arms.
 "'Cause he loves you."
 "NO, he doesn't! You can't make me go!"
 <She needs to see him. I'm not strong enough to
physically force her, but how can I make her go?> Nabiki
thought as the answer popped in her head. "Akane, are you sure you want your last words
to Ranma to be 'go and die'?

-----

 The words had the desired affect. Nabiki gingerly helped
Akane out of the cab. The two made their way to lobby and
were greeted by the rest of the family. Hugs and tears
were exchanged as they sat down at a table.
 "Nabiki, can we talk privately?"
 Her stomach turned as she recognized the voice. "Ryoga,
What do you want?"
 "Please Nabiki."
 "Fine!" venom still registered in her voice. "What do
you want pig boy?"
 "You know huh?"
 "Yes. I put it together today and if I ever cat...
 "It won't happen again. I'm going to tell her the truth
in a little bit." Ryoga sighed heavily. "Ranma wants you
to do him a favor. He wants you to get his journal; it's
in the back of his dressers top drawer. He wants Akane to
know everything about him."

-----

 "Ranma... I am sorry I did not know. Ryoga just told me
he was P-chan. for... forgive me." Akane cried as she
rubbed his cheek.
 "A... Akane, I forgive you. I love you to much not to."
Ranma whispered. "What did you do when you found out."
 Akane gave a warm smile as she pulled the curtain back.
"Meet your roommate." Akane sighed and closed the curtain;
"How can you love me, after what I did."
 "Akane you did not know the whole story, you got upset, I
learned to live with it. I really do love you; I wanted to
marry you."
 "Why did you hafta to be a," tears streamed down her face
"A baka and..."
 "Akane. I love you. I just wish we could get married."
 "What? After all this, you still want to marry me?"
 "I would, but I never had anything to offer you. I can't
even be a man for you. The only thing I can offer you now
is the fact that I have less time to ruin your life. You
have every reason to hate me."
 "Don't say that, don't you ever say that again. I *love*
you. I do *not* hate you. Why couldn't we say these words
before?"
 "Pride."
 Akane nodded "You're wrong, when you said the only thing
you have to offer is less time to make me miserable. I
love you; it's the less time that I have with you that
makes me miserable. I wanted to marry and spend a *long,
loving* life with you."
 "Akane, I can offer loving but not long." Ranma took a
long, painful, deep breath as he clasped her hands. "Allow
me to be selfish one more time. Akane... will you marry me?"
 Tears stung her eyes as she rested her head on his chest.
"Yes, Yes I will."
 Nabiki lowered her camera and smiled. "Here Ranma, its
your marriage license from yesterday. There is a shrine
next door. I'll get a priest."
 "Thanks 'Biki."

-----

 "I wish I could give you a better honeymoon," Ranma
replied as he looked into his wife's eyes. "But I want you
to read this. It is my journal; I had Nabiki get it for
me. I want you to know how I felt about you. I want you
to know about me."
 Akane grabbed the journal and walked back to her chair.
She opened the book-bag and grabbed her diary out. "I want
you to learn about me too, we have no time for secrets."
She leaned and kissed Ranma on the head. Akane opened
Ranma's journal to see the inside cover had the wedding
picture taped inside. <Some wedding photo my husband is
all wired up.> A tear dropped to the photo.
 Hours later both finished the journals. Ranma reached to
hand Akane her journal back but she stopped him. "Keep it
with you, I want you to remember me in the next life Ranma.
I added *our* entry to your journal." Akane slipped the
both journals under his arm and held his hand. "I'm sorry
Ranma, I wanted more time with you. I love you so much."
 "I know Akane, I wish I could start over. I would have
said I love you a lot sooner. I wouldn't have been scared
to say I love you"
 They talked for hours exchanging memories and tears.
Finally they both fell asleep from exhaustion.
 "I'm too tired let me sleep longer." Akane sleepily
replied as the alarm sounded. It took a few seconds for
the grim realization to set in.
 Ranma was shocked as he looked down over his body, seeing
Akane cry "Ra... Ranma, it's to soon to soon, I loved you,
I loved you along time ago you baka I loved y..." Akane's
voice disappeared.
 All was black as he heard a rumbling voice "Ranma, we
have taken pity you. You will be granted another chance."
Ranma looked down and he was shocked to see his birth and
his first training missions. Time slowed further as he saw
himself get cursed, his first meeting with Akane. He
recognized the event before his eyes. Ryoga was getting
ready to throw is belt and cut Akane's hair. "Get her
down" he screamed and to his amazement he saw his past
tackle Akane; the belt missed her.
 Ranma had to hide his eyes as he sensed a bright light as
he descended. His vision cleared in time to see P-chan on
Akane's bed. <It can't be,> Ranma thought as he turned
into Akane's uppercut, sending him out her window.
 Onna-Ranma picked herself out of the canal and walked
back to the Tendo residence. She was surprised to find
something pressing against her breast. Looking down she
saw both her journal and Akane's diary. Smiling inwardly
she thought <With both sides of the story I will make this
work.> Now I wonder when in the past I am.
 When Onna-Ranma arrived back at the house she took a dip
in the furo before heading to the guestroom. Ranma hid the
future journals and pulled out the present journal. <Today
is the day Akane first meet P-chan. This means I already
gave my honor not to tell. I think I need to drop Nabiki a
lot of hints this time around. Looking at these entries
this Akane is a lot colder the only difference I see is she
has long hair now. Maybe if I reread Akane's diary it will
tell me.> Ranma removed Akane's diary and read some more
 Ranma sighed as he looked out
at the starry night "I guess I have a lot of work ahead of
me. Akane I love you and I will marry you, we got our
wish. We have another chance."

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