Akane carried the girl alongside Ranma, who had Garet, as they approached the doors of the dojo. They ran swiftly, their feet barely making a sound, mainly because they knew of the boys injuries, and saw how much blood was pooled upon the floor. Even as they ran, Ranma could feel the boy’s blood running down his own chest. His shirt, warm and wet with the boys blood...
“Kasumi! KASUMI!” Akane cried out, hoping Kasumi was home, and not at the market. She came quickly, and wiped her hands off on her apron.
“Akane, what is it?” Kasumi asked, then gasped at what she saw. Thinking fast, she directed Ranma and Akane to the kitchen, and ran ahead of them. “I’ll get the first aid kit for the young man. Akane, is she hurt?” She questioned, and opened the cabinet, pulling out a metal blue box.
“No, she is just asleep, from discharging so much energy. I’ll clean her up, okay?” Akane said, and laid her down, getting some water and a wash rag. Ranma laid the boy down on the table, and Kasumi began to wipe the blood off the wound. Ranma’s shirt was stained, and although red in origin, he could still see the thick crimson stain down his shirt. It had went straight through the silk fabric, and blotched his tank top with stains.
“GYAARRNR ... hugh..” the boy cried out in pain as Kasumi poured alcohol on the wound. She allowed it to burn for several seconds, to sanitize the cut. He wrenched in agony, and Ranma gripped his legs to hold him down. He tensed for a second, and fainted. Ranma felt his legs relaxing, until they lay motionless on the table. Kasumi covered his shoulder it with thick cotton strips, and held them firmly to his shoulder. Ranma watched Kasumi tighten a heavier cloth strip around his shoulder, over the wound. As she jerked the strip, the boy cringed in pain, pushing up hard with his back and falling unconsciensous again. He didn’t awaken this time, until days later.
There was a light, tingling feeling to his body, almost pleasant. Garet tried to open his eyes, but he saw only darkness. He felt something heavy resting on his chest, and could feel it on the tips of his fingers, but not make out what it was. Very slowly, his vision returned. He saw something sitting above him, and staring. He couldn’t make out what it was either. A big, fuzzy hairy blurr was what he though it was. Maybe a mutt. As his vision focused, a girl began to take shape. She was short-haired, and very pretty. He knew she wasn’t older then he is, possibly the same age even, but had no idea who she was...
Akane sat by the futon he slept on for nearly three days. If she wasn’t sitting there, she was checking up on him every ten minutes. It was early morning when he finally shifted out of his sleep. She had stared at him for hours. He was handsome for an American. His hair was soft brown, and he had a clear complexion, and dark, tanned skin. He had broad shoulders, and was well-built, like Ranma, but a little smaller, maybe, although his muscle definetion surpassed that of Ranma’s.
She noticed how large his hands were, and soft. She wanted to touch his hands, and hold them to her, but was too afraid. She didn’t notice his eyes opening. Reaching her hand down, she brushed her fingers atop his knuckles, and gently picked up his hand. *This* was her...this was her best friend... very carefully, she placed her other hand atop his, and began to cry. Tears streaked her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, and sobbed quietly. Suddenly, she felt a presence on her face, and then something warm, caressed it, and wiped the salty drops from her face.
“Oh..... d-don’t cry...” Garet said, and wiped off her tears with his free hand. Akane was stunned by the deep blue of his eyes, how.. wow, he was.. He sat up, and felt a shock of numbness run through him. He didn’t remember what had happened at first. Everything was forgotten in the chaos. Then it hit him. “oh no!” he burst out, ignoring the position he was in, and sprang to his feet. “AKANE! I forgot to meet her!” he cried out, and looked around the room.
Akane was shocked at his sudden movements, and jumped up alongside him. He didn’t feel the pain until seconds later, when he attempted to move that arm. The anger of the pain cried out down his shoulder, and echoed through his entire body. Garet lost control of his balance, and fell to one knee, forward, onto his futon.
“D-do you happen to know Akane Tendo?” Garet asked, rolling over, and gripping his shoulder in pain. Akane stared at the floor, and twisted nervously.
“I’m Akane...” she said quietly. Garet’s world was jolted for that moment. Here he was, hundreds of miles from home, and he couldn’t even tell who he came for! He couldn’t even see his.. best friend.
“Akane..” he whispered, and touched her shoulder, and moved his hand slowly up her face. “I’m... well, you.. I..” he tried to find the words, but nothing could come out. Garet could feel the nervousness in the depths of his stomach.
“I’m sorry, you were hurt.. because of me..” Akane quietly apologized, looking up. it was hard for her to look him in the eyes, she was so.. distracted. Garet attempted to get to his feet, and very shakily, rose. He stood tall, and although shaky, Akane could tell he wasn’t normally like this.
“It’s okay. I’m not that hurt, I’m always like this when I wake up. Akane, I -I can’t find.. the w-words.....” he said, but it didn’t matter. He took a step towards her, and hugged her, with the one arm he had working. Akane was grateful of this, she desperatly needed someone. God only knows Ranma wouldn’t hug her, so she openly hugged him back, and cried on his shoulder. They stood for several seconds, just glad to be with oneanother after so long.
“AAHEEEMM!!” Ranma coughed, leaning at the doorway. He looked rather annoyed with Garet, and quietly entered the room as they pulled apart. He stood in the doorway, rather stiff, and glaring at Garet. “Akane, Kasumi says she needs your help.” Ranma stated, never lowering his gaze to her own. He was staring directly at Garet, and Garet beamed a wide smile back at him.
“You must be Ranma.” he smiled, and walked over to him, holding out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Garet. I’m sure you already knew that though.” Ranma stared at his hand, and grinned, gripping it, and squeezing it hard. Garet could feel his finger bones rolling together, and accepted the challenge, gripping just as hard, and staring Ranma directly in the eyes.
“Yeah, whatever.” Ranma said indifferently, pulling the handshake apart. He turned and walked out the door, rubbing his hand. “See ya.” he said, and walked away. Garet wondered where his sister was, but it didn’t take long for him to notice, she was sleeping near him. She was snoring loudly, he was sure trains made less noise! He shook her slightly, trying to awaken her. When that didn’t work, he pulled off his socks, and draped them over her face, and watched her breath in the sticky aroma. She bolted awake, and jumped to her feet.
“My god! WHO ATE THE RAW GARLIC!! DAMN! GET A TIC TAC!” she screamed, and stood staring at Garet, socks in hand, smiling. Jamie crossed her arms, and turned, and threw a pillow at his face. “What’re you trying to do, kill me!?” she demanded, and pulled on her shirt and shorts. She was shorter then Garet, and had smaller shoulders, and a petite figure. Her hair matched the likes of his, red-orange, but a different cut, longer, and tied back in a ponytail, taut to her head. She had already met Ranma and Akane, and told them about her writing partner, Shampoo. Both Ranma and Akane found the irony too frightening.
“Hey sis, aren’t you late to meet your hair product-- er, I mean your pen pal?” Garet Joked, as he stared at the girl. She grabbed her stuff, and ran out the door, throwing a peace sign, and smiling. “See ya bro! I’ll be dropping by later, Shampoo wants to see Ranma! Bye!” she grinned, and hopped into her cab. Akane walked up behind Garet, and watched the girl drive away.
Garet went back to his room, and got a towel. He walked into the bathroom, and began to undress. He slipped off his boxers easily, but getting his shirt over his head was another story. He couldn’t get it off! he tried lifting his arm, but with that deep wound, he knew he couldn’t move it but a few inches. He stretched the neck collar, and let the shirt drop to the floor. “there’s a useless shirt if I’ve never seen one.” he groaned, as he sat down on the stool, and rinsed with a bucket of water. He was grateful his friend Tanaka had told him about the bathing steps, and informed him of the culture before he came. Garet sank into the hot water, and let the heat engulf him. He kept his injured arm out of the water, and rested it on the tile. It stung on his back at first, but slowly he felt the pain numb, and he closed his eyes, and absorbed the quiet.
Akane had no idea he was in the bathroom. Garet’s clothes were in the bathroom itself, not the changing room, and she just assumed he was changing, his door was shut to his room. She slowly undressed, and slid the screen door open. The entire bathroom was full of steam, making it almost impossible to see a thing. She rinsed off with the cold water, and shivered as it ran down her face. Akane approached the bath tub, and stepped in, lowering her body into the water.
That’s when they both felt it. First a ripple in the pool, then a slight splash. He opened his eyes, and saw Akane, staring at him. Garet had never seen a naked girl before, and found this to be the wrong time completely. He jumped out of the water, and ran out of the bath, grabbing a towel, and wrapping it around his waist. He didn’t know where to go, and the first room he saw he opened. Ranma lay on his bed, reading Shonen Sunday. He looked up from his comic, shocked to see Garet.
“HELP!!!” Garet cried, “Akane, she.. I.. Naked .. DO YOU HEAR ME!? NAKED! She AAA!” Garet tried to say, but looked at Ranma, who stood silent, and smiled. Garet slammed the door, and looked around. Akane was exiting the bath. What was he gonna do?? He ran to his room, and found some pants. He didn’t even try to use a shirt. he pulled up his Gi pants, and walked down the stairs, to Akane. She was sitting at the table, drying her hair. Garet approached her, and sat down, trying not to make eye contact. She wasn’t looking at him. Garet touched her hand, and looked down. “I’m.. sorry. I didn’t know.. I..um..saw...and then you were.... naked... I..woah! and I...” he stammered. Akane looked blankly at him, and slapped him accross the face, stood up, and left.