This story is sad and dark at times.
Warning: Cliche plot ahead used in a way that has rarely been done
to often- seriously.
This story is sad and dark at times.
---------------------------------
*****************
Loss of Innocence
*****************
Part 1
By Lord Archive
I am a passenger to my own body, to my own mind. I am not in control
of what I do. I've tried to fight what I'm doing, but I can't.
Whatever is making me do this is stronger than I am. I try to fight it
but I can't.
I can't believe how calm I am now. I guess I've gone beyond being
hysterical about this. There is nothing I can do, but wait and hope I
will eventually regain control.
Why does this have to happen to me? Why is it that my life is now so
thoroughly out of my control that I'm a passenger to my own body? Why
can't I stop myself? I don't want to do this! Especially with him.
Anyone but Kuno. If there was one person I can truly say I hate, it's
Kuno, and I'm doing this with him. Why couldn't it be Ranma? Why do I
have to do this at all? I don't want to do this. I don't want to feel
this good while doing something I find terrible, sick and disgusting.
Someone help me! Please help me! I don't want to have sex with Kuno!
Please stop me from doing this! I don't want to screw Kuno! Please
stop me!
Please...
*****************
Loss of Innocence
*****************
Part 1
By Lord Archive
Akane thought, pulling away from the
bed she found herself in. She closed her eyes to try to calm herself.
Failing that, she quickly gathered her clothes and put them on. Once
finished, she ran out of the Kuno mansion faster than her feet should
have been able to carry her.
Akane stopped at a park that was between the Kuno mansion and her
home. She walked around in the park for a while, until she found a
small, private, quiet, out-of-the-way-spot. She then curled up into a
ball and started crying.
Akane repeatedly asked herself. Akane started crying so hard her
entire body shook.
Akane stopped crying for the first
time in the past hour as a deadly sneer formed on her face.
-------------------------
"I'm home!" Akane called from the door, and quickly ran upstairs and
changed. She made her way to the dining room showing no visible signs of
what had happened previously that day.
"You just made it back in time for dinner." Kasumi smiled at her sister.
"Where were you any way? I was starting to get worried."
"Ah... I was out wandering, trying to think about some stuff," Akane
answered. She sat down next to Ranma, but not as close as she usually
did.
"Oh, okay."
The dinner passed rather uneventfully for a dinner involving the Tendos
and the Saotomes. Possibly a bit less 'uneventfully' than usual as
Nabiki noted, because of how removed Akane seemed to be. Like she wasn't
even there.
After dinner, Akane said, "Dinner was great, Kasumi. I'm going to do my
homework now."
Most of those present realized Akane had said that because she wanted to
be alone. This, however, was lost on Ranma, who asked, "Um, Akane, I was
wondering if we could work on our homework together?"
Translation that no one misunderstood: 'Akane, I need your help with my
homework.'
Akane looked a little uncertain, and answered, "I guess."
---------------------------------
The entire time while Ranma was in Akane's room, he failed to notice
that she was a bit uncomfortable. Though he did find it strange that no
matter how much trouble he had with translating English, she never once
called him an idiot. Which was nice as far as he was concerned seeing as
he was having a lot of trouble with Ms. Hinako's assignment.
"Honestly, Ranma," said in an exasperated tone, "you've already
translated parts of that sentence in a previous problem." She bent down
a little and pointed out the other problem. "See?"
"Yeah, but I can't seem to get the context straight," Ranma replied
looking up at Akane. Their faces were only centimeters apart.
Neither of them moved for a moment, as their minds moved to something
besides English. Ranma turned away, letting his fears prevent him from
doing what he wanted to do. Akane, however, lifted her hand to his
cheek, turning his head back to look at her, and kissed him.
Her actions stunned and floored Ranma. Akane was kissing him. His
uncute fiancee's lips were pressed against his, and it felt so right. He
started to kiss her back. When Akane's hands started to fumble around
with his shirt, trying to remove it, he pushed her away.
"Akane, what are you doing?" he asked, once again shocked.
"I-I." Akane bit her lower lip. "I, ah, wanted to... makelovetoyou."
Ranma face-faulted, falling off Akane's bed. He then got up and blinked
several times. "W-what?"
"Remember what I told Kasumi about where I've been?" Akane asked.
"You, ah, said something about wandering around and thinking," Ranma
answered, completely lost and why she asked that question.
Akane nodded. "I was thinking about you, and I realized that... I love
you."
Ranma face-faulted, then got up, remembered what she said, and face-
faulted again. "Y-you love me?"
"Yes. M-more than anything in the world. I love you, Ranma."
Ranma was unable to think for several moments, while Akane waited for
him to say something. "A-Akane, ah, I care about you... a lot... maybe
even love you," he said VERY meekly. "But I'm not ready for this. If we
do, we would have to get married and I'm not ready. Maybe... probably
after high school... but not now... you do understand?"
"Y-yes, I understand... you just aren't ready... but if you had to get
married now would it be..."
"Itwouldbeyou," Ranma said in one nervous breath and left the room.
Akane watched him leave. She then collapsed onto her bed, and started
crying. Akane sobs increased in strength.
---------------------------------
Akane woke up, hoping the previous day had been just a nightmare. The
ache she felt between her legs, however, told her otherwise. She went
through her morning routine, careful to control her walking to prevent
anyone from noticing she was 'hurt' as she had the previous day. The
thing she loved and hated the most while she was getting ready for
school was the goofy grin on Ranma's face.
Ranma noticed that Akane had been unusually quiet, and feared that he
was the cause of it because he had refused to have sex with her. He kept
quiet, mainly because others would listen in if he talked with her now,
particularly two annoying fathers.
When they left for school, they didn't feel as relieved as they thought
they would be. Both of them wanted to say something to the other, but
neither knew what to say.
Akane's mind was cluttered, trying to figure out how to tell Ranma she
wasn't a virgin. She knew she had to, because she couldn't think of a
way to keep this a secret.
Ranma was similarly lost for trying to approach a subject he normally
avoided like the plague, love and sex.
Their thoughts were interrupted as Shampoo made her appearance know,
about to land on Ranma. "Nihao, Ranma take Sh... ack!"
Shampoo could say no more because Akane was on top of her and choking
her. Akane then started to slam Shampoo's head into the ground. The
Amazon, surprised by the speed and viciousness of the attack, failed
to dodge, and now with Akane pinning her to the ground, she found no
leverage and the pain was making it hard to figure a way out of this.
Ranma was also surprised by Akane's attack, he pulled her away from
Shampoo. "What are you doing?"
Akane started to cry hysterically. "It's her fault. All her fault. She
made me do it. I'm sorry." She broke free of Ranma's grip and ran.
Ranma was torn for a second between helping Shampoo, who was
unconscious on the ground, or Akane. He ran after Akane.
Ranma caught up with her. "Akane, what happened back there?"
"I-I..." Akane started to say, before being interrupt.
"Stand away from my love! She has given unto me her love, and you
shall not take that away from me!"
"Oh, no! Not Kuno!" Akane shrieked.
"What are flapping your gums about this time?" Ranma snapped.
"That my goddess of the hunt, Tendo Akane, has professed her love to
me just yesterday afternoon and made me a man!" Kuno gloated.
"Dream on, there is no way she'd ever do that." Ranma said, even
as a horrible thought came to him.
"Ah, but proof is mine that Tendo Akane loves me, and not a lowly vile
sorcerer such as yourself. I have the acts that prove our love is true
recorded for all time, on video tape!"
"Y-you taped it?!" Akane screeched.
Ranma face-faulted.
"K-Kuno-sempai, what happened yesterday was because I was drugged. I
didn't want to do that with you. Never wanted to have sex with you. I
hated it. It was wrong. Wouldn't have happened if Shampoo didn't drug
me. I don't love you. Will never love you." Akane continued to babble
incoherently.
Kuno shock with rage. "You dare cast your spell over the beauteous
Tendo Akane after she broke free of it. I shall annihilate you!"
Ranma was similarly burning with rage. He cried out and a chi blast
crashed into Kuno, imbedding him into a wall. He then turned and to
Akane who was curled up into a ball and crying.
"I'm sorry, Ranma. I wanted you to be my first, my only. I love you.
I'm sorry," Akane continued to babble.
"I'll take her home. I suspect you have someone else to deal with
right now," Nabiki said.
Ranma looked at her and suddenly realized they were right in front of
Furinkan High. "Kuso," he spat. "Yeah, Nabiki you take care of her.
There's a little cat that needs to be put into some misery."
"Ranma, don't leave me," Akane said after she noticed he had left.
"He'll be back, Sis. Now let's get you home. I'm sure a nice hot bath
sounds good right now."
Akane nodded dumbly.
---------------------------------
Ranma caught up with Shampoo just after she entered the Neko-Hanten.
She was rubbing the back of her head in pain.
"Shampoo!" Ranma growled.
The young Amazon turned around and saw him at the door. "Husband leave
slut for Shampoo!" She went to glomp onto him but was stopped as two
of his fingers were pressed at a spot between her breasts.
"Now why did you do that, Ranma?" Cologne asked, in a very angry tone.
She was standing by the kitchen door.
"She drugged Akane and forced her to have sex with Kuno," Ranma
replied angrily.
Cologne looked over her shoulder for a second, and saw one of her...
unusual items was much lower than it should be. "Shampoo, did you drug
Akane?"
"No, Great-grandmother. Shampoo no need to drug. Slut willingly made
love to Kuno."
Ranma slapped her. "Don't ever call her that!"
From the kitchen, Cologne was heard asking, "Mousse, did you see who
used this?"
"Shampoo did. I tried to stop her, but she put me in the cage. What is
that stuff anyway?" Mousse answered.
Cologne appeared at the kitchen door, looking angry, sad, and
disappointed. "You have punished Shampoo for her crime, Ranma. It will
be carried out... she won't be given the Phoenix pill."
"What?!" Shampoo and Mousse yelled.
"Shampoo, you used this drug in a way that is considered rape. You
have been punished with full body cat's tongue. It is an appropriate
punishment for a crime of this nature," Cologne said, sounding like a
great weight pressed upon her and holding a half empty jar with an
unusual marking on it.
"No!" Shampoo cried out and fell to her knees. "Husband should see
Shampoo better than pervert girl. Shampoo would not be unfaithful.
Shampoo love husband."
"Love?! You've controlled and manipulated me in the past, tried to
kill someone I love, and then drug her to screw a guy she hates all
because you 'love' me?! Kodachi is sane compared to you. Enjoy being
a cat!"
"Saotome! I'll kill..." Mousse collapsed unto the ground.
Cologne stood next to the comatose Amazon. "Ranma, there is something
you need to know about this drug. It causes the consumer of it to be
uncontrollably horny and for a couple hours they aren't even truly in
control of their own body. While it would be traumatizing to Akane, it
doesn't have the same affects as rape normally would. She most likely
doesn't fear a man's touch, and the drug will leave a lasting side
effect of making her hornier than she was before." She sighed.
"Good-bye, Ranma. We shall return to China as soon as our affairs are
in order. I will try to keep Mousse from attacking you."
Ranma nodded, and left for home.
---------------------------------
Akane awoke to find it was the middle of the day. As the memory of
recent events returned to her mind, her bed no longer seemed as
comfortable as it had a minute before.
"Akane, are you okay?" a voice asked from the window.
"Ranma! I... I'm not really sure..." Akane answered, looking down
meekly.
"D-did you mean what you said... last night?"
"Y-yes... I did... I do love you. I didn't want to betray you." Akane
started crying.
Ranma walked over to her and hugged her. "You didn't betray me. Shampoo
did."
"But... I-I'm not a virgin. I had sex with Kuno."
"Not by choice. I can't blame you for this any more than I could if
someone raped you, because that's what Shampoo did."
"But-but... I enjoyed it when it was happening..."
"Akane, stop blaming yourself. It was not your fault... And I don't feel
less for you because this happened." Ranma leaned down and kissed her.
Akane tried to break free for a second, but then surrendered to the kiss.
After they stopped kissing, Akane started to cry into his shoulder,
mumbling, "I'm sorry."
Ranma continued to hold her. "I forgive you."
After another moment, Akane asked, "What happened with Shampoo?"
"I-I used the full body cat's tongue on her," Ranma answered.
"You didn't!" Akane gasped.
Ranma nodded. "I did, and Cologne promised not to cure her... because
according to Amazon laws she raped you, and that is a legitimate
punishment."
Akane smiled a little. "Good." She then rested her head on Ranma's
shoulder. While she looked a little happy, there was a hint of pain too.
Ranma sighed. Ranma shuddered.
Still in Ranma's arms, Akane asked, "Do you think you could ever love me
now?"
"I think I do l-love you."
"Oh, congratulations! When's the wedding?" Soun elated from the door.
"You do your father proud, boy!" Genma cheered.
"Sometime after we graduate high school. Now go away!" Ranma snapped.
"But that's over a year away!" Soun cried.
"Leave. Them. Alone!" Nabiki was heard shouting from the hall. "They
don't need this crap right now!"
Genma disappeared from sight.
"But..." Soun could not protest against the angry glare of Nabiki, full
well knowing what would happen if he did. He quickly left.
"Sorry, left them alone for a second," Nabiki apologized, shutting the
door.
Ranma sighed, and looked down at Akane who was crying into his shoulder
again.
"Ranma, did you mean what you said?" Akane asked.
"What?"
"T-that we'll get married after we graduate."
"I guess. I'm not ready to get married now, but when I am, I hope it'll
be to you."
"It will if I have any say about it." Akane smiled at her fiance, and
then kissed him.
---------------------------------
Nabiki glared at her father and Genma as they sat down to yet another
game of shogi. "What did you think you were doing?" she asked them
coldly.
"What do you mean?" Genma asked.
"I already told you why I brought Akane back home. She needs time to
cope."
"What happened was because she was drugged. It's not like she was raped.
She just didn't have control of her body. She's been through that
before," Soun said, looking confused as he repeated what Kasumi had
explained to him what happened to Akane.
Nabiki couldn't believe what she heard; sure she had gotten Kasumi to
soften the blow for their father but this was wrong. "Dad, she was
raped! The drug mentally and emotionally raped her. Sure, Akane has
experienced similar things before, but this time something bad happened
because of it. She lost her virginity to someone she'd sooner kill than
kiss, all because of a drug. If that's not rape, I don't know what is."
"But her body tried to kill Ranma when she was possessed by that doll,
that wasn't bad?" Soun asked, not wanting to see what had happened the
way Nabiki was.
"It was bad, but nothing bad permanently happened as a result. Even
then, you saw how upset Akane was about that. How scared she was. Ranma
went as far as purposely getting her angry to help her forget what she
went through."
"Why isn't he trying to do that this time?" Soun asked.
Nabiki sighed. "Because he might lose her if he did. If he got Akane
angry now, she'd feel that he doesn't love her, and never will. She'd
give up on marrying him. He has to let her know that it wasn't her fault
and that he doesn't feel less for her because of it."
---------------------------------
Kuno ran to the Tendo home after waking up in the all-to-familiar-to-him
nurses' station at Furinkan High. Once he arrived there, he met the icy
glare of Nabiki.
"Tendo Nabiki, I wish to see your fair sister and help free her again of
the cursed Saotome," Kuno said.
"You have some nerve coming here after what you did to her, Kuno-san."
Nabiki heard a strange cracking sound to her left.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean coming here after completely destroying her honor."
The strange cracking occurred again, but to Nabiki's right.
"How have I done that? What transpired between the beauteous Tendo Akane
and me was pure and just. No dishonor could possibly result from it."
Again the cracking sound was heard, this time further away and behind
Kuno. Nabiki grinned slightly, figuring out what that sound was.
"Kuno-san, she is engaged by giri to marry Ranma."
"I do not recognize such an awful thing."
"It doesn't matter if YOU recognize it, the Saotome and Tendo clans
recognize it. That is all that matters in terms of her honor."
"How can honor be damaged by expressing love?"
Several cracking sounds were heard from somewhere on the Tendo roof.
"Tell me, haven't some of your ancestors married because their marriage
was arranged?"
"Yes, but what does this matter?"
"Is it not likely that they were forced to marry despite loving someone
else?"
"Sad, but probably true."
"So, you wouldn't be here if love superseded honor. And even *IF* Akane
loves you, which she does *NOT,* she *MUST* marry Ranma. Any
interference damages your honor, and now you have smeared her honor as
well because of what you have done."
More cracking noised occurred, just on the other side of the wall fence.
"That is not so! Our love is honorable in itself! There was nothing
wrong with us expressing it!"
"What she did with you was because of a drug. It was not an expression
of love in the slightest."
Kuno blinked. "So, Saotome drugs Akane to keep her away from me!"
Nabiki slapped him. "NO! Akane was drugged *yesterday* and only did that
with you because of the drug that Amazon bimbo feed her."
The cracking noises were now accompanied by an evil growl.
"Tis more likely the Amazon freed Akane. I must thank her."
"You'd be thanking a cat now. The drug she feed Akane is considered rape
by her own people, and as punishment she is now permanently a cat."
The cracking noises and the growling stopped cold.
"That is not so! It was *NOT* rape! She went to my arms willingly!"
"Because of the drug, you delusional idiot. She only had sex with you
because of the drug."
"KUNO!!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!!" an angry shout was heard.
Nabiki turned and started to walk away. "Ryoga, do try to keep him from
screaming. We don't want to disturb Akane right now."
Ryouga answered her by punching Kuno's jaw with all his might.
Nabiki shut the door as muffled sounds of pain barely made it through
the door. She went to the phone to call an ambulance.
---------------------------------
Kasumi knocked at the door and entered when she heard Akane say, "Come
in."
The eldest Tendo girl smiled at Akane who was sitting in Ranma's lap.
"Akane, look who I found," she said holding up a small black piglet.
"P-Chan! Where have you been?" Akane asked, taking the little pig into a
tight hug.
"Bwee?!" P-Chan questioned in shock.
Ranma bit back his 'answer.'
"How are you feeling?" Kasumi asked, concerned.
"Fine... I guess," Akane relied, glancing at Ranma. "I'm feeling a lot
better now than I was since th... this started."
"Why don't I give some ya time alone with your pet," Ranma said.
"Ah, okay," Akane replied; her voice shook a little.
"If you need me, just call out and I'll be here."
Akane nodded, and reluctantly moved off his lap.
Ranma got up and walked toward the door. He looked at her once more
before leaving, followed by Kasumi.
"Oh, P-Chan my life has completely been sent through the blender again,"
Akane began with tears starting to form in her eyes. "Yesterday, I was
drugged and had s-sex with Kuno. Why did this have to happen to me?"
"Bukweep." P-Chan shrugged sadly.
"I wanted him to be my first and that stupid cat took that away. I don't
know how he can love me now." Akane began to cry.
"Bwee bukwee."
"I expected him to yell at me, hate me, or something...."
"But he...he told me he loves me." Akane smiled through her tears.
"Well, he said he thinks he loves me."
"For Ranma, that's like admitting undying love. I-I don't know if I
should marry him, though. I betrayed him. I know I didn't have any
control, but I still betrayed him."
"Bukuweep?"
"But it is his choice now if he wants to marry me. I won't stop him if
he doesn't want to. I guess I won't stop him if he wants to marry me
either. I don't feel I have the right to decide that anymore. If I just
accepted the stupid engagement, none of this might have happened." Akane
sighed, and lay down on her bed.
the pig wanted to ask her, but he couldn't leave
the death grip hug he was in.
"I wish I had *SOME* control of my life," Akane said sadly.
---------------------------------
"No... No... Someone stop me... Oh, that felt good- NO! This is
disgusting... Oh, Kuno... Why am I doing this... Yes, Kuno make me a
woman... Please, someone stop me... I don't want to do this... Oh,
YES!... Don't do that... You are truly manly... Stop me... Ranma,
I'm sorry... Oh, Kuno, you feel so good in me... No... Stop this...
Faster... Why me... Oh, oh, ooooooooohhh!... Please stop me... please...
Kuuuunooooooooo!!!!!"
P-Chan stared sadly while Akane tossed and turned in her bed, mumbling
incoherently. Her words either spoken with despair or lust. Despite the
disjointed words, he realized that his first love was reliving her rape
in her nightmares. He wanted to do something to help her. He had
already sent Kuno to the hospital, and now thought maybe he had been
right in wanting to send Ranma to an early grave. If the womanizer had
treated Akane properly and dealt with the other fiancees, this would've
never happened. He left to track down
his quarry, failing to notice that someone was at Akane's window.
After the pig had left the room and Akane's nightmares stopped for the
moment, the figure at the window approached her. "I'm sorry, Akane. I'm
so sorry." Tears fell onto her blanket. "I'll try to make it up to you."
He left through the window, the moonlight casting a shadow of a
pig-tailed martial artist on the wall.
Hours later, Akane woke to her empty room. She started crying because of
her pain and because she was afraid she'd always wake up to a room empty
except for herself.
---------------------------------
Ukyou walked, unsure of how to respond to the information she got from
Nabiki. Shampoo and Kuno technically raped Akane. She had hoped it was
consensual, but had doubted that. It still didn't change anything
though, Akane was no longer 'pure' and thus couldn't marry Ranma now.
Ukyou heard some gossip as she approached her classroom.
"Man, Akane was messed up yesterday morning." "Yeah, but can you imagine
trying to have sex with that blowhard, Kuno?" "I hear she was raped."
"Of course it was rape, she hated him." "But what does that mean for her
engagement to Ranma, though?" "Most likely she won't marry him now. His
mom is supposed to be highly traditional and someone like that won't
allow him to marry anyone who wasn't pure."
"Did you hear that Akane was drugged by Shampoo?" "Please, I was at the
park and saw her drag Kuno back to his house. I didn't see Shampoo
anywhere." "Akane has probably been screwing him for a while, it's only
now that she has been caught." "Besides, if it was rape, then why is
Ranma so pissed? He sent a half dozen students and a teacher to the
nurses station!" "Yeah, if it was, he'd only be upset at Kuno and
Shampoo." "Mmm-hmm, and notice that both Akane and Kuno aren't in today.
Wonder where they are?"
Ukyou entered the classroom, noticing that Ranma was already there and
Akane was nowhere in sight. She decided to talk to him, and entered the
two meter vacant area around him. "Hi, Ranchan. How's Akane doing?" she
asked tentatively. She wasn't entirely sure if she believed
Nabiki's story right now.
Ranma sighed. "She's not doing too good. The only thing that helped was
when I told her that I'll still marry her."
Ukyou's eyebrow twitched. "Now, Ranchan, that might've helped Akane now,
but she'll only be hurt more when you marry me."
Ranma shook his head. "Sorry, Ucchan, but I am going to marry Akane
eventually."
Ukyou was NOT liking what she heard, and retorted angrily, "What do you
mean you're going to marry her?! Ranma she isn't 'clean,' she is no
longer a virgin, she isn't an acceptable wife for someone like you. What
would your mother say about you marrying a girl that wasn't pure?"
Ranma, being angry at life in general, replied to Ukyou in kind, "Oh,
about the same she would to a cross-dresser, a foreign slut, or a
psychopath. And, unless you've forgotten, if I don't marry Akane, Mom
will force me to marry Kasumi or Nabiki."
"But Ranma, you're engaged to ME!"
"No, I'm engaged to a Tendo."
"Your dad took my yattai."
"That was stolen by Pop, it was NOT taken as part of the agreement since
I did NOT agree to it then. And guess what, Ukyou, I still don't agree
to it."
"You.. YOU JACKASS!!"
Ranma blocked the combat spatula. "I'm sorry for what Pop did to you,
but it in NO way makes you my fiancee."
"This isn't over yet, Ranma. Honor demands you marry me!" Ukyou waved
her weapon threateningly.
"All you ever was to me was a friend. Hell, Akane was a closer friend to
you than I was, but all you can see that your precious trophy husband
that you need to restore your honor isn't going to marry you."
Ukyou hit Ranma with her weapon of choice. "How dare you say that?"
"Because it's the truth. You couldn't hack killing me so when you saw
there was a chance to marry me instead you jumped at it. And here Akane
is home, recovering from being raped, and you're arguing over who I'm
going to marry. Some friend you are to her."
"This isn't about her, it's about us."
"Isn't it? I love Akane and I will marry her despite what has happened,
and you're trying to convince me to marry you instead. You're using the
worst part of your friend's life in an attempt to steal the man she
loves from her."
"How can you love the violent, 'uncute,' impure gorilla?"
Ranma slapped Ukyou. "Because she treats her enemies better than you
treat your friends. Leave me and Akane alone Ukyou-san, I can do without
a friend like you."
Ukyou raised her hand to her cheek, and ran out of the room crying. She
did not return to class that day.
---------------------------------
Nabiki was frazzled and it was only lunch hour. Sure today had been
profitable, but the sheer number of requests were drowning her. What was
worse was that several students had the audacity to say she was lying.
She might withhold information, but she never lied about it.
Nabiki smiled weakly, handing a kendo club member a packet of
information regarding Kuno. Her smile grew remembering the doctor's
report stated the samurai fool would be laid up in the hospital for at
least two weeks. She frowned, though, when she saw Ranma practice a
kata. While she didn't know them very well, she knew enough to see Ranma
was making mistakes. She could imagine where his mind was, and it had
nothing to do with martial arts.
---------------------------------
Ranma tried to do a kata again, but he could not do it right. It should
be a simple for him to do, but he just couldn't do it correctly. Peace
of mind would not come and soothe his thoughts. He hadn't gotten it all
during lunch and he still wasn't getting while practicing in the dojo.
Ryoga growled, finally finding his prey. "Ranma! I'll make you pay for
not protecting Akane!" The lost boy launched his attack at his opponent,
and then stopped cold and blinked. He watched dumbly as the punch he
threw had somehow connected with Ranma sending him flying across the
dojo.
The young Saotome got up from where he landed, head drooped and
shoulders slumped. After a moment in which neither of them moved, he
asked, "Ryoga, why aren't you attacking me?"
Ryoga wasn't sure how to react. Ranma was just standing there asking to
be pounded into the ground. The lost boy decided to try something, "Shi
Shi Hokodan!"
The chi blast washed over Ranma, only the air pressure caused him to
move back a little. "Can't you do better than that!? Charge up the
blast, damn it!"
"I'm not going to punish you," Ryoga replied.
"Why not? It's my fault Akane was raped! I failed her! If I had just
told the others I'm going to eventually marry Akane, then this wouldn't
have happened." Ranma fell to his knees, tears fighting to be free from
his eyes.
"The physical punishment I'd give you is nothing compared to what you
are doing to yourself." Ryoga sighed.
"Aren't you always saying how you want to punish me for not be good to
Akane? Why aren't you doing that now when I've failed her in an
unbelievable manner?"
"That's almost exactly what Akane said..." Ryoga's words stabbed at
Ranma painfully. "She blames herself for what happened."
"It wasn't her fault!"
"I know. Shampoo is the guilty one, but Akane feels she's as much to
blame about this as you blame yourself."
"But if I had...."
"Ranma, you can't change what happened. Just be there for her. And if
you can, help her forget."
"How could I do that?"
Ryoga shrugged. "Make love to her, I guess."
Ranma's mouth hung loosely as he watched Ryoga walk away. In way it
sounded stupid. If Akane feared a man's touch, that'd be the last thing
she would want, but Cologne had said Akane probably didn't and Akane had
tried to seduce him already. He shook his head trying to clear it.
"Ranma," Soun called from the door. "If what that Hibiki-boy said is
true, maybe you should have sex with my little girl."
"Mr. Tendo...." Ranma stared at him with wide eyes.
"I won't force you to get married to her; just be with her, and keep
your promise that you will marry her someday. Please help her." Soun was
now watering the grass with his tears.
Ranma once again stood motionless as he was left alone in the dojo. He
wondered if he should do as they said even though he wasn't ready for
that and did know how long it would be until he was.
---------------------------------
Ranma gulped nervously as he prepared to knock on the door. Nabiki was
laying odds that he would be spending the night in this room, and his
dad was a sucker for bets even if he wanted this outcome. Well, he'd
been here for the past half-hour; he might as well knock.
"Come in, Ranma," Akane called.
He opened the door, the knob rattling in his hand. His heart beat faster
seeing her sitting in her bed, almost as if she was waiting for him.
"Hi. Um, I, ah, think we should talk."
Akane looked at him nervously. "About what?"
Ranma found his fingers very interesting to look at. "Um, well... it's
been suggested that we should makelovetoeachother."
Akane blinked. "What?"
Now why can't he seem to get his fingers to move the way he wanted to.
"Well your dad seems to think if we slept together that it might help
you forget about what happened."
Akane shook her head. "Trust me, Ranma, I don't think I'll ever forget
that no matter how many times we're together."
"Oh...." Ranma sighed, disappointedly.
Akane blushed deep red. "But we can if you want."
"Ack!" He began to sweat. "Um, well... I only considered it because they
thought it might help you, but you said it wouldn't and I'm not really
ready. Part of me wants ta. But I really think we should wait. What do
you think?"
"I think you're babbling. But you don't have to do this Ranma. If you're
not ready, you're not. I'm not even sure I'm ready, but I want to do
it." Akane sighed.
"You sure you don't need to do it?" Ranma asked.
"I'm sure."
Ranma nodded and turned to leave.
"Um, Ranma... while we don't have to make love, um, I would like it if
you'd stay with me tonight. I don't like being alone right now."
Ranma gulped and nodded. "O-okay."
Akane moved over to give Ranma some room in her bed. He carefully joined
her. He was too nervous to fall asleep, but she fell into peaceful
slumber rather quickly in his arms.
---------------------------------
Epilogue: Seven Weeks later.
"Hello, brother," Kodachi said.
"Get me out of this foul place. It is not right for one of my stature to
be in such surroundings," Kuno ranted, wearing a tight white shirt with
wrap-around sleeves.
"But you need to be here to get better. After all, the hospital did find
you of questionable mental state."
"Lies and you know it."
"No, brother, the liar is you. Until you face facts, you won't ever be
free again."
"If I belong here, then you and father do as well."
Kodachi laughed slightly. "Oh they did decide to keep father and me for
observation after committing you. They placed Father down the hall, and
as for myself- they found me lacking in social skills and have issues to
resolve with my family, including you. Therapy and drugs will help me,
but they do not believe I belong here."
The scowl Kuno was wearing deepened. "You do delight in tormenting me."
"Of course, that's what siblings are for." Kodachi smiled evilly.
"Anyway, I've come with news of your 'love' Akane."
"No doubt she attempts at this very minute to free me from my wrongful
imprisonment."
"On the contrary, it seems Ranma's mother caught him in her bed a
fortnight ago and demanded that they wed immediately. They gave token
resistance, but the ceremony was nice. Though I could tell the servant
girl, Ukyou, did not find the bridesmaid dress to her liking, but few
would. Glad they didn't ask me to wear that foul thing."
"You lie!" Kuno snarled.
"According to Dr. Tsukuru, the medication I'm taking makes it hard for
me to tell fallacies or to even get angry."
Kuno began to rant, but Kodachi tuned him out. He was in his own world
again.
"Ms. Kuno, visitation hours are over," an orderly told her.
Kodachi nodded and left pondering something she heard Ranma's mother say
at the wedding. Something about him being manly even as a girl. It
didn't make sense, maybe she needed help as well.
----------------
Author's notes:
Thanks to Free Mage and Michael Chase for going pre-reading this part.
Some of you may remember this was originally refered to as Momment 1,
Possibility 1. This story was part of a concept where I'd take one
moment and alter it and see just how drastic the changes would be. The
momment number refered to who ate it: momment 1, Akane and momment 2,
Ranma (and if I really felt twisted: momment 3, female Ranma). The
possibilities are what happens after the person ate the drugged food.
_IF_ I ever decide to write another version, that part would be Momment
1, Possibility 1 and this story would be M1, Possibility 2- since that
part would include Shampoo's reasoning for doing what she did, Akane
eating the questionable ramen, not to mention Akane seducing poor Ryoga. (
geocities.com/tokyo/fuji/9061) (
geocities.com/tokyo/fuji) (
geocities.com/tokyo)