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This fanfic is based on Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2. All characters are by Rumiko Takahashi except some new characters that I have made up for the story.
NOTE: This series takes place exactly two years since the Final Chapter.
A FEW NOTES:
Akane knows Ryouga is P-chan and has already forgiven him.
Legend:
* * - thoughts
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Chapter 1-- Memories' long past
Akane sat there in the dojo staring at nothing. She was angry, but at the same time sad.
"Where is that baka!? Two years have passed and I'm still thinking about that pervert!"
There was no heat in her voice when she said that. Not anymore since the year he had promised, went by. She remembered when he had just left; irritability was second nature to her and smashing was an uncontrollable reflex. Everyone steered clear from her path, afraid to incur her wrath--except Kasumi, of course. Even Kunou's usual ramblings of poetry dwindled for a while.
Then another year went by. Destruction became more pointless to her that she'd end up crying. Time and loneliness revealed the other side of her that was hidden behind a mask of pride. When she walked to school with Nabiki, she would always look up at the fence and wait for him to tease her or anything. But when she looked up, only memories of what was and what could've been haunted her.
Those two years passed so slowly. Only in the three months' start of the third year since he left did she start to calm down. She was now in her first year in college. She now no longer thought about him everyday but only when she was really depressed. With the help of her sisters Kasumi and Nabiki, she had started to get over him. Only when he had left did she realize how much she missed him. Hard as it is to admit it, she really missed hearing his voice. Even if it was for a taunt.
Even with these thoughts, she smiled. She was finally getting over him. At first she thought she would be always angry, but now, she had peace.
Two years changed Akane in so many ways. Her hair was now long again and tied as before. Her face no longer looked like a young teen instead she looked like a young woman blooming . There were only minor changes, she was a bit taller for one and the shape of her face became sharper, not round. Her body had changed too, she had more curves than before. She was sure that Ranma wouldn't tease her about the size of her clothes now. She smiled. Although she was an undergrad, she became tough competition for the older women in college.
"Even though you didn't keep your promise, I wish that you are happy now." Akane sighed. She still remembered the day when he left, and now when she looked back, she no longer cried but cherished the memories.
(two years ago, five months since vol.38)
It was a normal day in the Nerima district, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, but there was one thing different about this day. There was no one shouting, no one being thrown into the atmosphere and no one smashing each other. A meeting of some sort was taking place in the Dojo.
We can see the whole Tendou family, the Saotomes and Ryouga in the Dojo obviously discussing something of importance. Everyone is seated in a straight line, except Ranma and Ryouga who are seated right across the others.
"Are you sure about your decision?" Soun said, nervously. He wanted to cry and beg Ranma not to go, but he held on.
"Everyone loves you the way you are boy. You don't have to do this." Genma looks pleadingly at his son, but saw grim determination and a little bit of sadness in his eyes. He wondered about what would be the cause of his sons' sorrow. Could it be Akane? He wasn't sure.
Ranma knew they would ask him again. They've been asking that question since he first made up his mind about going back to China again. "I know, but I have to do this for myself, Pop." Ranma glanced at Akane and thought no one noticed but everyone did. Akane noticed too and her face paled even more.
Genma and Soun looked at each other and nodded.
Genma spoke. "Fine, we give the both of you our permission," Akane's eyes tightened at that and became teary eyed, not wanting anyone to notice. Ranma and Ryouga shifted in their kneeling position and stood. "but," Ranma and Ryouga looked at him waiting. "you must come back in a year, cure or no cure." They both nodded at that and went back to gather their belongings. "You must promise that to us."
Both boys nodded and said, "We promise."
(In the scene we see Ranma in his room preparing his things)
When he finished, he went to the dojo to think. *What's the matter with me? Why am I hesitating? Is it Akane? Nooo... How could he hesitate leaving because of that tomboy, who always hit him with that large wooden mallet that appears out of thin air, who always teases him, who was always so jealous, who was more macho than him.....Who always helped him when he needed help, who was making his stomach turn in knots at the sight of her, who doesn't care about his stupid curse, who was very kawaii when she wanted to be, who is very beautiful when she smiled.... * His train of thoughts disturbed him. Since when did he think she was beautiful, that tomboy macho girl. Ranma thought a bit. Weeell, maybe he did l-l-like her or maybe even l-lo-missed her when she's gone. She-
A timid tap sounded by the dojo door.
"Come in." He hoped it was Akane.
Ranma smiled inside as Akane went in from outside, a fake smile painted her lips. She sat down near Ranma and stared at nothing too. Probably thinking about something.
Akane sat there, thinking about what to say. *How do I bring this up?* she thought.
"Ran-"
"Akan-"
They both turned red.
"I-"
"I-"
Ranma blushed again and said, "Ah..hehehe! Akane I-I-" *why was he stopping? Geez, I'm starting to act like Ryouga!*, "I mean, I have to ask you something,"
Akane looked at him, apparently waiting for something. He took a big breath and spoke in a rush looking at his hands, "Doouikeme?"
"What are you saying Ranma?" Akane asked.
He stopped fidgeting and looked at Akane seriousness painted all over his face. "Do you...l-l-like me?"
Ranma waited. Akane looked at him as if he had grown horns.
Ranma looked at her in exasperation. "You don't have to look so surprised y' know!"
To Ranma's surprise, Akane giggled.
"Well?" Nervousness showed on Ranma's face.
Ranma sighed in relief when Akane said, "Yes Ranma, I like you."
He looked at her and stared into her eyes and saw that she meant what she had just said and that it was not a joke. *This is it, now or never* He thought. He took her hands in his and spoke the words that came from his heart.
"Akane, I love you .....and I want to marry you when I come back." *There, it was all out.*
Akane looked just about to faint. She looked at him and tears streamed down her face. She hugged him as tight as she can without hurting him.
"I love you too Ranma." Akane murmured to his chest, tears in her eyes.
They looked up at each other's eyes, then without knowing their lips met and they kissed. It was the first time Ranma had felt this way. Sure he had kissed her a lot of times but in different circumstances, like when a big cat traumatized him then he acted like one. Akane was the only one alive who could turn him back to normal again. That was different, he had not remembered kissing Akane then. Then on the play where he, Happousai and Kunou played Romeo and Akane played Juiliet. He had to fight the two of them and he even kissed the jerk Kunou in female form so he wouldn't kiss Akane. *That was the sickest thing I had ever done* He shivered at the memory. *Good thing I placed tape on that jerk's mouth.* Ranma and Akane kissed at the end, but Akane had put scotch tape then so that was another thing.
Akane's heart was pounding. This was the first time they had shown such strong feelings for one another without the other teasing. She really does love Ranma. She could feel it in her heart. Akane reluctantly broke off the kiss and was glad when Ranma looked disappointed.
Akane looked deep in her fiancés eyes and said, "Promise me you'll come back in one year Ranma."
He smiled and said, "I promise." Ranma didn't notice Akane's face harden at his words.
With that, Ranma squeezed Akane's hand and left to speak to his father and mother.
Akane sat there, staring at nothing. Then a voice sounded behind the dojo.
"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW?!!!!!"
He turned, he had to go find Akane before they left. He had to tell her something. Ryouga tensed when he felt someone's presence.
"Who's there?"
Akane emerged from the Tendou training hall and said, "It's me, Akane."
He looked to the direction of the voice. There she stood the woman of his dreams. Or maybe it was Akari? He didn't know. Akane stood there. She was so beautiful, and kind and caring.
"Akane, I--"
Ryouga broke off as Akane lunged forward and hugged him. He was dumbfounded. *Did Akane love him? And didn't want him to leave? He would gladly stay if she asked him to. Did the affection she had shown Ranma all these months a fake?* He just stood there, savoring the moment.
Then it all shattered when Akane spoke.
Akane smiled at him and said, "Ryouga, I'll really miss you, please take care of him for me."
Ryouga stared at her. The pleading in her voice and the look in her eyes told him that she really did love Ranma, not him. He stared down at Akane. All his dreams shattered in an instant. His eyes fogged. *I'm gonna kill Ranma... no it wasn't his fault.* He had also seen the look Ranma had given Akane in the dojo a while ago. He loved her too. He sighed and thought about what to do. Thoughts came to his mind about punishing Ranma and all, then a stray thought made up his mind. *I want her to be happy* A voice whispered in his head. His eyes cleared and tried a weak smile. He knew long ago that Akane did love Ranma, he just didn't want to admit it.
Ryouga looked into Akane's eyes and said,"I promise you Akane, I will do my best."
She smiled again, tears forming in her eyes. "Thanks Ryouga, it really means a lot to me. I know you'll always be there for me." She wiped away her tears and said, "What was it you wanted to tell me?"
*I wanted to tell you that I love you...* he thought "Hehehe, nothing, just wanted to say goodbye to a friend who means a lot to me." He held up his hand to the back of his head.
Akane smiled and raised on tiptoe and brushed a kiss on Ryouga's cheek.
Akane ran back to the house while she turned back and waved goodbye. "Take Care!"
When Akane left, Ryouga touched the cheek she had just kissed. *I will keep my promise Akane.*
Ryouga turned around and walked away. Though his eyes weep at Akane's words, his heart soared at her happiness. Inner peace went all over his heart. No more fears of Akane rejecting him, no more fears of her turning him down. No more nightmares of the truth he knew. He smiled, the worst fear was Akane telling him herself that she didn't love him. He knew that that would definitely shatter his heart. At least he had spared Akane the guilt of knowing someone loved her but she didn't and then she would pity him or something. He didn't want pity from Akane. It was a good thing she had spoken first or else he would have been in shock by now. He knew that she knew, she just told it in her own way that made it easier for him.
At least he knew that Akane loved him, but as a friend. To be Akane's friend was enough. He thought back again at the words he had spoken in Ryugenzawa. *No matter who she ends up with, I'll always love her, I'll love her for the rest of my life.* Those words echoed throughout his mind.
Ryouga looked around. He stopped walking. Then he looked around again in panic, the Tendou Dojo was nowhere to be seen!
"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW?!!!!!!! AARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!"
He cursed his curse and set out to find the dojo before Ranma left him.
(the present)
Akane sighed. She thought that that was what she was always doing now, sighing. She stood up, and went to her room. In her room she picked up a picture of Ranma in male form smiling. Nabiki had given her that when Ranma left. She was surprised that Nabiki didn't charge her anything for that. She stared at it. She wondered what Ranma would look like now. *He might be taller for one thing. And more handsome* She thought with a laugh. She started for her bed and stopped when her dress caught on her stool. The picture fell on the floor. She carefully untangled her dress.
"Now where is that picture?" she asked herself aloud. She scanned the floor and saw it just beneath the bed. Akane knelt and reached for the picture. When she looked under the bed she blinked. Lots of boxes were under her bed. *I didn't know I had so many things here.*
One by one she opened the boxes. They all held mostly rubbish. Then she reached for the last box that was way far. The small cardboard box looked familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. She pulled it up and sat on her bed. She opened the box and gasped.
There, in the box were pictures in mint condition and a smaller parcel. Akane's eyes began to water. All the old memories she had buried away burst into the top. She gazed at the photographs she held in her hands. There were lots of pictures, but one Polaroid picture on the top caught her attention. On the picture a young man of about 15 years old was holding the hand of a young girl of about 14 holding a bouquet of red roses. The young man wore what looked like a traditional Japanese samurai outfit. His hair was pitch black and his eyes were the most beautiful hazel Akane had ever seen. His face was quite young. He wore a dark blue long vest that flared at the midsection. There were no sleeves but the shoulders of the vest were slightly curved upward. He wore light blue loose fitting pants that were tied at the ankles and wore wooden slippers. All in all he looked like a young samurai.
The girl holding his hand was a young cute girl with big brown eyes and bluish black hair. A ribbon by the end tied her long hair. She was wearing a blue and white school dress.
Akane smiled through her tears at the young her in the picture. This picture was at least 2 years before she met Ranma. She looked at the back where a short message was written.
To my sweet Akane,
Remember this day? We were in the park and I gave you a bouquet of red roses. I was so nervous on giving you those flowers then, but when you turned a bright red and couldn't even speak, I thought that it was worth it. It was just our luck then that a man who took pictures of couples was there. I never told you this before, but this picture was my favorite of all and I made tens of copies of it that you didn't know. I brought all of them everywhere and taped it in my dresser to always remind me of you. That's the reason I didn't want you to look in my dresser. Do you know why this picture is my favorite? It's because it was the first time we had ever expressed our feelings even if it wasn't spoken. Well, please keep this picture as a reminder of US. I promise you I will come back my dear Akane. I love you....
Love,
Heishiro
Her hands trembled while she read the message over and over again. She had tried so hard long ago to hide this box and the memories that it held.
She held the photograph to her heart while tears slid off her cheek. She reached for the small parcel. She untied the strings, trying hard not to quiver in the process. When the strings were untied, the parcel burst and a shower of rose petals surrounded Akane. A simple gold band with small carvings was covered with petals. She picked up the ring, carefully brushing away the petals that covered it then stared at the gold band that awakened more memories.
Etched inside the ring were the names, Akane ~ Heishiro.
(somewhere in Nerima)
A man in a long vest and loose fitting pants is walking through the streets of Nerima. He has looked forward for this trip for many years now.
* * *
Two men are walking in the streets of Nerima. Both were wearing chinese clothes. One of the men seems to be always going to the wrong direction, while the other man always keeps him in the right track. There was something different about them, the one who keeps on getting lost is wearing a black and yellow bandanna while the other has a pigtail. *At last,* they thought, *We are finally home.*
* End chapter 1
Well, that's the first part of When Past was Present. Hope you like it, it's the very first fanfic I've ever written. I've written lots of fiction stories, mostly fantasy. This is the first time I've written anime fanfiction.
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